Battery charger

• US 4,242,627 A
• Filed: 12/05/1977
• Issued: 12/30/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edmund Kisiel
• Original Assignee: Edmund Kisiel
• Inventors: Kisiel, Edmund
• Primary Examiner(s): Hickey, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/857,101
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 320/20, 320/21, 320/22-24, 320/39, 320/32
• US Class Current: 320/143
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00714 in response to battery charging or discharging current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage

Abstract

A battery charging system for charging a battery from an AC source, including control rectifier means for rectifying the charging current, a pulse generator for triggering the rectifier to control the transmission of current to the battery, phase control means for timing the firing of the pulse generator according to the charge on the battery, and various control means for alternatively controlling the phase control means depending upon the charge on the battery; wherein current limiting means are provided for limiting the charging current according to the charge on the battery to protect the system from excessive current in the event a weak battery is being charged, a feedback circuit is provided for maintaining the charge on a battery to compensate for battery leakage, and circuitry is provided for equalizing the voltage between the respective cells of the battery.

Claims

1. A battery charging circuit comprising:

a source of rectified AC current;

terminals for connecting a battery to be charged in the circuit;

switching means actuable for transmitting current from said source to the battery in response to electrical pulses;

a control circuit for controlling the actuation of said switching means to control the amount of current transmitted by said switching means, said control circuit including;

pulse generating means actuable for generating pulses for actuating said switching means;

phase control means responsive to control signals for controlling the actuation of said pulse generating means to control the actuating of said switching means relative to said rectified AC current;

substantial discharge control means for transmitting control signals to said phase control means when the battery is substantially discharged to effect a charging current to the battery;

moderate discharge control means for transmitting control signals to said phase control means when the battery is moderately discharged to effect a charging current to the battery;

low discharge control means for transmitting control signals to said phase control means when the battery is slightly discharged to effect a charging current to the battery; and

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said low discharge control means includes:

float control means for effecting the transmission of control signals to said phase control means when the battery is substantially fully charged to maintain a full charge on the battery.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said low discharge control means includes;

leakage sensor means for effecting the transmission of control signals to said phase control means when the battery is substantially fully charged to compensate for leakage from the battery.

5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said low discharge control means further comprises:

cell equalizing mens for effecting the transmission of control signals to said phase control means to overcharge the battery by an amount sufficient to charge all of the cells of which the battery is composed to their respective full charges.

6. The invention according to claim 1 and further comprising current control means electrically associated with said moderate discharge control means for measuring the voltage on the battery, and for limiting the current in the circuit to a value determined to be non-deleterious to the components of the circuit in accordance with the battery voltage.

7. The invention according to claim 5 wherein the current control means is adjustable according to the voltage capacity of the battery.

8. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said substantial discharge control means further comprises current limiting means for measuring the voltage on the battery, and for limiting the current in the circuit to values determined to be non-deleterious to the circuit in accordance with the battery voltage.

9. The invention according to claim 6 wherein the current limiting means is adjustable according to the voltage capacity of the battery.

10. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said low discharge control means comprises first transistor means electrically connected to said phase control means for adjusting said phase control means according to the charge on the battery to cause the charging rate on the battery to vary inversely proportionately with the charge on the battery;

and wherein

said cell equalizing means is electrically connected to said first transistor means and comprises means for establishing a cell equalization reference value corresponding to a voltage to which the battery must be charged to cause the respective battery cells to be fully charge, and comparing means for comparing the actual battery voltage to the cell equalization reference value and for causing said first transistor means to adjust said phase control means to charge the battery to the cell equalization reference value.

11. The invention according to claim 9 wherein said comparing means comprises second transistor means electrically connected to said first transistor means, and said means for establishing a cell equalization reference value includes means for impressing a voltage corresponding to the cell equalization reference value on said second transistor means to cause said first transistor means to adjust said phase control means to charge the battery to the cell equalization reference value.

13. The invention according to claim 11 and further comprising

float control means connected to said first transistor means for comparing the actual battery voltage with a predetermined reference value and for generating control signals to charge the battery to the reference value when the actual battery voltage varies from said reference value.

2. means for synchronizing said low, moderate and substantial discharge control means with the AC current;

said low discharge control means, said moderate discharge control means and said substantial discharge control means being connected for actuation seriatim for controlling the charging of the battery, respectively, according to the voltage on the battery;

the respective discharge control means including means for charging the battery in a continuous manner during the transition between the actuation of one of said discharge control means and the actuation of another of said control means for transmitting control signals to said phase control means.

12. A battery charging circuit comprising:

a source of rectified AC current;

terminals for connecting a battery to be charged in the circuit;

switching means actuable for transmitting current from said source to the battery; and

a control circuit for controlling the actuation of said switching means to control the amount of current transmitted by said switching means, said control circuit including;

pulse generating means actuable for generating pulses for actuating said switching means;

phase control means for controlling the actuation of said pulse generating means to control the actuation of said switching means relative to said rectified AC current;

first transistor means electrically connected to said phase control means for adjusting said phase control means according to the charge on the battery to cause the charging rate on the battery to vary inversely proportionately with the charge on the battery; and

leakage control means electrically connected to said first transistor means for causing said first transistor means to adjust said phase control means when the battery is substantially fully charged to charge the battery to compensate for battery leakage;

said leakage control means comprising second transistor means connected to said first transistor means, and a resistance-capacitance circuit connected across said first and said second transistor means for discharging in synchronization with the rectified AC current source to cause the adjustment of said phase control means to charge the battery in synchronization with the rectified AC current source.

14. A battery charging circuit comprising:

a source of rectified AC current;

terminals for connecting a battery to be charged in the circuit;

switching means actuable for transmitting current from said source to the battery in response to electrical pulses; and

a control circuit for controlling the actuation of said switching means to control the amount of current transmitted by said switching means, said control circuit comprising;

pulse generating means actuable for generating pulses for actuating said switching means;

phase control means for controlling the actuation of said pulse generating means to control the actuation of said switching means relative to the rectified AC current;

lamp means connected to the battery and generating an illumination corresponding to the battery voltage; and

variable photo-resistance means having a resistance variable with the illumination of said lamp means to adjust said phase control means to regulate the generation of said pulses relative to said rectified AC current to effect variation in the charging rate on the battery inversely with the charge on the battery;

wherein the rate of change of resistance of said variable photo-resistance means relative to the illumination incident thereon changes sharply at a critical illumination value corresponding to a predetermined low battery charge which could effect the transmission of deleteriously high currents in the circuit, said transistor means effecting an illumination of said lamp means below said critical value when the battery voltage attains said predetermined low charge to limit the current in the circuit to a value below the deleterious high current value.

15. A battery charging circuit comprising:

a source of rectified AC current;

terminals for connecting a battery to be charged in the circuit;

switching means actuable for transmitting current from said source to the battery in response to electrical pulses; and

a control circuit for controlling the actuation of said switching means to control the amount of current transmitted by said switching means, said control circuit comprising;

pulse generating means actuable for generating pulses for actuating said switching means;

phase control means for controlling the actuation of said pulse generating means to control the actuation of said switching means relative to the rectified AC current;

lamp means connected to the battery and generating an illumination corresponding to the battery voltage;

variable photo-resistance means having a resistance variable with the illumination of said lamp means to adjust said phase control means to regulate the generation of said pulses relative to said rectified AC current to effect variation in the charging rate on the battery inversely with the charge on the battery; and

current limiting means comprising;

transistor means electrically connected to said lamp means, said transistor means causing the illumination of said lamp means to fall when the battery voltage is low relative to its fully charged value to cause said photo-resistance means to adjust said phase control means to limit the current in the circuit to values non-deleterious to the circuit; and

non-linear resistance means for attenuating signals to said lamp means to avoid abrupt changes in the current in said circuit.

17. The invention according to claim 15 wherein said second transistor means is electrically connected with the battery to prevent the generation of control signals when the battery terminals are connected in reverse order to said terminals of the circuit.

19. The invention according to claim 17 and further comprising:

lamp means connected to the battery and generating an illumination corresponding to the battery voltage;

variable photo-resistance means having a resistance variable with the illumination of said lamp means to adjust said phase control means to regulate the generation of said pulses relative to the pulsating DC current to effect variation in the charging rate on the battery inversely with the charge on the battery; and

current limiting means comprising transistor means electrically connected to said lamp means, said transistor means causing the illumination of said lamp means to fall when the battery voltage is low relative to its fully charged value to cause said photo-resistance means to adjust said phase control means to limit the current in the circuit to values non-deleterious to the circuit.

21. The invention according to claim 19 wherein said current limiting means further comprises non-linear resistance means for attenuating signals to said lamp means to avoid abrupt charges in the current in said circuit.

23. The invention according to claim 21 wherein said fourth transistor means is electrically connected with said third transistor means and with the battery to prevent the generation of control signals when the battery terminals are connected in reverse order to said terminals of the circuit.

16. A battery charging circuit comprising:

a source of rectified AC current;

terminals for connecting a battery to be charged in the circuit;

switching means actuable for transmitting current from said source to the battery in response to electrical pulses; and

a control circuit for controlling the actuation of said switching means to control the amount of current transmitted by said switching means, said control circuit including;

pulse generating means actuable for generating pulses for actuating said switching means;

phase control means for controlling actuation of said switching means relative to said rectified AC current in response to control signals;

first transistor means electrically connected to said phase control means for generating control signals to said control means; and

second transistor means electrically associated with the battery and electrically connected to said first transistor means for driving said first transistor means according to the battery voltage, said second transistor means retarding the generation of control signals by said first transistor means when the battery is substantially discharged to protect the circuit from high instantaneous peak currents.

18. A battery charging circuit for charging a battery from an AC source, said circuit comprising:

terminals for connecting a battery to be charged in the circuit;

silicon control rectifier means electrically associated with the AC source for transmitting pulsating DC current to the battery in response to trigger signals; and

a control circuit for controlling the actuation of said silicon control rectifier means relative to the AC current to control the amount of current transmitted by said silicon control rectifier means, said control circuit comprising;

rectifier means for energizing said control circuit with pulsating DC current in synchronization with the AC current to said silicon control rectifier means;

means for adjusting the pulsating DC voltage in said control circuit to a constant value;

unijunction transistor means for generating trigger signals to said silicon control rectifier means in response to firing signals;

phase control means for generating firing signals to said unijunction transistor in response to control signals; and

first transistor means electrically coupled to said phase control means for generating control signals to said phase control means, second transistor means electrically connected to said first transistor means for driving said first transistor means, float voltage means connected to said second transistor means for establishing a reference float voltage, said second transistor means causing said first transistor means to generate control signals when the battery voltage is below said reference float voltage to charge the battery to the float voltage, cell equalization reference value means electrically connected to said second transistor means for establishing a cell equalization reference voltage corresponding to the battery charge required to fully and equally charge the component battery cells, said second transistor means causing said first transistor means to generate control signals when the battery is below the cell equalization reference voltage to charge the battery to the cell equalization reference voltage, and leakage control means comprising a resistor-capacitor circuit connected across said second transistor means for causing said first transistor means to generate control signals to charge a substantially fully charged battery to compensate for battery leakage.

20. The invention according to claim 18 wherein the rate of change of resistance of said variable photo-resistance means relative to the illumination incident thereon changes sharply at a critical illumination value corresponding to a predetermined low battery charge which could effect the transmission of deleteriously high currents in the circuit, said transistor means effecting an illumination of said lamp means below said critical value when the battery voltage attains said predetermined low charge to limit the current in the circuit to a value below the deleteriously high current value.

22. The invention according to claim 18 and further comprising:

third transistor means electrically connected to said phase control means for generating control signals to said phase control means;

fourth transistor means electrically connected to said third transistor means for driving said third transistor means and electrically associated with the battery for sampling the battery voltage, said fourth transistor means retarding the generation of control signals by said third transistor means to protect the circuit from high instantaneous peak currents.