Automatic battery charge apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. An automatic battery charger for charging a storage battery capable of conducting a battery charging current and generating a battery voltage, said charger comprising:
- battery cable means for connecting the battery to the charger;
current control means operable in a first mode for conducting through the cable means a charging current regulated at a first predetermined level, and operable in a second mode for conducting through the cable means a charging current regulated at a second predetermined level less than the first predetermined level;
voltage monitor means operable in a first mode for generating a first monitor signal in response to a first battery voltage condition, and operable in a second mode for generating a second monitor signal in response to a second battery voltage condition less than the first battery voltage condition; and
sequencing means for operating the current control means and voltage monitor means in their first modes, for operating the current control means and voltage monitor means in their second modes in response to the first monitor signal, and for enabling the current control means to reduce the charging current in response to the second monitor signal, whereby the battery is automatically charged at a rapid yet safe rate.
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Abstract
An automatic apparatus and method for charging a storage battery from a source of electrical current. The charger includes a current control circuit for conducting regulated charging current through the battery in steps. A voltage monitoring circuit determines when the steps occur by monitoring battery voltage conditions. The steps are sequenced by a ring counter that varies the bias conditions on the current control circuit and voltage monitoring circuit as the steps occur.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An automatic battery charger for charging a storage battery capable of conducting a battery charging current and generating a battery voltage, said charger comprising:
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battery cable means for connecting the battery to the charger; current control means operable in a first mode for conducting through the cable means a charging current regulated at a first predetermined level, and operable in a second mode for conducting through the cable means a charging current regulated at a second predetermined level less than the first predetermined level; voltage monitor means operable in a first mode for generating a first monitor signal in response to a first battery voltage condition, and operable in a second mode for generating a second monitor signal in response to a second battery voltage condition less than the first battery voltage condition; and sequencing means for operating the current control means and voltage monitor means in their first modes, for operating the current control means and voltage monitor means in their second modes in response to the first monitor signal, and for enabling the current control means to reduce the charging current in response to the second monitor signal, whereby the battery is automatically charged at a rapid yet safe rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 28)
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22. A method of automatically charging a storage battery of the type in which a voltage condition of the battery increases as the charge increases, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. regulating the charging of the battery at a first predetermined level of charging current so that the battery voltage condition increases; b. automatically decreasing the regulated charging current supplied to the battery to a second predetermined level less than the first predetermined level in response to the increase of the battery voltage condition to a first predetermined value, whereby the battery voltage condition is decreased; c. continuing the charging of the battery at the second predetermined level of regulated charging current, so that the battery voltage condition increases; and d. automatically decreasing the regulated charging current supplied to the battery to a third predetermined level less than the second predetermined level in response to the increase of the battery voltage condition to a second predetermined value less than the first predetermined value, whereby the battery is rapidly and safely charged. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification