Battery conditioning methods and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of conditioning a secondary battery, comprising in combination the steps of:
- predetermining for the particular type of battery the electric charge required to restore the battery from a predetermined first level to a higher second charge level;
comprising a conditioning operation of a first step of reducing an unknown electric charge in the battery to said first level and a second step of introducing only said predetermined required electric charge into the battery by applying to the battery only a predetermined number of coulombs in said second step; and
conditioning the battery by administering to the battery in sequence said first step to reduce said unknown electric charge to said first level and said second step to restore the battery to said higher second charge level by introduction of only said predetermined required electric charge into the battery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an effort to condition a battery for its current supply function, the electric charge required to restore the battery from a given first level to a higher second charge level is determined. A conditioning operation is comprised of a first step of reducing an unknown electric charge in the battery to the given first level, and a second step of introducing only the determined required electric charge into the battery. The battery is conditioned by administering in sequence the first step to reduce the unknown electric charge to the given first level and the second step to restore the battery to the higher second charge level by introduction of only the determined required electric charge into the battery.
31 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of conditioning a secondary battery, comprising in combination the steps of:
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predetermining for the particular type of battery the electric charge required to restore the battery from a predetermined first level to a higher second charge level; comprising a conditioning operation of a first step of reducing an unknown electric charge in the battery to said first level and a second step of introducing only said predetermined required electric charge into the battery by applying to the battery only a predetermined number of coulombs in said second step; and conditioning the battery by administering to the battery in sequence said first step to reduce said unknown electric charge to said first level and said second step to restore the battery to said higher second charge level by introduction of only said predetermined required electric charge into the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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4. A method of conditioning a secondary battery, comprising in combination the steps of:
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predetermining for the particular type of battery the electric charge required to restore the battery to a charged condition after discharge to a level represented by a predetermined battery voltage; comprising a conditioning operation of a first step of discharging the battery and a second step of introducing only said predetermined required electric charge into the battery by applying to the battery only a predetermined number of coulombs in said second step; and conditioning the battery by administering to the battery said first step to discharge the battery, monitoring the voltage of the battery during said discharge, and administering to the battery, in response to realization of said predetermined battery voltage, said second step to restore the battery to said charged condition by introduction of only said predetermined required electric charge into the battery. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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11. A method of charging a secondary battery from a source of power subject to failure, comprising in combination the steps of:
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predetermining the electric charge required to restore the battery to a desired charged condition; suspending said charging during a failure of said power occurring after performance of part of said charging; and resuming said charging after a return of said power and performing a remainder of said charging to introduce said predetermined electric charge into the battery during the sum of said part and of said remainder of the charging. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method of charging a secondary battery from a source of power subject to failure, comprising in combination the steps of:
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subjecting said charging to a control operation; and providing a continuity of said control operation after failure and return of said power, with the aid of electric energy derived from said battery during said failure of power. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. Apparatus for conditioning a secondary battery, comprising in combination:
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first means in said conditioning apparatus for reducing an unknown electric charge in the battery to a predetermined first level; second means for introducing into the battery only a predetermined number of coulombs representing an electric charge predetermined ahead of the charging cycle as required to restore the battery from said first level to a higher second charge level; third means connected to said first and second means for connecting said first means and said second means in sequence to the battery whereby to restore the battery to said higher second charge level. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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19. Apparatus for conditioning a secondary battery, comprising in combination:
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means in said conditioning apparatus for performing a discharge operation on said battery; means for monitoring the voltage of the battery; means for connecting said discharge operation performing means and said monitoring means to the battery; means connected to said monitoring means and to said discharge operation performing means for terminating said discharge operation in response to reduction of the voltage of the battery to a predetermined value; means for introducing into the battery only an electric charge predetermined ahead of the charging cycle as required to restore the battery to a predetermined charged condition after said discharging manifested by said voltage reduction; and means for applying said introducing means to the battery upon disconnection of said discharging means. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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25. Apparatus for charging a secondary battery from a source of power subject to failure with a predetermined electric charge, comprising in combination:
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means for suspending said charging during a failure of said power occurring after performance of part of said charging and for resuming said charging for a remainder of a charging operation after a return of said power; and means connected to said suspending and resuming means for assuring introduction of said predetermined electric charge into the battery during the sum of said part and said remainder. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. Apparatus for charging a secondary battery from a source of power subject to failure, comprising in combination:
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means for subjecting said charging to a continuous control operation; means for deriving energy from said battery during failure of said power; and means connected to said deriving means and said subjecting means for employing said derived energy from the battery to assure the continuity of said control operating after failure and return of said power. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification