Electrical charging control apparatus and method, and solar to electrical energy conversion apparatus incorporating such charging control apparatus

• US 4,453,119 A
• Filed: 01/25/1982
• Issued: 06/05/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John W. Yerkes, Terry Staler
• Original Assignee: John W. Yerkes, Terry Staler
• Inventors: Yerkes, John W., Staler, Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): SHOOP JR, WILLIAM M
• Application Number:
  US06/342,336
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2-5, 320/30, 320/31, 320/39, 320/40, 320/61
• US Class Current: 320/102
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/293 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/14 Battery acts as buffer

Abstract

Electrical charging control apparatus regulates the charging of a rechargeable battery by a solar panel. The control of the charging is through a relay which when closed directly connects the output and charging terminal of the solar panel to the output and charging terminal of the battery to permit the charging of the battery by the solar panel. Such coupling is in turn under the control of signal-tester apparatus which prevents the coupling when the signals at the uncoupled terminals are in a coupling prevention relationship chosen to prevent significant discharging of the battery through the solar panel; of breaker apparatus which breaks a coupling after a predetermined period of time; and of additional signal-tester apparatus which causes a termination of the coupling when the signal at the connected terminals reaches a chosen charging termination threshold. The breaking of the coupling, which can result in a periodic breaking, permits the testing for discharging prevention. A charging control method is in accordance with the above outlined method of operation of the charging control apparatus.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling the charging of a rechargeable electrical energy storage device for generating a storage device electrical signal, by a variable output electrical energy source for generating a source electrical signal, said source having a charging output terminal and said device having a charging input terminal, said source electrical signal being dependent upon the electrical device or devices that are electrically coupled to said charging output terminal, said apparatus comprising:

relay means for electrically coupling the charging output terminal of the source and the charging input terminal of the device to permit said charging;

signal-testing means coupled to said relay means for receiving the storage device electrical signal and the source electrical signal to test said signals and provide an electrical output signal for permitting and preventing said coupling in response to said signals;

relay breaker means coupled to said relay means for providing an electrical breaker signal for breaking said coupling after said coupling for a predetermined period of time to permit said testing of said signals to include said source electrical signal in the absence of said coupling; and

relay driver means coupled to said relay means for providing an electrical control signal for controlling said coupling in response to said output signal of said signal-testing means and said relay breaker signal.

2. Charging control apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said controlling of said coupling includes reestablishing said coupling in response to said output signal of said signal-testing means upon said breaking.

3. Charging control apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said breaking is during said permitting by said output signal of said signal-testing means.

4. Charging control apparatus as defined in claim 1 for controlling the charging of a rechargeable electrical energy storage device for generating a storage device electrical signal indicative of the level of charging of the device, further comprising additional signal-testing means for receiving the storage device electrical signal to test the level of charging of the device and for providing an electrical output signal for terminating said coupling in response to said testing.

5. Charging control apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said relay means includes a switch for directly connecting the charging input terminal of the storage device and the charging output terminal of the source to provide said coupling and to establish substantially the same voltage level at said terminals during said coupling.

6. Charging control apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said relay means includes a switch for directly connecting the charging input terminal of the storage device and the charging output terminal of the source to provide said coupling and to establish substantially the same voltage level at said terminals during said coupling.

7. Solar to electrical energy conversion apparatus, comprising:

a solar panel for receiving and converting solar energy to electrical energy, and for generating a solar panel electrical signal in response to said solar energy, said solar panel having a charging output terminal;

a rechargeable electrical energy storage device for generating a storage device electrical signal, said storage device having a charging input terminal;

relay means for electrically coupling said charging output terminal of said solar panel and said charging input terminal of said storage device to permit said solar panel to charge said storage device;

signal-testing means coupled to said relay means for receiving the storage device electrical signal and the solar panel electrical signal and for providing an electrical output signal for permitting and preventing said coupling in response to said signals;

relay breaker means coupled to said relay means for providing an electrical breaker signal for breaking said coupling after said coupling for a predetermined period of time to permit said signal-testing means to respond to said solar panel electrical signal in the absence of said coupling for said permitting and preventing; and

relay driver means coupled to said relay means for providing an electrical control signal for controlling said coupling in response to said output signal of said signal-testing means and said relay breaker signal.

8. Energy conversion apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said controlling of said coupling includes reestablishing said coupling in response to said output signal of said signal-testing means upon said breaking.

9. Energy conversion apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said breaking is during said permitting by said output signal of said signal-testing means.

10. Energy conversion apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein:

said solar panel charging output terminal is connected to provide said solar panel electrical signal;

said storage device charging input terminal is connected to provide said storage device electrical signal; and

said signal-testing means is connected to receive said solar panel electrical signal at said solar panel charging output terminal, and to receive said storage device electrical signal at said storage device charging input terminal during said coupling and in the absence of said coupling.

11. Energy conversion apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said storage device electrical signal is indicative of the level of charging of said device, further comprising additional signal testing means for receiving said storage device electrical signal to test the level of charging of said device and for providing an electrical output signal for terminating said coupling in response to said testing.

12. Energy conversion apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said relay means includes a switch for directly connecting said charging input terminal of said storage device and said charging output terminal of said solar panel to provide said coupling and to establish substantially the same voltage level at said terminals during said coupling.

13. Energy conversion apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said relay means includes a switch for directly connecting said charging input terminal of said storage device and said charging output terminal of said solar panel to provide said coupling and to establish substantially the same voltage level at said terminals during said coupling.

14. A method of controlling the charging of a rechargeable electrical energy storage device for generating a storage device electrical signal, by a variable output electrical energy source for generating a source electrical signal, said source having a charging output terminal and said device having a charging input terminal, said source electrical signal being dependent upon the electrical device or devices that are electrically coupled to said charging output terminal, said method comprising the steps of:

electrically coupling the charging output terminal of the source and the charging input terminal of the storage device to permit said charging;

maintaining said coupling;

generating an electrical tester signal responsive to testing the device and source electrical signals;

generating an electrical breaker signal responsive to said maintaining of said coupling for a predetermined period of time;

breaking said coupling after said maintaining of said coupling for said predetermined period of time in response to said breaker signal to permit said testing of said signals to include said source electrical signal in the absence of said coupling;

preventing the reestablishing of said electrical coupling of the charging output terminal of the source and the charging input terminal of the device in response to said tester signal during said testing after said breaking of said coupling; and

permitting the reestablishing of said electrical coupling of the charging output terminal of the source and the charging input terminal of the device in response to said tester signal.

15. The charging control method as defined in claim 14 wherein said coupling, maintaining, breaking, preventing and permitting steps occur automatically.

16. The charging control method as defined in claim 14 wherein said coupling, maintaining, breaking, preventing and permitting steps occur electronically, without human intervention.

17. The charging control method as defined in claim 14 of controlling the charging of a rechargeable electrical energy storage device for generating a storage device electrical signal indicative of the level of charging of the device, including the additional steps of:

generating an additional electrical tester signal responsive to the device electrical signal and the level of charging of the device indicated by the device electrical signal; and

terminating a subsequent electrical coupling of the charging output terminal of the source and the charging input terminal of the storage device in response to the additional electrical tester signal.

18. The charging control method as defined in claim 17 wherein:

said coupling step includes establishing substantially the same voltage level at the terminals;

said permitting step includes permitting the reestablishing of substantially the same voltage level at the terminals; and

said terminating a subsequent electrical coupling step includes terminating a subsequent electrical coupling establishing substantially the same voltage level at the terminals.

19. The charging control method as defined in claim 17 wherein said coupling, maintaining, breaking, preventing, permitting and terminating steps occur automatically.

20. The charging control method as defined in claim 17 wherein said coupling, maintaining, breaking, preventing, permitting and terminating steps occur electronically, without human intervention.

21. The charging control method as defined in claim 14 wherein:

said coupling step includes establishing substantially the same voltage level at the terminals;

said maintaining step includes maintaining substantially the same voltage level at the terminals; and

said permitting step includes permitting the reestablishing of substantially the same voltage level at the terminals.

22. Apparatus for controlling the charging of a rechargeable electrical energy storage device for generating a storage device electrical signal by a variable output electrical energy source for generating a source electrical signal, said source having a charging output terminal and said device having a charging input terminal, said source electrical signal being dependent upon the electrical device or devices that are electrically coupled to said charging output terminal, said apparatus comprising:

relay means for electrically coupling the charging output terminal of the source and the charging input terminal of the device to permit said charging through said relay means;

signal-testing and coupling selector means coupled to said relay means for receiving the storage device electrical signal and the source electrical signal to test said signals and provide an electrical output signal for selecting said coupling or the absence of said coupling in response to said signals;

relay breaker means coupled to said relay means for providing an electrical breaker signal for breaking said coupling after said coupling for a predetermined period of time to permit said testing of said source electrical signal in the absence of said coupling; and

relay driver means coupled to said relay means for providing an electrical control signal for controlling said coupling in response to said output signal of said signal-testing and coupling selector means and said relay breaker signal.

23. Charging control apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said controlling of said coupling includes reestablishing of said coupling in response to said output signal of said signal-testing and coupling selector means upon said breaking.

24. Charging control apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said relay means includes a switch for directly connecting the charging input terminal of the storage device and the charging output terminal of the source to provide said coupling and to establish substantially the same voltage level at said terminals during said coupling.

25. Solar to electrical energy conversion apparatus, comprising:

a solar panel for receiving and converting solar energy to electrical energy, and for generating a solar panel electrical signal in response to said solar energy, said solar panel having a charging output terminal;

a rechargeable electrical energy storage device for generating a storage device electrical signal, said storage device having a charging input terminal;

relay means for electrically coupling said charging output terminal of said solar panel and said charging input terminal of said storage device to permit said solar panel to charge said storage device through said relay means;

signal-testing and coupling selector means coupled to said relay means for receiving the storage device electrical signal and the solar panel electrical signal and for providing an electrical output signal for selecting said coupling or the absence of said coupling in response to said signals;

relay breaker means coupled to said relay means for providing an electrical breaker signal for breaking said coupling after said coupling for a predetermined period of time to permit said signal-testing and coupling selector means to respond to said solar panel electrical signal in the absence of said coupling for said selecting; and

relay driver means coupled to said relay means for providing an electrical control signal for controlling said coupling in response to said output signal of said signal-testing and coupling selector means and said relay breaker signal.

26. Energy conversion apparatus as defined in claim 25 wherein said controlling of said coupling includes reestablishing said coupling in response to said output signal of said signal-testing and coupling selector means upon said breaking.

27. Energy conversion apparatus as defined in claim 25 wherein:

said solar panel charging output terminal is connected to provide said solar panel electrical signal;

said storage device charging input terminal is connected to provide said storage device electrical signal; and

said signal-testing and coupling selector means is connected to receive said solar panel electrical signal at said solar panel charging output terminal, and to receive said storage device electrical signal at said storage device charging input terminal during said coupling and in the absence of said coupling.

28. Energy conversion apparatus as defined in claim 25 wherein said relay means includes a switch for directly connecting said charging input terminal of said storage device and said charging output terminal of said solar panel to provide said coupling and to establish substantially the same voltage level at said terminals during said coupling.

29. A method of controlling the charging of a rechargeable electrical energy storage device for generating a storage device electrical signal, by a variable output electrical energy source for generating a source electrical signal, said source having a charging output terminal and said device having a charging input terminal, said source electrical signal being dependent upon the electrical device or devices that are electrically coupled to said charging output terminal, said method comprising the steps of:

electrically coupling the charging output terminal of the source and the charging input terminal of the storage device to permit said charging through the electrical path of said coupling;

maintaining said coupling;

generating an electrical selector signal responsive to testing the device and source electrical signals;

generating an electrical breaker signal responsive to said maintaining of said coupling for a predetermined period of time;

breaking said coupling after said maintaining of said coupling for said predetermined period of time in response to said breaker signal to permit said testing of said source electrical signal in the absence of said coupling;

maintaining the absence of said coupling in response to said selector signal during said testing after said breaking of said coupling; and

reestablishing said coupling in response to said selector signal.

30. The charging control method as defined in claim 29 wherein said coupling, maintaining said coupling, breaking, maintaining the absence of said coupling and reestablishing steps occur automatically.

31. The charging control method as defined in claim 29 wherein said coupling, maintaining said coupling, breaking, maintaining the absence of said coupling and reestablishing steps occur electrically, without human intervention.

32. The charging control method as defined in claim 29 wherein:

said coupling step includes establishing substantially the same voltage level at the terminals;

said maintaining said coupling step includes maintaining substantially the same voltage level at the terminals; and

said reestablishing step includes the reestablishing of substantially the same voltage level at the terminals.