Apparatus and method for calorimetrically determining battery charge state
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining the state of charge of a rechargeable battery comprising:
- charging means, coupled to the battery, for charging the battery;
current sensing means, coupled between said charging means and the battery, for sensing the current entering the battery;
heat detecting means, coupled to the battery, for detecting the heat emanating from the battery during charging; and
processing means, coupled to said current sensing means and to said heat detecting means, including a mathematical charge acceptance model providing the relationship between a charge acceptance percentage and the state of charge of the battery, for calculating the state of charge of the battery from the current entering the battery, the heat detected by said heat detecting means, and said charge acceptance model, wherein said heat is the complement of said charge acceptance percentage.
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Abstract
The present invention is an apparatus and a method for determining the state of charge of a rechargeable battery. It comprises a means for charging the batter, current sensors, heat detectors for detecting the heat emanating from the battery during charging, with the heat being the complement of the charge acceptance percentage, and a processor for storing a mathematical charge acceptance model for providing the relationship between the charge acceptance percentage and the state of charge of the battery, and for calculating the state of charge of the battery from the heat detected by the heat detectors and the charge acceptance model. An accurate measure of battery charge state is produced while the battery is being charged. This provides information concerning the operability of the battery and also allows efficient charging to avoid energy waste. The present invention is adaptable to existing battery power systems without the need for significant additional components and is applicable to any system utilizing rechargeable batteries.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining the state of charge of a rechargeable battery comprising:
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charging means, coupled to the battery, for charging the battery; current sensing means, coupled between said charging means and the battery, for sensing the current entering the battery; heat detecting means, coupled to the battery, for detecting the heat emanating from the battery during charging; and processing means, coupled to said current sensing means and to said heat detecting means, including a mathematical charge acceptance model providing the relationship between a charge acceptance percentage and the state of charge of the battery, for calculating the state of charge of the battery from the current entering the battery, the heat detected by said heat detecting means, and said charge acceptance model, wherein said heat is the complement of said charge acceptance percentage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for determining the state of charge of a rechargeable battery comprising:
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mathematically modeling the relationship between the charge acceptance percentage and the state of charge of the battery; charging the battery; detecting the current entering the battery; detecting the heat emanating from the battery during charging, said heat flux being the complement of the charge acceptance percentage; and storing said charge acceptance model in a processor and calculating the state of charge of the battery from the current entering the battery, the heat detected and said charge acceptance model. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification