Intelligent battery charging system
First Claim
1. A battery charging system, comprising:
- a first electric terminal;
a second electric terminal electrically isolated from said first terminal and grounded;
an alternating current power source having an output;
a system power supply having an input connected to said output of said alternating current power source, and first and second direct current outputs;
a current-limiting resistor having a first resistor terminal electrically connected to said first direct current output of said system power supply and a second resistor terminal;
a first diode having an input electrically connected to said second resistor terminal of said resistor and an output electrically connected to said first terminal;
charging power supply means having a power input electrically connected to said output of said alternating current power source, first and second control inputs, and a direct current power output;
a second diode having an input electrically connected to said power output of said charging power supply means and an output electrically connected between said output of said first diode and said first terminal;
voltage scaler means having an input electrically connected between said second resistor terminal of said resistor and said input of said first diode and an output, for providing a voltage output that is linearly related to a voltage potential of said first terminal detected at said input of said voltage scaler means;
on/off controller means having a power input electrically connected to said second direct current output of said system supply, a voltage sensing input electrically connected to said output of said voltage scaler means, and an output electrically connected to said first control input of said charging power supply means, for providing an output whenever V1 <
VH <
V2, V1 is a first reference voltage, VH is a voltage across said first and second terminals, and V2 is a second reference voltage, said on/off controller means being electrically grounded in common with said second terminal; and
a voltage mode selector means having a power input electrically connected to said second direct current output of said system supply, a voltage sensing input electrically connected to said output of said voltage scaler means, and an output electrically connected to said second control input of said charging power supply means, for providing an output whenever said voltage VH is less than a third reference voltage, V3, said voltage mode selector means being electrically grounded in common with said second terminal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a battery charging system that provides automaticoltage selection, short circuit protection, and delayed output to prevent arcing or pitting. A second embodiment of the invention provides a homing beacon which transmits a signal so that a battery powered mobile robot may home in on and contact the invention to charge its battery. The invention includes electric terminals isolated from one another. One terminal is grounded and the other has a voltage applied to it through a resistor connected to the output of a DC power supply. A voltage scaler is connected between the resistor and the hot terminal. An On/Off controller and a voltage mode selector sense the voltage provided at the output of the voltage scaler. The On/Off controller provides an output whenever Va <VH <Vb, where Va is a reference voltage, VH is a voltage across the terminals, and Vb is a reference voltage. The voltage mode selector provides an output whenever voltage VH is less than reference voltage, Vc. An AC power source provides current to the system power supply and to a charge supply. The system power supply provides power to the On/Off controller and the voltage mode selector. The outputs of the On/Off controller and voltage mode select are connected to separate control inputs of the charge supply.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A battery charging system, comprising:
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a first electric terminal; a second electric terminal electrically isolated from said first terminal and grounded; an alternating current power source having an output; a system power supply having an input connected to said output of said alternating current power source, and first and second direct current outputs; a current-limiting resistor having a first resistor terminal electrically connected to said first direct current output of said system power supply and a second resistor terminal; a first diode having an input electrically connected to said second resistor terminal of said resistor and an output electrically connected to said first terminal; charging power supply means having a power input electrically connected to said output of said alternating current power source, first and second control inputs, and a direct current power output; a second diode having an input electrically connected to said power output of said charging power supply means and an output electrically connected between said output of said first diode and said first terminal; voltage scaler means having an input electrically connected between said second resistor terminal of said resistor and said input of said first diode and an output, for providing a voltage output that is linearly related to a voltage potential of said first terminal detected at said input of said voltage scaler means; on/off controller means having a power input electrically connected to said second direct current output of said system supply, a voltage sensing input electrically connected to said output of said voltage scaler means, and an output electrically connected to said first control input of said charging power supply means, for providing an output whenever V1 <
VH <
V2, V1 is a first reference voltage, VH is a voltage across said first and second terminals, and V2 is a second reference voltage, said on/off controller means being electrically grounded in common with said second terminal; anda voltage mode selector means having a power input electrically connected to said second direct current output of said system supply, a voltage sensing input electrically connected to said output of said voltage scaler means, and an output electrically connected to said second control input of said charging power supply means, for providing an output whenever said voltage VH is less than a third reference voltage, V3, said voltage mode selector means being electrically grounded in common with said second terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An automatic battery charging station, comprising:
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a first electric terminal shaped as a disk having a center axis normal to the surface of said disk; a disk shaped insulator having first and second sides, said first side being centrally mounted on the flat side of said first terminal; a second terminal having a cylindrical shape and a longitudinal center axis, said second terminal being mounted to said second side of said insulator such that said longitudinal axis of said second terminal is coincident with said center axis of said first terminal, said second terminal being electrically isolated from said first terminal; an alternating current power source having an output; a system power supply having an input connected to said output of said alternating current power source, and first and second direct current outputs; a current-limiting resistor having a first resistor terminal electrically connected to said first direct current output of said system power supply and a second resistor terminal; a first diode having an input electrically connected to said second resistor terminal of said resistor and an output electrically connected to said first terminal; charging power supply means having a power input electrically connected to said output of said alternating current power source, first and second control inputs, and a direct current power output; a second diode having an input electrically connected to said power output of said charging power supply means and an output electrically connected between said output of said first diode and said first terminal; voltage scaler means having an input electrically connected between said second resistor terminal of said resistor and said input of said first diode and an output, for providing a voltage output that is linearly related to a voltage potential of said first terminal detected at said input of said voltage scaler means; on/off controller means having a power input electrically connected to said second direct current output of said system supply, a voltage sensing input electrically connected to said output of said voltage scaler means, and an output electrically connected to said first control input of said charging power supply means, for providing an output whenever V1 <
VH <
V2, where V1 is a first reference voltage, VH is a voltage across said first and second terminals, and V2 is a second reference voltage, said on/off controller means being electrically grounded in common with said second terminal; anda voltage mode selector means having a power input electrically connected to said second direct current output of said system supply, a voltage sensing input electrically connected to said output of said voltage scaler means, and an output electrically connected to said second control input of said charging power supply means, for providing an output whenever said voltage VH is less than a third reference voltage, V3, said voltage mode selector means being electrically grounded in common with said second terminal; a receiver having a power input electrically connected to said second direct current output of said system supply and an output; decoder means having an input electrically connected to said output of said receiver and an output; a beacon activation switch having a first power input electrically connected to said output of said alternating current power source, a second power input electrically connected to said second direct current output of said system supply, a signal input electrically connected to said output of said decoder, and an output; and a beacon electrically connected to said output of said beacon activation switch. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification