Device for monitoring the charging of a battery
First Claim
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1. A device for monitoring and controlling the charging of a rechargeable battery, the device comprising:
- a precision resistor of known value having a first end connected to one terminal of the rechargeable battery and having a second end connectable to a load;
charging means, connected to said second end of said precision resistor, for supplying current to the rechargeable battery;
current sensing means for determining direction of current through said precision resistor to determine if current is flowing into or out of the rechargeable battery;
voltage sensing means for measuring voltage at said one terminal of the rechargeable battery; and
overcharge sensing means for monitoring said voltage sensing means when said precision resistor has current flowing into the rechargeable battery and said overcharging sensing means generating an overcharge signal when said voltage at said one of terminal of the rechargeable battery decreases.
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Abstract
To prevent over charging of a battery the battery voltage is detected during charging and when a decrease in voltage, which occurs just after full charge, is detected the charger is switched off. The battery voltage may be monitored by a dual slope integrator 30 and a central processor 10 indicates the status of the battery on a display 50. During discharge the voltage drop across a resistor R connected between the battery and load is monitored by integrators 30, 40 and processor 10.
14 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A device for monitoring and controlling the charging of a rechargeable battery, the device comprising:
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a precision resistor of known value having a first end connected to one terminal of the rechargeable battery and having a second end connectable to a load; charging means, connected to said second end of said precision resistor, for supplying current to the rechargeable battery; current sensing means for determining direction of current through said precision resistor to determine if current is flowing into or out of the rechargeable battery; voltage sensing means for measuring voltage at said one terminal of the rechargeable battery; and overcharge sensing means for monitoring said voltage sensing means when said precision resistor has current flowing into the rechargeable battery and said overcharging sensing means generating an overcharge signal when said voltage at said one of terminal of the rechargeable battery decreases. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A device in accordance with 1, wherein:
said current sensing means also determining a magnitude of said current flowing through said precision resistor to produce a value for capacity of the rechargeable battery. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
Specification