Method and apparatus for charging a battery in high amp and automatic charging modes
First Claim
1. A battery charger adapted to be electrically connected to the terminals of a battery for providing a charge to the battery, the battery charger comprising:
- means for supplying charging current to the battery, the current supplying means being operable to alternatively and selectively supply current at a first and second rate, the first rate providing for high rate charging of the battery;
means for sensing the voltage of the battery while the charger is connected to the battery, the sensing means being adapted to be coupled to the battery;
means for alternatively selecting the first rate and the second rate, the selecting means being coupled to the supplying means;
means for severing the supply of charging current to the battery when the second rate is selected and when the sensing means senses battery voltage in excess of a first predetermined threshold voltage, and for resuming the supply of current to the battery at the second rate when the sensing means senses battery voltage below a second predetermined threshold voltage lower than the first predetermined threshold voltage, the severing means being coupled to the current supplying means, to the sensing means, and to the selecting means;
means for adjusting the first predetermined threshold voltage, and adjusting means comprising a continuously variable selector; and
means for adjusting the second predetermined threshold voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery charger adapted to be electrically connected to the terminals of a battery for providing a charge to the battery, the battery charger comprising a device for supplying charging current to the battery, the current supplying device being operable to alternatively and selectively supply current at a first and second rate, the first rate providing for high rate charging of the battery, circuitry for sensing the voltage of the battery while the charger is connected to the battery, the sensing circuitry being adapted to be coupled to the battery, circuitry for alternatively selecting the first rate and the second rate, the selecting circuitry being coupled to the supplying circuitry and to the severing circuitry, circuitry for severing the supply of charging current to the battery when the second rate is selected, and when the sensing circuitry senses battery voltage in excess of a first predetermined threshold voltage, and for resuming the supply of current to the battery at the second rate when the sensing circuitry senses battery voltage below a second predetermined threshold voltage lower than the first predetermined threshold voltage, the severing circuitry being coupled to the current supplying device and to the sensing circuitry.
36 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A battery charger adapted to be electrically connected to the terminals of a battery for providing a charge to the battery, the battery charger comprising:
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means for supplying charging current to the battery, the current supplying means being operable to alternatively and selectively supply current at a first and second rate, the first rate providing for high rate charging of the battery; means for sensing the voltage of the battery while the charger is connected to the battery, the sensing means being adapted to be coupled to the battery; means for alternatively selecting the first rate and the second rate, the selecting means being coupled to the supplying means; means for severing the supply of charging current to the battery when the second rate is selected and when the sensing means senses battery voltage in excess of a first predetermined threshold voltage, and for resuming the supply of current to the battery at the second rate when the sensing means senses battery voltage below a second predetermined threshold voltage lower than the first predetermined threshold voltage, the severing means being coupled to the current supplying means, to the sensing means, and to the selecting means; means for adjusting the first predetermined threshold voltage, and adjusting means comprising a continuously variable selector; and means for adjusting the second predetermined threshold voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A battery charger adapted to be electrically connected to the terminals of a battery for providing a charge to the battery, the battery charger comprising:
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means for supplying charging current to the battery, the current supplying means being operable to alternatively and selectively supply current at a first and second rate, the first rate providing for high rate charging of the battery; means for sensing the voltage of the battery while the charger is connected to the battery, the sensing means being adapted to be coupled to the battery; means for alternatively selecting the first rate and the second rate, the selecting means including mechanically operable switch means including means for selecting the first current rate and the second current rate, and the selecting means being coupled to the supplying means; means for severing the supply of charging current of the battery when the second rate is selected and when the sensing means senses battery voltage in excess of a first predetermined threshold voltage, and for resuming the supply of current to the battery at the second rate when the sensing means senses battery voltage below a second predetermined threshold voltage lower than the first predetermined threshold voltage, the severing means being coupled to the current supplying means, to the sensing means, and to the selecting means.
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10. A battery charger adapted to be electrically connected to the terminals of a battery for providing a charge to the battery, the battery charger comprising:
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means for supplying charging current to the battery, the current supplying means being operable to alternatively and selectively supply current at a first and second rate, the first rate providing for high rate charging of the battery, the current supplying means including a transformer having a primary winding adapted to be electrically connected to household alternating current, and a secondary winding adapted to be electrically connected to the battery; means for sensing the voltage of the battery while the charger is connected to the battery, the sensing means being adapted to be coupled to the battery; means for alternatively selecting the first rate and the second rate, the selecting means being coupled to the supplying means; means for severing the supply of charging current of the battery when the second rate is selected and when the sensing means senses battery voltage in excess of a first predetermined threshold voltage, and for resuming the supply of current to the battery at the second rate when the sensing means senses battery voltage below a second predetermined threshold voltage lower than the first predetermined threshold voltage, the severing means being coupled to the current supplying means, to the sensing means, and to the selecting means, the severing means including relay contacts operative to open to sever current flow through the primary winding of the transformer to sever the supply of charging current to the battery when the sensing means senses battery voltage in excess of the upper predetermined threshold voltage.
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11. A battery charger adapted to be electrically connected to the terminals of a battery for providing a charge to the battery, the battery charger comprising:
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means for supplying a charging current to the battery, the current supplying means being operable to alternatively and selectively supply current at a first and second rate, the first current rate being at least 30 amps and providing for high rate charging of the battery; means for sensing the voltage of the battery when the charger is connected to the battery, the sensing means being adapted to be coupled to the battery; timer means for selecting the first rate for a selected period of time, and for selecting the second rate after the selected period of time expires, the timer means being coupled to the supplying means; and means for severing the supply of charging current to the battery when the second rate is selected and when the sensing means senses battery voltage in excess of a first predetermined threshold voltage, and for resuming the supply of charging current to the battery at the second rate when the sensing means senses battery voltage below a second predetermined threshold voltage lower than the first predetermined threshold voltage, the severing means being coupled to the current supplying means, to the sensing means, and to the timer means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A battery charger comprising:
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means for sensing the voltage of a battery when a battery is electrically connected to the charger; means for supplying at least 14 amps of charging current to the battery; means for severing the supply of charging current to the battery when the sensing means senses battery voltage in excess of a first predetermined threshold voltage and for resuming the supply of at least 14 amps of charging current to the battery when the sensing means sense battery voltage below a second predetermined threshold voltage lower than the first predetermined threshold voltage, the severing means being coupled to the current supplying means and to the sensing means. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of charging a battery comprising the steps of:
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providing means for supplying charging current to the battery, the current supplying means being operable to alteratively supply current at a first rate and at a second rate; selecting one of the first rate and the second rate; electronically severing the supply of charging current to the battery when the second rate is selected and when the battery voltage exceeds a first predetermined threshold voltage; electronically resuming the supply of current to the battery at the second rate when the battery voltage falls below a second predetermined threshold voltage lower than the first predetermined threshold voltage; and adjusting the second predetermined threshold voltage after said providing step. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of charging a battery comprising the steps of:
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providing means for supplying charging current to the battery, the current supplying means being operable to selectively supply current at a first rate of at least 30 amps and at a second rate; selecting the first rate for a selected period of time and thereafter selecting the second rate; electronically severing the supply of charging current to the battery when the second rate is selected and when the battery voltage exceeds a first predetermined threshold voltage; and electronically resuming the supply of current to the battery at the second rate when the battery voltage falls below a second predetermined threshold voltage lower than the first predetermined threshold voltage. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of charging a battery comprising the steps of:
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providing means for supplying at least 14 amps of charging current to the battery; electronically severing the supply of charging current to the battery when the battery voltage exceeds a first predetermined threshold voltage; and electronically resuming the supply of current to the battery when the battery voltage falls below a second predetermined threshold voltage lower than the first predetermined threshold voltage. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification