Battery charging system and method for preventing false switching from fast charge to trickle charge
First Claim
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1. A method for charging a battery, comprising:
- applying a high charge current to a battery;
generating continuously a conditioned signal indicative of an instantaneous potential value of said battery;
converting said conditioned signal into a digital signal indicative of a present potential value of said battery;
responding to said digital signal by calculating periodically a derived battery potential value indicative of an averaged present potential value of said battery;
determining whether said averaged present potential value is a peak potential value;
storing said derived battery potential value when said averaged present potential value is the peak potential value;
responding to said digital signal by calculating periodically an incremental derived battery potential value relative to the stored peak potential value;
determining whether said incremental derived battery potential value is at least equal to a predetermined incremental battery potential value;
starting a timer in response to said incremental derived battery potential value being at least equal to said predetermined incremental battery potential value;
repeating said steps of generating, converting, responding, determining, storing, responding and determining;
resetting said timer if said derived battery potential value is the peak potential value;
resetting said timer in response to said incremental derived potential value having a potential value less than said predetermined incremental battery potential value; and
switching from applying said high charge current to the battery to applying a trickle charge current when said timer completes a predetermined counting sequence.
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Abstract
A battery charging system which prevents false switching from a fast charge mode to a trickle charge mode due to low frequency voltage aberration signals. The battery charging system includes a battery voltage analyzer and a plurality of battery charging and conditioning units for charging different types and kinds of nickel cadmium batteries. Firmware in the microprocessor rejects low frequency aberrations permitting a desired voltage signal to be produced which is indicative of the actual battery potential for charge switching purposes.
35 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for charging a battery, comprising:
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applying a high charge current to a battery; generating continuously a conditioned signal indicative of an instantaneous potential value of said battery; converting said conditioned signal into a digital signal indicative of a present potential value of said battery; responding to said digital signal by calculating periodically a derived battery potential value indicative of an averaged present potential value of said battery; determining whether said averaged present potential value is a peak potential value; storing said derived battery potential value when said averaged present potential value is the peak potential value; responding to said digital signal by calculating periodically an incremental derived battery potential value relative to the stored peak potential value; determining whether said incremental derived battery potential value is at least equal to a predetermined incremental battery potential value; starting a timer in response to said incremental derived battery potential value being at least equal to said predetermined incremental battery potential value; repeating said steps of generating, converting, responding, determining, storing, responding and determining; resetting said timer if said derived battery potential value is the peak potential value; resetting said timer in response to said incremental derived potential value having a potential value less than said predetermined incremental battery potential value; and switching from applying said high charge current to the battery to applying a trickle charge current when said timer completes a predetermined counting sequence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A battery charging system, comprising:
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a current control circuit for applying one of a fast charge current and a trickle charge current to a battery; conditioning means coupled to said battery for generating a digital signal indicative to a present potential value of said battery; processor means responsive to said conditioning means for calculating periodically a derived battery potential value indicative of an averaged potential value of said battery; said processor means including means for calculating periodically an incremental derived potential value relative to a derived peak potential value of said battery; and said processor means further including timing means for causing said current control means to decrease said charging current from said fast charge current to said trickle charge current after a predetermined period of time during which said incremental derived potential value does not become less than a predetermined incremental value. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification