Timed battery charger
First Claim
1. A timed battery charger for processing a battery through a charging cycle, which comprises:
- a current source for providing current at a single predetermined level at all times during the charging cycle;
means for dividing the charging cycle into a plurality of prescribed timed periods during each of which the current at the single predetermined level is available to be supplied to the battery for charging of the battery;
means for establishing a prescribed duty cycle of operation for each of the plurality of prescribed timed periods; and
means for facilitating the supply of current from the current source at the single predetermined level in accordance with the duty cycle of operation for each of the plurality of prescribed timed periods.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A charger 10 includes facility, such as a capacitor 14, for establishing a constant current source which is rectified by rectifier 16 to provide a supply of charging current at a single level in each of two successive periods of a charging cycle. The output of rectifier 16 is coupled through a SCR 26 to a battery B to be charged. Under control of a timer 28, SCR 26 remains conductive for a prescribed continuous period to facilitate the supply of the single-level charging current to battery B during a full charge or first period mode at a 100% duty cycle. At the end of the prescribed first period, a timer 36 then controls the on-off operation of SCR 26 to facilitate the supply of the single-level charging current during a trickle charge mode at a 20% duty cycle. In an alternative embodiment, a charge 100 includes four timers 118, 120, 122 and 124 which provide for three phases or modes of operation in which a single-level charging current is supplied to battery B at a duty cycle of 75% during a first of the three periods, at a duty cycle of 100% during a second of the three periods and at a duty cycle of 12.5% during a third of the three periods.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A timed battery charger for processing a battery through a charging cycle, which comprises:
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a current source for providing current at a single predetermined level at all times during the charging cycle; means for dividing the charging cycle into a plurality of prescribed timed periods during each of which the current at the single predetermined level is available to be supplied to the battery for charging of the battery; means for establishing a prescribed duty cycle of operation for each of the plurality of prescribed timed periods; and means for facilitating the supply of current from the current source at the single predetermined level in accordance with the duty cycle of operation for each of the plurality of prescribed timed periods. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A timed battery charger for processing a battery through a charging cycle, which comprises:
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a current source for providing current at a single predetermined level at all times during the charging cycle; first controlling means for controlling the current source to supply current to the battery at the single level for a first prescribed charging period; first duty cycle means for facilitating the supply of current to the battery at a first prescribed duty cycle during the first prescribed charging period; second controlling means for controlling the current source to supply current to the battery at the single level for a second prescribed charging period; second duty cycle means for facilitating the supply of current to the battery at a second prescribed duty cycle during the second prescribed charging period; third controlling means for controlling the current source to supply current to the battery at the single level for a third prescribed charging period, and third duty cycle means for facilitating the supply of current to the battery at a third prescribed duty cycle during the third prescribed charging period. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A timed battery charger for processing a battery through a charging cycle, which comprises:
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means for supplying a charging current at a single level to the battery to be charged; a first timer for establishing a first charging period during which the charging current at the single level is supplied by the supplying means; a second timer for controlling operation of the supplying means at a first duty cycle during the first charging period so that the charging current is supplied to the battery at the single level and at the first duty cycle; a third timer for establishing a second charging period and for controlling operation of the supplying means at a second duty cycle during the second charging period so that the charging current is supplied to the battery at the single level and at the second duty cycle, and a fourth timer for controlling operation of the supplying means at a third duty cycle during a third charging period following completion of the second charging period whereby charging current at the single level is supplied to the battery at the third duty cycle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification