Automatic battery charging system

• US 5,311,112 A
• Filed: 02/26/1993
• Issued: 05/10/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kussmaul Electronics LLC
• Original Assignee: Kussmaul Electronics Co., Inc. (Mission Critical Electronics LLC)
• Inventors: Creaco, Anthony F., Kussmaul, Ernest A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hickey, R. J.
• Application Number:
  US08/022,939
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 320/15, 320/20, 320/48, 320/39
• US Class Current: 320/119
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/21 State of charge of battery

Abstract

This automatic battery charging circuit has two independent channels for charging first and second batteries respectively. Circuit control means in the battery charging circuit enable it to provide charging current in proportion to the state of charge of the two batteries. First and second electronic bar displays are connected to the two channels by wires. The channels provide readings which indicate the state of charge of each battery. The state of charge of each battery is sensed only when no charging current flows to each battery. Computer components in the circuit control means compute the charge level of each battery and this charge level is indicated by the respective bar displays.

Claims

1. An automatic dual battery charging system, comprising:

a battery charging circuit having first and second independent channels for charging a respective first and second battery;

said first channel having a first charging terminal to which said first battery to be charged is connected;

said second channel having a second charging terminal to which said second battery to be charged is connected;

circuit control means is said battery charging circuit connected to said first and second channels for sensing the state of charge of said first and second battery and for enabling the same to provide said first and second batteries with a charging current is proportion to the state of charge in said batteries, so that the weaker one of said batteries receives a large charging current, while a stronger one of said batteries receives a less charging current; and

wherein said circuit control means further comprises a computer means for subtracting a current correction from each of said batteries to compute the charge level of each of said batteries.

2. A battery charging system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising separate first and second electronic bar displays connected to said first and second channels respectively, for indicating the state of charge of said batteries.

3. A battery charging system as clamed in claim 1, wherein said circuit control means further comprises means for interrupting the charging current to each of said batteries, only when no charging current flows, whereby the state of charge of each battery is sensed.

4. A battery charging system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising separate first and second electronic bart displays connected to said first and second channels respectively for indicating the charge level of each of said batteries.

5. A battery charging system as claimed in claim 4, further comprising wires connecting said first and second channels to said first and second batteries respectively, so that said batteries can be remotely located from said battery charging circuit, without introducing electrical resistance of said wires when the charge level to the respective batteries are measured.