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Battery charging system and method of using same

  • US 5,349,281 A
  • Filed: 09/28/1992
  • Issued: 09/20/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of conditioning a battery, comprising:

  • applying a high discharge current to the battery;

    generating a conditioned signal continuously;

    converting said conditioned signal into a digital signal indicative of a present potential value of the battery;

    responding to said digital value by calculating periodically a derived battery potential value indicative of an averaged present potential value of the battery;

    determining whether said averaged present potential value is a predetermined discharged battery potential value;

    applying a high charge current to the battery when said averaged present potential value is substantially equal to said predetermined discharged battery potential value;

    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 greater than or equal to a predetermined incremental battery potential value;

    starting a timer in response to said incremental derived battery potential value being greater than or equal to said predetermined incremental battery potential value;

    repeating said steps of generating, converting, responding, determining, applying, 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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