Electronic charging system
First Claim
1. A charging system comprising:
- an input terminal for coupling to a power source;
an output terminal for coupling to a load to be charged;
an adjustable regulator having an input coupled to said input terminal, an output coupled to said output terminal and a control terminal, said adjustable regulator producing a controlled signal at its output responsive to the control signal applied to said control terminal;
controller means having an input coupled to said output terminal and an output coupled to said control terminal, said controller means including means to sense the state of charge of the and, responsive thereto;
(a) apply a predetermined charge-on control signal to said control terminal responsive to the load'"'"'s charge state being less than a predetermined full charge level to cause said adjustable regulator output to charge the load;
(b) apply a predetermined charge-off control signal to said control terminal, responsive to the load'"'"'s charge state being greater than a predetermined full charge level, to cause said adjustable regulator output to cease charging the load; and
(c) reapply said predetermined charge-on control signal to said control terminal responsive to the state of charge of the load dropping from said predetermined full charge level to a different predetermined recharge level; and
,means for predeterminedly tapering charge rate to the load as the load approaches said full charge level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A charging system has an input terminal, coupled to a power source, and an output terminal coupled to the load or battery under charge. The charging system includes an adjustable regulator having an input coupled to the input terminal and an output coupled to the output terminal with its control terminal under control of controller circuitry. The controller circuitry senses the state of charge of the load and provides a controlled, tapered charge thereto until such time that the load is fully charged. At the fully charged state, the controller changes the voltage at the control terminal of the regulator to cease all charging. Charging does not continue until the sensed level of charge of the battery drops to a predetermined recharge state at which point charger activity continues. The disclosed charger can be housed in a small, light weight enclosure and mounted at a location close to the battery with permanent connections thereto. The power source may be provided as a wall mount transformer having an interconnection to the remotely located charger.
31 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A charging system comprising:
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an input terminal for coupling to a power source; an output terminal for coupling to a load to be charged; an adjustable regulator having an input coupled to said input terminal, an output coupled to said output terminal and a control terminal, said adjustable regulator producing a controlled signal at its output responsive to the control signal applied to said control terminal; controller means having an input coupled to said output terminal and an output coupled to said control terminal, said controller means including means to sense the state of charge of the and, responsive thereto; (a) apply a predetermined charge-on control signal to said control terminal responsive to the load'"'"'s charge state being less than a predetermined full charge level to cause said adjustable regulator output to charge the load; (b) apply a predetermined charge-off control signal to said control terminal, responsive to the load'"'"'s charge state being greater than a predetermined full charge level, to cause said adjustable regulator output to cease charging the load; and (c) reapply said predetermined charge-on control signal to said control terminal responsive to the state of charge of the load dropping from said predetermined full charge level to a different predetermined recharge level; and
,means for predeterminedly tapering charge rate to the load as the load approaches said full charge level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A charging system automatically operable between charge-on and charge-off modes comprising:
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a power source; an adjustable voltage regulator having an input terminal connected to said power source, an output terminal and a control terminal, said regulator responding to a control signal at its control terminal to produce a predetermined level signal at its output terminal; a charger output terminal coupled to said adjustable voltage regulator output for coupling to a load to be charged; comparator means having a first input connected to said charger output terminal, a second input, and an output, said comparator means producing a predetermined charge-on mode signal at its output terminal responsive to a first predetermined relationship between signals at said comparator means first and second inputs, and a predetermined charge-off mode signal at its output terminal responsive to a second predetermined relationship between the signals at its first and second inputs; regulator controller means having an input coupled to the output of said comparator means and an output coupled to the control terminal of the adjustable regulator, said regulator controller means responding to said first predetermined charge-on signal at said comparator output terminal to cause said adjustable regulator to produce a signal appropriate for charging the load, and responding to said predetermined charge-off signal at said comparator means output terminal to cause said adjustable regulator to produce a signal appropriate to prevent charging of the load; a reference controller means coupled to said comparator means second input for coupling a first predetermined reference level thereto responsive to said comparator means producing said predetermined charge-on signal at its output, and coupling a second predetermined reference level thereto responsive to said comparator means producing said predetermined charge-off signal at its output, said predetermined first reference level corresponding to the state of said load being fully charged such that upon said fully charged state being reached, said comparator means switches to produce said predetermined charge-off signal thereby ceasing further charging of the load until such time as the state of charge thereof falls to a level corresponding to said reference controller means second predetermined reference level, whereby said comparator means is switched to produce its charge-on signal thereby effecting re-charging of the load; and
,means for predeterminedly tapering charge rate to the load as the load approaches its fully charged state. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification