Pulsed battery rejuvenator having variable trailing edge shaped pulses

• US 5,525,892 A
• Filed: 08/24/1993
• Issued: 06/11/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pulsetech Products Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pulse Charge Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Phommarath, Southiphone T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US08/110,991
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 320/20, 320/5, 320/21, 320/22, 320/48, 320/31, 320/37, 320/49, 363/131, 363/132
• US Class Current: 320/139
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery rejuvenator circuit for use in conjunction with automatic start/stop battery generators. The rejuvenator circuit generates a positive voltage pulse train (characterized by a fast rise time spike followed by a non-uniform hump-shaped trail-off) that is combined with a DC charging current output by the charger. Operation of the rejuvenator circuit is controlled by a start-up delay circuit and a disconnect circuit. The start-up delay circuit senses the connection to a battery and delays for a predetermined time period to allow charging to begin before activating the rejuvenation circuit. The disconnect circuit senses the disconnection of the charger from the battery and deactivates the rejuvenation circuit.

Claims

1. A battery rejuvenator, comprising:

means for generating a pulsed rejuvenation signal for application to a battery, each pulse of said pulsed rejuvenation signal having a fast leading edge rise time and having between subsequent pulses a varying shaped trailing edge portion;

means for connecting the means for generating to the battery;

means for sensing connectivity to the battery and generating a connection signal;

means responsive to the connection signal of the means for sensing for controlling actuation of the means for generating the pulsed rejuvenation signal.

2. The battery rejuvenator as in claim 1 wherein the means for controlling comprises means for delaying for a predetermined time period the actuation of the means for generating following an initial connection of the means for generating to the battery.

3. The battery rejuvenator as in claim 1 wherein the means for controlling comprises means for de-actuating the means for generating following a disconnection of the means for generating from the battery.

4. The battery rejuvenator as in claim 1 wherein the means for controlling comprises:

means for delaying for a predetermined time period the actuation of the means for generating following an initial connection of the means for generating to the battery; and

means for de-actuating the means for generating following a disconnection of the means for generating from the battery.

5. The battery rejuvenator as in claim 4 wherein the means for generating comprises oscillation means for generating a positive voltage pulse train as the pulsed rejuvenation signal.

6. A battery rejuvenator for use in conjunction with a battery charger that generates a DC charging current applied to charge a battery, comprising:

means for generating a pulsed rejuvenation signal;

switch means for controlling the generation of the pulsed rejuvenation signal;

means for connecting the battery charger and the means for generating to the battery;

first means for sensing the application of the DC charging current to the battery by the battery charger;

second means for sensing the application of a DC discharge current output from the battery;

third means for sensing the disconnection of the means for connecting from the battery; and

means for controlling the actuation of the switch means controlled generation of the pulsed rejuvenation signal, said means including;

means responsive to the initial sensing of either the DC charging current or DC discharge current by the first or second means for sensing, respectively, for delaying actuation of the switch means for a predetermined time delay; and

, means responsive to the sensing of the disconnection of the means for connecting from the battery by the third means for sensing for de-actuating the switch means.

7. The battery rejuvenator as in claim 6 wherein the means for generating comprises oscillation means for generating a positive voltage pulse train as the pulsed rejuvenation signal.

8. The battery rejuvenator as in claim 7 wherein the oscillation means comprises:

an inverter multivibrator circuit generating an output signal comprising a train of alternating positive and negative pulses;

switch means for setting the peak voltage of the alternating pulses; and

a rectifier for transforming the negative pulses in the output signal into positive pulses to generate the positive voltage pulse train.

9. A battery rejuvenator, comprising:

oscillation means for generating a train of varying shaped positive voltage pulses, the pulse train having a predetermined frequency, said means including means for shaping each individual pulse in the form of a spike having a leading edge with a substantially fast rise time followed by a trailing edge having a varying shape between subsequent pulses; and

connector means coupled to the oscillation means for connecting the positive voltage pulse train to a battery.

10. The rejuvenator as in claim 9 wherein the oscillation means comprises a transistor oscillator circuit, the means for shaping including means for placing each transistor of the transistor oscillator circuit into a saturated operating mode.