Battery monitoring and deceleration dependent fuel-saving charging system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for charging a battery used for energizing a load, comprising:
- a first circuit for monitoring the state of charge of the battery;
a control circuit, responsive to the first circuit, for providing a first control signal when the battery state of charge is above a preselected first state of charge and a second control signal when the battery state of charge is below the first state of charge, the first control signal being different from the second control signal;
a second circuit for providing a load signal indicating the amplitude and polarity of the current load on the battery, wherein the control circuit is responsive to the second circuit and provides a third control signal when the load signal is above a preselected first load and provides one of the first and second control signals when the load signal is below the first load, the first control signal being different from the third control signal; and
a battery charging device, responsive to the control circuit, having an output voltage for providing a first charging voltage level in response to the first control signal and a second charging voltage level and a charging current in response to the second control signal, and a third charging voltage level and a charging current in response to the third control signal, the first charging voltage level being lower than the second charging voltage level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a battery monitoring and charging system capable of determining when charging conditions are favorable, thereby adjusting the charging level to maximize fuel saving. In particular, the system increases the alternator field current to charge a battery during vehicle deceleration so that vehicle momentum, instead of engine power, is used to torque the alternator shaft. The system controls the alternator field current with a voltage regulator. The voltage regulator senses the charge level of the battery, the amplitude and direction of the battery current load, and vehicle operating conditions to provide the proper current into the alternator rotor for maximum fuel savings. The voltage regulator may be a non-microprocessor or a microprocessor controlled device.
285 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An apparatus for charging a battery used for energizing a load, comprising:
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a first circuit for monitoring the state of charge of the battery; a control circuit, responsive to the first circuit, for providing a first control signal when the battery state of charge is above a preselected first state of charge and a second control signal when the battery state of charge is below the first state of charge, the first control signal being different from the second control signal; a second circuit for providing a load signal indicating the amplitude and polarity of the current load on the battery, wherein the control circuit is responsive to the second circuit and provides a third control signal when the load signal is above a preselected first load and provides one of the first and second control signals when the load signal is below the first load, the first control signal being different from the third control signal; and a battery charging device, responsive to the control circuit, having an output voltage for providing a first charging voltage level in response to the first control signal and a second charging voltage level and a charging current in response to the second control signal, and a third charging voltage level and a charging current in response to the third control signal, the first charging voltage level being lower than the second charging voltage level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of controlling the output voltage delivered by a battery charging device to a battery comprising the steps of:
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(a) monitoring the state of charge of the battery; (b) determining whether the state of charge of the battery is above or below some predetermined charge level; (c) maintaining the output produced by the battery charging device at a first voltage level and a charging current when the state of charge of the battery is below the predetermined charge level and at a second voltage level when the state of charge is above the predetermined charge level, the second voltage level being lower than the first level; (d) monitoring the amplitude and polarity of the current load on the battery; (e) determining whether the current load is above or below some predetermined load amplitude; and (f) maintaining the output produced by the battery charging device at one of the first and second voltage levels when the current load is below the predetermined load amplitude and at the first voltage level when the load current is above the predetermined load amplitude. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of controlling the output voltage delivered by a battery charging device to a battery comprising the steps of:
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(a) monitoring the state of charge of the battery; (b) determining whether the state of charge of the battery is above or below some predetermined charge level; (c) maintaining the output produced by the battery charging device at a first voltage level and a charging current when the state of charge of the battery is below the predetermined charge level and at a second voltage level when the state of charge is above the predetermined charge level, second voltage level being lower than the first level and at a voltage corresponding to placing a trickle charge current on the battery.
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19. A method of controlling the output voltage delivered by a battery charging device to a battery in an automatic vehicle comprising the steps of:
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(a) monitoring the state of charge of the battery; (b) determining whether the state of charge of the battery is above or below some predetermined charge level; (c) maintaining the output produced by the battery charging device at a first voltage level and a charging current when the state of charge of the battery is below the predetermined charge level and at a second voltage level when the state of charge is above the predetermined charge level, the second voltage level being lower than the first level; (d) monitoring the speed of the vehicle; (e) determining whether or not the vehicle is decelerating; and wherein the maintaining step (c) further comprises maintaining the voltage produced by the battery charging device at the first voltage level when the state of charge of the battery is below the predetermined charge level or when the vehicle is decelerating and at the second voltage level when the state of charge is above the predetermined charge level and the vehicle is not decelerating.
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20. In an automotive vehicle having a battery and a battery charging device having an output voltage for charging the battery, a system for controlling the charging voltage level applied to the battery comprising:
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a first circuit for comparing the charging voltage applied to the battery to a selectable reference voltage level and regulating the battery charging voltage at the reference voltage level; a device for monitoring the deceleration of the automotive vehicle; a second circuit for monitoring the amplitude and polarity of current load on the battery; a third circuit for adjusting the first circuit to increase the charging voltage applied to the battery above the reference voltage level for charging the battery when the vehicle is decelerating or when the load current is above a predetermined load amplitude. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. In an automotive vehicle having a battery and a battery charging device having an output voltage for charging the battery, a method of controlling the charging voltage level applied to the battery comprising:
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comparing the charging voltage applied to the battery to a selectable reference voltage level; regulating the battery charging voltage at the reference voltage level; monitoring the deceleration of the automotive vehicle; monitoring the amplitude and polarity of current load on the battery; increasing the charging voltage applied to the battery above the reference voltage level for charging the battery when the vehicle is decelerating or when the load current is above a predetermined load amplitude. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification