Method of regulating the charging of a set of electrical storage cells, and a facility implementing the method
First Claim
1. A method of regulating the current supplied by a charger (3) to the end terminals of a set (1) of electrical storage cells, which set is made up of a plurality of units (2), each of which is identically made up of one or more identical electrochemical cells, the units being connected together in series via their respective power supply terminals, each unit being provided with an individual interface (5) including measurement means for measuring the voltage (V) across its power supply terminals, means (12, 13) for diverting a portion (Id) of the charging current (I) supplied to the unit, when the measured voltage is greater than a threshold value (VS), and means (15) for supplying measurement signals to a controller (4) of the charger, said method being characterized in that provision is made for the controller to reduce progressively the charging current supplied by the charger to the set, when a current measurement signal (i) is received from at least one of the interfaces, which current measurement signal expresses the existence of a current (Id) diverted at the interface, so long as the charging current (I) supplied to the set is greater than the sum of the currents (I) that can be diverted by the interfaces, after which the charging current (I) then being maintained at the same level until current measurement signals are received which indicate that the diversion means for all interfaces of the units of the set are operating.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The method and the facility are intended for regulating the current supplied by a charger (3) to a set (1) made up of a plurality of units (2), each of which is provided with an individual interface (5) making it possible to measure voltage, to divert a portion of the charging current, when the voltage measured across the unit is greater than a threshold value, and to supply measurement signals to a controller (4) of the charger. The charging current is reduced as soon as one of the interfaces indicates that it is diverting current, and so long as the charging current supplied is greater than the sum of the currents that can be diverted by the interfaces. The charging current is then maintained at the same level until all of the interfaces indicate that they are diverting current.
48 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method of regulating the current supplied by a charger (3) to the end terminals of a set (1) of electrical storage cells, which set is made up of a plurality of units (2), each of which is identically made up of one or more identical electrochemical cells, the units being connected together in series via their respective power supply terminals, each unit being provided with an individual interface (5) including measurement means for measuring the voltage (V) across its power supply terminals, means (12, 13) for diverting a portion (Id) of the charging current (I) supplied to the unit, when the measured voltage is greater than a threshold value (VS), and means (15) for supplying measurement signals to a controller (4) of the charger, said method being characterized in that provision is made for the controller to reduce progressively the charging current supplied by the charger to the set, when a current measurement signal (i) is received from at least one of the interfaces, which current measurement signal expresses the existence of a current (Id) diverted at the interface, so long as the charging current (I) supplied to the set is greater than the sum of the currents (I) that can be diverted by the interfaces, after which the charging current (I) then being maintained at the same level until current measurement signals are received which indicate that the diversion means for all interfaces of the units of the set are operating.
- 2. A battery charger system associating, at least temporarily, a charger (3) with a set (1) of electrical storage cells, which set is made up of a plurality of identical electrochemical units (2) connected together in series via their respective power supply terminals (+, -), the charger being connected to the end terminals (A, B) of the set, each unit of the set being provided with an individual interface (5) which includes means (7 to 11) for measuring the voltage (V) across its power supply terminals, means (12, 13) for diverting a portion of the charging current supplied to the cell, when the measured voltage (V) is greater than a threshold value (VS), and means (15) for supplying measurement signals to a controller (4) of the charger, said system being characterized in that the means for supplying measurement signals from each interface transmit a current signal (i) representative of the charging current (Id) diverted at the corresponding interface.
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4. A method of charging a series of electrochemical storage cells in a battery connected to an adjustable charging current supply, each cell having a voltage sensor and a current diverter circuit monitored by a controller, said method comprising the steps of:
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applying a charging current from the adjustable charging current supply to the battery; diverting a portion of said current around each cell in proportion to the amount by which said corresponding cell voltage sensor detects a cell voltage that exceeds a predetermined threshold; generating, for each cell, a current signal proportional to the amount of current being diverted (Id); monitoring said current signals for each cell; and signalling from said controller to said charging supply to reduce the charging current whenever at least one of said monitored current signals indicates a diverted current (Id). - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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Specification