Control and termination of a battery charging process
First Claim
1. A method for charging a battery, comprising the steps of:
- applying a charging pulse which provides an average charging current;
applying a first depolarizing pulse;
waiting for a first rest period;
measuring the voltage of said battery at a predetermined point within said first rest period;
applying a second depolarizing pulse;
waiting for a second rest period;
measuring the voltage of said battery at said predetermined point within said second rest period;
determining a difference between said voltage at said predetermined point within said first rest period and said voltage at said predetermined point within said second rest period; and
if said difference is greater than a predetermined threshold then decreasing said average charging current.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for adjusting the process of charging a battery so as to charge the battery as rapidly as possible while avoiding overheating of or damage to the battery. The method provides for applying a charging pulse (C1) which provides an average charging current, applying a first depolarizing pulse (D1), waiting for a first rest period (DW1), measuring the voltage (V1) at a predetermined point within the first rest period, applying a second depolarizing pulse (D2), waiting for a second rest period (DW2), measuring the voltage (V2) at the predetermined point within the second rest period, determining a difference between the voltage (V1) and the voltage (V2), and decreasing the average charging current if the difference is greater than a predetermined amount. The present invention also provides for determining whether the battery is low on water.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for charging a battery, comprising the steps of:
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applying a charging pulse which provides an average charging current; applying a first depolarizing pulse; waiting for a first rest period; measuring the voltage of said battery at a predetermined point within said first rest period; applying a second depolarizing pulse; waiting for a second rest period; measuring the voltage of said battery at said predetermined point within said second rest period; determining a difference between said voltage at said predetermined point within said first rest period and said voltage at said predetermined point within said second rest period; and if said difference is greater than a predetermined threshold then decreasing said average charging current. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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3. A method for charging a battery, comprising the steps of:
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applying a charging pulse which provides an average charging current; applying a first depolarizing pulse; waiting for a first rest period; measuring the voltage of said battery at a predetermined point within said first rest period; applying a second depolarizing pulse; waiting for a second rest period; applying a subsequent depolarizing pulse; waiting for a subsequent rest period; measuring the voltage of said battery at said predetermined point within said subsequent rest period; determining a difference between said voltage at said predetermined point within said first rest period and said voltage at said predetermined point within said subsequent rest period; and if said difference is greater than a predetermined threshold then decreasing said average charging current.
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13. A method for charging a battery by a pulse charging process, comprising the steps of:
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applying a charging pulse; applying a first depolarizing pulse; waiting for a first rest period; measuring the voltage of said battery at a predetermined point within said first rest period; applying a second depolarizing pulse; waiting for a second rest period; measuring the voltage of said battery at said predetermined point within said second rest period; determining a difference between said voltage at said predetermined point within said first rest period and said voltage at said predetermined point within said second rest period; and if said difference is greater than a predetermined threshold then terminating said pulse charging process.
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14. A method for determining the condition of a battery, comprising the steps of:
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applying a charging pulse to said battery; applying a first depolarizing pulse to said battery; waiting for a first rest period; measuring the voltage of said battery at a first predetermined point within said first rest period; measuring the voltage of said battery at a second predetermined point within said first rest period; applying a second depolarizing pulse to said battery; waiting for a second rest period; determining a difference between said voltage at said first predetermined point and said voltage at said second predetermined point; and if said difference is greater than a predetermined threshold then indicating that water should be added to said battery.
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15. A method for terminating the charging process for a battery, comprising the steps of:
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applying a charging pulse to said battery; applying a first depolarizing pulse to said battery; waiting for a first rest period; measuring the voltage of said battery at a first predetermined point within said first rest period; measuring the voltage of said battery at a second predetermined point within said first rest period; applying a second depolarizing pulse to said battery; waiting for a second rest period; measuring the voltage of said battery at a first predetermined point within said second rest period; measuring the voltage of said battery at a second predetermined point within said second rest period; determining a first difference between said voltage at said first predetermined point within said first rest period and said voltage at said second predetermined point within said first rest period; determining a second difference between said voltage at said first predetermined point within said second rest period and said voltage at said second predetermined point within said second rest period; and if both said first difference is greater than a predetermined threshold and said second difference is greater than said predetermined threshold then terminating said charging process.
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Specification