Balanced battery charger
First Claim
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1. A balanced battery charger for maintaining a balanced charge upon a plurality of battery cells which are connected in series with one another, the balanced battery charger comprising:
- a) a monitoring circuit for determining when an imbalance between the charges upon the battery cells occurs; and
b) a charging/discharging circuit for selectively charging and discharging at least a selected one of the battery cells so as to generally balance the charge upon the battery cells;
c) wherein the charging/discharging is at least partially defined by a multiplexed analog input and digital output of a micro controller; and
d) wherein balancing the charge upon the battery cells substantially enhances a life thereof.
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Abstract
A balanced battery charger maintains a balanced charge upon a plurality of battery cells which are connected in series with one another. The balanced battery changer has a monitoring circuit for determining when an imbalance between the charge upon the battery cells occurs and a charging/discharging circuit for selectively charging and discharging at least a selected one of the battery cells so as to generally balance the charge upon the battery cells. Balancing the charge upon the battery cells substantially enhances the life thereof.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A balanced battery charger for maintaining a balanced charge upon a plurality of battery cells which are connected in series with one another, the balanced battery charger comprising:
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a) a monitoring circuit for determining when an imbalance between the charges upon the battery cells occurs; and b) a charging/discharging circuit for selectively charging and discharging at least a selected one of the battery cells so as to generally balance the charge upon the battery cells; c) wherein the charging/discharging is at least partially defined by a multiplexed analog input and digital output of a micro controller; and d) wherein balancing the charge upon the battery cells substantially enhances a life thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for maintaining a balanced charge upon a plurality of battery cells which are connected in series with one another, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) determining when an imbalance between the charges upon the battery cells occurs; and b) selectively charging and discharging at least a selected one of the battery cells so as to generally balance the charge upon the battery cells; c) wherein the step of selectively charging and discharging at least a selective one of the battery cells comprises selectively charging and discharging at least a selected one of the battery cells utilizing a multiplexed analog input and digital output of a micro controller; and d) wherein balancing the charge upon the battery cells substantially enhances a life thereof. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A balanced battery charger for maintaining a balanced charge upon a plurality of battery cells which are connected in series with one another, the balanced battery charger comprising:
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a) a monitoring circuit for determining when an imbalance between the charges upon the battery cells occurs, wherein the monitoring circuit comprises; i) a voltage divider for providing a reference signal representative of a desired charge upon selected battery cell(s); ii) a tap for providing a cell charge signal representative of an actual charge on the selected battery cell(s); and
whereiii) a comparator for comparing the reference signal to the cell charge signal and for effecting control of the charging/discharging circuit; and b) a charging/discharging circuit for selectively charging and discharging at least a selected one of the battery cells so as to generally balance the charge upon the battery cells; c) wherein balancing the charge upon the battery cells substantially enhances a life thereof.
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16. A balanced battery charger for maintaining a balanced charge upon a plurality of battery cells which are connected in series with one another, the balanced battery charger comprising:
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a) a monitoring circuit for determining when an imbalance between the charges upon the battery cells occurs; and
wherein the monitoring circuit comprises;i) a voltage divider for providing a reference signal representative of a desired charge on selected battery cells, a tap for providing a cell charge signal representative of an actual charge on the selected battery cell(s), and a comparator for comparing the reference signal to the cell charge signal and for effecting control of the charging/discharging circuit; and ii) the charging/discharging circuit comprises a micro controller having a tri-state output, the tri-state output facilitating charging, discharging, and maintenance of the charge upon the selected battery cell(s); b) a charging/discharging circuit for selectively charging and discharging at least a selected one of the battery cells so as to generally balance the charge upon the battery cells; and c) wherein balancing the charge upon the battery cells substantially enhances a life thereof.
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17. A method for maintaining a balanced charge upon a plurality of battery cells which are connected in series with one another, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) determining when an imbalance between the charges upon the battery cells occurs, wherein the step of determining when an imbalance between the charge upon the battery cells occurs comprises; i) providing a reference signal representative of a desired charge on selected battery cells via a voltage divider; ii) providing a cell charge signal representative of an actual charge on the selected battery cell(s) via a tap; iii) comparing the reference signal to the cell charge signal and then utilizing the result to effect control of the charging/discharging circuit; and iv) selectively charging, discharging and maintaining the charge upon the selected battery cell(s) via micro controller having a tri-state output; and b) selectively charging and discharging at least a selected one of the battery cells so as to generally balance the charge upon the battery cells; and c) wherein balancing the charge upon the battery cells substantially enhances a life thereof.
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Specification