Monitoring and controlling system for battery and battery charger
First Claim
1. A battery-operated vehicle comprising:
- a drive system;
a battery for operating the drive system;
battery charger control means;
means for connecting a battery charger to at least one of the battery and the battery charger control means; and
circuit means for controlling the operation of the vehicle;
said battery charger being at a station separated from said vehicle and said battery charger control means being on said vehicle, wherein a plurality of vehicles may be served by one charger and a microprocessor may control both the circuit means and the battery charger control means.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In operating a battery powered vehicle, a battery charger is located at a stationary location but the battery charger control circuit is mounted on the vehicle and powered from the DC battery of the vehicle. During a charging operation, a microprocessor within the battery charger control circuit detects that a charging operation is taking place and locks the vehicle in position and when the battery charger is disconnected, the battery charger is de-energized prior to disconnecting the electrical contact between it and the vehicle to avoid arcing. The microprocessor and its memory within the battery charger control circuit records information about the energy state of the battery and controls the battery both by measuring input and output power to the battery and by measuring the rate of change of charging current. It also controls operations such as trouble lights within the vehicle and may control a speed control circuit within the vehicle as well.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A battery-operated vehicle comprising:
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a drive system; a battery for operating the drive system; battery charger control means; means for connecting a battery charger to at least one of the battery and the battery charger control means; and circuit means for controlling the operation of the vehicle; said battery charger being at a station separated from said vehicle and said battery charger control means being on said vehicle, wherein a plurality of vehicles may be served by one charger and a microprocessor may control both the circuit means and the battery charger control means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operating a battery-operated vehicle comprising the steps of:
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driving a vehicle including a battery charger control circuit under the power of a battery; and periodically connecting one of the battery and battery charger control circuit to a battery charger not on the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification