Electric car battery pack charging device and a method

• US 6,147,473 A
• Filed: 12/07/1999
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Koo, Jae-Seung
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US09/456,134
• Time in Patent Office: 343 Days
• Field of Search: 320/162, 320/160, 320/125
• US Class Current: 320/160
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/50 Charging stations characterised by energy-storage or power-generation means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

Disclosed is a device and method for charging an electric car battery pack that charges by receiving power and discharges to supply power. A battery charging controller controls charging the battery pack at a constant power, and when the voltage of the battery pack is over a first voltage, controls a constant current charging process, and after this, each time a peak value of the battery pack is over a second voltage, controls a sequential reduction of current and performs a constant current charging process, and when the voltage of the battery pack is over a third voltage, controls a constant current charging process at a fourth voltage, and when the charging voltage is over a fifth voltage, controls a termination of the charging process. A battery charger receives external power according to the control of the battery charging controller, and charges the battery.

Claims

1. A battery charging device of an electric car, comprising:

a battery pack receiving power to charge and discharging to supply power;

a battery charging controller controlling a charging of the battery pack at a constant power, and when a voltage of the battery pack is over a first voltage, controlling a constant current charging process, and after this, each time a peak value of the battery pack is over a second voltage, controlling a sequential reduction of current and performing a constant current charging process, and when the voltage of the battery pack is over a third voltage, controlling a constant voltage charging process at a fourth voltage, and when the charging voltage is over a fifth voltage, controlling a termination of the charging process; and

a battery charger receiving external power according to the control of the battery charging controller, and charging the battery.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the battery charging controller charges the battery pack at a first constant current during a constant current charging process, and when the voltage of the battery pack is over the second voltage, the battery charging controller charges the battery pack at a second constant current, and when the voltage of the battery pack is again over the second voltage, the battery charging controller charges the battery pack at a third constant current, and when the voltage of the battery pack is again over the third voltage, the battery charging controller charges the battery pack at a fourth constant current.

3. A method for charging a battery pack of an electric car, comprising the steps of:

(a) charging a battery pack at a constant power and determining whether a voltage of the battery pack is over a first voltage;

(b) charging the battery pack at a constant current when the voltage of the battery pack is over the first voltage, and each time a peak value of the voltage of the battery pack is over a second voltage, sequentially reducing the current and charging the battery pack at a constant current; and

(c) charging the battery pack at a fourth constant voltage when the voltage of the battery pack is over a third voltage, and terminating the charging process when the charging voltage is over a fifth voltage.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step (b) is characterized in that the battery pack is charged at the first constant current, and when the voltage of the battery pack is over the second voltage, the battery pack is charged at the second constant current, and when the voltage of the battery pack is again over the second voltage, the battery pack is charged at the third constant current, and when the voltage of the battery pack is over the third voltage, the battery pack is charged at the fourth constant current.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step (b) is characterized in that the battery pack is charged at a first constant current, and when a maximum voltage of a module of the battery pack is over the first voltage, the battery pack is charged at a second constant current, and when the voltage is again over second voltage, the battery pack is charged at a third constant current, and when the voltage is again over third voltage, the battery pack is charged at a fourth constant current.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step (b) is characterized in that when the battery pack is charged at the fourth constant current, and when the voltage of one or more of the modules of the battery pack is over the fourth voltage, the step (c) commences.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the step (a) is characterized in that when the battery pack is charged at a constant power, and when the voltage of one or more modules of the battery pack is over the fourth voltage, the step (b) commences.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the step (c) is characterized in that when the battery pack is charged at a fourth constant voltage, and when the voltage of one or more modules of the battery pack is over the fifth voltage, the charging process is terminated.