Charging of batteries
First Claim
1. A method for charging a battery comprising:
- determining a resistance free maximum pulsed voltage as the battery is being charged above that of a known average resistance free pulsed voltage for the battery type, said determined resistance free maximum pulsed voltage being below that at which unacceptable gassing will occur,providing a repeatedly pulsed charging current to the battery sufficient to cause the determined resistance free maximum pulsed voltage to be reached over time,monitoring the resistance free maximum pulsed voltage to detect when the resistance free maximum pulsed voltage reaches the determined resistance free maximum pulsed voltage,continuing charging with the repeatedly pulsed charging current to maintain the resistance free maximum pulsed voltage at approximately the determined resistance free maximum pulsed voltage by at least one of;
(I) reducing the amplitude of the pulsed charging current,(II) increasing the OFF-time of pulses of the pulsed charging current, and(III) decreasing the ON-time of pulses of the pulsed charging current.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for fast charging of batteries such as lead acid batteries is provided. A repeatedly pulsed current is applied to the battery to enable a determined resistance free maximum pulsed voltage to be reached where the determined resistance free maximum pulsed voltage is below that at which unacceptable gassing will occur. The determined resistance free maximum pulsed voltage is above that of a known average resistance free pulsed voltage for the battery type. When the determined maximum pulsed voltage is reached the pulsed current is continued to be applied to maintain the resistance free maximum pulsed voltage at approximately the determined resistance free maximum pulsed voltage by at least one of: (I) reducing the amplitude of the pulsed charging current, (II) increasing the OFF-time of pulses of the pulsed charging current, (III) decreasing the ON-time of pulses of the pulsed charging current, (IV) a combination of any two or more of (I), (II) or (III). In addition, the present invention may employ a combination of stages to charge the battery. Alternatively or in combination, the system may use a repeatedly pulsed charging current or a repeatedly pulsed charge voltage to control and adjust the charging of the battery.
-
Citations
34 Claims
-
1. A method for charging a battery comprising:
-
determining a resistance free maximum pulsed voltage as the battery is being charged above that of a known average resistance free pulsed voltage for the battery type, said determined resistance free maximum pulsed voltage being below that at which unacceptable gassing will occur, providing a repeatedly pulsed charging current to the battery sufficient to cause the determined resistance free maximum pulsed voltage to be reached over time, monitoring the resistance free maximum pulsed voltage to detect when the resistance free maximum pulsed voltage reaches the determined resistance free maximum pulsed voltage, continuing charging with the repeatedly pulsed charging current to maintain the resistance free maximum pulsed voltage at approximately the determined resistance free maximum pulsed voltage by at least one of; (I) reducing the amplitude of the pulsed charging current, (II) increasing the OFF-time of pulses of the pulsed charging current, and (III) decreasing the ON-time of pulses of the pulsed charging current. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. Apparatus for charging a battery comprising:
-
a repeatedly pulsed current providing means for providing a determined resistance free maximum pulsed voltage to the battery that is determined as the battery is being charged and that is above that of a known average resistance free pulsed voltage for the battery type, said resistance free maximum pulsed voltage being below that at which unacceptable gassing will occur, monitoring means for monitoring the resistance free pulsed voltage to detect when the resistance free pulsed voltage reaches the determined resistance free maximum pulsed voltage, controlling means connected with the monitoring means for controlling the repeatedly pulsed charging current following the determined maximum pulsed voltage being reached to approximately maintain the resistance free maximum pulsed voltage at the determined resistance free maximum pulsed voltage by at least one of; (I) reducing the amplitude of the pulsed charging current, (II) increasing the OFF-time of pulses of the pulsed charging current, and (III) decreasing the ON-time of pulses of the pulsed charging current. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
Specification