Sequential high-rate charging of battery cells
First Claim
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1. A sequential battery charging apparatus for a battery having a plurality of cell units, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a current source;
(b) a controller connected to said current source and to each of said plurality of cell units;
(b) said controller including a sequencer to sequentially remove each of said plurality of cell units from service and to provide current from said current source to said each of said plurality of cell units, while removed from service, for a first selected period of time; and
(c) level of charging current during a recharging cycle of said plurality of cell units remaining, substantially throughout said recharging cycle, near peak charging current required for a steady-state charging cycle of said plurality of cell units, for charging cycles of substantially equal lengths.
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Abstract
In a preferred embodiment, a sequential high-rate battery charger for charging a battery having a plurality of cell units, the battery charger including a current source; an apparatus to selectively sequentially connect each of the plurality of cell units to the high current source; and an apparatus to sequentially provide high current from the high current source to each of the plurality of cell units for a first selected period of time.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A sequential battery charging apparatus for a battery having a plurality of cell units, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a current source;
(b) a controller connected to said current source and to each of said plurality of cell units;
(b) said controller including a sequencer to sequentially remove each of said plurality of cell units from service and to provide current from said current source to said each of said plurality of cell units, while removed from service, for a first selected period of time; and
(c) level of charging current during a recharging cycle of said plurality of cell units remaining, substantially throughout said recharging cycle, near peak charging current required for a steady-state charging cycle of said plurality of cell units, for charging cycles of substantially equal lengths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 26, 27, 28)
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15. A method of sequentially charging, with a current source, a battery having a plurality of cell units, said method comprising:
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(a) selectively sequentially connecting each of said plurality of cell units to said current source;
(b) sequentially providing current from said current source to said each of said plurality of cell units for a first selected period of time; and
(c) level of current during a recharging cycle of said plurality of cell units remaining, substantially throughout said recharging cycle, near peak charging current required for a steady-state charging cycle of said plurality of cell units for charging cycles of substantially equal lengths. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification