Battery accumulating apparatus

• US 6,373,224 B1
• Filed: 11/19/1999
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Goto, Masayoshi, Gohnai, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US09/443,286
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 320/119, 320/116, 320/122, 320/125, 320/101, 320/160, 320/162
• US Class Current: 320/119
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

In a battery accumulating apparatus, a charge current I1 from the charging solar battery 9 is supplied to the storage battery 5 through the switch 10, and charges the storage battery 5. The charge controller 4b detects each cell voltage of the storage battery 5, and when any cell voltage reaches a prescribed value, the charge controller 4b turns the switch 10 which is in the ON status to the OFF status. The charge controller 4b has a function which generates the charge currents I2 and I3 (I2>I3) whose levels are lower than the charge current I1, according to the output from the charging solar battery 9, and which supplies the charge current I2 to the storage battery 5 to charge the battery at the same time as the turning OFF of the switch 10. The storage battery 5 is charged by the charge current I2, and when any cell voltage reaches a prescribed value, the charge controller 4b switches the charge current I2 to the charge current I3, and supplies the charge current I3 to the storage battery 5.

Claims

1. A battery accumulating apparatus, comprising:

a charging solar power supply;

a storage battery having battery cells which are cascade-connected; and

a charge current generating means for generating a current to charge the storage battery from the charging solar power supply, wherein the charge current generating means has a means for generating different charge currents; and

a power supply change means for connecting the charging solar power supply to the storage battery until a prescribed voltage is reached and for connecting the different charge currents to the storage battery until another prescribed voltage is reached.

2. The battery accumulating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charge current generating means further comprising a means for changing the charge current so as to be supplied at successively lower levels after, initially, the charge current is supplied at a high level.

3. The battery accumulating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the charge current generating means has a means for changing the charge current from a high level to successively lower levels when any voltage of the battery cells reaches a prescribed value.

4. The battery accumulating apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a shunt circuit respectively connected to each battery cell, and when any voltage of the battery cells reaches a prescribed value under the condition of charge current supply to the storage battery, the charge current flowing to the battery cell is bypassed by the shunt circuit connected to the battery cell.

5. The battery accumulating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a switch, which is provided between the power source and the storage battery;

being turned from an ON status to an OFF status by the charge current generating means when any voltage from one of the battery cells reaches a prescribed value; and

said switch being returned to ON status at the time of discharge.

6. The battery accumulating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a switch, which is provided between the power source and the storage battery;

being turned from an ON status to an OFF status by the charge current generating means when any voltage from one of the battery cells reaches a prescribed value; and

said switch being returned to ON status at the time of discharge.

7. The battery accumulating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a switch, which is provided between the power source and the storage battery;

being turned from an ON status to an OFF status by the charge current generating means when any voltage from one of the battery cells reaches a prescribed value; and

said switch being returned to ON status at the time of discharge.

8. The battery accumulating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switch, which is provided between the power source and the storage battery;

said switch being turned from an ON status to an OFF status by the charge current generating means when any voltage from one of the battery cells reaches a prescribed value; and

said switch being returned to ON status at the time of discharge.

9. The battery accumulating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charge current generating means has a means which detects the overall voltage of the battery cells, and which shifts to constant-voltage charge control when the detected voltage reaches a prescribed value.

10. The battery accumulating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a Li-Ion (lithium ion) battery cell structured with a Li (lithium) electrode is used as the battery cell.

11. A battery accumulating apparatus, comprising:

a storage battery to which battery cells are cascade-connected; and

a charge current generating means for generating a current to charge the storage battery from a power supply output;

wherein the charge current generating means has a means for generating different and a plurality of charge currents, and for supplying different and a plurality of charge currents to the storage battery,

wherein the charge current generating means has a means which releases the constant-voltage charge control when the voltage of the plurality of battery cells becomes unbalanced, and charges the battery cells with a low level charge current until the voltage of all the battery cells reaches a prescribed value.