Auto-controller for battery charger using thermo-control and current balance technology

• US 6,404,169 B1
• Filed: 08/23/2001
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Randall Wang
• Original Assignee: Randall Wang
• Inventors: Wang, Randall
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/940,149
• Time in Patent Office: 292 Days
• Field of Search: 320/127, 320/128, 320/133, 320/137, 320/150, 320/153, 320/155
• US Class Current: 320/150
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0024 Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00714 in response to battery charging or discharging current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An auto-controller is adapted for incorporating with a battery charger to charge a battery by using a thermo-control and current balance technology for extending a service life span of the battery while being cost effective. The auto-controller includes a resistor having a predetermined resistance for electrically connecting to the battery charger wherein the resistor generates heat when a predetermined current flows through that defines a reference temperature for the battery charger, and a thermo sensor operatively positioned adjacent to the resistor for detecting the reference temperature and selectively switching the battery charger on and off, whereby when the reference temperature is above a control temperature preset in the thermo sensor, the battery charger is switched off to not function and when the reference temperature is below the control temperature, the battery charger is maintained in a switch-on condition to continuously charge a battery.

Claims

1. An auto-controller of a battery charger which comprises a device circuit for electrically connecting a battery with a power source, wherein said auto-controller comprises:

a resistor having a predetermined resistance for electrically connecting to said battery charger wherein said resistor generates heat when a predetermined current flows through that defines a reference temperature of said battery charger; and

a thermo sensor, which is operatively positioned adjacent to said resistor, detecting an environment temperature of said resistor as said reference temperature of said battery charger and selectively switching the battery charger between a switch-on condition and a switch-off condition, wherein when said reference temperature is above a control temperature preset in the thermo sensor, the battery charger is switched to said switch-off condition to not function and when the reference temperature is below the control temperature, the battery charger is maintained in said switch-on condition to charge a battery.

2. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 1, wherein said thermo sensor is operatively positioned close to said resistor to define a detecting distance therebetween, wherein said detecting distance is capable of being adjusted for presetting said control temperature of said thermo sensor.

3. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 1, wherein said current flowing through said device circuit to said battery is gradually reduced when said reference temperature reduces in each charging duration which is a length of time of said device circuit in a single on and off manner.

4. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 2, wherein said current flowing through said device circuit to said battery is gradually reduced when said reference temperature reduces in each charging duration which is a length of time of said device circuit in a single on and off manner.

5. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 1, wherein said thermo sensor comprises a heat sensor positioned adjacent to said resistor and an auto switch for electrically connecting to said device circuit of said battery charger, wherein said heat sensor is electrically connected to said auto switch for selectively switching the battery charger between said switch-on condition and said switch-off condition.

6. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 2, wherein said thermo sensor comprises a heat sensor positioned adjacent to said resistor and an auto switch for electrically connecting to said device circuit of said battery charger, wherein said heat sensor is electrically connected to said auto switch for selectively switching the battery charger between said switch-on condition and said switch-off condition.

7. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 3, wherein said thermo sensor comprises a heat sensor positioned adjacent to said resistor and an auto switch for electrically connecting to said device circuit of said battery charger, wherein said heat sensor is electrically connected to said auto switch for selectively switching the battery charger between said switch-on condition and said switch-off condition.

8. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 4, wherein said thermo sensor comprises a heat sensor positioned adjacent to said resistor and an auto switch for electrically connecting to said device circuit of said battery charger, wherein said heat sensor is electrically connected to said auto switch for selectively switching the battery charger between said switch-on condition and said switch-off condition.

9. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 1, wherein said resistor has a predetermined resistance of 4 to 8 ohm.

10. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 5, wherein said resistor has a predetermined resistance of 4 to 8 ohm.

11. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 6, wherein said resistor has a predetermined resistance of 4 to 8 ohm.

12. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 1, wherein said control temperature is preferred to be 57°

C.

13. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 5, wherein said control temperature is preferred to be 57°

C.

14. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 6, wherein said control temperature is preferred to be 57°

C.

15. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 9, wherein said control temperature is preferred to be 57°

C.

16. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 10, wherein said control temperature is preferred to be 57°

C.

17. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 11, wherein said control temperature is preferred to be 57°

C.

18. A battery charger, comprising:

a device circuit which comprises a power input for electrically connecting to a power source and a power output for electrically connecting to a battery; and

an auto-controller, which is electrically connected with said device circuit, comprising;

a resistor having a predetermined resistance for electrically connecting to said device circuit wherein said resistor generates heat when a predetermined current flows through that defines a reference temperature of said battery charger; and

a thermo sensor, which is operatively positioned adjacent to said resistor, detecting an environment temperature of said resistor as said reference temperature of said battery charger and selectively switching the battery charger between a switch-on condition and a switch-off condition, wherein when said reference temperature is above a control temperature preset in the thermo sensor, the battery charger is switched to said switch-off condition to not function and when the reference temperature is below the control temperature, the battery charger is maintained in said switch-on condition to charge said battery.

19. The battery charger, as recited in claim 18, wherein said thermo sensor comprises a heat sensor positioned adjacent to said resistor and an auto switch electrically connected to one of said device circuit, wherein said heat sensor is electrically connected to said auto switch for selectively switching said battery charger between said switch-on condition and said switch-off condition.

20. The battery charger, as recited in claim 18, wherein said device circuit comprises a bridge converter having a pair of AC inputs and a pair of DC outputs, wherein said two AC inputs are electrically connected to said power input and said two DC outputs are electrically connected to said power output through input wires and output wires, wherein said resistor is electrically connected to one of said input and output wires, so that when said current flowing through said resistor increases, said environment temperature around said resistor increases accordingly.

21. The battery charger, as recited in claim 19, wherein said device circuit comprises a bridge converter having a pair of AC inputs and a pair of DC outputs, wherein said two AC inputs are electrically connected to said power input and said two DC outputs are electrically connected to said power output through input wires and output wires, wherein said resistor is electrically connected to one of said output wires, so that when said current flowing through said resistor increases, said environment temperature around said resistor increases accordingly, wherein said auto switch is electrically connected to one of said input wires for selectively switching on and off of said device circuit.

22. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 18, wherein said resistor has a predetermined resistance of 4 to 8 ohm.

23. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 19, wherein said resistor has a predetermined resistance of 4 to 8 ohm.

24. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 20, wherein said resistor has a predetermined resistance of 4 to 8 ohm.

25. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 21, wherein said resistor has a predetermined resistance of 4 to 8 ohm.

26. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 18, wherein said control temperature is preferred to be 57°

C.

27. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 19, wherein said control temperature is preferred to be 57°

C.

28. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 22, wherein said control temperature is preferred to be 57°

C.

29. The auto-controller, as recited in claim 23, wherein said control temperature is preferred to be 57°

C.