Method and apparatus for using pulse current to extend the functionality of a battery
First Claim
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1. A method of conditioning a battery while discharging the battery, the method comprising:
- drawing power from the battery;
repetitively drawing a current pulse greater than the minimum conditioning current from the battery, thereby conditioning the battery.
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Abstract
A method to extend the functionality of a battery, the method comprising drawing power from the battery, and repetitively drawing a current pulse greater than the minimum conditioning current from the battery, thereby conditioning the battery.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of conditioning a battery while discharging the battery, the method comprising:
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drawing power from the battery;
repetitively drawing a current pulse greater than the minimum conditioning current from the battery, thereby conditioning the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
drawing a first current level from the battery at a first battery power;
determining whether a conditioning effect has been observed; and
if the conditioning effect has been observed, determining that the first current level is at least at the minimum conditioning current.
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4. The method of claim 1, wherein a pulse width is between 5 μ
- s and 500 μ
s.
- s and 500 μ
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5. The method of claim 1, wherein a pulse frequency is between 100 pulses per second and 1 pulse per minute.
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6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulse occurs at irregular intervals.
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7. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery is used to drive a device, while the current pulses are being drawn.
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8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
isolating a device coupled to the battery from a voltage dip in response to the current pulse.
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9. The method of claim 8, wherein the device is powered from an alternative power source while the current pulse is being drawn from the battery.
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10. The method of claim 9, wherein the alternative power source is a capacitor, and wherein the capacitor is charged by the battery.
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11. A method of conditioning a battery to eliminate voltage depression, the method comprising:
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coupling a pulser between the battery and a device during use of the battery, the pulser repetitively drawing a current pulse greater than the minimum conditioning current from the battery, thereby conditioning the battery; and
removing the pulser from between the battery and the device after a period of time, the battery having been conditioned during this process such that the in-use time of the battery corresponds to the in-use time of the new battery. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus to improve functionality of a battery comprising:
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a pulser to repetitively draw a current pulse greater than a minimum conditioning current from the battery, thereby conditioning the battery. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
a pulse generator to generate current pulses; and
such that a battery voltage is reduced to half its normal value.
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18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:
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a switch to disconnect the pulser from a device coupled to the battery while the voltage is reduced; and
a secondary power source to power the device during the pulse.
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19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the secondary power source comprises a capacitor.
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20. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:
a delay logic to disconnect the pulser from the device prior to the pulse, and to recouple the battery to the device after a voltage spike.
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21. An apparatus to condition a rechargeable battery during use comprising:
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a pulse generator powered by the battery;
a control circuit for switching the pulse generator into the circuit periodically, to permit the pulse generator to repetitively draw a current pulse greater than the minimum conditioning current from the battery, thereby conditioning the battery. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
a second switch to decouple the pulse generator an output of the apparatus, such that a device coupled to the output of the apparatus is not affected by a voltage dip as a result of the current pulse.
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24. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:
a delay logic to decouple the pulse generator prior to the current pulse, and to recouple the pulse generator after a delay, such that a voltage spike resulting from a decrease in the current after the current pulse does not affect the device.
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25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the control circuit comprises:
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a first driver controlling the first switch, the first driver controlled by the pulse generator, the first driver disconnecting the pulse generator from an output of the apparatus during the pulse; and
a second driver controlling a second switch to couple a capacitor to the output of the apparatus during the pulse, such that the capacitor provides power to a device coupled to the output of the apparatus.
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26. A method of conditioning a battery while discharging the battery, the method comprising:
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drawing a first current level and a first voltage level from the battery;
drawing a current pulse at least ten times the first current level from the battery;
such that the voltage provided by the battery during the current pulse is one half the first voltage level.
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Specification