Battery charging and discharging system optimized for high temperature environments
DC CAFCFirst Claim
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1. An apparatus for charging a battery comprisinga charging circuit for providing a charging current to the battery;
- a temperature sensor positioned to sense a temperature of said battery; and
a controller coupled to said temperature sensor and said charging circuit and operable to control said charging circuit in accordance with said temperature, said controller operable to set said charging current to zero when said temperature is higher than a first predetermined threshold value.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling the charge and discharge currents in a battery (2) as a function of temperature. When a battery (2) is charged or discharged in an environment that approaches its design operating temperature extreme, the currents are reduced to limit self-heating of the battery and thus extend the useful operating environment temperature range. A temperature sensor (18) is coupled to a controller (6) to sense the battery (2) temperature. The temperature information is used to set a suitable charging or discharging current (8).
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus for charging a battery comprising
a charging circuit for providing a charging current to the battery; -
a temperature sensor positioned to sense a temperature of said battery; and
a controller coupled to said temperature sensor and said charging circuit and operable to control said charging circuit in accordance with said temperature, said controller operable to set said charging current to zero when said temperature is higher than a first predetermined threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for exercising a battery, comprising
a charging circuit having a charging current output coupled to the battery; -
a temperature sensor positioned to sense a temperature related to the battery temperature;
a discharging circuit having a discharging current input coupled to the battery; and
a controller coupled to said temperature sensor, said charging circuit, and said discharging circuit, said controller operable to set said charging current in accordance with said temperature, and operable to set said discharging current in accordance with said temperature, said controller being operable to set said discharging current to zero when said temperature is higher than a first predetermined threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of charging a battery, comprising the steps of:
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sensing a temperature related to the battery temperature;
setting a charging current in accordance with said sensed temperature and setting said charging current to zero when said temperature is higher than a first predetermined threshold value; and
charging the battery at said charging current. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of exercising a battery, comprising the steps of:
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sensing a temperature related to the battery temperature;
setting a discharging current in accordance with said temperature;
discharging the battery at said discharging current;
discontinuing said discharging step when a predetermined battery voltage is reached;
setting a charging current in accordance with said temperature, said setting step further including the step of setting said discharging current to zero when said temperature is higher than a first predetermined threshold value; and
charging the battery at said charging current. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An apparatus for exercising a battery, comprising
a charging circuit having a charging current output coupled to the battery; -
a temperature sensor positioned to sense a temperature related to the battery temperature;
a discharging circuit having a discharging current input coupled to the battery; and
a controller coupled to said temperature sensor, said charging circuit, and said discharging circuit, said controller operable to set said charging current in accordance with said temperature, and operable to set said discharging current in accordance with said temperature, said controller being operable to set said discharging current to a maximum value when said temperature is lower than a first predetermined threshold value, said maximum value being the battery'"'"'s maximum specified discharging current, and said first predetermined threshold value being the battery'"'"'s maximum discharging temperature.
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31. A method of exercising a battery, comprising the steps of:
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sensing a temperature related to the battery temperature;
setting a discharging current in accordance with said temperature;
discharging the battery at said discharging current;
discontinuing said discharging step when a predetermined battery voltage is reached;
setting a charging current in accordance with said temperature, said setting step further including the step of setting said discharging current to a maximum value if said temperature is lower than a first predetermined thresholds said maximum value being the battery'"'"'s maximum specified discharging current and said first predetermined threshold value being the battery'"'"'s maximum discharging temperature; and
charging the battery at said charging current.
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Specification