System and method for charging rechargeable batteries

• US 6,885,169 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2001
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Curtis Henry Dobbie
• Original Assignee: Curtis Henry Dobbie
• Inventors: Dobbie, Curtis Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US10/399,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20040041540A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 320/141, 320/130, 320/131, 320/124, 320/125, 320/128, 320/133, 320/139, 320/145, 320/157, 320/159, 320/160, 320/162
• US Class Current: 320/141
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method for charging at least one rechargeable battery is described where a plurality of short duration high magnitude positive current pulses are delivered to the battery. Each pulse is followed by a period of positive average charging current and then a negative current pulse. This cycle is repeated a number of times followed by a large negative current pulse and possibly a rest period. Both the duration and magnitude of each pulse or period may be pseudo randomly varied.

Claims

1. A method for charging at least one rechargeable battery, said method comprising the steps of

delivering current to the battery having a plurality of charging cycles including at least a first cycle comprising a short duration positive current impulses, a period of positive charging current, said period of positive charging current being at least a significant portion of a duration of said first cycle, a short duration negative current pulse, and a rest period wherein each positive current impulse having a magnitude substantially greater than the rated charge current for a given battery and said short duration being substantially less than a period of said first cycle, and wherein each negative current pulse having a magnitude less than a corresponding positive current impulse.

2. The method for charging at least one rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein each positive current impulse has a magnitude of at least twice the average of the positive average charging current.

3. The method for charging at least one rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein each positive current pulse is substantially shorter in duration compared to a corresponding period of positive average charging current.

4. The method for charging at least one rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein each negative current pulse contains between {fraction (1/7)}th and {fraction (1/10)}th of the energy of a corresponding period of positive average charging current.

5. The method for charging at least one rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy from each negative current pulse is stored and reused in subsequent charging.

6. The method for charging at least one rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein each negative current pulse is of substantially shorter duration compared to a corresponding period of positive average charging current.

7. The method for charging at least one rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein current delivered to the battery includes a plurality of rest sections with no current.

8. The method for charging at least one rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein current delivered to the battery includes a plurality of large negative current pulses.

9. The method for charging at least one rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first current cycle is delivered to a battery for a plurality of periods.

10. The method for charging at least one rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 9, wherein said period is between 5 and 50 milliseconds.

11. The method for charging at least one rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 9, wherein a second current cycle comprising a large negative pulse is followed by a rest section, each second current cycle is delivered to a battery following a plurality of first current cycles.

12. The method for charging at least one rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein the duration of one of each pulse, impulse and period is varied.

13. The method for charging at least one rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 12, wherein the duration of one of each pulse, impulse and period is pseudo randomly varied.

14. The method for charging at least one rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnitude of one of each pulse, impulse and period is varied.

15. The method for charging at least one rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 14, wherein the magnitude of one of each pulse, impulse and period is pseudo randomly varied.

16. The method for charging at least one rechargeable battery as claimed claim 2, wherein each positive current impulse has a magnitude of at least ten times the average of the positive average charging current.

17. The system for charging at least one battery, wherein the battery is charged according to the method claimed in claim 1.