Device for a battery charger

• US 7,005,832 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2003
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CTEK Sweden AB (CTEK Holding AB)
• Original Assignee: Creator Teknisk Utveckling AB
• Inventors: Nordlöf, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Tibbits, Pia
• Application Number:
  US10/504,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20050093515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 320/121, 320/106, 320/146
• US Class Current: 320/121
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters

Abstract

A device for a battery charger, includes connection elements 14, 16 connected to the output lines of the charger, connection elements 16, 24 for connection to the terminals of a battery to be charged. The device includes elements 80 for detecting a voltage over the output lines of the charger, elements 80 for detecting a positive voltage over the terminals of a connected battery, switch elements 60 for connecting at least one of the output lines to the connection elements to the terminals of the battery, and a switch activating element 70 arranged to the voltage detection elements and designed and arranged such that it is capable of activating the switch when a voltage is detected over the output lines of the charger and a positive voltage is detected over the terminals of the connected battery, thereby connecting the charger to the battery.

Claims

1. Device for a battery charger, comprising:

a first connection means (14, 16) connected to the output lines of the charger, and

a second connection means (16, 24) for connection to the terminals of a battery to be charged, the second connection means comprising

first voltage detection means for detecting a voltage over the output lines of the charger,

second voltage detection means (80) for detecting a positive voltage over the terminals of the connected battery,

a switch means (60) for connecting at least one of the output lines of the charger to the terminals of the battery, and

a switch activating means (70) arranged to said first and second voltage detection means and configured for activating the switch means when both a voltage is detected over the output lines of the charger and a positive voltage is detected over the terminals of the connected battery, the activation of the switch means connecting the at least one of the output lines of the charger to the terminals of the battery and thereby connecting the charger to the battery.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that said switch activating means comprises a relay (64) and an AND-circuit, which AND-circuit forms a logical condition for activating said relay.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the second connection means further comprises a driver (70) for said relay, which driver obtains its driving power from a secondary circuit of the charger.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the second connection means further comprises a support circuit (100) capable of providing auxiliary energy should the battery voltage decrease below a certain threshold value.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterised in that the second connection means further comprises a support circuit (110) capable of generating and stabilising said auxiliary energy.

6. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the second connection means further comprises a support circuit (100) capable of providing auxiliary energy should the battery voltage decrease below a certain threshold value.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterised in that the second connection means further comprises a support circuit (110) capable of generating and stabilising said auxiliary energy.

8. Device according to claim 1, wherein, upon the first voltage detecting means detecting a loss of voltage over the charger output lines, the switch means disconnects the at least one of the output lines from the terminals of the battery.

9. A battery charger device, comprising:

a battery charger with output terminals (14, 16); and

a connection means, connected to the battery charger output lines (14, 16), with connections (24, 16) for connection to battery terminals (26, 16) of a battery to be charged, the connection means comprising

a first voltage detecting means for detecting a voltage over the battery charger output lines (14, 16),

a second voltage detecting means (80) for detecting a positive battery voltage over the battery terminals (26, 16) of the connected battery,

a switch means (60) for connecting at least one of the battery charger output lines (14) to the battery terminals (26), and

a switch activating means (70) arranged to the first and second voltage detection means and configured for activating the switch means only when detecting both i) a voltage is detected, by the first voltage detecting means, over the battery charger output lines and ii) a positive battery voltage is detected, by the second voltage detecting means, over the battery terminals of the connected battery, the activation of the switch means connecting the at least one of the battery charger output lines to the battery terminals and thereby connecting the battery charger to the battery, wherein,

upon the first voltage detecting means detecting a loss of voltage over the battery charger output lines, the switch means disconnects the at least one of the battery charger output lines from the battery terminals.

10. A battery charger device, comprising:

a primary switched battery charger (10) with a first output line (14) and a second output line (16);

a rectifier (18) connected to the first output line of the battery charger;

a spark protection circuit (20), connected to an output (22) of the rectifier and to the first output line (14) of the battery charger as inputs to the spark protection circuit, with a first output line (24) for connection to a first terminal of a battery to be charged;

the second output line (16) of the battery charger for connection to a second terminal of the battery;

a voltage feed control and regulation circuit (34) with an input (29) from the spark protection circuit;

a control circuit (38) with a first input (36) from the voltage feed control and regulation circuit, a second input (40) from the first output line (24) of the spark protection circuit, a third input (42) from the first output line (16) of the battery charger, the second and third input lines providing a voltage feedback, a fourth input (43) from the first output line (16) of the battery charger for current feedback;

a voltage supervision and maintenance circuit (50) with an internal supply voltage input (17) from the spark protection circuit; and

a feedback circuit (54) with a first input (52) from an output of the voltage supervision and maintenance circuit (50), a second input (56) from an output of the control circuit (38), and an output (58) connected to the battery charger.