System and method for minimizing the charge time of a battery

• US 7,525,279 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asset Intelligence LLC (PowerFleet, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Breen, Thomas B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah; Akm Enayet
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIGGUSH, AARON C
• Application Number:
  US10/892,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20060012347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,747 Days
• Field of Search: 320/103, 320/104, 320/159, 903/903, 903/907, 903/940, 903/947
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/947 Characterized by control of braking, e.g. blending of regeneration, friction braking

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for charging a battery in the least possible time in the presence of competing energy demands. A single source of energy is used to charge a battery and also to provide energy to one or more devices. Circuitry insures that the maximum possible amount of energy is being delivered to the battery at all times, consistent with the energy demands of the other devices.

Claims

1. A system for charging a battery, comprising

a source of electrical energy, wherein a first portion of said energy is used to charge a battery, and a second portion of energy is provided to a device, said device having varying demands for energy, and

circuitry for sensing activation of said device and generating, in response to said activation, a control signal, said control signal being fed to a regulator, said regulator responding to said control signal by reducing said first portion and increasing said second portion so as to satisfy said demand of said device;

wherein

said device is an anti-lock brake system operating on the brakes of a vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said cicuitry senses activation of said device by a drop in voltage supplied to said device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said source comprises the ACC pin of a 7-way connector on a tractor-trailer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry senses activation of said device by activation of one or more brake lights.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry further senses deactivation of said device and generates, in response to said deactivation, a control signal being fed to a regulator, said regulator responding to said control signal by increasing said first portion and reducing said second portion so as to direct maximum possible energy flow to said battery.

6. The system of claim 5, additionally comprising circuitry which introduces a delay between the arrival of said control signal at said regulator and said responding of said regulator.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said circuitry which introduces a delay comprises an LC circuit.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said delay is introduced only when said demand for energy is decreasing over time.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein said circuitry senses deactivation of said device by an increase in voltage supplied to said device.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein said circuitry senses deactivation of said device by deactivation of one or more brake lights.

11. A method for charging a battery, comprising:

providing a source of electrical energy, wherein a first portion of said energy is used to charge a battery, and a second portion of said energy is provided to a device, said device having varying demands for energy, and

sensing activation of said device and generating, in response to said activation, a control signal, said control signal being fed to a regulator, said regulator responding to said control signal by reducing said first portion and increasing said second portion so as to satisfy said demand of said device;

wherein

said device is an anti-lock brake system operating on the brakes of a vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said activation is sensed by a drop in voltage supplied to said device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said source is the ACC pin of a 7-way connector on a tractor-trailer.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said activation is sensed by activation of one or more brake lights.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

sensing deactivation of said device and generating, in response to said deactivation, a control signal being fed to a regulator, said regulator responding to said control signal by increasing said first portion and reducing said second portion so as to direct maximum possible energy flow to said battery.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said circuitry senses deactivation of said device by an increase in voltage supplied to said device.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said circuitry senses deactivation of said device by deactivation of one or more brake lights.

18. The method of claim 15, additionally comprising introducing a delay between the arrival of said control signal at said regulator and said responding of said regulator.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said delay is introduced only when said demand for energy is decreasing over time.