Power supply charger and method of charging
First Claim
1. A method of charging battery cells divided into at least two battery cell groups, each battery cell group having an associated protector circuit module, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) for each battery cell group, applying a voltage across the battery cell group until one condition selected from the group consisting of the voltage of one of the battery cells exceeding a first threshold and the current across the battery cell group dropping below a second threshold, is met;
(b) for each battery cell group, verifying that each of the of battery cells of the battery cell group has a similar voltage;
(c) when the verification of the battery cells voltage in step b determines that at least one battery cell of the battery cell group has a voltage departing from the voltage of the other battery cells of the battery cell group by more than a predetermine value, decreasing the voltage of the other battery cells and returning to step a.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power supply charger for charging battery cells divided into at least two battery cell groups, each battery cell group having an associated protector circuit module. The power supply charger comprises, for each battery cell group, a power converter, a constant-current and constant-voltage device connected to the power converter for selectively applying a voltage from the power converter across the battery cell group and a current sensing circuit. The power supply charger further comprises, for each battery cell of a battery cell group, a voltage sensing circuit and a balancer circuit. Finally, the power supply charger comprises a micro-controller operatively connected to the various components and is so configured as to, for each battery cell group, selectively apply a voltage across the battery cell group or decrease the voltage of individual battery cells in the battery cell group in response to sensed battery cell voltage and battery cell group current.
65 Citations
42 Claims
-
1. A method of charging battery cells divided into at least two battery cell groups, each battery cell group having an associated protector circuit module, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) for each battery cell group, applying a voltage across the battery cell group until one condition selected from the group consisting of the voltage of one of the battery cells exceeding a first threshold and the current across the battery cell group dropping below a second threshold, is met; (b) for each battery cell group, verifying that each of the of battery cells of the battery cell group has a similar voltage; (c) when the verification of the battery cells voltage in step b determines that at least one battery cell of the battery cell group has a voltage departing from the voltage of the other battery cells of the battery cell group by more than a predetermine value, decreasing the voltage of the other battery cells and returning to step a. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A power supply charger for charging battery cells divided into at least two battery cell groups, each battery cell group having an associated protector circuit module, the power supply charger comprising:
-
a power source input configured to be connected to a power source; for each battery cell group; a power converter connected to the power source input; a constant-current and constant-voltage device connected to the power converter for selectively applying a voltage from the power converter across the battery cell group; a current sensing circuit for sensing the current through the cell group; terminals configured to connect the constant-current and constant-voltage device and the current sensing circuit to the battery cell group; for each battery cell of the battery cell group; a voltage sensing circuit for sensing the voltage across the battery cell; a balancer circuit for decreasing the voltage of the battery cell; terminals configured to connect the voltage sensing circuit and the balancer circuit to the battery cell; a micro-controller operatively connected to the constant-current and constant-voltage devices, current sensing circuits, voltage sensing circuits and balancer circuits, the micro-controller being so configured as to; (a) for each battery cell group, activate the constant-current and constant-voltage device to apply a voltage from the power converter across the battery cell group until one condition selected from the group consisting of the voltage sensing circuit of one of the battery cells of the battery cell group sensing that the voltage exceeds a first threshold and the current sensing circuit of the battery cell group sensing that the current has dropped below a second threshold, is met; (b) for each battery cell group, activate the voltage sensing circuits to verify that each of the battery cells of the battery cell group has a similar voltage; (c) when the verification of the voltage of the battery cells in step b determines that at least one battery cell of the battery cell group has a voltage departing from the voltage of the other battery cells of the battery cell group by more than a predetermine value, activate the balancer circuits to decrease the voltage of the other battery cells of the battery cell group and return to step a. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
-
Specification