System and method for controlling battery cool-down

• US 8,164,469 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2008
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canadus Power Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Canadus Power Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Altman, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG, JACK K
• Application Number:
  US12/173,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20100013648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 340/636.2, 320/148
• US Class Current: 340/636.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/06 Lead-acid accumulators semi-lead accumulators H01M10/20
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/443 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method for cooling a battery after a charging phase including the steps of providing a user display, identifying a starting point at which the charging phase of the battery transitions to a cooling phase, when the starting point is identified, instructing the user display to provide a first indication for a first predetermined amount of time, and after the first predetermined amount of time has elapsed, instructing the user display to provide a second indication.

Claims

1. A method for cooling a battery after a charging phase to indicate a cool-down state of said battery to a user thereof, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a user display;

identifying a starting point at which said a peak charging voltage of said battery, wherein said starting point is identified only if said peak charging voltage is greater than or equal to a reference value, and said charging phase of said battery transitions to a battery cool-down phase;

when said starting point is identified, instructing said user display to provide a first indication, said first indication showing that said battery should not be used, said first indication lasting for a first pre-set, fixed time interval after said starting point; and

after said first pre-set, fixed time interval has elapsed, instructing said user display to provide a second indication, said second indication showing that said battery has cooled down sufficiently to be used.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said battery is a lead-acid battery.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said user display includes a first light and a second light, wherein said first indication includes illuminating said first light and said second indication includes illuminating said second light.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said first light is a substantially red-colored light and said second light is a substantially green-colored light.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said first pre-set, fixed time interval is selected from time intervals lasting from about 2 to about 8 hours.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said second indication is displayed for a second pre-set, fixed time interval.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said second pre-set, fixed time interval is selected from time intervals lasting from about 2 to about 6 hours.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of, after said second pre-set, fixed time interval has elapsed, instructing said user display to provide a third indication, said third indication showing that said cool-down phase is fully complete.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said user display includes a first light, a second light and a third light, wherein said first indication includes illuminating said first light, said second indication includes illuminating said second light, and said third indication includes illuminating said third light.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said first light is a substantially red-colored light, said second light is a substantially yellow-colored light, and said third light is a substantially green-colored light.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of instructing said user display to provide an error indication if said peak charging voltage is less than said reference value.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said error indication includes a flashing light.

13. A method for cooling a battery after a charging phase to indicate a cool-down state of a battery to a user thereof, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a user display including at least a first light, a second light and a third light;

identifying a starting point at which a peak charging voltage of said battery, wherein said starting point is identified only if said peak charging voltage is greater than or equal to a reference value, and said charging phase of said battery transitions to a battery cool-down phase;

when said starting point is identified, instructing said user display to illuminate said first light for a first pre-set, fixed time interval after said starting point, said illuminated first light indicating that said battery has not cooled sufficiently to be used;

after said first pre-set, fixed time interval has elapsed, instructing said user display to illuminate said second light for a second pre-set, fixed time interval, said illuminated second light indicating that said battery may be used if necessary but has not been fully cooled; and

after said second pre-set, fixed time interval has elapsed, instructing said user display to illuminate said third light for a third pre-set, fixed time interval, said illuminated third light indicating that said cool-down phase is complete and said battery is fully cooled and ready for use.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said first light is a substantially red-colored light, said second light is a substantially yellow-colored light, and said third light is a substantially green-colored light.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said battery is a lead-acid battery.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein said first pre-set, fixed time interval is selected from time intervals lasting from about 2 to about 4 hours, said second pre-set, fixed time interval is selected from time intervals lasting from about 2 to about 4 hours, and said third pre-set, fixed time interval is selected from time intervals lasting from about 2 to about 4 hours.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of flashing said first light if said peak charging voltage is less than said reference value.