Power recovery controller

• US 8,669,738 B1
• Filed: 12/26/2012
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bionatus, LLC
• Original Assignee: Colorado Energy Research Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Powell, Wayne J., Boehmer, Robert D., Johnson, Lee L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US13/726,828
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/138, 320/139, 320/101
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

The inventive subject matter provides a circuit and a method for efficiently charging a battery. In one aspect of the invention, the circuit includes an oscillator that generates a series of current pulses at a frequency that corresponds to a resonant frequency of the battery. Each pulse in the series includes ringing oscillations that includes a main pulse and a group of ringing decaying pulses. The group of ringing decaying pulses includes pulses with gradually smaller amplitudes over time until the pulses completely die out.

Claims

1. A method of charging a battery:

determining a resonant frequency of the battery;

feeding a first series of current pulses through the battery at a frequency that corresponds to the resonant frequency;

providing, after feeding the first series of current pulses, a resting period in which no current pulse is fed through the battery; and

feeding, after providing the resting period, a second series of current pulses through the battery at the frequency, wherein each current pulse in the first and second series comprises a main pulse and a group of artificially enhanced ringing decaying pulses.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each pulse in the group of ringing decaying pulses has a smaller amplitude than the main current pulse.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a first decaying pulse has a larger amplitude than a second subsequent decaying pulse in the group of ringing decaying current pulses.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery is a primary battery.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the resting period has a same duration as the first interval of time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the series of current pulses is operated at a duty cycle of no more than 50%.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein feeding the series of current pulses comprises feeding the pulses at a frequency that is within 5% of the resonant frequency of the battery.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the resonant frequency of the battery is a frequency at which the battery accepts electric charges at an optimal efficiency within a range of frequencies.

9. A circuit for charging a battery, comprising

an oscillator configured to generate (i) feed a first series of current pulses through a battery at a frequency that corresponds to a resonant frequency of the battery, (ii) provide, after feeding the first series of current pulses a resting period in which no current pulse is fed through the battery, and (iii) feed a second series of current pulses through the battery at the frequency, wherein each current pulse in the first and second series of the current pulses comprises a main pulse and a group of ringing decaying pulses;

and

an inductor configured to artificially enhance the group ringing decaying pulses.

10. The circuit of claim 9, wherein each pulse in the group of ringing decaying pulses has a smaller amplitude than the main pulse.

11. The circuit of claim 9, wherein a first decaying current pulse has a larger amplitude than a second subsequent decaying current pulse in the group of ringing decaying current pulses.

12. The circuit of claim 9, wherein the battery is a primary battery.

13. The circuit of claim 9, wherein the resting period has a same duration as the first interval of time.

14. The circuit of claim 9, wherein the oscillator is further configured to operate the series of current pulses at a duty cycle of no more than 50%.

15. The circuit of claim 9, wherein the oscillator is further configured to feed the series of current pulses at a frequency that is within 5% of the resonant frequency of the battery.

16. The circuit of claim 9, wherein the resonant frequency of the battery is a frequency at which the battery accepts electric charges at an optimal efficiency within a range of frequencies.