Charging device for storage battery, and charging method for storage battery

• US 9,525,299 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2013
• Issued: 12/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Takano, Atsushi, Soga, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): PELTON, NATHANIEL R
• Application Number:
  US14/384,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20150054449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/153
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/443 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A charging device for a storage battery includes: a charging power source for supplying electric power to a storage battery; a charging electric power detecting device adapted to detect electric power charged to the storage battery; a full charge determining device adapted to make a full charge determination based on a detected value of the charging electric power detecting device; and a charging controlling device adapted to conduct charging control by charging the storage battery until the full charge determination is made, stopping charging when the full charge determination is made, restarting charging after a prescribed time period elapses from the stop of charging, and continuing charging until the full charge determination is made again. The charging device further includes a temperature detecting device adapted to detect a temperature of the storage battery; and a stop time setting device adapted to set a stop time based on at least the temperature of the storage battery at the full charge determination. The stop time setting device sets the stop time to be longer as the detected temperature of the temperature detecting device becomes lower.

Claims

1. A charging device for a storage battery, the charging device comprising:

a charging power source that is capable of outputting electric power for charging a storage battery;

a charging electric power detecting device configured to detect electric power charged from the charging power source to the storage battery;

a temperature detecting device configured to detect a temperature of the storage battery; and

a controller programmed to;

determine that the storage battery is fully charged when chargeable electric power calculated based on a detected value of the charging electric power detecting device drops to a prescribed electric power value set in advance or less;

conduct charging control, in which electric power is supplied to the storage battery from the charging power source until it is determined that the storage battery is fully charged, electric power supply to the storage battery from the charging power source is stopped when it is determined that the storage battery is fully charged, electric power supply is restarted after a prescribed time period elapses from the stop of electric power supply, and electric power supply is continued until it is determined that the storage battery is fully charged again, the lapse of the prescribed time period enabling elimination of at least a part of polarization in the storage battery; and

set, based on at least the temperature of the storage battery detected by the temperature detecting device when it is determined that the storage battery is fully charged, a stop time that is the prescribed time period from the stop to the restart of electric power supply,

wherein the controller sets the stop time to be longer as the detected temperature of the storage battery detected by the temperature detecting device becomes lower.

2. The charging device for a storage battery according to claim 1, wherein the controller repeats the charging control a prescribed number of times set in advance.

3. The charging device for a storage battery according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further programmed to correct the set stop time to be shorter as a number of times it is determined that the storage battery is fully charged becomes higher.

4. The charging device for a storage battery according to claim 3, wherein, after the number of times it is determined that the storage battery is fully charged reaches a prescribed number of times, the controller maintains the stop time that is set at a time point when the number of times it is determined that the storage battery is fully charged reaches the prescribed number of times.

5. A method of charging a storage battery, comprising:

detecting electric power charged to a storage battery from a charging power source that is capable of outputting electric power for charging the storage battery;

determining, by a controller, that the storage battery is fully charged when chargeable electric power calculated based on a value of the detected electric power drops to a prescribed electric power value set in advance or less;

conducting, by the controller, charging control, in which electric power is supplied to the storage battery from the charging power source until it is determined that the storage battery is fully charged, electric power supply to the storage battery from the charging power source is stopped when it is determined that the storage battery is fully charged, electric power supply is restarted after a prescribed time period elapses from the stop of electric power supply, and electric power supply is continued until it is determined that the storage battery is fully charged again, the lapse of the prescribed time period enabling elimination of at least a part of polarization in the storage battery;

detecting a temperature of the storage battery; and

setting by the controller, based on at least the detected temperature of the storage battery when it is determined that the storage battery is fully charged, a stop time to be longer as the detected temperature of the storage battery becomes lower, the stop time being the prescribed time period from the stop to the restart of electric power supply.

6. A charging device for a storage battery, the charging device comprising:

a charging power source that is capable of outputting electric power for charging a storage battery;

charging electric power detecting means for detecting electric power charged from the charging power source to the storage battery;

full charge determining means for determining that the storage battery is fully charged when chargeable electric power calculated based on a detected value of the charging electric power detecting means drops to a prescribed electric power value set in advance or less;

charging controlling means for conducting charging control, in which electric power is supplied to the storage battery from the charging power source until it is determined that the storage battery is fully charged, electric power supply to the storage battery from the charging power source is stopped when it is determined that the storage battery is fully charged, electric power supply is restarted after a prescribed time period elapses from the stop of electric power supply, and electric power supply is continued until it is determined that the storage battery is fully charged again, the lapse of the prescribed time period enabling elimination of at least a part of polarization in the storage battery;

temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of the storage battery; and

stop time setting means for setting, based on at least the detected temperature of the storage battery detected by the temperature detecting means when it is determined that the storage battery is fully charged, a stop time that is the prescribed time period from the stop to the restart of electric power supply,

wherein the stop time setting means sets the stop time to be longer as the detected temperature of the storage battery detected by the temperature detecting means becomes lower.