Dual-charger system
First Claim
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1. A dual-charger system for use in charging a battery within a vehicle using energy provided from an AC source outside of the vehicle, the system comprising:
- a first charger being operably connected to the AC source, the first charger being operable to charge the battery with a first DC voltage and a first DC current; and
a second charger being operably connected to the AC source and in parallel with the first charger, the second charger being operable to charge the battery with a second DC voltage and a second DC current;
wherein the chargers are in a connection arrangement such that the chargers appear to a vehicle controller as being a single charger;
wherein the first charger is further operable to vary the first DC voltage as a function of a difference between a net voltage set by a combination of the first and second DC voltages and a charging voltage desired for charging the battery.
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Abstract
A dual-charger system operable to facilitate charging a battery with energy regulated by two chargers connected in parallel to the battery where one charger operates according to a voltage regulation mode and the other of the two chargers operates according to a current regulation mode.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A dual-charger system for use in charging a battery within a vehicle using energy provided from an AC source outside of the vehicle, the system comprising:
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a first charger being operably connected to the AC source, the first charger being operable to charge the battery with a first DC voltage and a first DC current; and a second charger being operably connected to the AC source and in parallel with the first charger, the second charger being operable to charge the battery with a second DC voltage and a second DC current; wherein the chargers are in a connection arrangement such that the chargers appear to a vehicle controller as being a single charger; wherein the first charger is further operable to vary the first DC voltage as a function of a difference between a net voltage set by a combination of the first and second DC voltages and a charging voltage desired for charging the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of regulating output of first and second chargers that are connected in parallel with one another, the first and the second chargers being operable to charge a battery included within a vehicle, the method comprising:
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determining a charging voltage and a charging current needed to charge the battery; in the event both of the first and second charger are required to provide the charging voltage and the charging current, performing the operations of; (i) commanding the first charger to output a first voltage that is generally equal to the charging voltage desired for charging the battery; (ii) commanding the second charger to output a second voltage that is greater than the charging voltage; (iii) commanding the first charger to output a first current; and (iv) commanding the second charger to output a second current that is generally equal to a difference between the first current and the charging current. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A dual-charger system for use in charging a battery via energy from an a source, the system comprising:
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a first charger being operably connected to the source, the first charger being operable to charge the battery with a first voltage and a first current; and a second charger operably connected to the source in parallel with the first charger, the second charger being operable to charge the battery with a second voltage and a second current; wherein one of the chargers operates according to a voltage regulation mode and the other one of the chargers operates according to a current regulation mode. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification