Portable generator and battery charger verification control method and system
First Claim
1. A portable welding unit, comprising:
- an engine;
a generator coupled to the engine and configured to generate a weld output; and
a smart battery charger coupled to the generator, wherein the smart battery charger is configured to operate in a battery charge mode to charge a battery connected to the smart battery charger, and wherein the smart battery charger is configured to operate in a jump start mode to jump start a vehicle or a tool having the battery; and
wherein the smart battery charger comprises control circuitry configured to perform a battery verification procedure on the battery of the vehicle or the tool prior to jump starting the vehicle or the tool, and wherein the battery verification procedure comprises applying a test charge current to the battery, determining whether a voltage of the battery increases in response to the applied test charge current, and determining whether the voltage of the battery decreases after a duration of time elapses since the test charge current is applied.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system, in one embodiment, may include a portable welding unit having an engine, a generator coupled to the engine, a compressor coupled to the engine, and a smart battery charger coupled to the generator. A system, in another embodiment, may include a battery charger, wherein the battery charger is configured to monitor a temperature of a battery, an ambient temperature, a battery charge time, or a combination thereof. A system, in a further embodiment, may include at least one circuit having a welding control circuit and a battery charge circuit. The battery charge circuit may be configured to adjust an output based on a battery type, a battery voltage rating, a sensed feedback, a battery test, or a combination thereof.
40 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A portable welding unit, comprising:
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an engine; a generator coupled to the engine and configured to generate a weld output; and a smart battery charger coupled to the generator, wherein the smart battery charger is configured to operate in a battery charge mode to charge a battery connected to the smart battery charger, and wherein the smart battery charger is configured to operate in a jump start mode to jump start a vehicle or a tool having the battery; and wherein the smart battery charger comprises control circuitry configured to perform a battery verification procedure on the battery of the vehicle or the tool prior to jump starting the vehicle or the tool, and wherein the battery verification procedure comprises applying a test charge current to the battery, determining whether a voltage of the battery increases in response to the applied test charge current, and determining whether the voltage of the battery decreases after a duration of time elapses since the test charge current is applied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 19, 20, 21)
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9. A portable welding unit, comprising:
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an engine; a generator coupled to the engine and configured to generate a weld output; and a smart battery charger comprising control circuitry and coupled to the generator, wherein the control circuitry of the smart battery charger is configured to jump start a vehicle or a tool connected to the smart battery charger, and wherein the smart battery charger is configured to perform a battery verification procedure on a battery of the vehicle or the tool prior to jump starting the vehicle or the tool; and wherein the battery verification procedure comprises applying a test charge current to the battery, determining whether a voltage of the battery increases in response to the applied test charge current, and determining whether the voltage of the battery decreases after a duration of time elapses since the test charge current is applied. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17)
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15. A portable welding unit, comprising:
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an engine; a generator coupled to the engine and configured to generate a weld output; and a smart battery charger, comprising control circuitry, coupled to the generator, wherein the smart battery charger control circuitry is configured to operate in a battery charge mode to charge a battery connected to the smart battery charger, wherein the smart battery charger is configured to operate in a jump start mode to jump start a vehicle having the battery or a tool having a battery, and wherein the smart battery charger is configured to perform a battery verification procedure on the battery prior to charging the battery or jump starting the vehicle or the tool; and wherein the battery verification procedure comprises applying a test charge current to the battery, determining whether a voltage of the battery increases in response to the applied test charge current, and determining whether the voltage of the battery decreases after a duration of time elapses since the test charge current is applied. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification