System and method for charging a battery

• US 20050099162A1
• Filed: 11/06/2003
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yi Ding
• Original Assignee: Yi Ding
• Inventors: Ding, Yi
• Granted Patent: US 7,221,125 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/141
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process

Abstract

A system and method for charging a battery is provided. The method includes applying an excitation current pulse to the battery to determine the battery type and whether the battery is capable of holding a charge. To charge the battery, a series of current pulses are applied in groups with the average current being reduced for each succeeding group to take advantage of changing battery charge acceptance. When the voltage of the battery matches a predetermined value, application of the current pulse groups is ended. A single current pulse is then applied to complete the battery charge.

Claims

1. A method for charging a battery, comprising:

applying a first positive current pulse to the battery, the first current pulse being defined by a first pulse amplitude and a first pulse width;

applying a second positive current pulse to the battery after applying the first current pulse, the second current pulse being applied such that the current applied to the battery does not reach zero between the first and second current pulses, the second current pulse being defined by a second pulse amplitude and a second pulse width, the second pulse amplitude being smaller than the first pulse amplitude, the first and second current pulses defining a first pulse group;

repeating application of the first pulse group until a first measured parameter exceeds a predetermined value;

applying a third positive current pulse to the battery, the third current pulse being defined by a third pulse amplitude and a third pulse width;

applying a fourth positive current pulse to the battery after applying the third current pulse, the fourth current pulse being applied such that the current applied to the battery does not reach zero between the third and fourth current pulses, the fourth current pulse being defined by a fourth pulse amplitude and a fourth pulse width, the fourth pulse amplitude being smaller than the third pulse amplitude, the third and fourth pulses defining a second pulse group; and

repeating application of the second pulse group until a second measured parameter exceeds a predetermined value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first measured parameter is one of a battery voltage, a charge time, or a battery temperature, and the second measured parameter is one of a battery voltage, a charge time, or a battery temperature.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a battery type for the battery prior to applying the first current pulse, and wherein the first pulse amplitude corresponds to the battery type.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first current pulse has an amplitude in the range of 0.1 C-5 C, and the second current pulse has an amplitude in the range of 1 μ

A-1 C, where C is a discharge current for the battery.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second current pulses define a first average current, and the third and fourth current pulses define a second average current smaller than the first average current.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second current pulse is approximately equal to the fourth current pulse, the third pulse width is approximately equal to the first pulse width, and the third pulse amplitude is less than the first pulse amplitude, thereby defining a second average current smaller than the first average current.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first current pulse is approximately equal to the third current pulse, the fourth pulse amplitude is approximately equal to the second pulse amplitude, and the fourth pulse width is greater than the second pulse width, thereby defining a second average current smaller than the first average current.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the second current pulse is approximately equal to the fourth current pulse, the first pulse amplitude is approximately equal to the third pulse amplitude, and the third pulse width is smaller that the first pulse width, thereby defining a second average current smaller than the first average current.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying additional current pulses to the battery, thereby defining at least one additional pulse group, the at least one additional pulse group including a pair of positive current pulses, the additional current pulses being applied until a predetermined condition is met.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined condition is a battery voltage, a battery charge time, a battery temperature, or a total number of pulse groups.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein each of the at least one additional pulse group defines a respective average current smaller than the average current of a preceding pulse group.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising applying zero current to the battery for a predetermined amount of time in between each pulse group.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising applying a positive current pulse to the battery for a predetermined amount of time in between each pulse group.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising applying a single positive current pulse to the battery after the predetermined condition is met, thereby providing additional charge to the battery.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein application of each succeeding current pulse within each of the pulse groups immediately follows a respective preceding current pulse, such that the current applied to the battery does not reach zero between adjacent current pulses.

16. A method for charging a battery, the method comprising:

applying an excitation current pulse to the battery;

measuring a voltage response of the battery after applying the excitation current pulse;

applying a first positive current pulse to the battery, the first current pulse being defined by a first pulse amplitude and a first pulse width, the first pulse amplitude being based on the measured voltage response or a predetermined value;

applying a second positive current pulse to the battery after applying the first current pulse, the second current pulse being defined by a second pulse amplitude and a second pulse width, the second pulse amplitude being smaller than the first pulse amplitude; and

repeating application of the first and second positive current pulses until a measured parameter exceeds a predetermined value.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

applying a third positive current pulse to the battery, the third current pulse being defined by a third pulse amplitude and a third pulse width;

applying a fourth positive current pulse to the battery after applying the third current pulse, the fourth current pulse being defined by a fourth pulse amplitude and a fourth pulse width, the fourth pulse amplitude being smaller than the third pulse amplitude; and

repeating application of the third and fourth positive current pulses until a measured parameter exceeds a predetermined value.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein application of the first and second current pulses to the battery defines a first pulse group, and application of the third and fourth current pulses defines a second pulse group, the method further comprising applying additional current pulses to the battery, thereby defining at least one additional pulse group including a pair of positive current pulses, the additional current pulses being applied until a predetermined condition is met.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the predetermined condition is a battery voltage, a battery charge time, a battery temperature, or a total number of pulse groups.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein application of each succeeding current pulse within each of the pulse groups immediately follows a respective preceding current pulse, such that the current applied to the battery does not reach zero between adjacent current pulses.

21. A method for charging a battery, the method comprising:

applying an excitation current pulse to the battery;

measuring a voltage response of the battery after applying the excitation current pulse;

applying a first voltage pulse to the battery, the first voltage pulse being defined by a first voltage pulse amplitude and a first voltage pulse width, the first voltage pulse amplitude being greater than an open circuit voltage of the battery;

providing a rest period after application of the first voltage pulse; and

applying additional voltage pulses to the battery, separated by corresponding rest periods, until a predetermined condition is met.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the predetermined condition is at least one of a battery voltage exceeding a predetermined voltage, a battery temperature exceeding a predetermined temperature, and a battery current being less than a predetermined current.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the battery voltage is measured during a rest period, the battery current is measured during application of a voltage pulse, and the battery temperature is measured during application of a voltage pulse and during a rest period.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein applying additional voltage pulses to the battery includes applying the first voltage pulse at least one additional time, thereby forming a first voltage pulse group, the method further comprising applying at least one voltage pulse different from the first voltage pulse, thereby forming at least one additional voltage pulse group, the at least one additional voltage pulse group being applied after the first voltage pulse group is applied and after the predetermined condition is met.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein each voltage pulse group defines an average voltage, and wherein the average voltage of each succeeding voltage pulse group is greater than the average voltage of a preceding voltage pulse group.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the voltage pulse groups are applied until a measured battery voltage exceeds a predetermined battery voltage, a battery charge time meets a predetermined battery charge time, a battery temperature exceeds a predetermined battery temperature, a total number of pulse groups meets a predetermined number of pulse groups, or a measured current is less than a predetermined current.

27. The method of claim 27, further comprising applying a single positive current pulse to the battery after application of the voltage pulse groups, thereby providing additional charge to the battery.

28. A system for charging a battery, comprising:

a power source;

a controller in communication with the power source, and configured to facilitate application of current pulses to a battery;

at least one sensor configured to measure a corresponding battery parameter and to output signals related to the corresponding parameter; and

a processor in communication with the controller and the at least one sensor, the processor being configured to,

a) command the controller to apply an excitation current pulse to the battery, thereby facilitating a measurement by the at least one sensor of a voltage response of the battery,

b) determine a first positive current pulse defined by a first pulse amplitude and a first pulse width, the first pulse amplitude being based on the measured voltage response or a predetermined value,

c) command the controller to apply the first current pulse to the battery, and

d) command the controller to apply a second positive current pulse to the battery defined by a second pulse amplitude and a second pulse width, the second pulse amplitude being smaller than the first pulse amplitude.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor is further configured to receive signals from the at least one sensor related to a corresponding measured battery parameter, and to signal the controller to repeat application of the first and second positive current pulses until the corresponding measured battery parameter exceeds a predetermined value.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of a voltage sensor, a current sensor, and a temperature sensor.

31. The system of claim 28, further comprising a timer in communication with the processor, the timer facilitating measurement of a charge time.

32. A system for charging a battery, comprising:

a power source;

a controller in communication with the power source, and configured to facilitate application of current pulses and voltage pulses to a battery;

at least one sensor configured to measure a corresponding battery parameter and to output signals related to the corresponding parameter; and

a processor in communication with the controller and the at least one sensor, the processor being configured to,

a) command the controller to apply an excitation current pulse to the battery, thereby facilitating a measurement by the at least one sensor of a voltage response of the battery,

b) determine a first voltage pulse defined by a first voltage pulse amplitude and a first voltage pulse width, the first voltage pulse amplitude being greater than an open circuit voltage of the battery,

c) command the controller to provide a rest period after application of the first voltage pulse, and

d) apply additional voltage pulses to the battery, separated by corresponding rest periods, until a predetermined condition is met.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of a voltage sensor, a current sensor, and a temperature sensor.

34. The system of claim 32, further comprising a timer in communication with the processor, the timer facilitating measurement of a charge time.