Battery charging system and methods

• US 20070139016A1
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Thomas, Sherrill, Harrison, John, Lambert, Joe, Meyer, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,595,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/140
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/54 Testing for continuity
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for determining whether a battery is electrically and physically connected to a battery charger includes monitoring a battery charging voltage supplied by a battery charger that has superimposed a known signal on the battery charging voltage, and determining that the battery charger is connected when the known superimposed signal is present and that the battery charger is not connected when the known superimposed signal is absent.

Claims

1. A method for determining whether a battery is electrically and physically connected to a battery charger, said method comprising:

monitoring a battery charging voltage supplied by a battery charger that has superimposed a known signal on the battery charging voltage; and

determining that the battery charger is connected when the known superimposed signal is present and that the battery charger is not connected when the known superimposed signal is absent.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the battery is in a vehicle, and said determination is performed within the vehicle.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 further comprising activating an indicator when it is determined that the battery charger is connected.

4. A method in accordance with claim 2 further comprising disabling a motor in the vehicle when the battery charger is connected.

5. A method in accordance with claim 2 further comprising connecting the battery charger to the vehicle utilizing a cable having only two wires.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the known superimposed signal comprises periodic pulses.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said monitoring the battery charging voltage comprises filtering DC from the battery charging voltage.

8. A battery charger comprising:

a DC charging circuit configured to provide a DC charging voltage; and

a signal superimposing circuit configured to superimpose a known, preselected signal on the DC charging voltage.

9. A battery charger in accordance with claim 8 wherein the signal superimposing circuit is a pulsed current shunt circuit.

10. A battery charger in accordance with claim 9 further comprising a timing circuit, and wherein the pulsed current shunt circuit generates pulses in accordance with the timing circuit.

11. A battery charger in accordance with claim 8 having only two electrical wires to connect to a device having a battery to be charged.

12. A device comprising:

a chargeable battery;

a superimposed signal detector configured to detect a known superimposed signal on a battery charging voltage;

said device configured either to signal that a battery charger is connected to the device or to inhibit operation of at least a portion of the device when the battery charger is determined to be connected.

13. A device in accordance with claim 12 wherein the device is a vehicle.

14. A device in accordance with claim 13 wherein the superimposed signal detector is configured to activate an indicator when the presence of a battery charger connection is detected.

15. A device in accordance with claim 13 further comprising a motor, wherein the superimposed signal detector is configured to prevent the motor from operating when the presence of a battery charger connection is detected.

16. A device in accordance with claim 12 wherein the known superimposed signal comprises periodic pulses, and the superimposed signal detector comprises a pulse detector.

17. A device in accordance with claim 16 further comprising a timing circuit configured to control the pulse detector to detect signals of known periodicity.

18. A battery charging system comprising:

the device of claim 12;

and

a battery charger comprising;

a DC charging circuit configured to provide the battery charging voltage; and

a signal superimposing circuit configured to superimpose the known, preselected signal on the battery charging voltage.

19. A battery charging system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said device is a vehicle.

20. A battery charging system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said signal superimposing circuit comprises a pulsed current shunt and said superimposed signal detector comprises a pulse detector.