METHOD FOR CHARGING BATTERY

• US 20090085525A1
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pulsetech Products Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pulsetech Products Corporation
• Inventors: Sykes, David Lee, Smith, Pete Ward, Calcote, Clyde Ray, Huffman, James Earl
• Granted Patent: US 8,269,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/139
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process

Abstract

A method for charging a battery includes measuring the battery'"'"'s voltage and comparing the battery voltage to a first threshold voltage. The method includes operating the battery in a charging mode if the measured battery voltage is less than the first threshold voltage, wherein operating in the charging mode comprises applying a charging signal to the battery. The charging signal has an oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on a DC bias signal. The method includes measuring the battery'"'"'s current consumption and comparing the current consumption to a first threshold current. The method includes operating in a maintenance mode if the battery'"'"'s current consumption is less than the first threshold current, wherein operating in the maintenance mode comprises terminating application of the charging signal to the battery. The method includes measuring, during operation in the maintenance mode, the battery'"'"'s voltage and comparing the measured voltage to a second threshold voltage. The method includes applying the oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on the DC bias signal until the battery'"'"'s voltage is equal to or greater than the second threshold voltage.

Claims

1. A method for charging a battery, comprising:

measuring the battery'"'"'s voltage and comparing the battery voltage to a first threshold voltage;

operating in a charging mode if the measured battery voltage is less than the first threshold voltage, wherein operating in the charging mode comprises applying a charging signal to the battery, the charging signal having an oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on a DC bias signal;

measuring the battery'"'"'s current consumption and comparing the current consumption to a first threshold current; and

operating in a maintenance mode if the battery'"'"'s current consumption is less than the first threshold current, wherein operating in the maintenance mode comprises terminating application of the charging signal to the battery.

2. The method for charging a battery according to claim 1, wherein the oscillating triangular waveform is characterized by a relatively short linear rise time followed by a relatively long linear fall time.

3. The method for charging a battery according to claim 2, wherein the relatively short linear rise time of the triangular waveform is approximately 412 million V/sec.

4. The method for charging a battery according to claim 2, wherein the relatively long linear fall time of the triangular waveform is approximately 40 million V/sec.

5. The method for charging a battery according to claim 1, further comprising operating in the charging mode if the current consumption is greater than the first threshold current.

6. The method for charging a battery according to claim 1, further comprising:

measuring, during operation in the maintenance mode, the battery'"'"'s voltage and comparing the measured voltage to a second threshold voltage; and

applying the oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on the DC bias signal until the battery'"'"'s voltage is equal to or greater than the second threshold voltage.

7. The method for charging a battery according to claim 6, wherein the second threshold voltage is approximately 13.6V.

8. The method for charging a battery according to claim 1, wherein the oscillating triangular waveform has a frequency between 30 KHz and 50 KHz.

9. The method for charging a battery according to claim 1, wherein the first threshold voltage is approximately 14.2V.

10. The method for charging a battery according to claim 1, wherein the first threshold current is approximately 0.75 Amps.

11. A method for charging a battery, comprising:

operating initially in a charging mode, which applies a charging signal to the battery, the charging signal having an oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on a DC bias signal;

measuring the battery'"'"'s voltage and comparing the battery voltage to a first threshold voltage;

continuing to operate in the charging mode if the measured battery voltage is less than the first threshold voltage;

if the measured battery voltage is equal to or greater than the first threshold voltage, measuring the battery'"'"'s current consumption;

comparing the current consumption to a first threshold current;

continuing to operate in the charging mode if the current consumption is greater than the first threshold current; and

switching from the charging mode to a maintenance mode if the current consumption is less than or equal to the first threshold current, wherein operating in the maintenance mode comprises terminating application of the oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on the DC bias signal to the battery.

12. The method for charging a battery according to claim 11, further comprising:

measuring, during operation in the maintenance mode, the battery'"'"'s voltage and comparing the measured voltage to a second threshold voltage; and

applying the oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on the DC bias signal until the battery'"'"'s voltage is equal to or greater than the second threshold voltage.

13. The method for charging a battery according to claim 11, wherein the oscillating triangular waveform is characterized by a relatively short linear rise time followed by a relatively long linear fall time.

14. The method for charging a battery according to claim 11, wherein the relatively short linear rise time is approximately 412 million V/sec.

15. The method for charging a battery according to claim 11, wherein the relatively long linear fall time is approximately 40 million V/sec.

16. The method for charging a battery according to claim 11, wherein the oscillating triangular waveform has a frequency between 30 KHz and 50 KHz.

17. The method for charging a battery according to claim 11, wherein the first threshold voltage is approximately 14.2V.

18. The method for charging a battery according to claim 11, wherein the first threshold current is approximately 0.75 Amps.

19. The method for charging a battery according to claim 11, wherein the second threshold voltage is approximately 13.6V.

20. The method for charging a battery according to claim 11, wherein the oscillating triangular waveform removes sulphates from the battery plates.

21. A method for charging a battery, comprising applying a charging signal to the battery, the charging signal having an oscillating triangular waveform superimposed on a DC bias signal, the oscillating triangular waveform characterized by a relatively short linear rise time followed by a substantially long linear fall time.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the relatively short linear rise time is approximately 412 million V/sec.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the relatively long linear fall time is approximately 40 million V/sec.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the oscillating triangular waveform has a frequency between 30 KHz and 50 KHz.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein the oscillating triangular waveform removes sulphates from the battery'"'"'s plates.