ELECTRONIC VOLTAGE REGULATOR FOR BATTERY CHARGING

• US 3,857,082 A
• Filed: 09/29/1972
• Issued: 12/24/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L. J. Koenraad Van Opijnen
• Original Assignee: L. J. Koenraad Van Opijnen
• Inventors: van Opijnen, L. J. Koenraad
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammel, James D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hickey, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/293,493
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 320/20,25,39,40,9,DIG.2,59,60 323/22SC
• US Class Current: 320/143
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1492 by means of controlling devices between the generator output and the battery
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/15 Polarity control

Abstract

A voltage regulator circuit for charging a battery or other energy storage device from a source of fluctuating electrical potential. The regulator circuit provides charging of the battery from the fluctuating source when the voltage on the battery leads is within predetermined limits but when the potential across the battery leads is outside the predetermined limits conduction from the energy source is inhibited or the source is short circuited to prevent excessive voltage buildup at the battery terminals or circuit damage in the regulator under various abnormal conditions including incorrect polarity of the battery. In normal use, the battery is used to provide operating energy to a further circuit.

Claims

1. A regulator for charging an energy storage element from a source of fluctuating electric potential said regulator comprising:

means for receiving an AC charging current from said source of fluctuating electric potential;

first and second terminals for application of rectified charging current to an electrical energy storage element;

controlled conduction means including a controlled rectifier responsive to AC charging current from said source of fluctuating electrical potential for controlled rectification thereof to provide said rectified charging current across said terminals of said energy storage element;

means for sensing the voltage across said terminals;

means responsive to said sensed voltage being above a predetermined voltage level greater than zero and of the same polarity as said charging signal applied to said first and second terminals representative of the presence of an energy storage element in polarity for charging across said terminals for enabling said controlled conduction means to permit rectified conduction from said source of fluctuating electrical potential to said terminals;

said enabling means including;

means for detecting said first predetermined level to provide a first signal;

means for applying a control signal to said controlled rectifier to provide condUction thereby in response to said first signal;

means responsive to said sensed voltage being above a second predetermined level higher than said first predetermined level and of the same polarity for inhibiting conduction by said controlled conduction means;

said inhibiting means including;

means for detecting said second predetermined level to provide a second signal; and

controlled rectifier means connected for providing a current shunt across said source of fluctuating potential in response to said second signal.

2. The voltage regulator of claim 1 further including:

means for detecting a third predetermined level in said sensed voltage;

said third predetermined level being between said first and second predetermined levels; and

means responsive to detection of said third predetermined level for inhibiting the application of said control signal to said controlled rectifier.

3. A regulator for charging an electrical energy device from a source of fluctuating electric potential comprising:

means for receiving fluctuating current of duel polarity from said source of fluctuating electrical potential;

first and second terminals for applying a charging signal to said energy storage device;

a rectifier network receiving said fluctuating current and providing rectification thereof in response to a control signal to produce said charging signal;

said network including at least one controlled rectifier;

a first circuit responsive to the signal at said first and second terminals and providing a first control signal to control said at least one controlled rectifier to conduct when the signal at said first and second terminals exceeds the zero level by a first predetermined magnitude representative of the connection of an energy storage element across said terminals in a polarity for charging;

said first predetermined magnitude having the same polarity as said charging signal;

at least one further controlled rectifier;

a shunt circuit providing shunting of said fluctuating electric potential across said source through said at least one further controlled rectifier; and

a second circuit responsive to the signal at said first and second terminals for providing a second control signal to control said at least one further controlled rectifier to shunt current across said source when the signal at said first and second terminals exceeds a second predetermined magnitude;

said second predetermined magnitude being greater than and of the same polarity as said first predetermined magnitude.

4. The regulator for charging an electrical energy storage device of claim 3 wherein said first circuit further includes:

control electronics responsive to the signal at said first and second terminals exceeding a third predetermined magnitude to inhibit the provision of said first signal;

said third predetermined magnitude being intermediate said first and second predetermined magnitudes.

5. The regulator for charging an electrical energy storage device of claim 4 wherein said second circuit includes at least one stage of amplification in providing said first signal in response to the signal at said first and second terminals.

6. A regulator for charging an electrical energy device from a source of fluctuating electric potential comprising:

means for receiving fluctuating current of dual polarity from said source of fluctuating electrical potential;

first and second terminals for applying a charging signal to said energy storage device;

a rectifier network receiving said fluctuating current and providing rectification thereof in response to a control signal to produce said charging signal;

said network including at least one controlled rectifier;

a first circuit responsive to the signal at said first and second terminals and providing a first control signal to control said at least one controlled rectifier to conduct when the signal at said first and second termiNals exceeds the zero level by a first predetermined magnitude representative of the connection of an energy storage element across said terminals in a polarity for charging;

said first circuit including;

control electronics responsive to the signal at said first and second terminals exceeding a third predetermined magnitude to inhibit the provision of said first signal;

said third predetermined magnitude being intermediate said first and second predetermined magnitudes;

said first predetermined magnitude having the same polarity as said charging signal;

at least one further controlled rectifier;

a shunt circuit providing shunting of said fluctuating electric potential across said source through said at least one further controlled rectifier; and

a second circuit responsive to the signal at said first and second terminals for providing a second control signal to control said at least one further controlled rectifier to shunt the current across said source when the signal at said first and second terminals exceeds a second predetermined magnitude, said second circuit including at least one stage of amplification having means for limiting its high frequency response;

said second predetermined magnitude being greater than and of the same polarity as said first predetermined magnitude.

7. A regulator for charing an electrical energy device from a source of fluctuating electric potential comprising:

means for receiving fluctuating current of dual polarity from said source of fluctuating electrical potential;

first and second terminals for applying a charging signal to said energy storage device;

a rectifier network receiving said fluctuating current and providing rectification thereof in response to a control signal to produce said charging signal;

said network including at least one controlled rectifier;

a first circuit responsive to the signal at said first and second terminals and providing a first control signal to control said at least one controlled rectifier to conduct when the signal at said first and second terminals exceeds the zero level by a first predetermined magnitude representative of the connection of an energy storage element across said terminals in a polarity for charging;

said first circuit including at least one stage of frequency limited amplification;

said first predetermined magnitude having the same polarity as said charging signal;

at least one further controlled rectifier;

a shunt circuit providing shunting of said fluctuating electric potential across said source through said at least one further controlled rectifier; and

a second circuit responsive to the signal at said first and second terminals for providing a second control signal to control said at least one further controlled rectifier to shunt the current across said source when the signal at said first and second terminals exceeds a second predetermined magnitude;

said second predetermined magnitude being greater than and of the same polarity as said first predetermined magnitude.