Method for optimizing the charging of lead-acid batteries and an interactive charger
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a charging of a lead-acid battery by adjusting a charging voltage in accordance with periodic voltage sweeps which comprises detecting the voltage of the battery being charged, lowering the voltage being applied to the battery until a minimum acceptable level of current is detected, initiating a voltage sweep over a predetermined range at an augmented voltage rate with time, detecting whether a maximum current for a charger power supply has been reached, setting the charging voltage at that point if the maximum current has been reached and stopping the voltage sweep at that point, continuing the voltage sweep when the charger current has not been maximized, determining voltage and current values at intervals during the voltage sweep, selecting the charging voltage based upon the current-voltage values determined, terminating the voltage sweep, delaying for a predetermined period of time and thereafter initiating a further voltage sweep.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus is disclosed for charging lead-acid batteries which comprises periodic voltage sweeps to determine the charging voltage that should be used for the battery and then adjusting the charging voltage in accordance with that voltage sweep information so as to ensure that a highly efficient charging process is achieved which avoids undue gassing and inherently compensates for factors such as the temperature, type and service life history of the battery and resistance due to the interactive nature of the technique and apparatus. One suitable technique for analysis and adjustment of the voltage sweep data involves analyzing the slope of the current versus the voltage sweep curve so as to determine certain slope values or changes in values.
215 Citations
9 Claims
- 1. A method of controlling a charging of a lead-acid battery by adjusting a charging voltage in accordance with periodic voltage sweeps which comprises detecting the voltage of the battery being charged, lowering the voltage being applied to the battery until a minimum acceptable level of current is detected, initiating a voltage sweep over a predetermined range at an augmented voltage rate with time, detecting whether a maximum current for a charger power supply has been reached, setting the charging voltage at that point if the maximum current has been reached and stopping the voltage sweep at that point, continuing the voltage sweep when the charger current has not been maximized, determining voltage and current values at intervals during the voltage sweep, selecting the charging voltage based upon the current-voltage values determined, terminating the voltage sweep, delaying for a predetermined period of time and thereafter initiating a further voltage sweep.
Specification