Electric car battery charging device and method

• US 6,310,464 B1
• Filed: 12/07/1999
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Koo, Jae-Seung
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tibbits, Pla
• Application Number:
  US09/457,213
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/134, 320/149
• US Class Current: 320/149
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Apparatus for charging the battery of an electric car. The apparatus comprising a battery charge controller, a battery charger, and a battery. The charge controller being capable of detecting the charge status of the battery, and upon detecting an under-charge condition of initializing, at any given time, a charging process wherein the battery is charged an expected charge amount which is dependant on the degree of under-charge initially detected by the charge controller. The charge controller upon termination of the charging process detects the actual charge amount and compares that amount to the expected charge amount and calculates a difference value. If the difference value exceeds a predetermined reference value, the controller charges the battery pack an additional predetermined amount.

Claims

1. A battery charging device for an electric car comprising:

an electric car battery pack adapted to charge by receiving power and to discharge by supplying power;

an electric car battery charge controller;

an electric car battery charger for receiving external power, wherein the charger is interconnected with the charge controller and the battery pack and charges the battery pack under control of the charge controller;

an electric car battery charge controller capable of detecting the charge status of the battery pack, and upon detecting an under-charge condition of initializing, at any given time, a charging process wherein the battery pack is charged an expected charge amount, the expected charge amount being dependant on the degree of under-charge initially detected by the controller; and

the charge controller, upon termination of the charging process, being further capable of detecting the actual charge amount and of comparing that amount to the expected charge amount and of calculating a difference value, wherein if the difference value exceeds a predetermined reference value, the controller charges the battery pack an additional predetermined amount.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a switch that is turned on or off by a user so as to supply or stop external power.

3. An electric car having a rechargeable battery system:

an electric car;

an electric car battery pack adapted to charge by receiving power and to discharge by supplying power;

an electric car battery charge controller capable of detecting the charge status of the battery pack, and upon detecting an under-charge condition of initializing, at any given time, a charging process, wherein the battery pack is charged an expected charge amount, the expected charge amount being dependant on the degree of under-charge initially detected by the controller;

the charge controller, upon termination of the initial charging process, being further capable of detecting the actual charge amount and of comparing that amount to the expected charge amount and of calculating a difference value, wherein it the difference value exceeds a predetermined reference value, the controller charges the battery pack an additional predetermined amount; and

an electric car battery charger for receiving external power, wherein the charger is interconnected with the charge controller and the battery pack and charges the battery pack under control of the charge controller.

4. A method for charging the battery of an electric car, comprising the steps of:

detecting an under-charge condition of a battery pack;

setting an expected charging amount according to the amount of under-charge, and charging the battery pack;

computing a difference between the expected charging amount and an actual charging amount charged to the battery after a charging process of the battery pack is finished;

further charging the battery a predetermined amount when the computed difference is greater than a reference value; and

setting the charging status of the battery pack at a fully charged status and finishing the charging process when the computed difference is less than a reference value.