Apparatus and method for counteracting self discharge in a storage battery

• US 7,479,763 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2004
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Rajnikant B
• Application Number:
  US10/804,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20040251876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• Field of Search: 320101-104, 320/111, 320/136, 320/120, 320/121, 320/132, 320/134, 320/139, 320/11
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/122 Provisions for temporary connection of DC sources of essentially the same voltage, e.g. jumpstart cables
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0034 using reverse polarity correcting or protecting circuits mechanical means of polarity protection H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034

Abstract

A system for counteracting self-discharge in a storage battery is provided. The system includes a charge supply battery that provides a supply voltage. The system also includes a DC-DC converter circuit that has an input that electrically couples to the charge supply battery and an output that electrically couples to terminals of the storage battery. The DC-DC converter circuit provides a charging voltage at the output that has a magnitude greater than a magnitude of the supply voltage. The storage battery is a carbon battery.

Claims

1. An apparatus for counteracting self discharge in a storage battery, comprising:

a charge supply battery configured to provide a supply voltage; and

a DC-DC converter circuit having an input electrically coupled to the charge supply battery and an output configured to electrically couple to terminals of the storage battery;

wherein the charge supply battery is of a different type and construction than the storage battery,

wherein the charge supply battery has a nominal voltage lower than that of the storage battery,

wherein the DC-DC converter circuit is configured to provide a charging voltage at the output having a magnitude greater than a magnitude of the supply voltage, and

wherein the charge supply battery provides a charge to the storage battery via the DC-DC converter circuit to increase a life of the storage battery by preventing self discharge of the storage battery.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the DC-DC converter circuit comprises a transformer configured to step up the supply voltage.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the DC-DC converter further comprises a bridge rectifier circuit configured to provide rectification of the stepped up supply voltage provided by the transformer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the DC-DC converter circuit includes a transistor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the DC-DC convener circuit includes a charge storage device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the charge storage device is a capacitor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charge supply battery is a single cell.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of cells.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the plurality of cells is two cells.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charge supply battery is a “

D”

cell alkaline battery and the storage battery is a lead acid battery.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of “

D”

cell alkaline batteries and the storage battery is a lead acid battery.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the plurality of “

D”

cell alkaline batteries is two “

D”

cell alkaline batteries and the storage battery is a lead acid battery.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charge supply battery is a “

AA”

alkaline battery and the storage battery is a lead acid battery.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of “

AA”

alkaline batteries and the storage battery is a lead acid battery.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the plurality of “

AA”

alkaline batteries is two “

AA”

alkaline batteries and the storage battery is a lead acid battery.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charge supply battery is a “

C”

cell alkaline battery and the storage battery is a lead acid battery.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of “

C”

cell alkaline batteries and the storage battery is a lead acid battery.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of “

C”

cell alkaline batteries is two “

C”

cell alkaline batteries and the storage battery is a lead acid battery.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the storage battery is a carbon battery and the charge supply battery is an alkaline battery.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the carbon battery comprises at least one carbon coated battery electrode.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a chemically active paste disposed on the at least one carbon coated battery electrode.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the carbon battery comprises at least one carbon foam current collector including a network of pores.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a chemically active paste disposed on the carbon foam current collector such that the chemically active paste penetrates into the network of pores.

24. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the storage battery is a nickel-metal hydride battery and the charge supply battery is an alkaline battery.

25. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the storage battery is a nickel cadmium battery and the charge supply battery is an alkaline battery.

26. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the storage battery is a lithium ion battery and the charge supply battery is an alkaline battery.

27. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the storage battery is a lead-acid battery and the charge supply battery is an alkaline battery.

28. The apparatus of claim 1 configured to counteract self-discharge in a 6-cell storage battery.

29. The apparatus of claim 1 configured to counteract self-discharge in a 12-cell storage battery.

30. The apparatus of claim 1 configured to counteract self-discharge in an 18-cell storage battery.

31. The apparatus of claim 1 configured to counteract self-discharge in a 24-cell storage battery.

32. A jump-start booster pack, comprising:

a booster battery configured to provide starting energy to a vehicle;

a charge supply battery configured to provide a supply voltage; and

a DC-DC converter circuit having an input electrically coupled to the charge supply battery and an output electrically coupled to the booster battery;

wherein the charge supply battery is of a different type and construction than the booster battery,

wherein the charge supply battery has a nominal voltage lower than that of the booster battery, and

wherein the charge supply battery provides a charge to the booster battery via the DC-DC converter circuit to increase a life of the booster battery by preventing self discharge of the booster battery.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the charge supply battery is a single cell.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of cells.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the plurality of cells is two cells.

36. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the charge supply battery is a “

D”

cell alkaline battery and the booster battery is a lead acid battery.

37. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of “

D”

cell alkaline batteries and the booster battery is a lead acid battery.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the plurality of “

D”

cell alkaline batteries is two “

D”

cell alkaline batteries and the booster battery is a lead acid battery.

39. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the charge supply battery is a “

AA”

alkaline battery and the booster battery is a lead acid battery.

40. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of “

AA”

alkaline batteries and the booster battery is a lead acid battery.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the plurality of “

AA”

alkaline batteries is two “

AA”

alkaline batteries and the booster battery is a lead acid battery.

42. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the charge supply battery is a “

C”

cell alkaline battery and the booster battery is a lead acid battery.

43. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of “

C”

cell alkaline batteries and the booster battery is a lead acid battery.

44. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the plurality of “

C”

cell alkaline batteries is two “

C”

cell alkaline batteries and the booster battery is a lead acid battery.

45. The apparatus of claim 32 further comprising battery charging circuitry configured to charge a vehicle battery.

46. The apparatus of claim 45 wherein the battery charging circuitry is further configured to charge the booster battery.

47. The apparatus of claim 45 where the battery charging circuitry is coupled to the vehicle battery though a four point Kelvin connection.

48. The apparatus of claim 32 further comprising battery testing circuitry configured to test a vehicle battery.

49. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the battery testing circuitry is further configured to test the booster battery.

50. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the battery testing circuitry is coupled to the vehicle battery though a four point Kelvin connection.

51. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the booster battery is a Thin Metal Film lead-acid battery and the charge supply battery is an alkaline battery.

52. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the booster battery is a carbon battery and the charge supply battery is an alkaline battery.

53. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the carbon battery comprises at least one carbon coated battery electrode.

54. The apparatus of claim 53 further comprising a chemically active paste disposed on the at least one carbon coated battery electrode.

55. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the carbon battery comprises at least one carbon foam current collector including a network of pores.

56. The apparatus of claim 55 further comprising a chemically active paste disposed on the carbon foam current collector such that the chemically active paste penetrates into the network of pores.

57. A method for counteracting self discharge in a storage battery, comprising:

providing a supply voltage from a charge supply battery that is of a different type and construction than the storage battery, the charge supply battery having a nominal voltage lower than that of the storage battery; and

providing a charging voltage to the storage battery as a function of the supply voltage, with the charging voltage having a magnitude greater than a magnitude of the supply voltage,

wherein the charging voltage provided to the storage battery increases a life of the storage battery by preventing self discharge of the storage battery.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein providing the charging voltage is carried out by a DC-DC converter circuit.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein the DC-DC converter circuit comprises a transformer configured to step up the supply voltage.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein the DC-DC convener further comprises a bridge rectifier circuit configured to provide rectification of the stepped up supply voltage provided by the transformer.

61. The method of claim 58 wherein the DC-DC convener circuit includes a transistor.

62. The method of claim 58 wherein the DC-DC convener circuit includes a charge storage device.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein the charge storage device is a capacitor.

64. The method of claim 57 wherein the charge supply battery is a single cell.

65. The method of claim 57 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of cells.

66. The method of claim 65 wherein the plurality of cells is two cells.

67. The method of claim 57 wherein the charge supply battery is a “

D”

cell alkaline battery and the storage battery is a lead acid battery.

68. The method of claim 57 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of “

D”

cell alkaline batteries and the storage battery is a lead acid battery.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein the plurality of “

D”

cell alkaline batteries is two “

D”

cell alkaline batteries and the storage battery is a lead acid battery.

70. The method of claim 57 wherein the charge supply battery is a “

AA”

alkaline battery and the storage battery is a lead acid battery.

71. The method of claim 57 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of “

AA”

alkaline batteries and the storage battery is a lead acid battery.

72. The method of claim 71 wherein the plurality of “

AA”

alkaline batteries is two “

AA”

alkaline batteries and the storage battery is a lead acid battery.

73. The method of claim 57 wherein the charge supply battery is a “

C”

cell alkaline battery and the storage battery is a lead acid battery.

74. The method of claim 57 wherein the charge supply battery includes a plurality of “

C”

cell alkaline batteries and the storage battery is a lead acid battery.

75. The method of claim 74 wherein the plurality of “

C”

cell alkaline batteries is two “

C”

cell alkaline batteries and the storage battery is a lead acid battery.

76. The method of claim 57 wherein the storage battery is a carbon battery and the charge supply battery is an alkaline battery.

77. The method of claim 76 wherein the carbon battery comprises at least one carbon coated battery electrode.

78. The method of claim 77 further comprising a chemically active paste disposed on the at least one carbon coated battery electrode.

79. The method of claim 76 wherein the carbon battery comprises at least one carbon foam current collector including a network of pores.

80. The method of claim 79 further comprising a chemically active paste disposed on the carbon foam current collector such that the chemically active paste penetrates into the network of pores.

81. The method of claim 57 employed to counteract self-discharge in a 6-cell storage battery.

82. The method of claim 57 employed to counteract self-discharge in a 12-cell storage battery.

83. The method of claim 57 employed to counteract self-discharge in an 18-cell storage battery.

84. The method of claim 57 employed to counteract self-discharge in a 24-cell battery.

85. A method of making a jump-start booster pack, comprising:

providing a booster battery configured to provide starting energy to a vehicle;

providing a charge supply battery configured to provide a supply voltage; and

providing a DC-DC converter circuit having an input electrically coupled to the charge supply battery and an output electrically coupled to the booster battery;

wherein the charge supply battery is of a different type and construction than the booster battery,

wherein the charge supply battery has a nominal voltage lower than that of the booster battery, and

wherein the charge supply battery provides a charge to the booster battery via the DC-DC converter circuit to increase a life of the booster battery by preventing self discharge of the booster battery.

86. The method of claim 85 wherein providing the charge supply comprises providing a single cell battery.

87. The method of claim 85 wherein providing the charge supply battery comprises providing a “

D”

cell alkaline battery.

88. The method of claim 85 further comprising providing battery charging circuitry configured to charge a vehicle battery.

89. The method of claim 88 wherein the battery charging circuitry is further configured to charge the booster battery.

90. The method of claim 88 further comprising coupling the battery charging circuitry to the vehicle battery through a four point Kelvin connection.

91. The method of claim 85 further comprising providing battery testing circuitry configured to test a vehicle battery.

92. The method of claim 91 wherein the battery testing circuitry is further configured to test the booster battery.

93. The method of claim 91 further comprising coupling the battery testing circuitry to the vehicle battery through a four point Kelvin connection.

94. The method of claim 85 wherein the booster battery is a Thin Metal film lead acid battery and the charge supply battery is an alkaline battery.

95. The method of claim 85 wherein the booster battery is a carbon battery and the charge supply battery is an alkaline battery.