Charger for charging at least one rechargeable energy storage unit

• US 8,648,563 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2008
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Osswald, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A
• Assistant Examiner(s): PELTON, NATHANIEL R
• Application Number:
  US12/741,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20100237826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,978 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00714 in response to battery charging or discharging current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007192 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage

Abstract

The invention relates to a charging device for charging at least one rechargeable energy storage unit, having a defined inner resistance and having a compensation circuit for the compensation of a voltage drop during the charging operation caused by the inner resistance. The compensation circuit has a current detection for detecting a charge current of the rechargeable energy storage unit and a voltage regulator for adjusting the charge voltage to the detected charge current. The charging device is characterized in that the compensation circuit has a voltage distributor between the current detector and the voltage regulator, by the dimensioning of which the compensation of the inner resistance is carried out.

Claims

1. A charger for charging at least one rechargeable energy storage unit, having a defined internal resistance and having a compensation circuit for compensating for a voltage drop brought about by the internal resistance during a charging operation, in which the compensation circuit has a current detector which detects a charging current of the rechargeable energy storage unit and a voltage regulator for influencing the charging voltage as a function of a detected charging current, the compensation circuit including a voltage divider, which is disposed between the current detector and the voltage regulator and by way of the dimensioning of the voltage divided the compensation for the internal resistance is effected,

wherein the voltage divider is connected on one side to a reference voltage and on another side to an output of the current detector, and a center pickup of the voltage divider is connected to at least one input of the voltage regulator,

wherein the charger is not bound to either one of a (i) defined maximum charging voltage value and (ii) maximum current limit value for the compensation,

wherein the compensation for the voltage drop occurs only when the charging current is flowing,

wherein the voltage regulator has an operational amplifier, whose inverting input is connected to a center pickup of the voltage divider and whose noninverting input is connected to a center contact of a further voltage divider, and the further voltage divider is located between a power supply line of the rechargeable energy storage unit and an electrical ground and furnishes an actual signal of the charging voltage of the rechargeable energy storage unit.

2. The charger as defined by claim 1, wherein the current detector influences the voltage regulator via the voltage divider in such a manner that as a function of the detected charging current, the reference voltage for the voltage regulator is varied.

3. The charger as defined by claim 2, wherein the reference voltage is generated by means of a Zener diode located at an auxiliary voltage.

4. The charger as defined by claim 1, wherein the reference voltage is generated by means of a Zener diode located at an auxiliary voltage.

5. The charger as defined by claim 1, wherein a temperature sensor, in particular an NTC is provided for influencing the reference voltage.

6. The charger as defined by claim 2, wherein a temperature sensor, in particular an NTC is provided for influencing the reference voltage.

7. The charger as defined by claim 1, wherein current detection is effected by means of a shunt that can be connected to the rechargeable energy storage unit.

8. The charger as defined by claim 7, wherein the shunt is connected on one side thereof to a node point, at which both an electrical ground and a ground contact of the rechargeable energy storage unit are located, and is connected on an other side thereof to the current detector.

9. The charger as defined by claim 1, wherein the defined internal resistance includes at least various resistances of relevant conductor tracks of a printed circuit board, wiring, which may possibly be present, of the contacts for making contact between the rechargeable energy storage unit and the charger, and/or a disconnection device for disconnecting the rechargeable energy storage unit from the charger, respectively.

10. The charger as defined by claim 9, wherein the defined internal resistance includes ohmic resistance of the rechargeable energy storage unit.