Method and apparatus for charging batteries

Patent · Tue Aug 07 04:00:00 EDT 1979

OSTI ID:5576614

Lawn, F

The disclosed system for charging a battery provides for accurate regulation of the charging current, which is maintained constant during the initial and final phases of the charging cycle. The slope of battery-voltage increase during continued charging of the battery is monitored at frequent intervals. Failure of the battery voltage to rise more than a threshold increment during a slope-testing interval signifies full charge, and is used to terminate the charging operation. The disclosed slope detector includes a storage capacitor having a terminal that is isolated ideally from leakage-causing circuit connections. The disclosed circuit is economical in terms of low cost and avoidance of complexity, and includes provision for suppressing potentially dangerous voltages at the battery terminals when there is no connected battery and for blocking charge of a battery connected backwards and of a battery whose voltage is so low as to signify a defect rather than depleted condition.

• Assignee: TIC; EDB-80-055818; ERA-05-020705
• Patent Number(s): US 4163934
• OSTI ID: 5576614
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250903* -- Energy Storage-- Batteries-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
BATTERY CHARGERS
CHARGE STATE
CONTROL
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
CURRENT LIMITERS
DETECTION
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTRIC CONTROLLERS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
LEAD-ACID BATTERIES
MATERIALS HANDLING