System and method for charging a battery
AssigneeDaimlerChrysler AG
InventorsGerhard Konrad, Michael Niehues, Bernd Spier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and a method are used for charging a battery which is connected to intermittently operated devices for providing power required for charging, such as an engine-driven generator in a motor vehicle, for example. In order to provide the battery with additional charge, a fuel cell system is also used. The battery may be kept at a minimum specified state of charge, for example, by the fuel cell system. Discharge by stand-by currents or leakage currents may be compensated or maintenance charge may be provided to the approximately fully charged battery to extend its service life.
Claims18
A battery system comprising:
- a battery;
- at least one intermittently operated device connected to the battery for providing power required for charging the battery;
- and
- an additional fuel cell system connected to the battery for providing power for an additional charge to the battery.
The system as recited in claim 3 wherein the electric power output is less than 200 W.
A method of providing a battery, connected to an intermittently operated device for providing power required for charging the battery, with additional charge, the method comprising:
- using a fuel cell system to providing the battery with an additional charge when devices for providing the power required for charging the battery are not operating.
A vehicle battery system for a land vehicle, watercraft or aircraft comprising:
- a battery;
- at least one intermittently operated device connected to the battery for providing power required for charging the battery;
- and
- an additional fuel cell system connected to the battery for providing power for an additional charge to the battery
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.