Power Converter
AssigneeEH Europe GmbH
InventorsDavid Letombe, M. Francios Beaucamp, Mohamed Kechmire
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for calculating the input current being drawn by a power converter. The power converter may be connected to and charging a battery and the method includes the steps of measuring the current and voltage being supplied to the battery, along with the frequency at which the power converter is operating. The voltage being supplied to the power converter may be calculated using a pre-determined relationship with the current and voltage being supplied to the power converter and the frequency of operation. The voltage being supplied to the converter may then be used to calculate the current being drawn by the converter.
Claims11
A method of calculating the input current being drawn by a power converter (Imains), the power converter being connected to and charging a battery, the method comprising the steps of:
- measuring the voltage being supplied to the battery (Vbat);
- measuring the current being supplied to the battery (Ibat);
- measuring the frequency at which the power converter is operating (fconverter);
- calculating the voltage supplied to the power converter (Vmains) using a pre-determined relationship between Vbat, Ibat and fconvertor, and Vmains;
- and
- using the value of Vmains to calculate the Imains.
A method of charging a battery, comprising the steps of:
- connecting a battery to a battery charger,
- controlling the power supplied to the battery by the battery charger,
- wherein the power drawn by the battery charger is limited to a maximum level and the power supplied to the battery by the battery charger is controlled in dependence on this maximum level, and the power being drawn by the battery charger is calculated by monitoring the power being supplied to the battery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.