US 4,383,211 A · Electrical charging and discharging control apparatus and method, and solar to electrical energy conversion apparatus incorporating such apparatus

Abstract

Electrical charging control apparatus regulates the charging of a rechargeable battery by a solar panel. Selector apparatus can select a direct connection, through a relay, of the output and charging terminal of the solar panel to the output and charging terminal of the battery to permit charging through such a direct connection. It, alternatively, by opening the relay, can select a coupling of such terminals through a regulator, to permit trickle charging through the regulator. Breaker/closer apparatus, during a direct connection, periodically breaks such diret connection so that the selector apparatus can determine whether the signal at the solar panel output and charging terminal, due to the condition of the sun, has gone below the level at which charging can occur. Also, subsequent to a charging termination threshold having been reached and a resulting termination of the direct correction, the breaker/closer apparatus periodically causes such a direct connection so that signal-tester apparatus can again test for the charging termination threshold. Discharging of the battery through loads is terminated by additional breaker apparatus which causes a circuit breaker between the battery and the loads to open when the battery falls below a load disconnect threshold. Any substantial additional discharging through the loads must await the rising of the battery voltage above a load reconnect threshold and a manual closing of the circuit breaker.

Claims23

Dependent claims

Apparatus for controlling the charging of a rechargeable electrical energy storage device for generating a storage device electrical signal, by an electrical energy source for generating a source electrical signal, said source having a charging output terminal and said device having a charging input terminal, said apparatus including:

relay means for electrically coupling the charging output terminal of the source and the charging input terminal of the device to permit said charging through said relay means;
regulator means for electrically coupling the charging output terminal of the source and the charging input terminal of the device to permit said charging through said regulator means and for providing an electrical regulated output signal for said charging;
signal-testing means coupled to said relay means for receiving the storage device electrical signal and for providing an electrical output signal for terminating said coupling by said relay means in response to the storage device electrical signal;
selector means, coupled to said relay means and responsive to the storage device electrical signal, for receiving the source electrical signal and for providing an electrical selector signal for selecting said relay means coupling to permit said charging through said relay means and for selecting said regulator means coupling to permit said charging through said regulator means in response to the source electrical signal and the storage device electrical signal;
relay breaker means coupled to said relay means for providing an electrical relay breaker signal for breaking said coupling by said relay means after said coupling by said relay means for a predetermined period of time;
and
relay driver means coupled to said relay means for providing an electrical control signal for controlling said coupling by said relay means in response to said selector signal and said breaker signal.

4 more elements

Solar to electrical energy conversion apparatus, comprising:

a solar panel for receiving and converting solar energy to electrical energy, and for generating a solar panel electrical signal in response to said solar energy, said solar panel having a charging output terminal;
a rechargeable electrical energy storage device for generating a storage device electrical signal, said storage device having a charging input terminal;
relay means for electrically coupling said charging output terminal of said solar panel and said charging input terminal of said storage device to permit said solar panel to charge said storage device through said relay means;
regulator means for electrically coupling said charging output terminal of said solar panel and said charging input terminal of said storage device to permit said solar panel to charge said storage device through said regulator means and for providing an electrical regulated output signal for said charging;
signal-testing means coupled to said relay means for receiving said storage device electrical signal and for providing an electrical output signal for terminating said coupling by said relay means in response to said storage device electrical signal;
selector means, coupled to said relay means and responsive to said storage device electrical signal, for receiving said solar panel electrical signal and for providing an electrical selector signal for selecting said relay means coupling to permit said charging through said relay means and for selecting said regulator means coupling to permit said charging through said regulator means in response to said solar panel electrical signal and said storage drive electrical signal;
relay breaker means coupled to said relay means for providing an electrical relay breaker signal for breaking said coupling by said relay means after a predetermined time;
and
relay driver means coupled to said relay means for providing an electrical control signal for controlling said coupling by said relay means in response to said selector signal and said breaker signal.

6 more elements

A method of controlling the charging of an electrical energy storage device for generating a storage device electrical signal, by an electrical energy source for generating a source electrical signal, said source having a charging output terminal and said device having a charging input terminal, said method comprising the steps of:

generating an electrical selector signal responsive to the source and device electrical signals;
electrically coupling the charging output terminal of the source and the charging input terminal of the device through a relay to permit said charging through said relay;
maintaining said coupling through said relay to permit said charging through said relay, in response to said selector signal;
generating an electrical breaker signal responsive to said maintaining of said coupling for a predetermined period of time;
breaking said coupling after said maintaining of said coupling for a predetermined period of time, in response to said breaker signal;
electrically coupling the charging output terminal of the source and the charging input terminal of the device through a signal regulator to permit said charging through said signal regulator;
maintaining said coupling through said signal regulator to permit said charging through said regulator, in response to said selector signal;
reestablishing said coupling through said relay to permit said charging through said relay;
generating an electrical tester signal responsive to the device electrical signal;
terminating an electrical coupling through said relay to permit said charging through said relay, in response to said tester signal.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrical charging and discharging control apparatus and method, and solar to electrical energy conversion apparatus incorporating such apparatus

Life of this patent

Electrical charging and discharging control apparatus and method, and solar to electrical energy conversion apparatus incorporating such apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23