US 4,709,202 A · Battery powered system

Abstract

In an exemplary embodiment, a battery conditioning system monitors battery conditioning and includes a memory for storing data based thereon; for example, data may be stored representative of available battery capacity as measured during a deep discharge cycle. With a microprocessor monitoring battery operation of a portable unit, a measure of remaining battery capacity can be calculated and displayed. Where the microprocessor is permanently secured to the battery so as to receive operating power therefrom during storage and handling, the performance of a given battery in actual use can be accurately judged since the battery system can itself maintain a count of accumulated hours of use and other relevant parameters. Where an embodiment includes a main battery and a backup battery, the voltage of each may be individually measured, and each may be conditioned. Battery capacity of each may be measured. In a unique low voltage sensing circuit applicable to power sources generally, an automatic voltage regulator may itself sense a low power condition without requiring additional precision components. As an example only, such detected low power condition may be utilized to effect switch over to a backup battery or other auxiliary power supply.

Claims80

Dependent claims

In a system including rechargeable battery means,

temperature sensing means for sensing temperature,
battery conditioning means for controlling supply of charging current to the battery means and operable for selectively supplying a relatively high charge rate and a relatively low charge rate,
processing means coupled with said battery conditioning means and controlling said battery conditioning means to selectively supply said relatively high charge rate and said relatively low charge rate at least partially in dependence upon relatively high and relatively low ambient temperature respectively,
charge input means for coupling with the rechargeable battery means for supplying charging current thereto, and
analog to digital converter means coupled with said temperature sensing means and with said charge input means, and coupled with said processing means for supplying measures of ambient temperature and charge input voltage to said processing means.

2 more elements

In a system including rechargeable battery means,

(a) battery conditioning system means sensing temperature and controlling supply of charge to the rechargeable battery means and operable for selectively supplying a relatively low charge rate and a relatively high charge rate as a function of temperature,
(b) said rechargeable battery means comprising a nickel-cadmium battery pack of size and weight to be held in one hand along with an associated portable device which is to be operated by the other hand, and having a battery capacity such as to sustain portable operation of an associated portable device for a number of hours and being thereafter rechargeable during a recharging operation while an associated portable device is otherwise supplied with power,
(c) said battery conditioning system means being automatically operable to effect recharging of the nickel-cadmium battery means after extended periods of active portable operation and automatically supplying a relatively high charge rate where the temperature is in a relatively high temperature range comprising temperatures in the neighborhood of room temperature, and temperatures in a substantial range above room temperature, and automatically supplying a relatively low charge rate substantially less than said relatively high charge rate where the temperature is in a relatively low temperature range extending over a substantial range of temperatures below room temperature.

In a battery conditioning system,

(a) a portable battery powered utilization device for operating from battery power during portable operation thereof,
(b) battery means operatively coupled with said utilization device for supplying operating power thereto during portable operation,
(c) said utilization device together with said battery means having a size and weight to be carried by an individual person, and
(d) battery conditioning system means coupled with said battery means during a battery conditioning operation for controlling conditioning of the battery means, and being operable for coupling with a power source for supplying a charging voltage,
(e) said battery means comprising nickel-cadmium rechargeable battery means which is contained within said portable battery powered utilization device during battery conditioning operations, said battery conditioning system means receiving charging voltage during a battery recharging operation and automatically controlling the supply of charge to said nickel-cadmium rechargeable battery means to effect recharging thereof after a period of portable operation of the portable battery powered utilization device, and
(f) said battery conditioning system means automatically sensing a plurality of parameters comprising a temperature which is generally a function of battery temperature and a voltage which is generally a function of the battery terminal voltage of said nickel-cadmium rechargeable battery means, and automatically controlling battery recharging operations according to the sensed parameters so as to automatically avoid detrimental battery conditions.

3 more elements

In a battery conditioning system,

(a) a portable battery utilization device for operating from battery power during portable operation thereof,
(b) battery means operatively coupled with said utilization device for supplying operating power thereto during portable operation,
(c) said utilization device together with said battery means having size and weight to be carried by an individual person, and to be held in one hand during operation of the utilization device with the other hand,
(d) battery conditioning system means coupled with said battery means during a battery conditioning operation for controlling conditioning of the battery means, and being operable for coupling with a power source for supplying power during a battery recharging operation,
(e) said battery means comprising nickel-cadmium rechargeable battery means, and said portable battery powered utilization device containing said nickel-cadmium rechargeable battery means and receiving power from a power source while said nickel-cadmium rechargeable battery means is receiving charge from the power source during a battery recharging operation under the control of said battery conditioning system means, and
(f) said battery conditioning system means when the temperature is relatively low automatically selecting a relatively low battery charge rate and when the temperature is higher automatically selecting a higher battery charge rate from a power source to which it is coupled, and monitoring temperature during respective battery recharging operations and automatically adjusting battery charge rate according to temperature for the sake of rapid recharging without substantial detriment to the useful life span of the nickel-cadmium rechargeable battery means.

3 more elements

In a system comprising

(a) a rechargeable battery pack of size and weight to be held in one hand along with an associated portable device which is to be operated by the other hand, and having a battery capacity such as to sustain portable operation of an associated portable device for a number of hours and being thereafter rechargeable during a recharging operation, and
(b) battery conditioning system means coupled with said battery pack during a battery conditioning operation for controlling conditioning of the battery means, and being operable for coupling with a power source for supplying a charging voltage,
(c) said battery conditioning system means receiving charging voltage during a battery recharging operation and automatically controlling the supply of charge to said rechargeable battery pack to effect recharging thereof after a period of portable operation of the rechargeable battery pack and its associated portable device, and said battery conditioning system means automatically sensing a plurality of parameters comprising a temperature which is generally a function of battery temperature and a voltage which is generally a function of the battery terminal voltage of said rechargeable battery means, and automatically controlling battery recharging operations according to the sensed parameters so as to automatically avoid detrimental operating conditions.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Battery powered system

Life of this patent

Battery powered system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims80