Recharging battery charger
AssigneeAcme Electric Corporation
InventorsRichard C. Sutphin, Steven R. Bell, Kurt Monsell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A microprocessor controlled battery charger to charge a battery when the charging current is reduced to zero even though the charger is still connected to the battery. The microprocessor includes a means to read the voltage of the battery and also includes a timer. The voltage of the battery is periodically read and when it decreases below a predetermined value the microprocessor again establishes recharging of the battery first at an intermediate rate until either a maximum voltage is reached or a minimum dv/dt is reached and then the current is reduced to a lower current rate for a finishing charge of the battery for a given period of time.
Claims9
A microprocessor controlled battery charger adapted to be connected to a battery to be charged, said battery charger comprising, in combination:
- means to read the voltage of the battery;
- a microprocessor to establish a charging of said battery by said charger until substantially fully charged and then terminating said charging;
- said reading means at least periodically reading the voltage of the battery after the termination of charging and determining if the battery voltage has decreased below a predetermined value;
- said microprocessor establishing recharging of the battery at a first charging rate until the rate of change of voltage with time is less than x/100 volts per hour at which time the current is reduced to a second charging rate for a finishing charge of the battery, where x is a positive number;
- and
- selector means to select the values of said first and second charging rates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.