Computerized battery charger

A battery charger for rapidly charging a battery comprising:

• a voltage source connected to the battery with a charge line supplying charging current to the battery at a selected current value;
• sensing means for continuously sensing the voltage of the battery and for providing a conditioned battery voltage output;
• a voltage reference generator for generating a reference voltage equal to the conditioned battery voltage at the beginning of a charging cycle and for increasing the reference voltage in predetermined voltage increments as the battery voltage increases during the charging cycle until the battery voltage reaches a peak voltage;
• comparison means for receiving both the reference voltage and the conditioned battery voltage, for comparing the conditioned battery voltage to the reference voltage and for generating an output signal;
• computer control means for receiving the output signal from the comparison means and for controlling the charging of the battery according to the results of the comparison, the control means causing the reference voltage generator to increase the reference voltage by a predetermined voltage increment if the conditioned battery voltage is greater than the reference voltage and for decreasing the charging current to a trickle charge if the conditioned battery voltage is less than the reference voltage for a first predetermined time period, wherein if the computer control means determines the battery voltage is increasing during the first predetermined time period but does not increase by the predetermined voltage increment during a second predetermined time period, the computer control means decreases the charging current to a trickle charge.