Battery charger with power dissipation control

A battery charger comprising:

• a pass device having an input configured for connection to an unregulated transformer and an output configured for connection to a battery;
• and
• a controller comprising:
• a first voltage sense input connected to the input of the pass device;
• a second voltage sense input configured for connection to the battery;
• and
• a current control output connected to a gate of the pass device, wherein the current control output has a decreased output current when a voltage difference between the first voltage sense input and the second voltage sense input exceeds a predetermined threshold.

A battery charger comprising:

• a pass device having an input configured for connection to an unregulated transformer;
• and
• a controller comprising:
• a first voltage sense input connected to the input of the pass device;
• a second voltage sense input configured for connection to a battery;
• a third voltage sense input configured for connection to the unregulated transformer;
• and
• a current control signal output connected to a gate of the pass device.

A method for charging a battery comprising the steps of:

• connecting an unregulated transformer to a pass device;
• connecting the pass device to a battery;
• sensing a battery voltage of the battery;
• computing a desired charging current value for the battery;
• sensing an instantaneous power dissipation of the pass device;
• producing a current control signal based on the desired charging current value and the instantaneous power dissipation of the pass device;
• transmitting the current control signal to the pass device.

A method for charging a battery comprising the steps of:

• connecting an unregulated transformer to a pass device;
• connecting the pass device to the battery;
• sensing a battery voltage of a battery;
• sensing an output voltage of the unregulated transformer;
• producing a current control signal;
• transmitting the current control signal to the pass device.