# US 9,438,060 B2 · Power recovery controller > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,438,060 B2 - Document ID: US9438060B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/140,780 - Filed: 2013-12-26 - Published: 2014-06-26 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-26 - Assignees: Colorado Energy Research Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Colorado Energy Research Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Wayne J. Powell; Robert D. Boehmer; Lee L. Johnson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9438060B2 ## CPC - H02J 7/875: {Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation} - H02J 7/00: Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries - H02J 7/927: {with introduction of pulses during the charging process} - Y02B 40/00: Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract The inventive subject matter provides a circuit and a method for efficiently charging a battery. In one aspect of the invention, the circuit includes a constant current circuit configured to provide a direct current through the battery. The circuit also includes a pulsing current circuit that works with the constant current circuit and configured to simultaneously provide a series of pulsed current to the battery. In some embodiments, the series of current pulses includes constructive resonant ringing that is constructive with respect to the charging of the battery. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of charging a battery, comprising: simultaneously feeding through the battery a direct current and a series of current pulses at a frequency that corresponds to a resonant frequency of the battery, wherein each pulse in the series of current pulses comprises decaying oscillation of current that is constructive with respect to charging the battery; and artificially enhancing the constructive resonant ringing in the series of current pulses. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the battery comprises a primary battery. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the battery comprises a secondary battery. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein feeding the series of current pulses comprises: feeding a first subset of the series of current pulses through the battery at the frequency during a first interval of time; providing a resting period of a duration that is at least as long as a time between three consecutive current pulses in the first subset of the series of current pulses, wherein no current pulse is fed through the battery during the resting period; and feeding a second subset of the series of current pulses through the battery at the frequency during a subsequent, second interval of time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the resting period has a same duration as the first interval of time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the series of current pulses is operated at a duty cycle of no more than 50%. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein feeding the series of current pulses comprises feeding the pulses at a frequency that is within 5% of the resonant frequency of the battery. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the resonant frequency of the battery is a frequency at which the battery accepts electric charges at a near optimal efficiency within a range of frequencies. ### Claim 9 A circuit for charging a battery, comprising: a first circuitry configured to provide a constant current through the battery; a second circuitry configured to coordinate with the first circuitry to simultaneously provide a series of current pulses through the battery, wherein each pulse in the series of current pulses comprises decaying oscillation of current that is constructive with respect to charging the battery; and a third circuitry coupled with the second circuitry and configured to control the second circuitry to (i) feed a first subset of the series of current pulses through the battery at the frequency during a first interval of time; (ii) provide a resting period of a duration that is at least as long as a time between three consecutive current pulses in the first subset of the series of current pulses, wherein no current pulse is fed through the battery during the resting period; and (iii) feed a second subset of the series of current pulses through the battery at the frequency during a subsequent, second interval of time. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The circuit of claim 9, wherein the second circuitry comprises an inductor configured to artificially enhance the constructive resonant ringing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The circuit of claim 9, wherein the battery comprises a primary battery. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The circuit of claim 9, wherein the battery comprises a secondary battery. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The circuit of claim 9, wherein the resting period has a same duration as the first interval of time. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The circuit of claim 9, wherein the second circuitry is configured to feed the series of current pulses at a duty cycle of no more than 50%. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The circuit of claim 9, wherein the second circuitry is configured to feed the series of current pulses at a frequency that is within 5% of the resonant frequency of the battery. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The circuit of claim 9, wherein the resonant frequency of the battery is a frequency at which the battery accepts electric charges at a near optimal efficiency within a range of frequencies.