Back to results
US 9,866,051 B2Granted
Adaptive charger to maximize charge rate
AssigneeElectrochem Solutions, Inc.
InventorBrian R. Peterson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical system for charging an electrochemical cell or battery pack is described. The system is configured to dynamically modify the magnitude of the charge power based on the amplitude of the available power source. The system comprises a master control unit which measures the strength of the available incoming power source and dynamically modifies the charge current used to charge an electrochemical cell or battery pack based on the strength of the incoming electrical power available to the system.
Claims36
An electrical power control circuit, comprising:
- a) an Isense circuit comprising a voltage amplifier electrically connected to a first resistor, wherein the Isense circuit is configured to wirelessly receive electrical power from an electrical power source, and wherein the Isense circuit is configured to emit, through an electrical connection, a first analog voltage that is proportional to a first amplitude of an electrical current of the wirelessly received electrical power;
- b) a master control circuit comprising a micro control unit electrically connected to the Isense circuit, wherein the micro control unit is configured to receive the Isense circuit first analog voltage and emit, through an electrical connection, a master control signal;
- and
- c) a charger circuit electrically connected to the master control circuit, the charger circuit being configured to receive the master control signal and emit, through an electrical connection, an electrical charge power having a second amplitude,
- d) wherein, in response to analysis by the master control circuit of the first analog voltage emitted by the Isense circuit, the charger circuit is further configured to modify the second amplitude of the electrical charge power, and
- e) wherein the charger circuit is configured to electrically connect to and charge an energy storage device with the electrical charge power.
3 more elements
An electrical charging system, comprising:
- a) a voltage divider comprising a first resistor electrically connected in series with a second resistor, wherein the voltage divider is configured to wirelessly receive electrical power from an electrical power source, and wherein the voltage divider is configured to emit, through an electrical connection, a first analog voltage that is proportional to a first amplitude of a voltage of the wirelessly received electrical power;
- and
- b) a master control circuit comprising a micro control unit electrically connected to the voltage divider, wherein the micro control unit is configured to receive the first analog voltage and emit, through an electrical connection, a master control signal;
- c) a charger circuit electrically connected to the master control circuit, the charger circuit configured to receive the master control signal and emit, through an electrical connection, an electrical charge power having a second amplitude,
- d) wherein, in response to analysis by the master control circuit of the first analog voltage emitted by the voltage divider, the charger circuit is further configured to modify the second amplitude of the electrical charge power, and
- e) wherein the charger circuit is configured to electrically connect to and charge an energy storage device with the electrical charge power.
3 more elements
An electrical charging system, comprising:
- a) a receiving coil configured to receive an electrical power that is wirelessly transmitted from an electrical power source by near-field magnetic inductance;
- b) a conditioning circuit electrically connected to the receiving coil, the conditioning circuit comprising a matching network circuit and a rectifying circuit, wherein the conditioning circuit is configured to rectify the electrical power received by the receiving coil from an alternating current to a direct current;
- c) an Isense circuit electrically connected to the conditioning circuit, the Isense circuit comprising a first resistor electrically connected to a voltage amplifier, wherein the Isense circuit is configured to receive the rectified direct current from the conditioning circuit and emit, through an electrical connection, a first analog voltage that is proportional to a first amplitude of an electrical current of the electrical power received by the conditioning circuit from the receiving coil;
- and
- d) a master control circuit electrically connected to the Isense circuit, the master control circuit comprising:
- i) a micro control unit configured to receive the Isense circuit first analog voltage and emit through an electrical connection a digital master control signal;
- ii) an analog to digital converter electrically connected to the micro control unit, wherein the analog to digital converter is configured to convert the first analog voltage a first digital voltage signal that is then sent through an electrical connection to the micro controller;
- iii) a digital to analog converter electrically connected to the micro control unit, the digital to analog converter configured to convert the digital master control signal received from the micro control unit to a second analog voltage;
- and
- e) a charger circuit electrically connected to the master control circuit, wherein the charger circuit is configured to receive the second analog voltage and emit through an electrical connection an electrical charge power having a second amplitude,
- f) wherein, in response to analysis by the master control circuit of the first analog voltage emitted by the Isense circuit, the charger circuit is further configured to modify the second amplitude of the emitted electrical charge power, and
- g) wherein the charger circuit is configured to electrically connect to and charge an energy storage device with the electrical charge power.
9 more elements
An electrical charging system, comprising:
- a) a receiving coil configured to receive an electrical power that is wirelessly transmitted from an electrical power source by near-field magnetic inductance;
- b) a conditioning circuit electrically connected to the receiving coil, the conditioning circuit comprising a matching network circuit and a rectifying circuit, wherein the conditioning circuit is configured to rectify the electrical power received by the receiving coil from an alternating current to a direct current;
- c) an voltage divider electrically connected to the conditioning circuit, the voltage divider comprising a first resistor electrically connected in series with a second resistor, wherein the voltage divider is configured to receive the rectified direct current from the conditioning circuit and emit, through an electrical connection, a first analog voltage that is proportional to a first amplitude of a voltage of the electrical power received by the conditioning circuit from the receiving coil;
- and
- d) a master control circuit electrically connected to the voltage divider, the master control circuit comprising:
- i) a micro control unit configured to receive the voltage divider first analog voltage and emit, through an electrical connection, a digital master control signal;
- ii) an analog to digital converter electrically connected to the micro control unit, wherein the analog to digital converter is configured to convert the first analog voltage to a first digital voltage signal that is then sent through an electrical connection to the micro controller;
- and
- iii) a digital to analog converter electrically connected to the micro control unit, the digital to analog converter configured to convert the digital master control signal received from the micro control unit to a second analog voltage;
- and
- e) a charger circuit electrically connected to the master control circuit, wherein the charger circuit is configured to receive the second analog voltage and emit, through an electrical connection, an electrical charge power having a second amplitude,
- f) wherein, in response to analysis by the master control circuit of the first analog voltage emitted by the voltage divider, the charger circuit is further configured to modify the second amplitude of the emitted electrical charge power, and
- g) wherein the charger circuit is configured to electrically connect to and charge an energy storage device with the electrical charge power.
10 more elements
An electrical power control circuit, comprising:
- a) an Isense circuit comprising a voltage amplifier electrically connected to a first resistor, wherein the Isense circuit is configured to wirelessly receive electrical power from an electrical power source, and wherein the Isense circuit is configured to emit, through an electrical connection, a first analog voltage that is proportional to a first amplitude of an electrical current of the wirelessly received electrical power;
- b) a micro control unit electrically connected to the Isense circuit, wherein the micro control unit is configured to receive the Isense circuit first analog voltage and emit, through an electrical connection, a master control signal;
- and
- c) a charger circuit electrically connected to the a micro control unit, the charger circuit being configured to receive the master control signal and emit, through an electrical connection, an electrical charge power having a second amplitude,
- d) wherein, in response to analysis by the master control circuit of the first analog voltage emitted by the Isense circuit, the charger circuit is further configured to modify the second amplitude of the electrical charge power, and
- e) wherein the charger circuit is configured to electrically connect to and charge an energy storage device with the electrical charge power.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.