Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for charging a battery

US4396880A · kind A · utility

224Cited by
22References
56Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 5, 1981
Grant dateAug 2, 1983
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 5, 2001

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S320/13
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A battery is charged by repeatedly alternating between test and charge cycles. During the test cycle, the dynamic voltage-current characteristic of the battery is obtained as a function of the charge condition of the battery. During the charge cycle, a gradually varying voltage is supplied to the battery, substantially without controlling the current supplied thereto, for a predetermined time. The rate at which this supplied voltage varies is related to the dynamic voltage-current characteristic obtained during the test cycle. Alternating between test and charge cycles continues until the dynamic voltage-current characteristic last obtained is substantially identical to the preceding dynamic voltage-current characteristic, whereupon the charging of the battery is terminated.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.