Battery charge controller having an adjustable termination current
US6133712A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 18, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 17, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 18, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02J7/00714
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A battery charge controller has charge termination values that can be adjusted according to the initial charging current values so that charging is discontinued at a same charge level for all battery cells to prevent overcharging and undercharging. The battery charge controller includes a DC/DC converter that is coupled to a supply voltage and that provides a charging current to a battery, and a gain controller coupled to the DC/DC converter. The gain controller provides first and second gain-adjusted signals associated with the charging current. The charge controller further includes a charge termination detector that compares the level of the second gain-adjusted signal to a first predetermined reference signal and based on the comparison generates a charge termination signal. A pulse-width controller is coupled to the DC/DC converter. The pulse-width controller compares the charge termination signal, the first gain-adjusted signal, and a charging voltage of the battery to a second predetermined reference signal to vary a duty cycle of the DC/DC converter to vary the charging current supplied to the battery
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.