EP0005841A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of charging batteries and apparatus therefor
Assignee: Black and Decker Inc
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Filing: 1979-05-31
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Granted: —
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Expires: 1999-05-31
Abstract
Abstract A method of fast charging batteries by means of precise analysis of the profile of the variation with time of a characteristic of the battery which is indicative of the variation in stored chemical energy as the battery is charged. The method specifically comprises analyzing the profile for the occurrence of a particular series of events preferably including one or more inflection points which precisely identify the point in time at which the application of a fast charge rate should be discontinued. Additional methods of analysis provide for termination or control of the charging current upon the occurrence of other events such as limiting values on time, voltage or voltage slope or a negative change in the level of stored energy. Apparatus for performing these methods comprises a suitable power supply and a microcomputer for analysing the profile and controlling the power supply.
Inventors
- 👤 David Alan Saar
- 👤 Richard Thomas Walter
- 👤 John Lutz Bowman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:32
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/90; H02J7/94; H02J7/953; H02J7/96; H02J7/963
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of rapidly and effeciently charging a battery comprising the steps of: (a) supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof;. (b) monitoring a characteristic of the battery which varies with the state of charge of the battery; characterized in: (c) analyzing the variation of said characteristic with respect to time to determine the occurrence of at least one inflection point of said variation; and (d) controlling the supply of energy to the battery on the basis of said occurrence.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of rapidly and effeciently charging a battery comprising the steps of: (a) supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof;. (b) monitoring a characteristic of the battery which varies with the state of charge of the battery; characterized in: (c) analyzing the variation of said characteristic with respect to time to determine the occurrence of at least one inflection point of said variation; and (d) controlling the supply of energy to the battery on the basis of said occurrence.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method according to claim 1 characterized in the steps of: (a) monitoring at least one electrical characteristic of the battery by monitoring the electrochemical energy stored in the battery; (b) analyzing the variation of said monitored electrical characteristic with respect to time to determine the occurrence of at least one inflection point of said variation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in the steps of: (a) at least periodically measuring an electrical characteristic of the battery, said characteristic being one which changes with a changing level of electrochemical energy stored in the battery; (b) identifying at least one inflection point in the variation of said characteristic with respect to time; and (c) changing the rate of application of energy to-the battery on the basis of a predetermined set of one or more events, said set including said inflection point.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
108 words
A method according to one of the claims 1 - 3 characterized in the steps of: (a) charging the battery at a rate in excess of the 0.2C rate of said battery; (b) monitoring a characteristic of the battery which varies with the state of charge of the battery; (c) analyzing the variation of said characteristic with respect to time to determine the occurrence of at least one inflection point of said variation; and (d) reducing the rate of supply of energy upon the first occurrence of one of: (i) a predetermined ordered series of events including said inflection point; and (ii) said variation ceasing to be monotonic.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
109 words
A method according to one of the claims 1 - 3 characterized in the steps of: (a) charging the battery at a rate in excess of the O.2C rate of said battery; (b) monitoring a characteristic of the battery which varies with the state of charge of the battery; (c) analyzing the variation of said characteristic with respect to time to determine the occurrence of at least one inflection point of said variation; and (d) reducing the rate of supply of energy upon the first occurrence of one of: (i) a predetermined ordered series of events including said inflection point; and (ii) said characteristic reaching a predetermined limiting value.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
110 words
A method according to one of the claims 1 - 3 characterized in the steps of: (a) charging the battery at a rate in excess of the 0.2C rate of said battery; (b) monitoring a characteristic of the battery which varies with the state of charge of the battery; (c) analyzing the variation of said characteristic with respect to time to determine the occurrence of at least one inflection point of said variation; and (d) reducing the rate of supply of energy upon the first occurrence of one of: (i) a predetermined ordered series of events including said inflection point; and (ii) the passage of a predetermined amount of time.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
111 words
A method according to one of the claims 1 - 3. characterized in the steps of: (a) charging the battery at a rate in excess of the 0.2C rate of said battery; (b) monitoring a characteristic of.the battery which varies with the state of charge of the battery; (c) analyzing the variation of said characteristic with respect to time to determine the occurence of at least one inflection point of said variation; and (d) reducing the rate of supply of energy upon the first occurrence of one of: (i) a predetermined ordered series of events including said inflection point; and (ii) the slope of said variation reaching a predetermined limiting value.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
127 words
A method according to one of the claims 4 - 7 characterized in the steps of: (a) at least periodically measuring an electrical characteristic of the battery, said characteristic being one which changes with a changing level of electrochemical energy stored in the battery; (b) identifying at least one inflection point in the variation of said characteristic with respect to time; (c) reducing the rate of supply of energy to the battery below the O.2C rate upon the occurrence of a predetermined set of ordered events, said set comprising: (i) said at least one inflection point; and (ii) a second inflection point; and (d) continuing said supply of energy at said reduced rate for a fixed period of time following the occurrence of said set of events.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
73 words
A method according to one of the claims 1 - 8 characterized in the steps of: (a) at least periodically measuring the voltage across the battery; (b) identifying at least one inflection point in the variation of said voltage with respect to time; and (c) changing the rate of application of energy to the battery on the basis of a predetermined set of one or more events, said set including said inflection point.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
1 0 . A method according to claim 9 characterized in the steps of: (a) monitoring the voltage of the battery; (b) analyzing the variation with respect to time of said voltage to identify a predetermined sequence of inflection points of said variation; and (c) controlling the quantity of energy supplied to the battery on the basis of said sequence.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
58 words
A method as claimed in claim 1o wherein said sequence of inflection points comprises a first inflection point at which the second derivative of said variation with respect to said time changes from negative to positive and a second inflection point at which the second derivative of said variation with respect to time changes from positive to negative.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
76 words
A method according to one of the claims 1 - 8 characterized in the steps of: (a) monitoring the electrochemical energy stored in the battery by measuring the current level of said energy supply; (b) analyzing the variation of said current characteristic with respect to time to determine the occurrence of at least one inflection point of said variation; and (c) controlling the quantity of energy supplied to the battery on the basis of said occurrence.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
93 words
A method according to one of the claims 1 - 3 characterized in the steps of: (a) charging the battery at.a rate in excess of the 0.2C rate of said battery; (b) monitoring the variation of said rate with time; (c) analyzing said variation to determine the occurence of at least one inflection point of said variation; and (d) reducing the rate of supply of energy upon the first occurrence of one of: (i) a predetermined ordered series of event including said inflection point; and (ii) said variation ceasing to be monotonically decreasing.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
72 words
A method according to one of the claims 1 - 3 characterized in the steps of: (a) monitoring the electrochemical energy stored in the battery by monitoring the voltage of the battery (b) analyzing the variation of said voltage with respect to time to determine the occurrence of an . opposed pair of inflection points of said variation; and (c) reducing the rate of energy supplied to the battery upon said occurence.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the energy supply is constant at a predetermined value and wherein said voltage is measured periodically.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method according to claim 1 characterized in the steps of: (a) at least periodically determining the value of a characteristic of the battery which varies with the state of charge of the battery; (b) comparing successive values of said characteristic to determine the occurrence of at least one inflection point of the variation of said characteristic with respect to time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
120 words
A method according to claim 16 characterized in the steps of: (a) charging the battery at a rate in excess of the 0.2C rate of said battery; (b) monitoring a characteristic of the battery which varies with the state of charge of the battery by at least periodically measuring the value of said characteristic; (c) comparing successive values of said characteristic to determine the occurrence of at least one inflection point of the variation of said characteristic with respect to time; and (d) reducing the rate of supply of energy upon the first occurrence of one of: (i) a predetermined ordered series of events including said inflection point; and (ii) a change of sign of the slope of said variation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
91 words
A method according to claim 1 characterized in the steps of: (a) monitoring a characteristic of the battery which varies with the state of charge of the battery by at least periodically determining the value of said characteristic; (b) computing the slope of said characteristic with respect to time; (c) comparing consecutive slope values to identify an inflection point in the variation of said characteristic with respect to time; and (d) controlling the supply of energy to the battery on the basis of the time of occurrence of said inflection point.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
121 words
A method according to claim 18 characterized in the steps of: (a) at least periodically measuring the value of an electrical characteristic of the battery, said characteristic being one which changes with a changing level of electrochemical energy stored in the battery; (b) identifying at least one inflection point in the variation of said characteristic with respect to time, said identification comprising the steps of: (i) at least periodically computing the slope of said variation; and (ii) comparing successive slope values to identify at least one inflection point in said variation; and (c) changing the rate of application of energy to the battery on the basis of a predetermined set of one or more events, said set including said inflection point.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
128 words
2 0 . A method according to one of the claims 18 or 19 characterized in the steps of: (a) monitoring a characteristic of the battery which varies with the state of charge of the battery by at least periodically determining the value of said characteristic; (b) computing the slope of said characteristic with respect to time; (c) storing the highest and lowest values of slope computed as of the time of each computation; (d) comparing successive slope values with said stored highest and lowest values to identify the occurrence of at least one inflection point in the variation of said characteristic with respect to time; and (e) controlling the supply of energy to the battery on the basis of the time of occurrence of said inflection point.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
165 words
A method according to one of the claims 16, 18-2o characterized in the steps of: (a) supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof at a rate in excess of the 0.2C rate of the battery; (b) monitoring a characteristic of the battery which varies with the state of charge of the battery by at least periodically determining the value of said characteristic; (c) computing the slope of said characteristic with respect to time; (d) storing the highest and lowest values of slope computed as of the time of each computation; (e) comparing successive slope values with said stored lowest value to identify a first point at which said slope begins to increase after reaching a minimum; (f) storing a record of said first point; (g) thereafter comparing successive slope values with said stored highest value to identify a second point at which said slope beings to decrease after reaching a maximum; (h) reducing said rate of supply upon identification of said second point.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 1 and 4-21 characterized by: (a) means for supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof; (b) means for monitoring a characteristic of the battery which varies with the state of charge of the battery; (c) means for analyzing the variation of said characteristic with respect to time to determine the occurrence of at least one inflection point of said variation; and (d) means for controlling the quantity of energy supplied to the battery on the basis of said occurrence.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 2 and 4-21 characterized by: (a) means for supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof; (b) means for monitoring the electrochemical energy stored in the battery by monitoring at least one electrical characteristic of the battery; (c) means for analyzing the variation of said monitored electrical characteristic with respect to time to Determine the occurrence of at least one inflection point of said variation; and (d) means for controlling the quantity of energy supplied to the battery on the basis of said occurrence.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claims 3 - 21 characterized by: (a) means for supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof; (b) means for at least periodically measuring an electrical characteristic of the battery, said characteristic being one which changes with a changing level of eletrochemical energy stored in the battery: (c) means for identifying at least one inflection point in the variation of said characteristic with respect to time; and (d) means for changing the rate of application of energy to the battery on the basis of a predetermined set of one or more events, said set including said inflection point.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
117 words
Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 4 characterized by: (a) means for supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof at a rate in excess of the 0.2C rate of said battery; (b) means for monitoring a characteristic of the battery which varies with the state of charge of the battery; (c) means for analyzing the variation of said characteristic with respect to time to determine the occurrence of at least one inflection point of said variations,and (d) means for reducing the rate of supply of energy upon the first occurrence of one of: (i) a predetermined ordered series of events including said inflection point; and (ii) said variation ceasing to be monotonic.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
120 words
Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 5 characterized by: (a) means for supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof at a rate in excess of the 0.2C rate of said battery; (b) means for monitoring a characteristic of the battery which varies with the state of charge of the battery; (c) means for analyzing the variation of said characteristic with respect to time to determine the occurrence of at least one inflection point of said ' variation; and (d) means for reducing the rate of supply of energy upon the first occurrence of one of: (i) a predetermined ordered series of events including said inflection point; and (ii) said characteristic reaching a predetermined limiting value.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
120 words
Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 6 characterized by: (a) meahs for supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof at a rate in excess of the 0.2C rate of said battery; (b) means for monitoring a characteristic of the battery which varies with the state of charge of the battery; (c) means for analyzing the variation of said characteristic with respect to time to determine the occurrence of at least one inflection point of said variation; and (d) means for reducing the rate of supply of energy upon the first occurrence of one of: (i) a predetermined ordered series of events including said inflection point; and (ii) the passage of a predetermined amount of time.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 7 characterized by : (a) means for supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof at a rate in excess of the 0.2C rate of said battery; (b) means for monitoring a characteristic of the battery which varies with the state of charge of the battery; (c) means for analyzing the variation of said characteristic with respect to time to determine the occurrence of at least one inflection point of said variation; and (d) means for reducing the rate of supply of energy upon the first occurrence of one of: (i)- a predetermined ordered series of events including said inflection point; and (ii) the slope of said variation reaching a predetermined limiting value.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
151 words
Apparatus according to one of the claims 22 - 28, characterized by: (a) means for supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof at a rate in excess of the 0.2C rate of the battery; (b) means for at least periodically measuring an electrical characteristic of the battery, said characteristic being one which changes with a changing level of electrochemical energy stored in the battery; (c) means for identifying at least one inflection point in the variation of said characteristic with respect to time; (d) means for reducing the rate of supply of energy to the battery below the 0.2C rate upon the occurrence. of a predetermined set of ordered events, said set comprising: (i) said at least one inflection point; and (ii) a second inflection point; and (e) means for discontinuing said supply of energy after a fixed period of time following the occurrence of said set of events.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
44 words
3 0 . Apparatus as claimed in claim 29 characterized by further comprising means for periodically actuating said means for supplying energy to the battery at a rate in excess of the 0.2C rate at a frequency sufficient to maintain the battery against self-discharge.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 16 characterized by: (a) means for.supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof; (b) means for at least periodically determining the value of a characteristic of the battery which varies with the state of charge of the battery; (c) means for comparing successive values of said characteristic to determine the occurrence of at least one inflection point of the variation of said characteristic with respect to time; and (d) means for controlling said supply means on the basis of said occurrence.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
135 words
Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 17 characterized by: (a) means for supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof at a rate in excess of the 0.2C rate of said battery; (b) means for monitoring a characteristic of the battery which varies with the state of charge of the battery comprising means for at least periodically measuring the value of said characteristic; (c) means for comparing successive values of said characteristic to determine the occurrence of at least one inflection point of the variation of said characteristic with respect to time; (d) means for reducing the rate of supply of energy upon the first occurrence of one of: (i) a predetermined ordered series of events including said inflection point; and (ii) a change of sign of the slope-of said variation.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 18 characterized by: (a) means for supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof; (b) means for monitoring a characteristic of the battery which varies with the state of charge of the battery comprising means for at least periodically determining the value of said characteristic; (c) means for computing the slope of said characteristic with respect to time; (d) means for comparing consecutive slope values to identify an inflection point in the variation of said characteristic with respect to time; and (e) means for controlling said supply means on the basis of the time of occurrence of said inflection point.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
141 words
Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 19 characterized by: (a) means for supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof; (b) means for at least periodically measuring the value of an electrical characteristic of the battery, said characteristic being one which changes with a changing level of electrochemical energy stored in the battery; (c) means for identifying at least one inflection point in the variation of said characteristic with respect to time, said means comprising: (i) means for at least periodically computing the slope of said variation; and (ii) means for comparing successive slope values to identify at least one inflection point in said variation; and (d) means for changing the rate of application of energy to the battery on the basis of a predetermined set of one or more events, said set including said inflection point.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus according to claims 33 or 34 characterized by: (a) power supply means for supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof; (b) means for monitoring a characteristic of the battery which varies with the state of charge of the battery comprising means for at least periodically determining the value of said characteristic; (c) means for computing the slope of said characteristic with respect to time; (d) means for storing the highest and lowest values of slope computed as of the time of each computation; (e) means for comparing successive slope values with said stored highest and lowest values to identify the occurrence of at least one inflection point in the variation of said characteristic with respect to time; and (f) means for controlling the supply of energy to the battery on the basis of the time of occurrence of said inflection point.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
181 words
Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 21 characterized by (a) power supply means for supplying electrical energy to the battery for charging thereof at a rate in excess of the 0.2C rate of the battery; (b) means for monitoring a.characteristic of the battery which varies with the state of charge of the battery comprising means for at least periodically determining the value of said characteristic; (c) means for computing the slope of said characteristic with respeet to time; (d) means for storing the highest and lowest values of slope computed as of the time of each computation; (e) means for comparing successive slope values with said stored lowest value to identify a first point at which said slope begins to increase after reaching a minimum; (f) means for storing a record of said first point; (g) means for comparing successive slope values with said stored highest value to identify a second point at which said slope begins to decrease after reaching a maximum; and (h) means for reducing said rate of supply upon identification of said second point.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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