Patent US3736489A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US3736489A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Temperature sensing system for rechargeable batteries

Assignee: Gates Energy Products Inc
•
Filing: 1971-05-21
•
Granted: 1973-05-29
•
Expires: 1991-05-21
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An improved temperature sensing system for rechargeable batteries is provided which utilizes the voltage developed across one or a group of series connected diodes such as, for example, silicon diodes, at a preselected constant current to indicate the temperature of the battery and to accordingly adjust the level of battery voltage at which charge control action should be accomplished. When constant current charging is used, the proportionality between the voltage across the diodes and the desired voltage at which a high charge rate is modified can be made constant over a large temperature range by selecting the proper level of constant current to be passed through the diodes.

Inventors

  • 👤 F Mullersman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 15:26
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/42; H01M10/48; H01M10/486; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/90; H02J7/971; H02J7/975; H02J7/977; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 218 words
A battery charging system for a rechargeable battery having temperature compensated voltage sensing means wherein a charger recharges the battery at a high rate of charge to a predetermined charge level indicated by an increase in battery voltage to a pre-determined level which varies with the temperature of the battery, said temperature compensated voltage sensing means comprising: A. Diode means in thermal communication with said battery, having a predetermined linear temperature co-efficient of voltage substantially matching the temperature co-efficient of voltage of said battery which comprises the change in voltage per degree change in temperature at said predetermined charge level during charging over a temperature range of from about 25* to +75* C; B. Constant current means to pass a constant current through said diode means to provide a temperature-variable voltage over said temperature range which will be in a substantially constant direct proportion to said temperature-variable battery voltage at said predetermined charge level relatively independent of the temperature of the battery; C. Voltage monitoring means to measure the voltage across said diode means and across said battery; and D. Charge control means including a switch to turn off said high rate of charge in response to a signal voltage from said sensing means when the battery voltage reaches a predetermined proportion of said voltage across said diodes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 218 words
A battery charging system for a rechargeable battery having temperature compensated voltage sensing means wherein a charger recharges the battery at a high rate of charge to a predetermined charge level indicated by an increase in battery voltage to a pre-determined level which varies with the temperature of the battery, said temperature compensated voltage sensing means comprising: A. Diode means in thermal communication with said battery, having a predetermined linear temperature co-efficient of voltage substantially matching the temperature co-efficient of voltage of said battery which comprises the change in voltage per degree change in temperature at said predetermined charge level during charging over a temperature range of from about 25* to +75* C; B. Constant current means to pass a constant current through said diode means to provide a temperature-variable voltage over said temperature range which will be in a substantially constant direct proportion to said temperature-variable battery voltage at said predetermined charge level relatively independent of the temperature of the battery; C. Voltage monitoring means to measure the voltage across said diode means and across said battery; and D. Charge control means including a switch to turn off said high rate of charge in response to a signal voltage from said sensing means when the battery voltage reaches a predetermined proportion of said voltage across said diodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said diode means comprises a plurality of series-connected diodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 53 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said battery comprises a casing having at least two parallel rows of cells therein with a central portion between the rows and said sensing means are mounted in said central portion spaced from said casing and in thermal communication with at least two cells in each row.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 131 words
A rechargeable battery comprising a casing having a plurality of cells arranged in two, parallel rows therein; and having temperature sensing means therein comprising a channel shaped member placed between said rows, said member having a central portion and fin portions, one of said fin portions thermally contacting a plurality of cells in one row and another fin portion thermally contacting a plurality of cells in the other row, said central portion having series-connected diodes therein having a predetermined linear temperature coefficient substantially matching the temperature coefficient of voltage of said cells and thereby providing, in response to an impressed constant current, a signal voltage which will remain at a substantially constant proportion to the cut-off voltage of said cells over a temperature range of from about -25*C to about +75*C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 131 words
A rechargeable battery comprising a casing having a plurality of cells arranged in two, parallel rows therein; and having temperature sensing means therein comprising a channel shaped member placed between said rows, said member having a central portion and fin portions, one of said fin portions thermally contacting a plurality of cells in one row and another fin portion thermally contacting a plurality of cells in the other row, said central portion having series-connected diodes therein having a predetermined linear temperature coefficient substantially matching the temperature coefficient of voltage of said cells and thereby providing, in response to an impressed constant current, a signal voltage which will remain at a substantially constant proportion to the cut-off voltage of said cells over a temperature range of from about -25*C to about +75*C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 18 words
The battery of claim 4 wherein said diodes in sAid central portion are embedded in a potting compound.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 21 words
The battery of claim 5 wherein an external connection is provided on said casing in electrical communication with said sensing means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3274447A Cited
US3462356A Cited
US3421068A Cited
US3531706A Cited
US3599071A Cited
US3614584A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-05-28 1976-11-27 1977-05-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-05-28 1980-11-27 1981-05-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-05-28 1984-11-27 1985-05-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag