US4924169A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Current regulator for a battery re-charging circuit
Assignee: Torque Traction Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1989-02-24
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Granted: 1990-05-08
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Expires: 2009-02-24
Abstract
Abstract A circuit for regulating the amount of electrical re-charging current supplied to a battery is disclosed. The circuit includes a first generator for generating a signal representing the desired amount of the re-charging current, a second generator for generating a signal representing the actual amount of the re-charging current, and a comparator responsive to the desired and actual current signals for controlling the actual amount of the re-charging current to correspond to the desired amount. The desired signal generator includes a plurality of individual current signal sources. Each of the individual current signal sources is separately controlled by a microprocessor to selectively generate individual current signals. All of the individual current signals are summed together to provide the desired current signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Glenn Shifflet
- 👤 Herbert C. Johnson
- 👤 Paul W. Revenaugh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 20:07
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/08; G07C5/0841; G01; G01M; G01M13/00; G01M13/02; G01M13/027
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
In an instrument including a control circuit, a battery pack for supplying power to the control circuit, and a generator for generating electrical current to re-charge the battery pack, a means for regulating the amount of electrical current supplied to the battery pack for re-charging comprising: means for generating a signal representing the desired amount of the re-charging current, said desired signal generating means including a plurality of individual current signal sources and means for summing all of said individual current signals to provide said desired current signal; means for generating a signal representing the actual amount of the re-charging current; and means responsive to said desired and actual current signals for controlling said actual amount of said re-charging current to correspond to said desired amount of said re-charging current.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
In an instrument including a control circuit, a battery pack for supplying power to the control circuit, and a generator for generating electrical current to re-charge the battery pack, a means for regulating the amount of electrical current supplied to the battery pack for re-charging comprising: means for generating a signal representing the desired amount of the re-charging current, said desired signal generating means including a plurality of individual current signal sources and means for summing all of said individual current signals to provide said desired current signal; means for generating a signal representing the actual amount of the re-charging current; and means responsive to said desired and actual current signals for controlling said actual amount of said re-charging current to correspond to said desired amount of said re-charging current.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said means responsive to said desired and actual current signals includes an operational amplifier for generating a signal representing the difference between said desired and actual current signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The invention defined in claim 2 wherein said means responsive to said desired and actual current signals further includes a pulse width modulator connected to said operational amplifier for generating a pulse train output signal therefrom, said pulse width modulator being responsive to said difference signal for varying the width of the pulses generated in said pulse train output signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
87 words
The invention defined in claim 3 wherein said means responsive to said desired and actual current signals further includes a switching regulator connected between said pulse width modulator and the battery pack, and wherein the generator is connected to said switching regulator such that said switching regulator generates an output signal which is proportional to the magnitude of the electrical current generated by the generator, the amount of said proportion being determined by the length of said pulses divided by the period of time between successive pulses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein each of said individual current signal sources includes a voltage source, a resistor, and means for selectively connecting said voltage source to said resistor to generate its respective individual current signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention defined in claim 5 wherein each of said means for selectively connecting includes a transistor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention defined in claim 6 further including a microprocessor connected to each of said transistors for controlling the generation of said individual current signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention defined in claim 7 wherein each of said transistors has a collector connected to its respective voltage source, an emitter connected to its respective resistor, and a base connected to said microprocessor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention defined in claim 5 wherein the values of each of said resistors is different.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein one of said individual current signal sources includes a voltage source, a resistor, and means for selectively connecting said voltage source to said resistor to selectively generate a first individual current signal, and wherein another of said individual current signal sources includes a voltage source directly connected to a resistor to generate a second individual current signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention defined in claim 10 wherein said means for selectively connecting includes a transistor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention defined in claim 11 further including a microprocessor connected to said transistor for controlling the generation of said first individual current signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention defined in claim 12 wherein said transistor has a collector connected to said voltage source, an emitter connected to said resistor, and a base connected to said microprocessor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention defined in claim 10 wherein the values of each of said resistors is different.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4472672A
Cited
US4656411A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-05-07 | 1993-11-06 | 1994-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-05-07 | 1997-11-06 | 1998-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-05-07 | 2001-11-06 | 2002-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |