US5179340A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for monitoring the state of charge of a battery
Assignee: ELECTRONIC DEVELOPMENT Inc
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Filing: 1990-10-31
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Granted: 1993-01-12
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Expires: 2010-10-31
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for monitoring the state of charge of a battery having a shunt resistor connected in series with a battery and an integrating circuit connected across the terminals of the shunt resistor. The integrating circuit includes a memoriode having a large capacitance and the capability to store charge for long periods of time, so that the integration can be performed along the same curve even if power to the integrating circuit is interrupted.
Inventors
- 👤 Wesley A. Rogers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:00
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/14; H02J7/1423; G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/36; G01R31/382; G01R1/00; G01R1/20; G01R1/203
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
An apparatus for monitoring the state of an electrical energy source comprising: a current sensor operatively connected to the energy source for producing an output signal related to the magnitude and direction of the current flowing to or from said energy source; an electrical long term analog integrator connected to said current sensor for integrating said output signal and for producing a signal related to the state of the energy source; said integrator including a long term charge storage device for storing a charge related to the state of the energy source; said integrator charging at a rate proportional to the magnitude of the sensed current when the current flow is in one direction, and discharging at a rate proportional to the magnitude of the sensed current when the current flow is in the opposite direction; said long term charge storage device being non-volatile in its charge retention when unconnected to a discharge circuit; and conductors and an active circuit element responsive to the current sensed by the current sensor for automatically opening the circuit to the storage device when no current is flowing to or from the energy source.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
190 words
An apparatus for monitoring the state of an electrical energy source comprising: a current sensor operatively connected to the energy source for producing an output signal related to the magnitude and direction of the current flowing to or from said energy source; an electrical long term analog integrator connected to said current sensor for integrating said output signal and for producing a signal related to the state of the energy source; said integrator including a long term charge storage device for storing a charge related to the state of the energy source; said integrator charging at a rate proportional to the magnitude of the sensed current when the current flow is in one direction, and discharging at a rate proportional to the magnitude of the sensed current when the current flow is in the opposite direction; said long term charge storage device being non-volatile in its charge retention when unconnected to a discharge circuit; and conductors and an active circuit element responsive to the current sensed by the current sensor for automatically opening the circuit to the storage device when no current is flowing to or from the energy source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said integrator includes an operational amplifier capable of tracking small voltage swings, on the order of approximately 0.5 to 1 millivolt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said operational amplifier operates in the single-ended mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said current sensor produces a voltage drop on the order of approximately 1 millivolt per amp.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
135 words
An apparatus for monitoring the state of an electrical energy source comprising: a current sensor operatively connected to the energy source for producing an output signal related to the magnitude and direction of the current flowing to or from said energy source; a capacitive element having a capacity of more than one farad connected to said current sensor for integrating said output signal and for producing a signal related to the state of the energy source; said capacitive element charging at a rate proportional to the magnitude of the sensed current when the current flow is in one direction, and discharging at a rate proportional to the magnitude of the sensed current when the current flow is in the opposite direction, on a continuous basis as the current flows to and from said energy source.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
135 words
An apparatus for monitoring the state of an electrical energy source comprising: a current sensor operatively connected to the energy source for producing an output signal related to the magnitude and direction of the current flowing to or from said energy source; a capacitive element having a capacity of more than one farad connected to said current sensor for integrating said output signal and for producing a signal related to the state of the energy source; said capacitive element charging at a rate proportional to the magnitude of the sensed current when the current flow is in one direction, and discharging at a rate proportional to the magnitude of the sensed current when the current flow is in the opposite direction, on a continuous basis as the current flows to and from said energy source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the capacitive element is a Memoriode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as in claim 5, further including: an amplifier connected between the current sensor and the capacitive element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the amplifier is an operational amplifier having two input terminals and an output terminal; and the capacitive element is connected in a feedback circuit between the output terminal and one of the input terminals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said operational amplifier operates in the single-ended mode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said operational amplifier is capable of tracking small voltage swings, on the order of approximately 0.5 to 1 millivolt.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as in claim 5, further including: a discharge control circuit responsive to the current sensor for discharging the capacitive element when the current flowing from the energy source reaches a predetermined level.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus as in claim 11 for monitoring the state of charge of a battery, further including: a resistive element; and means for selectively connecting the resistive element to the capacitive element; the discharge control circuit operating to connect the resistive element to the capacitive element when the current from the energy source reaches a predetermined level, so as to discharge the capacitive element at a discharge rate that corresponds to the discharge rate of the battery during the time the current remains at or above the predetermined level.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as in claim 5, further including: a second discharge control circuit responsive to the voltage across the capacitive element for rapidly discharging the capacitive element when the voltage reaches a predetermined level.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as in claim 13, further including: a low resistance element; the second discharge control circuit operating to connect the low discharge element to the capacitive element to rapidly charge the capacitive element when the voltage reaches a predetermined level, until such time as it falls below that level.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said current sensor produces a voltage drop on the order of approximately 1 millivolt per amp.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of monitoring the state of an electrical energy source comprising the steps of: sensing the direction and amount of current flow into and out of the energy source; integrating the net amount of said current flow continuously as current flows into and out of said energy source; the step of integrating comprising charging a capacitive element having an effective capacity of more than one farad in response to current flow in one direction, at a charge rate that is in proportion to the amount of current flow, and discharging the capacitive element in response to current flow in the opposite direction at a discharge rate that is in proportion to the amount of current flow.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of monitoring the state of an electrical energy source comprising the steps of: sensing the direction and amount of current flow into and out of the energy source; integrating the net amount of said current flow continuously as current flows into and out of said energy source; the step of integrating comprising charging a capacitive element having an effective capacity of more than one farad in response to current flow in one direction, at a charge rate that is in proportion to the amount of current flow, and discharging the capacitive element in response to current flow in the opposite direction at a discharge rate that is in proportion to the amount of current flow.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the step of integrating comprises charging and discharging a Memoriode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method in claim 16, including the further step of discharging the capacitive element by a separate discharge circuit, at a predetermined discharge rate, when the current flow from the energy source is higher than a predetermined amount.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the step of discharging the capacitive element at a predetermined discharge rate comprises automatically connecting a resistor of predetermined value across the capacitive element.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 16, including the further steps of: sensing a voltage that is proportional to the voltage across the capacitive element; and inhibiting any further increase of voltage across said capacitive element when the sensed voltage reaches a predetermined level.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the step of inhibiting comprises applying a low resistance current flow path to the capacitive element when the sensed voltage reaches a predetermined level.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 16, including the further step of disconnecting the capacitive element from any charging or discharging circuit when no current flow into or out of the energy source is sensed.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said step of sensing the amount of current flow comprises the step of producing a voltage across a shunt on the order of approximately 1 millivolt per amp.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of monitoring the state of charge of a battery comprising the steps of: sensing the current flow to and from the battery; automatically charging and discharging a capacitive element in a long time constant circuit in response to, and in proportion to, the magnitude and direction of the sensed current flow, so that the charge across the capacitive element is continually proportional to the charge of the battery; compensating for any current flow from the battery that reaches a sufficiently high level by discharging the capacitive element at a predetermined rate during the period of time that the high current flow level continues.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of monitoring the state of charge of a battery comprising the steps of: sensing the current flow to and from the battery; automatically charging and discharging a capacitive element in a long time constant circuit in response to, and in proportion to, the magnitude and direction of the sensed current flow, so that the charge across the capacitive element is continually proportional to the charge of the battery; compensating for any current flow from the battery that reaches a sufficiently high level by discharging the capacitive element at a predetermined rate during the period of time that the high current flow level continues.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the step of integrating comprises the step of applying said voltage to the inputs of an operational amplifier capable of tracking small voltage swings, on the order of approximately 0.5 to 1 millivolt.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said step of integrating includes the step of operating said operational amplifier in the single-ended mode.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the step of automatically charging and discharging comprises automatically charging and discharging a Memoriode.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the step of compensating comprises sensing the current flow from the battery, and when it reaches a sufficient level, automatically applying a discharge circuit across the capacitive element.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the step of compensating comprises automatically connecting to the capacitive element a discharge circuit that provides a predetermined discharge time constant for the capacitive element to discharge it at a rate that simulates the discharge of the battery during the high current flow.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of monitoring the state of an electrical energy source comprising the steps of: initializing a capacitive element having an effective capacity of one farad or more by charging it corresponding to the state of the energy source; sensing the current flow to and from the energy source and automatically increasing and decreasing the charge on the capacitive element in proportion to the current flow to and from the energy source, for the entire periods of time that the current is flowing to and from the source; and automatically discharging the capacitive element at a predetermined discharge rate when the current flow out of the source reaches a predetermined value, for as long as the current flow remains at or above the predetermined value.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of monitoring the state of an electrical energy source comprising the steps of: initializing a capacitive element having an effective capacity of one farad or more by charging it corresponding to the state of the energy source; sensing the current flow to and from the energy source and automatically increasing and decreasing the charge on the capacitive element in proportion to the current flow to and from the energy source, for the entire periods of time that the current is flowing to and from the source; and automatically discharging the capacitive element at a predetermined discharge rate when the current flow out of the source reaches a predetermined value, for as long as the current flow remains at or above the predetermined value.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 30, including the further step of: automatically discharging the capacitive element at a predetermined rapid discharge rate if the voltage across it reaches a predetermined value, until such time as the voltage across it falls below that value.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as in claim 31 wherein the step automatically discharging the capacitive element at a predetermined rapid rate comprises sensing a voltage that is proportional to the voltage across the capacitive element and applying a low resistance discharge path across the capacitive element when the voltage reaches the predetermined value, until such time as the voltage falls below the predetermined value.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 30 further including the step of: opening the circuit to the capacitive element so that the capacitive element cannot discharge, during the time that the current is not flowing.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the initializing and charging and discharging steps further comprise initializing, discharging and charging a Memoriode.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-01-12 | 1996-07-13 | 1997-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-01-12 | 2000-07-13 | 2001-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-01-12 | 2004-07-13 | 2005-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |