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US5196779A
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Battery maintenance system
Assignee: ALEXANDER TECHNOLOGIES EUROPE Ltd
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Filing: 1989-11-16
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Granted: 1993-03-23
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Expires: 2009-11-16
Abstract
Abstract A battery maintenance system for charging, analyzing, discharging and conditioning of a NiCad battery. The system displays voltage and capacity to determine whether or not a NiCad battery has enough capacity to power equipment for an optimal time period. The system charges the battery using a negative delta voltage method of detecting full charge, while also displaying instantaneous battery voltage. The system also analyzes the battery in a charge, discharge and recharge mode of operation, and during the charge mode the instantaneous voltage is displayed. The discharge mode discharges the battery to one volt per cell while displaying voltage and accumulative capacity alternately. The system also conditions batteries by cycling a battery through three cycles of charging, discharging and a subsequent recharge cycle.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard B. Alexandres
- 👤 Dennis P. Kindschuh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:03
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/36; G01R31/3644; G01R31/3648; G01R31/385; G01R31/396; H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/42; H01M10/44; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/90; H02J7/933; H02J7/96; H02J7/963; G01R31/382; G01R31/3835; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S320/00; Y10S320/12; Y10S320/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of determining the need for charging a nickel cadmium battery, comprising: a. sensing the battery voltage of said battery; b. when said sensed battery voltage is greater than or equal to a first predetermined voltage and less than or equal to a second larger predetermined voltage, setting a timer out to a first short time and analyzing whether said battery voltage is diminishing; and, c. When said analysis reveals that said battery voltage is not diminishing, saving said battery voltage, setting a drop delay to a second longer time and charging said battery.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of determining the need for charging a nickel cadmium battery, comprising: a. sensing the battery voltage of said battery; b. when said sensed battery voltage is greater than or equal to a first predetermined voltage and less than or equal to a second larger predetermined voltage, setting a timer out to a first short time and analyzing whether said battery voltage is diminishing; and, c. When said analysis reveals that said battery voltage is not diminishing, saving said battery voltage, setting a drop delay to a second longer time and charging said battery.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a readout of said battery voltage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said first predetermined voltage is 0.2 volts DC.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said second larger predetermined voltage is 4.8 volts DC.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of determining whether to discharge a nickel cadmium battery, comprising: a. sensing the voltage per cell of said battery; b. when said sensed voltage per cell is greater than or equal a first predetermined voltage and less than or equal to a second predetermined voltage, setting a timer out to a first short time and analyzing whether said voltage per cell is less than one volt; and, c. when said analysis reveals that said voltage per cell is not less than one volt, discharging said battery.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of determining whether to discharge a nickel cadmium battery, comprising: a. sensing the voltage per cell of said battery; b. when said sensed voltage per cell is greater than or equal a first predetermined voltage and less than or equal to a second predetermined voltage, setting a timer out to a first short time and analyzing whether said voltage per cell is less than one volt; and, c. when said analysis reveals that said voltage per cell is not less than one volt, discharging said battery.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 5, further comprising providing a readout of said voltage per cell.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5, further comprising providing a readout of the accumulated capacity of said battery.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said battery is discharged to one volt per cell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said first predetermined voltage is 0.2 volts DC.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said second larger predetermined voltage is 4.8 volts DC.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of conditioning a nickel cadmium battery comprising: a. sensing the battery voltage of said battery; b. when said sensed battery voltage is greater than or equal to a first predetermined voltage and less than or equal to a second predetermined voltage, setting a timer out to a first short time and analyzing whether said battery voltage is diminishing; c. when said analysis reveals that said battery voltage is not diminishing, saving said battery voltage, setting a drop delay to a second longer time and charging said battery; d. sensing the voltage per cell of said battery; e. when said sensed voltage per cell is greater than or equal to a third predetermined voltage and less than or equal to a fourth predetermined voltage, setting a timer out to the first time and analyzing whether said voltage per cell is less than a fifth predetermined voltage; f. when said analysis reveals that said voltage per cell is not less than the fifth predetermined voltage, discharging said battery; and, g. recharging said battery by repeating steps a-c.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of conditioning a nickel cadmium battery comprising: a. sensing the battery voltage of said battery; b. when said sensed battery voltage is greater than or equal to a first predetermined voltage and less than or equal to a second predetermined voltage, setting a timer out to a first short time and analyzing whether said battery voltage is diminishing; c. when said analysis reveals that said battery voltage is not diminishing, saving said battery voltage, setting a drop delay to a second longer time and charging said battery; d. sensing the voltage per cell of said battery; e. when said sensed voltage per cell is greater than or equal to a third predetermined voltage and less than or equal to a fourth predetermined voltage, setting a timer out to the first time and analyzing whether said voltage per cell is less than a fifth predetermined voltage; f. when said analysis reveals that said voltage per cell is not less than the fifth predetermined voltage, discharging said battery; and, g. recharging said battery by repeating steps a-c.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising repeating steps a-f prior to carrying out step g.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a readout of said voltage per cell.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a readout of the capacity of said battery during steps d-f.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said battery is discharged in step f to one volt per cell.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said first and third predetermined voltage are each 0.2 volts DC, and wherein said second and fourth predetermined voltages are each 4.8 volts DC.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first time is 0.5 seconds.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the second time is 60 seconds.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the first time is 0.5 seconds.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the first time is 0.5 seconds and the second time is 60 seconds.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
135 words
A process of charging a rechargeable battery of the type susceptible to battery memory comprising the steps of: a. sensing the battery voltage of the battery; b. determining if the sensed battery voltage is less than a first predetermined voltage and, if so, returning to step a; if not, determining if battery voltage is less than or equal to a second larger predetermined voltage and, if not, returning to step a, and if so, setting a timer out to a first short time; c. analyzing whether battery voltage is diminishing; d. if battery voltage is not diminishing, saving battery voltage and setting a drop delay to a second larger time, charging said battery; e. testing whether duration time is complete; and, f. if not, returning to step a, if duration time is complete, terminating charging.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
135 words
A process of charging a rechargeable battery of the type susceptible to battery memory comprising the steps of: a. sensing the battery voltage of the battery; b. determining if the sensed battery voltage is less than a first predetermined voltage and, if so, returning to step a; if not, determining if battery voltage is less than or equal to a second larger predetermined voltage and, if not, returning to step a, and if so, setting a timer out to a first short time; c. analyzing whether battery voltage is diminishing; d. if battery voltage is not diminishing, saving battery voltage and setting a drop delay to a second larger time, charging said battery; e. testing whether duration time is complete; and, f. if not, returning to step a, if duration time is complete, terminating charging.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 21 wherein the first short time is approximately 0.5 seconds and the second time is approximately 60 seconds.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
199 words
Apparatus for analyzing and conditioning a rechargeable battery susceptible to battery memory, comprising: a. means for sensing battery voltage of a battery; b. means for determining that battery voltage is greater than or equal to a first predetermined voltage and less than or equal to a second predetermined voltage and showing a timer out signal; c. an out timer responsive to the timer signal for timing a first short time; d. means for determining that battery voltage is not diminishing; e. a drop delay timer responsive to the means for determining that battery an voltage is not diminishing for timing a second longer time; f. means for sensing voltage per cell of the battery and for determining when the sense voltage is greater than or equal to a third predetermined voltage or less than or equal to a fourth predetermined voltage, the means for sensing including means for setting the out timer to the first time and analyzing whether the voltage per cell is less than a fifth predetermined voltage; and, g. means responsive to the means for sensing for discharging the battery and for activating the first means for sensing battery voltage for restarting a cycle of analyzing.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
199 words
Apparatus for analyzing and conditioning a rechargeable battery susceptible to battery memory, comprising: a. means for sensing battery voltage of a battery; b. means for determining that battery voltage is greater than or equal to a first predetermined voltage and less than or equal to a second predetermined voltage and showing a timer out signal; c. an out timer responsive to the timer signal for timing a first short time; d. means for determining that battery voltage is not diminishing; e. a drop delay timer responsive to the means for determining that battery an voltage is not diminishing for timing a second longer time; f. means for sensing voltage per cell of the battery and for determining when the sense voltage is greater than or equal to a third predetermined voltage or less than or equal to a fourth predetermined voltage, the means for sensing including means for setting the out timer to the first time and analyzing whether the voltage per cell is less than a fifth predetermined voltage; and, g. means responsive to the means for sensing for discharging the battery and for activating the first means for sensing battery voltage for restarting a cycle of analyzing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-03-22 | 1996-09-21 | 1997-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-03-22 | 2000-09-21 | 2001-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-03-22 | 2004-09-21 | 2005-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |