US7005830B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Rechargeable battery pack with adaptive regenerative energy control and method thereof
Assignee: EnerDel Inc
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Filing: 2003-05-21
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Granted: 2006-02-28
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Expires: 2023-05-21
Abstract
Abstract A charging strategy for a rechargeable battery pack is disclosed. The battery pack is used in an application that includes a dynamoelectric machine that may operate as a motor, drawing power from the battery pack, or as a generator, delivering regenerative energy to the battery pack. The strategy monitors the nature, intensity, duration and frequency, among other things, associated with encountered episodes of regenerative energy from the dynamoelectric machine, and adjusts subsequent recharging processes to allow a calculated amount of headroom to accommodate regenerative energy inputs in the future, which may be assumed to be equal in nature, intensity, duration and frequency to what has already been observed. Overcharging is reduced or eliminated, while maximizing the amount of charge on the battery pack, and thus duration of use.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen W. Moore
- 👤 Harry L. Husted
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 03:58
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/14; H02J7/1446; B; B60; B60L; B60L58/00; B60L58/10; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/70; Y02T10/80; Y02T10/92
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of operating a rechargeable battery pack using regenerative energy comprising the steps of: determining a regenerative energy parameter based on regenerative energy provided to the battery pack during operation over a plurality of charging cycles, said plurality of charging cycles interleaved with a plurality of discharging cycles; and charging the battery pack based on the regenerative energy parameter during at least one of said plurality of charging cycles.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of operating a rechargeable battery pack using regenerative energy comprising the steps of: determining a regenerative energy parameter based on regenerative energy provided to the battery pack during operation over a plurality of charging cycles, said plurality of charging cycles interleaved with a plurality of discharging cycles; and charging the battery pack based on the regenerative energy parameter during at least one of said plurality of charging cycles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said determining step includes the substep of: determining an intensity and time at said regenerative energy parameter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said regenerative energy parameter comprises electrical current.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 the method further comprising the step of: storing said regenerative energy parameter over individual ones of said plurality of charging cycles as separate regenerative energy cycle entries in a history table.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said charging step includes discriminating said regenerative energy cycle entries based on respective magnitude and time and their respective tendency to accomplish charging.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 further including the steps of: providing an application for the battery pack that includes a dynamoelectric machine alternatively configured for propulsion and production of regenerative energy; and monitoring an input/output terminal of the battery pack for the presence of regenerative energy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
A rechargeable battery pack comprising: at least one battery cell configured to produce electrical power on a terminal thereof; means for determining a regenerative energy parameter based on regenerative energy provided during regenerative energy intervals to said terminal of said battery pack during operation over a plurality of charging cycles, said plurality of charging cycles interleaved with a plurality of discharging cycles; and means for controlling charging of said battery pack in accordance with said regenerative energy parameter based on at least one of said plurality of charging cycles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
A rechargeable battery pack comprising: at least one battery cell configured to produce electrical power on a terminal thereof; means for determining a regenerative energy parameter based on regenerative energy provided during regenerative energy intervals to said terminal of said battery pack during operation over a plurality of charging cycles, said plurality of charging cycles interleaved with a plurality of discharging cycles; and means for controlling charging of said battery pack in accordance with said regenerative energy parameter based on at least one of said plurality of charging cycles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The battery pack of claim 7 wherein said determining means includes a central processing unit (CPU) configured to determine a charge headroom relative to a maximum state of charge of said battery cell using said regenerative energy parameter, said CPU being further configured to calculate a charge termination voltage that corresponds to said charge headroom.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The battery pack of claim 8 wherein said controlling means includes said CPU configured as a charge controller that generates a charge termination signal when a voltage level on said terminal reaches said charge termination voltage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The battery pack of claim 9 further including means for producing a stop regeneration signal when said voltage level on said terminal reaches said charge termination voltage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The battery pack of claim 10 wherein said stop regeneration signal is provided to an application having a dynamoelectric machine alternatively configured for propulsion and for production of regenerative energy, said application being configured to discontinue said configuration for the production of regenerative energy in response to said stop regeneration signal.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of operating a rechargeable battery pack using regenerative energy, comprising the steps of: determining a regenerative energy parameter based on regenerative energy provided to the battery pack during operation, and charging the battery pack using the regenerative energy parameter, wherein said charging step includes the substeps of: determining a charge headroom relative to a maximum state of charge of the battery pack; using the determined regenerative energy parameter, calculating a charge termination voltage that corresponds to said charge headroom; and charging the battery pack until the charge termination voltage is obtained.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of operating a rechargeable battery pack using regenerative energy, comprising the steps of: determining a regenerative energy parameter based on regenerative energy provided to the battery pack during operation, and charging the battery pack using the regenerative energy parameter, wherein said charging step includes the substeps of: determining a charge headroom relative to a maximum state of charge of the battery pack; using the determined regenerative energy parameter, calculating a charge termination voltage that corresponds to said charge headroom; and charging the battery pack until the charge termination voltage is obtained.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the regenerative energy parameter is based on intensity and time of regenerative energy provided during regenerative energy intervals to the battery pack during operation over a plurality of charging cycles, said charging cycles having power usage intervals interleaved with said regenerative energy intervals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising the step of: storing a plurality of said regenerative energy parameters accumulated over said charging cycles in a history table.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said step of calculating said charge termination voltage includes the substep of: processing said plurality of regenerative energy parameters.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said processing step includes the substep of: selecting at least one of said plurality of regenerative energy parameters from said history table.
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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) | 2009-02-27 | 2009-08-29 | 2010-02-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-02-27 | 2013-08-29 | 2014-02-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-02-27 | 2017-08-29 | 2018-02-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |