Electrical transmission or interconnection systems – Plural supply circuits or sources – Substitute or emergency source
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-07
2001-02-27
Ballato, Josie (Department: 2836)
Electrical transmission or interconnection systems
Plural supply circuits or sources
Substitute or emergency source
Reexamination Certificate
active
06194793
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for charging an energy storage device, such as a battery, in a power supply and, more specifically, to a method and apparatus for simultaneously or sequentially charging an energy storage device and providing electric power to a load with an intermittent and/or variable energy source.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, the use of alternative energy or power sources such as, for example, solar energy, wind energy, and geothermal energy, has become increasingly important. In addition, the desire to place such alternative energy or power sources in remote locations unreachable by conventional electric power or utility grids has steadily increased. For example, a telephone, radio, oven or other device may be located far from traditional electric power grids or utilities and powered by solar or wind energy.
In a typical configuration of a remotely located device requiring electric power for operation, a power source may be used to charge and/or recharge a battery, capacitor, or other energy storage source. The power source and the battery may be used to supply electric energy to the device either sequentially or simultaneously. For example, a remotely located emergency radio may be connected to a battery to provide power to the radio. A solar panel or other energy source can be connected to the battery to maintain a charge in the battery. Additionally, the solar panel may directly provide power to the radio. The solar panel may be used to provide electric power to the radio during the day as well as charging the battery. During the evening or when the sky is overcast or cloudy such that the solar panel cannot generate enough electric power for the radio, the battery may be used to provide electric power to the radio.
Unfortunately, in many configurations wherein a recharging power source, such as a solar panel or solar array, is used to charge a battery, battery pack, or other rechargeable power source that is, in turn, used to provide power to a device, such as a remotely located radio or telephone, the recharging power or energy source is oversized in order to maintain the battery at or above its rated nominal voltage or energy storage capacity. In addition, the battery is often oversized itself to insure that the battery does not discharge below the minimum required voltage needed to operate the device during, for example, periods of cloudy weather or nighttime operation. As a result, the battery is maintained in a fully charged or overcharged state which reduces the battery's capacity and ability to maintain a charge and leads to a premature failure of the battery. Furthermore, efficiency of power delivery to a load from either the recharging power source or the rechargeable power source is often significantly reduced, thereby wasting power.
Therefore, in spite of the developments in the art in battery charging technology, there remains a need for a charger or charging system for a battery or other power source that is simple to construct, allows for the charging of a battery or other power source simultaneously or concurrently with delivery of electric power to a load, improves battery charging efficiency, improves efficiency of electric power delivery to a load, and does not cause the battery to fail prematurely.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for initially charging, self-starting, and operating a power supply with an intermittent and/or variable power source, and a rechargeable energy storage device.
A more specific object of this invention is to improve performance and dependability of a power supply, including initial energization, especially for a power supply which has an electric energy producing source that produces electric energy intermittently and/or at varying performance levels, a rechargeable electric energy storage device that stores and outputs electric energy at varying voltages and that may have very low or virtually no energy or voltage at start-up or at other times, and an energy converter that converts input electric energy of varying voltages to output electric energy of a constant voltage output to power a load.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for reducing overcharging of a chargeable energy storage device.
It is another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for providing electric power or energy to a load while simultaneously or concurrently charging a chargeable energy storage device.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for improving the efficiency of energy delivery to a load.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for matching the electric power output of a recharging power source to the energy storage capacity of a chargeable energy storage device.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for improving charging efficiency during charging of a chargeable energy storage device.
Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention shall be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The objects and the advantages may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and in combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To achieve the foregoing and other objects and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a first embodiment of a power supply in accordance with the present invention includes an energy storage device that is charged from power or energy generated by an energy recharge or supply source, an optional regulator for improved matching the output of the energy recharge source to the input of the energy storage device, an energy converter for delivering power from the energy storage device or the energy recharge source to a load, a sensor for determining when to activate the energy converter to allow power delivery to the load from the energy storage device or the energy recharge source, and an optional energy discharge controller that allows the energy storage device to discharge over time. A second embodiment of the power supply of the present invention includes a switch converter powered by the energy storage device and activated by the load.
To further achieve the foregoing and other objects, the present invention further comprises a method of supplying energy to a chargeable energy storage device, monitoring the energy or charge buildup in the chargeable energy storage device, and supplying energy to a load when said energy buildup or charge in the chargeable energy storage device, exceeds a threshold level.
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Ballato Josie
Chrisman Bynum & Johnson
DeBeradinis Robert L.
OKC Products, Inc.
Young James R.
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