Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging – Battery or cell charging – With thermal condition detection
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-28
2001-02-13
Wong, Peter S. (Department: 2838)
Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging
Battery or cell charging
With thermal condition detection
C320S125000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06188202
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a battery charging device for controlling the charging of a battery which is a power source mounted in an electric vehicle, etc.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Conventionally, in charging a battery, a charging operation is vehicleried out until the battery is fully charged. In other words, the charging operation is continued until the SOC (state of charge) representing the amount of charge of a battery reaches about 100% to 103%. The fact that the charging operation is carried out until the battery is fully charged as was described above, is advantageous in that the amount of discharge current (the unit being Ah) of the battery can be sufficiently obtained.
If the battery has been charged fully, the sufficient discharge current of the battery can be obtained. However, the fact that the battery has been charged fully suffers from the following problems: That is, since the battery is charged over its capacity, during the final period of the charging operation, the charging power is liable to be wasted. For the same reason, the battery is liable to be deteriorated.
Furthermore, the charging period is long. Therefore, the battery may not be used when it is required to use it. More specifically, for instance, an electric vehicle or the like which is driven by the battery may not be used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a battery charging device capable of reducing the charging cost and shortening the charging time.
In a battery charging device according to the invention, selecting means selects a first charge operation using first charge control means adapted to charge a battery until the amount of charge of the battery reaches a first charge value, or a second charge operation using second charge control means adapted to charge the battery until the amount of charge of the battery reaches a second charge value which is smaller than the first charge value.
Hence, it can be selected one of (1) a first charging operation obtained by the first charge control means which is performed with the preference that the battery is sufficiently long in the time of use or (2) a second charging operation obtained by the second charge control means which is performed with the preference that the charging cost is reduced and the charging time is shortened.
In this connection, temperature detecting means for detecting a battery temperature is provided so that the selecting means is suitably operated according to a battery temperature detected by the temperature detecting means. That is, the charge operation can be suitably performed according to the battery temperature.
If the battery temperature is lower than, for instance, 35° C., the charge operation using the second charge control means is preferentially selected. Alternatively, when the battery temperature is higher than 35° C.; in other words, only when the charge operation using the second charge control means is not executed, the charge operation using the first charge control means is selected. Therefore, the battery charging operation can be carried out with the preference that the charging cost is reduced, and the charging time is shortened.
Furthermore, the selecting means can be designed to select one of the charging operations according to the operation instruction provided by the external operation means. In this case, it can be determined according to the will of the user whether the battery is charged with the preference that the battery is long in the time of use or with the preference that the charging cost is reduced and the charging time is shortened.
In the case where the battery temperature is higher than a predetermined value, the selecting means selects the charge operation using the first charge control means regardless of the operation instruction of the external operation means. In this case, it is possible to prevent to select the charge operation using the second charge control means even if the battery temperature is the value with which the charge operation using the second charge control means is not executed.
Furthermore, the battery charging device of the invention further comprises display means for displaying a charge operation selected by the selecting means. Hence, the user of the battery can detect it visually which charge operation has been selected.
The nature, utility and principle of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description and the appended claims when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5395708 (1995-03-01), Hall
patent: 5668461 (1997-09-01), Hancock et al.
patent: 5994879 (1999-11-01), Hsieh
Ishikura Takashi
Sato Noboru
Yagi Kazuhiko
Arent Fox Kintner & Plotkin & Kahn, PLLC
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Toatley Gregory J
Wong Peter S.
LandOfFree
Battery charging device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Battery charging device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Battery charging device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2596487