Battery charging and discharging system optimized for high temperature environments

DC CAFC

US 6,661,203 B2
Filed: 11/12/2001
Issued: 12/09/2003
Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2001
Status: Expired due to Term

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First Claim

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1. An apparatus for charging a battery comprisinga charging circuit for providing a charging current to the battery;

a temperature sensor positioned to sense a temperature of said battery; and

a controller coupled to said temperature sensor and said charging circuit and operable to control said charging circuit in accordance with said temperature, said controller operable to set said charging current to zero when said temperature is higher than a first predetermined threshold value.

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling the charge and discharge currents in a battery (2) as a function of temperature. When a battery (2) is charged or discharged in an environment that approaches its design operating temperature extreme, the currents are reduced to limit self-heating of the battery and thus extend the useful operating environment temperature range. A temperature sensor (18) is coupled to a controller (6) to sense the battery (2) temperature. The temperature information is used to set a suitable charging or discharging current (8).

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31 Claims

1. An apparatus for charging a battery comprisinga charging circuit for providing a charging current to the battery;
- a temperature sensor positioned to sense a temperature of said battery; and
  
  a controller coupled to said temperature sensor and said charging circuit and operable to control said charging circuit in accordance with said temperature, said controller operable to set said charging current to zero when said temperature is higher than a first predetermined threshold value.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- - 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controller continuously sets said charging current in accordance with said temperature.
  - 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controller periodically sets said charging current in accordance with said temperature.
  - 4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a memory coupled to said controller having a temperature and charging current look up table stored therein, and wherein said controller accesses said look up table to set said charging current.
  - 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controller is operable to set said charging current to a maximum value when said temperature is lower than a second predetermined threshold value.
  - 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said maximum value is the battery'"'"'s maximum specified charging current, and said second predetermined threshold value is the battery'"'"'s maximum charging temperature.
  - 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the battery is coupled to a load, and wherein said temperature sensor senses that temperature of the battery and the load.

8. An apparatus for exercising a battery, comprisinga charging circuit having a charging current output coupled to the battery;
- a temperature sensor positioned to sense a temperature related to the battery temperature;
  
  a discharging circuit having a discharging current input coupled to the battery; and
  
  a controller coupled to said temperature sensor, said charging circuit, and said discharging circuit, said controller operable to set said charging current in accordance with said temperature, and operable to set said discharging current in accordance with said temperature, said controller being operable to set said discharging current to zero when said temperature is higher than a first predetermined threshold value.
- View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- - 9. The apparatus of claim 8 and wherein said controller continuously sets said discharging current in accordance with said temperature.
  - 10. The apparatus of claim 8 and wherein said controller periodically sets said discharging current in accordance with said temperature.
  - 11. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a memory coupled to said controller having a temperature versus discharging current look up table stored therein, and wherein said controller accesses said look up table to set said discharging current.
  - 12. The apparatus of claim 11 and wherein said discharging circuit comprises a variable impedance load and wherein said look up table values correspond to values of said variable impedance load.
  - 13. The apparatus of claim 8 and wherein said controller is operable to set said discharging current to a maximum value when said temperature is lower than a second predetermined threshold value.
  - 14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said maximum value is the battery'"'"'s maximum specified discharging current and said second predetermined threshold value is the battery'"'"'s maximum discharging temperature.
  - 15. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said temperature sensor senses the temperature of the battery and said discharging circuit.

16. A method of charging a battery, comprising the steps of:
- sensing a temperature related to the battery temperature;
  
  setting a charging current in accordance with said sensed temperature and setting said charging current to zero when said temperature is higher than a first predetermined threshold value; and
  
  charging the battery at said charging current.
- View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- - 17. The method of claim 16 and wherein said sensing and setting steps are repeated continuously during said charging step.
  - 18. The method of claim 16 and wherein said sensing and setting steps are repeated periodically during said charging step.
  - 19. The method of claim 16 and wherein said setting step further comprises the step of recalling a charging current corresponding to said sensed temperature from a look up table.
  - 20. The method of claim 16 and wherein set setting step includes setting said charging current to a maximum value if said temperature is lower than a second predetermined threshold.
  - 21. The method of claim 20 and wherein said maximum value is the battery'"'"'s maximum specified charging current, and said second predetermined threshold is the battery'"'"'s maximum charging temperature.
  - 22. The method of claim 16 wherein the battery is coupled to a load, and wherein said sensing step includes sensing the temperature of the battery and the load.

23. A method of exercising a battery, comprising the steps of:
- sensing a temperature related to the battery temperature;
  
  setting a discharging current in accordance with said temperature;
  
  discharging the battery at said discharging current;
  
  discontinuing said discharging step when a predetermined battery voltage is reached;
  
  setting a charging current in accordance with said temperature, said setting step further including the step of setting said discharging current to zero when said temperature is higher than a first predetermined threshold value; and
  
  charging the battery at said charging current.
- View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
- - 24. The method of claim 23 and wherein said sensing and setting a discharge current steps are repeated continuously during said discharging step.
  - 25. The method of claim 23 and wherein said sensing and setting a discharge current steps are repeated periodically during said discharging step.
  - 26. The method of claim 23 and wherein said setting step further comprises the step of recalling a discharging current corresponding to said sensed temperature from a look up table.
  - 27. The method of claim 23 and wherein said setting step includes setting said discharging current to a maximum value if said temperature is lower than a second predetermined threshold.
  - 28. The method of claim 27 and wherein said maximum value is the battery'"'"'s maximum specified discharging current, and said second predetermined threshold is the battery'"'"'s maximum discharging temperature.
  - 29. The method of claim 23 wherein the battery is coupled to a load, and wherein said sensing step includes sensing the temperature of the battery and the load.

30. An apparatus for exercising a battery, comprisinga charging circuit having a charging current output coupled to the battery;
- a temperature sensor positioned to sense a temperature related to the battery temperature;
  
  a discharging circuit having a discharging current input coupled to the battery; and
  
  a controller coupled to said temperature sensor, said charging circuit, and said discharging circuit, said controller operable to set said charging current in accordance with said temperature, and operable to set said discharging current in accordance with said temperature, said controller being operable to set said discharging current to a maximum value when said temperature is lower than a first predetermined threshold value, said maximum value being the battery'"'"'s maximum specified discharging current, and said first predetermined threshold value being the battery'"'"'s maximum discharging temperature.

31. A method of exercising a battery, comprising the steps of:
- sensing a temperature related to the battery temperature;
  
  setting a discharging current in accordance with said temperature;
  
  discharging the battery at said discharging current;
  
  discontinuing said discharging step when a predetermined battery voltage is reached;
  
  setting a charging current in accordance with said temperature, said setting step further including the step of setting said discharging current to a maximum value if said temperature is lower than a first predetermined thresholds said maximum value being the battery'"'"'s maximum specified discharging current and said first predetermined threshold value being the battery'"'"'s maximum discharging temperature; and
  
  charging the battery at said charging current.

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Litigation Data

Current Assignee
Uniloc 2017 LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
Original Assignee
Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
Inventors
Wolin, Dale, Cohen, Eugene, Sevier, Richard G.
Primary Examiner(s)
Sherry, Michael
Assistant Examiner(s)
Luk, Lawrence

Application Number

US10/011,140
Publication Number

US 20030090238A1
Time in Patent Office

757 Days
Field of Search

320/134, 320/128, 320/127, 320/112, 320/144, 320/150, 320/153, 324/426, 324/427
US Class Current

320/134
CPC Class Codes

H02J 7/007194   of the battery

Y02B 40/00   Technologies aiming at impr...

Y02E 60/10   Energy storage using batteries

Y02E 60/13   Energy storage using capaci...

Battery charging and discharging system optimized for high temperature environments

First Claim

5 Assignments

Litigations

1 Petition

Accused Products

Abstract

42 Citations

31 Claims

Specification

Solutions

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Battery charging and discharging system optimized for high temperature environments

First Claim

5 Assignments

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Subscription Required

Litigations

1 Petition

Subscription Required

Accused Products

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Abstract

42 Citations

31 Claims

Specification

Subscription Required

Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links