Enrev Corporation

Advanced Charger Technology, Inc.

Yefim Y Kusharskiy

Yury M Podrazhansky

Mikhail M Podrazhansky

Rapid determination of the condition or charge parameters of a battery, such as the present charge of the battery and the maximum charge capacity of the battery. A plurality of discharge pulses (,) and a plurality of rest periods (,) are applied to the battery. The battery voltage is then measured to provide voltages (,) during the rest periods, and/or voltages (,) during the discharge pulses. The voltage difference among selected one of the voltages are used to provide a difference voltage DELTA-L. The difference voltage DELTA-L is then used to determine a charge parameter of the battery, such as the maximum charge capacity or condition of the battery and the present charge in the battery. This information is then displayed to a user so that the user will know the present capacity and the present charge of the battery and can make an informed decision as to whether the battery is adequate for the project that the user has in mind, or to a subsequent process, such as a charging process.

Rapid determination of present and potential battery capacity

A charge pulse (200A) is applied to the battery (B). The open circuit voltage of each cell (C1-CN) is then measured during a first rest period (210A). A depolarization pulse (220A) is then applied to the battery. The open circuit voltage of each cell is then measured during a second rest period (210B). The open circuit voltages for the first and second rest periods for each cell are compared to yield a voltage difference (DELTA Y). This voltage difference is then compared with a threshold voltage (V THRESHOLD). If the voltage difference is greater than the threshold voltage then the cell is being charged too rapidly, or is being overcharged, so one or more of the charge cycle parameters are adjusted. Some of the charge cycle parameters are, for example, the charge pulse current amplitude, the charge pulse duration, the number of consecutive charge pulses, the depolarization pulse current amplitude, the depolarization pulse duration, the number of consecutive depolarization pulses, the duration of the rest periods, or a combination of these. Multiple charge pulses (200A, 200B) and depolarization pulses (220A, 220B, 220C) may also be used. These parameters may be adjusted for the battery as a whole and/or for each cell individually. The adjustment to the charge cycle parameters may also be made on a 'worst case' or a 'best case' cell basis, with this cell controlling the charge cycle parameters for all the cells. Several techniques for adjusting the charge cycle parameters are disclosed.

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Norcross, GA, United States of America

Yefim Y Kusharskiy