Battery charger with improved reliability

Abstract

A battery charger system providing increased reliability over conventional chargers includes one or more charging modules coupled to a central controller module. Each charging module is cable of charging one or two batteries and includes control logic that controls the charging current provided to each battery. Each charging module is capable of charging the associated batteries using a pre-programmed, selectable charging protocol. The control logic included in each of the charging module provides a “first level of intelligence” for charging batteries. The controller module provides a “second level of intelligence” that generally operates in conjunction with the first level of intelligence provided by the charging modules. The second level of intelligence provided by the controller module individually enables and disables charging to a particular battery by an associated charging module. The charging modules are capable of charging batteries even without control from the second level of intelligence. Thus, reliability is increased by being able to continue battery charging even if the controller module fails or is removed from the battery charging system. Other features such as the lack of battery voltage sense lines removes the possibility of failure due to faulty or damaged sense lines, thereby increasing reliability.