The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 03, 2002
Filed:
Nov. 19, 2001
Ciaran J. Patterson, Chicago, IL (US);
C. E. Niehoff & Co., Evanston, IL (US);
Abstract
A system and method for protecting against battery overcharging is used with an automotive electrical system having an alternator that supplies an output voltage V to a string of at least first and second series-connected rechargeable batteries, an equalizer coupled to at least the first and second batteries, and at least a higher voltage load or a lower voltage load connected across respective sets of batteries of the string. The voltage V is regulated to a target value V , and this target value V is reduced when either the voltage V across the first battery exceeds a first threshold value T or when a voltage V across the second battery exceeds a second threshold value T . In this way, both of the batteries are protected against over-voltage conditions. A warning signal is illuminated to indicate to a user when either of the batteries is outside of its normal operating range.