초록 ▼

A cycling device for conditioning battery cells of different types. A selector allows an operator to select the type of the cells to be conditioned. The amplitudes of trickle, discharge and charging currents are automatically selected in response to an output signal from the cell type selector. A co

A cycling device for conditioning battery cells of different types. A selector allows an operator to select the type of the cells to be conditioned. The amplitudes of trickle, discharge and charging currents are automatically selected in response to an output signal from the cell type selector. A control circuit determines the sequence of occurence of the trickle, discharge and charging currents and produces discharge and charge logic conditions, which control circuit includes a timer which delivers a clock signal and which interrupts the charging current after the same has been supplied to the battery cells during a predetermined period of time. Proper discharge operation of the cycling device is indicated only when both the discharge logic conditions are present and the discharge current is detected, while proper charge operation is indicated only when, simultaneously, the charge logic conditions are present, the charging current is detected, and the clock signal is produced by the timer. A detector indicates opening of the circuit through which flow the trickle, discharge and charging currents. The battery cells are so conditioned that at least some of the problems associated with their general use with lack of care, for example crystal growth, lost of internal contact with the sintered plates, etc. are cancelled. The original characteristics of the cycling device can also be applied to a battery cell charger.

대표청구항 ▼

A battery cell charging device comprising: means for connecting battery cells of different types to said charging device; means for generating charging currents of different amplitudes, each charging current amplitude being suitable to charge one type of battery cell; and means for selecting the typ

A battery cell charging device comprising: means for connecting battery cells of different types to said charging device; means for generating charging currents of different amplitudes, each charging current amplitude being suitable to charge one type of battery cell; and means for selecting the type of at least one battery cell of one type to be charged, said at least one battery cell being connected to the charging device through the connecting means, and said cell type selecting means comprising means for producing an output signal indicative of the selected type of battery cell; said charging current generating means comprising means for automatically selecting, in response to said indicative output signal, one of the charging currents having the amplitude suitable to charge the selected type of battery cell, and means for supplying said selected charging current to said at least one battery cell in order to charge the latter; and said charging current supplying means comprising an adjustable constant current source with feedback, including (a) a first PNP transistor having a base, a collector, and an emitter connected to a voltage source through a first resistor, (b) a second PNP transistor having an emitter connected to the base of the first transistor, a collector connected to the collector of the first transistor, and a base, and (c) a comparator having an output connected to the base of the second transistor through a second resistor, an inverting input connected to the emitter of the first transistor through a third resistor, and a non-inverting input to which a control signal is applied.