초록

A method and apparatus for protecting against certain energy sources used to charge a battery is disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for protecting against an energy source used to charge a battery, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving energy from the energy source at input terminals isolated from the battery by a switch;(b) determining if a voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater t

1. A method for protecting against an energy source used to charge a battery, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving energy from the energy source at input terminals isolated from the battery by a switch;(b) determining if a voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than a minimum source voltage threshold;(c) if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is not greater than the minimum source voltage threshold, opening the switch to disconnect the energy source from the battery and resetting a counter to zero;(d) if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than the minimum source voltage threshold, incrementing the counter;(e) determining whether the counter has exceeded a counting threshold;(f) if the counter has not exceeded the counting threshold, repeating steps (b) through (e); and(g) if the counter has exceeded the counting threshold, closing the switch to connect the energy source to the battery. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of: determining if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than a maximum source voltage threshold; andif the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than the maximum source voltage threshold, opening the switch to disconnect the energy source from the battery. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of determining if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than a maximum source voltage threshold is performed every 1 ms. 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the maximum source voltage threshold is 90V. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising step of: after step (g), continuously determining if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is less than the minimum source voltage threshold. 6. The method of step 5, further comprising the steps of: if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is less than the minimum source voltage threshold, opening the switch to disconnect the energy source from the battery and resetting the counter to zero. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the minimum source voltage threshold is 5V. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein: the step of receiving energy from the energy source comprises receiving alternating current from a non-battery energy source; andthe step of opening the switch comprises opening the switch under control of a microcontroller. 9. A method for protecting against an energy source used to charge a battery, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving energy from the energy source at input terminals isolated from the battery by a switch;(b) determining if a voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than a maximum source voltage threshold;(c) if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than the maximum source voltage threshold, opening the switch to disconnect the energy source from the battery;(d) determining if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than a minimum source voltage threshold;(e) if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is not greater than the minimum source voltage threshold, opening the switch to disconnect the energy source from the battery and resetting a counter to zero;(f) if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than the minimum source voltage threshold, incrementing the counter;(g) determining whether the counter has exceeded a counting threshold;(h) if the counter has not exceeded the counting threshold, repeating steps (d) through (g);(i) if the counter has exceeded the counting threshold, closing the switch to connect the energy source to the battery;(j) after step (i), continuously determining if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is less than the minimum source voltage threshold; and(k) if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is less than the minimum source voltage threshold, opening the switch to disconnect the energy source from the battery and resetting the counter to zero. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of determining if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than a maximum source voltage threshold is performed every 1 ms. 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the maximum source voltage threshold is 90V. 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the minimum source voltage threshold is 5V. 13. The method of claim 9, wherein: the step of receiving energy from the energy source comprises receiving alternating current from a non-battery energy source; andthe step of opening the switch comprises opening the switch through operation of a microcontroller. 14. An apparatus for protecting against an energy source used to charge a battery comprising: input terminals for receiving energy from the energy source at input terminals;a switch isolating the input terminals from the battery;a voltage sensor for determining a voltage of the energy source at the input terminals;a microcontroller configured for (a) receiving energy from the energy source at input terminals isolated from the battery by a switch;(b) determining if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than a minimum source voltage threshold;(c) if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is not greater than the minimum source voltage threshold, opening the switch to disconnect the energy source from the battery and resetting a counter to zero;(d) if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than the minimum source voltage threshold, incrementing the counter;(e) determining whether the counter has exceeded a counting threshold;(f) if the counter has not exceeded the counting threshold, repeating steps (b) through (e); and(g) if the counter has exceeded the counting threshold, closing the switch to connect the energy source to the battery. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the microcontroller is further configured for: determining if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than a maximum source voltage threshold; andif the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is greater than the maximum source voltage threshold, opening the switch to disconnect the energy source from the battery. 16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the microcontroller is further configured for: after step (g), continuously determining if the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is less than the minimum source voltage threshold; andif the voltage of the energy source at the input terminals is less than the minimum source voltage threshold, opening the switch to disconnect the energy source from the battery and resetting the counter to zero. 17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the switch is one of an electrical switch or mechanical switch. 18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the switch is one of a MOSFET or relay. 19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the counter is a timer. 20. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a full bridge rectifier on the input terminals. 21. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a rectifier diode on the input terminals. 22. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a voltage divider on the input terminals. 23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein: the energy source comprises a non-battery energy source configured to supply alternating current; andthe microcontroller is configured to cause the switch to open.