Method for adapting a battery charger to different charging methods, battery types and battery charger.

p0001The invention relates to a method for adapting a battery charger to different charging methods and battery types.

p0002Battery chargers for rechargeable batteries work with a variety of charging methods. For example, methods with constant current or constant voltage or combinations are applied from both. During charging, a distinction is made essentially between two phases, namely a bulk phase and a recharging phase. The increased use of low-maintenance, dry battery types, eg in battery-powered vehicles that requires to use short and economical charging methods are tailored to the respective type of battery. The subtle differences between the various types of batteries consist essentially in the current and voltage values ​​to be observed during the absorption. An exact adaptation to the respective battery type is particularly advantageous when it comes to optimizing the actual charging time taking into account the life of a battery. To this end, a new battery charger or a very elaborate recent change of previous battery charger previously required when changing the charging method or battery type.

p0003Object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method, can be adapted to different charging methods and battery types with the battery chargers. Another object of the invention is to provide a battery charger for carrying out the said method.

p0004According to the invention the object is achieved by the characterizing measures of claim 1. By the replacement of the battery charger assigned and battery, ladeverfahrens-, charging time and / or usage-dependent parameters as well as optionally one or more charging method in program form containing program module, the battery charger can be easily adapted to different charging methods and battery types.

p0005Accordingly, the battery charger of the invention has a removable program module that contains the aforementioned data (parameters, programs).

p0006Advantageously, the interchangeable program module, at least one or more memory in which charging method, charging characteristics and / or predetermined setpoint values ​​can be stored. These memories are the very core of the program module. They contain all the essential loading process typical parameters, timings etc.

p0007Through a simple exchange of the program module, the battery charger can be adapted to any type of battery, and each charging process. A new battery charger or a costly conversion of the old battery charger are no longer required.

p0008Further features of the invention relate to the design of the program module and the arrangement of another to perform the desired charging method advantageous components and are given in the dependent claims.

p0009it, however, to arrange a processor with other control and auxiliary circuits for controlling the charging of the battery charger, outside of the program module is particularly advantageous. The auszuwechselnde to adapt to a new type of battery or a new charging method component (program module) thus detected is particularly small.

p0010In a further advantageous embodiment, the program module is a programmable memory device, in particular designed as EPROM. The program module can be produced in this way particularly inexpensive. In addition, already programmed program modules to suit particular customer requirements can optionally be reprogrammed.

p0011Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. Show it:<ul><li>FIG. 1 is a program module for connection to a battery charger in the schematic plan view,</li><li>FIG. 2 is a battery charger with a connected or plugged program module and a battery to be charged, </li><li>Fig. 3 shows a battery charger as shown in Fig. 2, except that the program module associated with said battery and connected in parallel with this to the battery charger,</li><li>Fig. 4 current and voltage as a function of time for a given loading method,</li><li>FIG. 5 shows the current and voltage as a function of time as in FIG. 4, but for a different charging methods,</li><li>Fig. 6 shows a battery charger with those necessary to control components in a schematic representation, and</li><li>Fig. 7 is a battery charger in a comparison with FIG. 6 modified embodiment, also in a schematic representation.</li></ul>

p0012A battery charger 10 is provided with an electronic control unit 11, which monitors the charging of a connected battery 12th A program module 13 provides ladeverfahrens- and battery-dependent information to the control electronics 11 and is attached to these (see. FIG. 2). When changing the charging method or battery type, the program module 13 is replaced accordingly by releasing a connector 14 in the field of control electronics 11 and by inserting another program module. The control electronics 11 contains in the figures not illustrated components, such as D / A converter, A / D converter, regulator, control elements, and optionally display instruments.

p0013Fig. 3 shows by comparison with FIG. 2 shows another embodiment in which the program module 13 is connected to the battery 12, for example by a plug connection. The connection to the charger 10 via a large current connection 15 parallel signal line 16. The program module 13 is due to the connection to the battery 12 is always replaced together with this and provides the control electronics 11 always battery specific information.

p0014The structure of the program module 13 is shown in FIG. 1. The essential components of the program module 13 is a program memory 17, a processor 18 and four potentiometers 19 .22. The program memory 17 contains all the loading process-dependent and battery typical data. It is formed as erasable programmable memory (EPROM). The EPROM can be programmed as required and deleted when needed and reprogrammed.

p0015Figures 4 and 5 are current and voltage as a function of time for different charging methods can be removed. The dashed line represents the voltage curve and the solid line shows the current profile versus time. Characteristic voltages during charging, the charge starting voltage U₁ that gassing U₂ and the charging voltage U₃. Accordingly a distinction is made between the current load initial current I₁ and the charging circuit current I₂. The charging process itself is divided into two phases, namely the main charging phase P₁ and P₂ recharging. The loading patterns shown in Figures 4 and 5 differ essentially in the recharging phase P₂. These differences in the gassing P₂ are usually due to use of different battery types, ie a gel battery as opposed to a wet battery. The program memory 17 therefore contains all the information required to distinguish the different charging courses, such as the profile of the current and the voltage over time.

p0016The voltage and current values ​​referred to are essentially battery-dependent and can by means of potentiometer 19..22 (FIG. 1) are set so that, when applying the same charging method for similar batteries only the potentiometer 19 to be adjusted, not the .22 Program module 13 must be replaced. The potentiometers 19, .22 are arranged for this purpose on an end face 23 of the program module 13, and have respective adjusting screws 24 to .27. The latter are arranged so that they are accessible and adjustable from the outside even when plugged in the battery charger 10 Program Lesson 13. The number of adjustable potentiometer is dependent on the number of adjusted current and voltage values. For example, even a maximum cell voltage before charge, a minimum cell voltage for charging begins and a Sulfatierungsspannung could be provided as variable parameters. The number of potentiometer 19 .22 would then adapt to it.

p0017Another component of the program module 13 of FIG. 1 is the processor 18 which controls the actual charging process and monitors the charging process and via the potentiometers 19 .22 set values ​​stored in the program memory 17. In submitting this information have the program memory 17 and the potentiometer 19 .22 .33 28 leads on to the processor 18th

p0018The program module 13 contains, in addition to those shown in FIG. 1, components other components, resistors, capacitors and IC that are required for operation, but which are familiar to the expert and need not be described separately in the invention.

p0019Fig. Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of the charger 10 in a relation to the Figures 1 and 2 slightly modified form. Permanently installed in the charger, the control electronics 11 and a reference voltage source 34. The latter supplies the processor 18 with a consistently uniform, highly accurate and digitized voltage value. The data stored in the program memory 17 electrical quantities can thus be depicted as relative to the reference voltage. In the embodiments according to Figures 1 to 3 may be included in the control electronics 11, a corresponding reference voltage source. In FIG. 6, the program memory 17 and the processor 18 are part of the program module 13. Likewise, the program module 13 includes the potentiometer 19 .22 with adjusting screws 24 .27. The program module 13 is releasable via a plug connection of the battery charger 10th The connector itself is unspecified in the Fig. 6, but however in the context of the connector to be solved leads. These are lines 35 .38 .22 between the potentiometers 19 and the control electronics 11 as well as lines 39 and 40 between the processor 18 and the control electronics 11 or the processor 18 and the reference voltage source 34. The lines 39, 40 can each have a plurality single, separate conductors included.

p0020Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 7. There, the processor 18 is not within the range of the program module 13, but firmly in the battery charger 10. As in the Fig. 6 lines 39, 40 between the processor 18 and the control electronics 11 or the processor 18 and the reference voltage source 34 are provided. The program module 13 in this embodiment is only from the program memory 17. The latter is an EPROM with a capacity of 8 kB. In the program memory 17 both programs for performing one or more charging process as well as battery set values ​​are stored. By depositing the desired values ​​in the program memory 17 can be virtually any saved many (only dependent on the capacity of the memory) and it considered during charging. The measures provided for in the Fig. 6 Potentiometer 19 .22 for setpoint adjustment are accordingly not present in the Fig. 7. Also in FIG. 7, the program module 13 or the program memory 17 via a connector of the battery charger 10 is releasable. The - not explicitly shown - connector includes a line 41 between the program memory 17 and the processor 18 optionally having a plurality of separate conductors. This embodiment has the advantage that the component to be exchanged particularly small and thus inexpensive fails. In addition, the number of under the connector to be considered conductor is small.

p0021Starting from the embodiment of FIG. 7, in another, not shown embodiment, the processor 18 together with the program memory 17 part of the program module 13. The lines 39, 40 are in the framework of the plug connection between the program module 13 and battery charger 10 then separable.

p0022All embodiments have in common that the battery charger 10 each charging process and each battery type can be adjusted by exchanging the pluggable program module 13 at.