Patent ID: 8330413
Filing Date: 2012-12-11
Classification: B60L,G01R,H02J,Y02T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for monitoring and charging a battery in an integrated power system, the apparatus comprising: a direct current (DC) bus electrically connected to the battery; a DC generator electrically connected to the DC bus; a generator control unit adapted to regulate the output voltage of the generator; a converter electrically connected to the DC bus; and a plurality of current sensors positioned between the DC bus and the battery, wherein: at least one of the generator control unit and the converter is configured to supply a constant current to the battery by varying the voltage of the DC bus, based at least partly on current sensed by the plurality of current sensors, wherein the voltage of the DC bus is varied between twenty-two and thirty volts, the battery is charged while floating on the DC bus, and a dedicated battery charger is not required to charge the battery.