Patent ID: 6184649
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: H02J,H02M

Abstract:
A control module for controlling a power converter output voltage, the power converter output voltage supplying a charging current to a rechargeable battery responsive to the control module, the control module also controlling the power converter output voltage to provide a desulfation mode when the rechargeable battery is supplying an insubstantial load current to a load, the control module comprising:a microcontroller;a memory coupled to the microcontroller for storing data and instructions; andpower converter code for causing the microcontroller to perform the steps of:determining a battery output voltage of the rechargeable battery; andsending a control signal to the power converter which adjusts the power converter output voltage responsive to the battery output voltage, wherein when the battery output voltage remains approximately constant for a first period the control module provides a storage control signal to the power converter which causes the power converter output voltage to be set to a storage voltage and during each consecutive second period that the power converter output voltage is set to the storage voltage the control module provides a boost control signal to the power converter which causes the power converter output voltage to be set to a boost voltage for a third period before returning to the storage voltage such that desulfation occurs within the rechargeable battery when the rechargeable battery is supplying an insubstantial load current, the boost voltage being greater than the storage voltage and the second period being greater than the third period.