Abstract:
The present invention relates to a battery conditioning apparatus for conditioning a battery. The apparatus includes a pulse generator circuit generating pulses applied to the battery. A loading circuit is separately and independently actuated from the pulse generator circuit to load the battery separately and independently whilst the pulses from the pulse generator circuit are applied to the battery for conditioning. Concurrently applying the pulses to and loading the battery results in improved battery conditioning when compared with known conditioning methods.

Description:
[0001]    The present application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/349,219, filed May 28, 2014, which is a National Stage of International Patent Application No. PCT/AU2012/001079, filed Sep. 10, 2012, which claims the benefit of AU 201194076, filed Oct. 3, 2011, whose disclosures are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety into the present distance. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a battery conditioning apparatus. The present invention has particular, although not exclusive application to automobile batteries. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. 
         [0004]    Battery conditioning apparatus&#39; prevent or reverse the accumulation of lead sulphate on the electrodes of a lead-acid battery by generating electrical pulses that are applied to the terminals of the battery. It has been found that such conditioning apparatus&#39; can significantly increase the operating life and efficiency of batteries. 
         [0005]    AU 2003249756 discloses a known battery conditioning apparatus including discrete circuit components. Undesirably, this apparatus only yields suitable conditioning performance for a particular battery voltage and therefore multiple models of the apparatus, with different component values, are required to accommodate for corresponding battery voltages. 
         [0006]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an improved battery conditioning apparatus. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery conditioning apparatus for conditioning a battery, the apparatus including:
       a pulse generator circuit generating pulses applied to the battery; and   a loading circuit separately and independently actuated from the pulse generator circuit to load the battery separately and independently whilst the pulses from the pulse generator circuit are applied to the battery for conditioning.       
 
         [0010]    Concurrently applying the pulses to and loading the battery results in improved battery conditioning when compared with known conditioning methods. 
         [0011]    Optionally, the separate loading circuit provides a short circuit or virtual short circuit across the battery to facilitate conditioning of the battery. Optionally, the loading circuit periodically loads the battery. Optionally, the loading circuit loads the battery with a duty cycle of less than 1%. Optionally, the loading circuit loads the battery with a duty cycle of less than 0.5%. Optionally, the pulse generator circuit generating pulses with a duty cycle of about 50%. 
         [0012]    Optionally, the pulses have a frequency of greater than 1 kHz applied to the battery. Optionally, the pulses have a frequency of less than 10 kHz, and preferably 5 KHz. 
         [0013]    Optionally, the pulses are at a fixed frequency. Optionally, the pulse generator circuit includes a pulsing switch to generate the pulses. Optionally, the pulsing switch includes a Field Effect Transistor (FET) switch. 
         [0014]    Optionally, the loading circuit includes a loading switch to load the battery. Optionally, the loading switch includes a Field Effect Transistor (FET) switch. Optionally, the loading circuit further includes a diode in series with the loading switch. Optionally, the loading circuit further includes a serpentine etched board resistance. 
         [0015]    Optionally, the pulse generator circuit does not include an inductor, relying instead upon the inductance of the battery. Optionally, the concurrently generated pulses sweep between a frequency range. 
         [0016]    Optionally, the battery conditioning apparatus further includes a power supply circuit configured to receive power from any vehicle battery rated from 6 to 48V which is the battery being conditioned. 
         [0017]    Optionally, the battery conditioning apparatus further includes a processing controller which controls the respective pulse generator and loading circuits, the controller configured to separately and independently control the pulse generator circuit and loading circuit to concurrently apply the pulses to and load the battery. 
         [0018]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery conditioning apparatus method for conditioning a battery, the method including:
       applying pulses to the battery; and   separately and independently loading the battery whilst applying the pulses to condition the battery.       
 
         [0021]    The battery conditioning apparatus may further include a power supply circuit for powering the apparatus from any vehicle battery (e.g. rated from 6 to 48V), without the need for different apparatus models to accommodate different battery voltages. The power supply circuit may include a voltage regulator and pre-regulator circuitry connected to the input of the voltage regulator. The pre-regulator circuitry may be configured to restricting the current flowing into the voltage regulator and suppress voltage pulses input to the voltage regulator. 
         [0022]    The battery conditioning apparatus may further include a user interface. The user interface may include a selector for selecting between conditional modes for said controlling of the apparatus. The user interface may include a display for displaying a selected mode of operation. 
         [0023]    The battery conditioning apparatus may further include a battery voltage sensor circuit for sensing the battery voltage. The conditional modes of operation may relate to the sensed battery voltage. 
         [0024]    The concurrently generated pulses and loading of the battery may both be performed at a fixed frequency. The fixed frequency may be between 1 kHz to 10 kHz, and preferably 5 kHz. Alternatively, the concurrently generated pulses and loading of the battery may sweep between 1 kHz to 10 kHz. The duty cycle of the loading of the battery may be based upon the sensed battery voltage. 
         [0025]    The loading circuit may provide a short (or virtual short) across the battery. The loading circuit may include a resistance etched on a printed circuit board (PCB) of the apparatus. The controller may be further configured to periodically perform a load test of the battery to ascertain the integrity of the battery. The battery conditioning apparatus may further include a display for displaying the result of the load test. 
         [0026]    The pulse generator circuit may not include an inductor, relying instead upon the inductance of the battery. 
         [0027]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for conditioning a battery, the method including the step of concurrently applying pulses to and loading the battery. 
         [0028]    The method may further include the step of conditionally applying the pulses to and loading the battery using the sensed voltage of the battery. 
         [0029]    The method may further include the step of periodically performing a load test of the battery. 
         [0030]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery conditioning apparatus for conditioning a battery, the apparatus including a power supply circuit for powering the apparatus from any vehicle battery, without the need for different apparatus models to accommodate different battery voltages. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to the following drawings: 
           [0032]      FIGS. 1 a  through 1 c    are schematic diagrams of a battery conditioning apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a battery conditioning apparatus  10  for conditioning a vehicle battery (not shown) coupled to terminals  12   a ,  12   b  as shown in  FIG. 1 a   . The apparatus  10  includes a pulse generator circuit  14  for generating pulses to be applied to the battery. A high-current loading circuit  16  is also provided for loading the battery. The apparatus  10  further includes a controller  18  for controlling the pulse generator  14  and loading circuit  16  to concurrently apply the pulses to and load the battery which is an improvement over known conditioning methods. A detailed description of the apparatus  10  is provided below. 
         [0034]    The battery conditioning apparatus  10  further includes a power supply circuit  20  for powering the apparatus from any battery rated from 6 and 48V, without the need for different apparatus models to accommodate different battery voltages. The power supply circuit  20  includes a voltage regulator U 1  and pre-regulator circuitry including zener diodes D 2 , D 3 . The pre-regulator circuitry is connected to the input of the voltage regulator U 1  and is configured to restrict the current flowing into the voltage regulator U 1  to minimise battery current drain. The pre-regulator circuitry also suppresses voltage pulses input to the voltage regulator U 1 . 
         [0035]    The battery conditioning apparatus  10  further includes a user interface  30 . The user interface  30  includes a action switch selector S 1  for selecting between various conditional modes (i.e. modes  1  to  3  below) for controlling the apparatus  10 . The battery conditioning apparatus  10  further includes a battery voltage sensor circuit  32  including voltage divider R 2 , RA 2 C for sensing the voltage of the battery and providing feedback via input port  3  of microprocessor U 4  of controller  18 . The conditional modes of operation relate to the sensed battery voltage. 
         [0036]    The user interface  30  also includes a light emitting diode (LED) display for displaying a selected mode of operation of the apparatus  10 . The LED display includes three mode LEDs D 6  to D 8  which are actuated by the controller  18  in accordance with the mode of operation of the apparatus  10  as indicated below:
       Mode  1 : controller  18  controls the pulse generator  14  and loading circuit  16  to concurrently apply the pulses to and load the battery provided that the sensed battery voltage is above 10.5V (for a 12V vehicle battery). That is, the conditioning apparatus  10  conditions the vehicle battery all the time unless the battery is low and needs to be preserved.   Mode  2 : controller  18  controls the pulse generator  14  and loading circuit  16  to concurrently apply the pulses to and load the battery when the sensed battery voltage is between 10.5V and 12.8V (for a 12V vehicle battery). That is, the conditioning apparatus  10  conditions the battery when the vehicle engine is not running.   Mode  3 : controller  18  controls the pulse generator  14  and loading circuit  16  to concurrently apply the pulses to and load the battery when the sensed battery voltage is above 12.8V (for a 12V vehicle battery). That is, the conditioning apparatus  10  conditions the battery when the vehicle engine is running.       
 
         [0040]    The high current loading circuit  16  provides a short (or virtual short) across the battery when the controller  18  actuates field effect transistor (FET) switch Q 2 . The loading circuit  16  includes a serpentine resistance (not shown) etched on a printed circuit board (PCB) of the apparatus  10 . The controller  18  is further configured to actuate the switch Q 2  and periodically perform a load test of the battery every twenty-one hours to ascertain the integrity of the battery. 
         [0041]    The load test involves actuating switch Q 2  for 5 milliseconds and sensing the battery voltage with sensing circuit  32 . Load currents through Q 2  of approx. 20 Amps and 40 Amps are present in 12V and 24V vehicle battery systems respectively. The load test is a pass if the sensed battery voltage drop during the load test is less than 2 V and is otherwise a fail. 
         [0042]    The battery conditioning apparatus  10  further includes a load test display for displaying the result of the load test. The load test display includes a green load test pass LED D 9  which the controller  18  illuminates responsive to a load test pass, and a red load test fail LED D 5  which the controller  18  illuminates responsive to a load test failure. 
         [0043]    During battery conditioning, the concurrently generated pulses and loading of the battery may both be performed at a fixed frequency of between 1 kHz to 10 kHz, and preferably 5 kHz. The duty cycle of the loading of the battery with the loading circuit  16  is based upon the sensed vehicle battery voltage as follows: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Battery voltage 
                 Loading circuit duty cycle 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                  6 V and 12 V 
                 0.4% 
               
               
                   
                 24 V 
                 0.2% 
               
               
                   
                 36 V and 48 V 
                 0.1% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0044]    The controller  18  actuates the FET switch Q 1  of the pulse generator circuit  14  with a 50% duty cycle. The pulse generator circuit  14  does not include an inductor, and instead relies upon the internal inductance of the battery to generate the pulses applied to the battery. 
         [0045]    The concurrent controlling of the pulse generator  14  and loading circuit  16  to concurrently apply the pulses to and load the battery results in a desirable resultant waveform applied to the battery for improved conditioning. By short circuiting the battery with the loading circuit  16 , the internal inductance of the battery advantageously causes “kicking back” of the applied pulses which is an improvement over known conditioning methods. 
         [0046]    The apparatus  10  includes a resettable fuse F 1  (or polyswitch), an external replaceable fuse F 2  and up to four internal fuses F 3  to F 6 . 
         [0047]    A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention. 
         [0048]    In one embodiment, the concurrently generated pulses and loading of the battery may continuously sweep between 1 kHz to 10 kHz during conditioning of the battery. 
         [0049]    In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.