JP3193130B2 - Charging device and charging method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a battery charging device and a battery charging method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional charging apparatus, when trickle charging is performed for a predetermined time or longer, rapid charging is performed again (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-39233). (Refer to, for example, JP-A-2-183970)
Etc. are known.

[0003]

However, such a conventional charging device has a problem in that the charging control of the battery in a load connected state is not simple.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a charging device and a charging method that can reliably charge a battery with a simple configuration.

[0005]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention comprises a charging means 2 capable of charging a battery 1 by rapid charging, normal charging and trickle charging, a detecting means 3 for detecting a terminal voltage of a charged battery, After the charging is completed, the normal charging mode in which the normal charging is performed for a predetermined time and the trickle charging mode in which the trickle charging is performed are continuously executed, and the terminal voltage of the battery is set to the predetermined voltage during the execution of the normal charging mode or the trickle charging mode. After descending,
An object of the present invention is to provide a charging apparatus including a control means 4 for controlling the charging means so as to restart charging from the normal charging mode again.

Further, the present invention provides a normal charging mode in which normal charging is first performed for a predetermined time after quick charging is completed by charging means 2 capable of charging battery 1 by quick charging, normal charging and trickle charging. And then, in the trickle charge mode for trickle charge, and when the terminal voltage of the battery drops by a predetermined voltage or more during the execution of the normal charge mode or the trickle charge mode, charging is resumed from the normal charge mode again. It is intended to provide a charging method characterized by the above.

[0007]

In FIG. 1, when the terminal voltage of the battery 1 drops by a predetermined voltage or more during the execution of the normal charging mode or the trickle charging mode, the charging is restarted from the normal charging mode in which the normal charging is performed for a predetermined time. Therefore, even if a load is connected to the battery 1, a decrease in the battery voltage is prevented.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. This does not limit the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 11 denotes a battery to be charged, 12 denotes a power source, 13 denotes a switching circuit for controlling the magnitude of a charging current to the battery 11, and 14 denotes a battery. A temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of 11,
Reference numeral 15 denotes a microcomputer which receives the terminal voltage of the battery 11 and the output of the temperature sensor 14 and instructs the switching circuit 13 on the magnitude of the charging current and the duration of energization.

The microcomputer 15 has a CP
U, ROM, RAM and the like are built-in, and a known power supply, switching circuit 13 and temperature sensor 14 can be used. A load (not shown), for example, a wireless device or a telephone is connected to the battery 11.

In this configuration, after the quick charge is completed, first, a normal charge mode for performing a normal charge for a predetermined time is executed, and then a trickle charge mode for performing a trickle charge is executed. If the terminal voltage of the battery drops by a predetermined voltage or more during the execution of, charging is restarted from the normal charging mode again.

FIGS. 3 to 5 are flowcharts showing the detailed operation of this embodiment. In these figures, VP is the peak value (maximum value) of the terminal voltage of the battery, A1
Is the current terminal voltage value of the battery, ΔV is the terminal voltage drop,
X is a predetermined voltage value.

When the microcomputer 15 controls the switching circuit 13 to start charging the battery 11, the terminal voltage of the battery 11 is always detected, and the detected value is stored in a memory (RA) incorporated in the microcomputer 15.
M). Then, the peak value (maximum value) VP is read out from the terminal voltages of the battery 11 detected and stored so far (step 1).

Next, the current voltage A1 is detected (step 2), and the voltage VP is compared with the voltage A1 (step 3). If VP <A1, the current voltage A1
Is newly stored in the memory as the peak value VP (step 4).

In step 3, if VP ≧ A1, A1-VP = △ V is calculated (step 5).
ΔV is compared with a predetermined voltage value X (step 6), and Δ
When V ≧ X, it is determined that the current voltage value A1 has fallen by X or more from the peak value VP, that is, it is determined that −ΔV has been detected, and the −ΔV detection flag is turned on (step 7).

In this manner, the peak value of the terminal voltage of the battery at the time of charging and the predetermined voltage drop (-ΔV) after reaching the peak value are detected. The microcomputer 15 detects the temperature of the battery 11 with the temperature sensor 14 and limits the charging current so that the temperature does not rise abnormally.

Fast Charge Mode At first, the battery 11 is charged in the fast charge mode. In other words, the current from the power supply 12 is supplied to the switching circuit 13 by the rapid charging current value (for example, 10 times the rated current of the battery).
0%) and supplied to the battery 11. Then, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, the peak value at the time of voltage rise and the drop at the time of voltage fall are detected, and when the terminal voltage of the battery drops by the predetermined voltage X after reaching the peak value VP, the quick charge mode is activated. The operation is stopped, and the normal charging mode is continuously executed.

Normal charging mode In this mode, the current from the power supply 12 is controlled to a normal charging current value (for example, 10% of the rated current of the battery) by the switching circuit 13 and supplied to the battery 11. Then, the operations shown in steps 1 to 7 of FIG. 3 are repeated,
If -V is not detected (step 11) and a predetermined time (guard time) elapses after the start of normal charging (step 12), the next trickle charging mode is executed. Also,
When -ΔV is detected during normal charging (step 11),
Guard time timer (microcomputer 15
Is cleared (step 13), and the normal charging mode is restarted from the beginning.

Trickle charge mode In this mode, the current from the power supply 12 is controlled to the trickle charge current value (for example, 5% of the rated current of the battery) by the switching circuit 13 and supplied to the battery 11. Then, the operations shown in Steps 1 to 7 in FIG. 3 are repeated, and when-△ V is detected (Step 21), the normal charging mode is restarted. When-△ V is not detected,
The trickle charge mode is continued.

In this way, the normal charging mode is repeated each time-△ V is detected, so that a load is connected to the battery, and the voltage of the battery is substantially constant even when the load state changes. Retained by value.

[0021]

According to the present invention, the voltage of a battery can be kept substantially constant even when a load is connected to the battery being charged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 battery 12 power supply 13 switching circuit 14 temperature sensor 15 microcomputer

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A charging means (2) capable of charging a battery (1) by quick charging, ordinary charging and trickle charging; a detecting means (3) for detecting a terminal voltage of the charged battery; After the charging is completed, the normal charging mode in which the normal charging is performed for a predetermined time and the trickle charging mode in which the trickle charging is performed are continuously executed, and the terminal voltage of the battery is set to the predetermined voltage during the execution of the normal charging mode or the trickle charging mode. The control means (4) for controlling the charging means so as to resume charging from the normal charging mode when the above-mentioned descent occurs.
A charging device provided with. 2. Charging means (2) capable of charging a battery (1) by rapid charging, normal charging and trickle charging.
After the rapid charging is completed, the normal charging mode for performing the normal charging for a predetermined time is first performed, then the trickle charging mode for performing the trickle charging is performed, and the battery is charged during the normal charging mode or the trickle charging mode. When the terminal voltage drops by a predetermined voltage or more, charging is restarted from the normal charging mode again.