Managing Battery Charge to Prolong Battery Life

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016006274-A1
Application number	US-201514594323-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 12, 2015
Priority date	Jul 2, 2014
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of controllers and methods for use in climate control systems. In an exemplary embodiment, a controller for use in a climate control system includes a charger for providing a charge current to a battery of the controller. The controller also includes a variable resistance for selectively limiting the charge current. A control is configured to monitor the charge current and a voltage of the battery. Based on the monitoring, the control varies the resistance to keep the monitored voltage in a range defined by (a) a top charge voltage less than full capacity of the battery and (b) a discharge end voltage greater than a cut-off voltage of the battery. The monitored voltage has a substantially minimized rate of change within the range.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A controller for use in a climate control system, the controller comprising:
a charger for providing a charge current to a battery of the controller; a variable resistance for selectively limiting the charge current; and a control configured to:
monitor the charge current and a voltage of the battery; and
based on the monitoring, vary the resistance to keep the monitored voltage in a range defined by (a) a top charge voltage less than full capacity of the battery and (b) a discharge end voltage greater than a cut-off voltage of the battery;
the monitored voltage having a substantially minimized rate of change within the range.

2 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein:
the resistance is varied to maximize the charge current while selectively limiting the charge current; and/or power is stolen through a load of the climate control system and provided to the charger.

3 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein:
based on the monitored voltage of the battery, a load of the controller is switched to an off mode to increase the charge current; and/or a level of the charging current is based at least in part on loading of the controller.

4 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein:
a common wire of the climate control system is used to provide power to the charger; and/or the monitored voltage is used to determine whether the battery is approaching the end of battery life.

5 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein:
a load of the controller is switched to an on mode when the monitored voltage substantially equals a platform voltage at which the rate of change of the monitored voltage is minimized; and/or the charge current is a trickle current.

6 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a thermostat.

7 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein:
the battery is replaceable; and/or a battery replacement alert is displayed on the controller and/or a mobile device.

8 . A method of managing charge of a battery of a controller for use in a climate control system, the method performed by a control of the controller, the method comprising:
monitoring a charge current provided by a charger to the battery; monitoring a voltage of the battery; and based on the monitoring, substantially minimizing the rate of change of the monitored voltage by varying a resistance to limit the monitored charge current, the varying performed to keep the monitored voltage in a range defined by (a) a top charge voltage less than full capacity of the battery and (b) a discharge end voltage greater than a cut-off voltage of the battery.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the resistance is varied to maximize the charge current while selectively limiting the charge current; and/or power is stolen through a load of the climate control system and provided to the charger.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:
based on the monitored voltage of the battery, a load of the controller is switched to an off mode to increase the charge current; and/or a level of the charging current is based at least in part on loading of the controller.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:
a common wire of the climate control system is used to provide power to the charger; and/or the monitored voltage is used to determine whether the battery is approaching the end of battery life.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:
a load of the controller is switched to an on mode when the monitored voltage substantially equals a platform voltage at which the rate of change of the monitored voltage is minimized; and/or the charge current is a trickle current.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the controller comprises a thermostat.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the battery is replaceable; and/or a battery replacement alert is displayed on the controller and/or a mobile device.

Assignees

• Emerson Electric Co

Inventors

• Tu Lihui
• Evans Edward B

Classifications

• H02J7/875

  Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation · CPC title

• H02J7/963

  in response to battery voltage gradient · CPC title

• H02J7/94

  in response to battery current · CPC title

• H02J7/855 Primary

  with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery · CPC title

• H02J7/007 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic