Battery charging circuit with two charging sources of different voltage

Claim 2

A battery charging circuit for automatically charging a battery and maintaining the battery in a charged condition comprising: a. first sensing means effective to sense when the battery is discharged below a predetermined first condition and to produce an actuating signal in response thereto, b. second sensing means effective to sense when the battery is charged above a predetermined second condition and to produce an actuating signal in response thereto, c. a main charging source, d. a reduced voltage charging means effective to provide a reduced voltage, the upper level of which is independent of the level of said main charging source and of the condition of said battery, and e. control means operatively connected to said first and second sensing means and adapted to receive the actuating signals therefrom, said control means being effective when actuated by said first sensing means to connect the battery to said main charging source and to maintain said connection thereafter until actuated by said second sensing means and effective when so actuated by said second sensing means to connect said battery to said reduced voltage charging means and to maintain said connection until actuated again by said first sensing means when said battery discharges below said predetermined first condition, said reduced voltage charging means being operatively connected to said sensing means and said control means so as to energize them.

Claim 3

In the Battery charging circuit of claim 1, means for providing a reference voltage, in which said first sensing means is operatively connected to said reference voltage means and to the battery to be charged, and is effective to produce its actuating signal when the voltage difference between said reference voltage means and said battery is at a first predetermined value.

Claim 4

The battery charging circuit of claim 2, in which said second sensing means is operatively connected to said reference voltage means and to the battery to be charged, and is effective to produce its actuating signal when the voltage difference between said reference voltage means and said battery is at a second pre-determined value.

Claim 5

The battery charging circuit of claim 3, in which said control means comprises switch means effective to switch to first and second operative positions in response to the actuation signals of said first and second sensing means respectively.

Claim 6

The battery charging circuit of claim 1, in which said first and second sensing means comprise first and second semiconductor means.

Claim 7

In the battery charging circuit of claim 1, means for providing a reference voltage, in which said first sensing means is operatively connected to said reference voltage means and to the battery to be charged, and is effective to produce its actuating signal when the voltage difference between said reference voltage means and said battery is at a first predetermined value.

Claim 8

The battery charging circuit of claim 6, in which said second sensing means is operatively connected to said reference voltage means and to the battery to be charged, and is effective to produce its actuating signal when the voltage difference between said reference voltage means and said battery is at a second pre-determined value.

Claim 9

The battery charging circuit of claim 6, in which said control means comprises switch means effective to switch to first and second operative positions in response to the actuation signals of said first and second sensing means respectively.

Claim 10

The battery charging circuit of claim 8, in which said switch means comprises first and second energizing means separately connected to said first and second sensing means respectively, one of said energizing means being effective to energize said switch means to move from said first position to said second position in response to the actuating signal of said first sensing means, and the other of said energizing means being effective to energize said switch means to move from said second position to said first position in response to the actuating signal of said second sensing means.

Claim 11

The battery charging circuit of claim 8, in which said switch means further comprises energizing means effective to energize said switch means to move between said first and second positions in response to the polarity of the actuating signals of said first and second sensing means, one of said first and second sensing means being connected to one part of said energizing means and being effective to produce an actuating signal of one polarity through said energizing means, and the other of said sensing means being connected to another part of said energizing means and effective to produce an actuating signal of opposite polarity through said energizing means.

Claim 12

The battery charging circuit of claim 10, in which said first sensing means comprises first and second semiconductor means operatively connected between said reference voltage means and said energizing means, said first semiconductor means being effective to produce an actuating signal when the battery is discharged below said predetermined first condition, said second semiconductor means being actuated by said actuating signal of said first semiconductor means, and second reference voltage means operatively connected to said energizing means, said second semiconductor means when actuated being effective to enable said second reference voltage means to cause a current to flow through said enerGizing means in a given direction.

Claim 13

A battery charging circuit for automatically charging a battery and maintaining the battery in a charged condition comprising means for providing a reference voltage source, first sensing means operatively connected to said reference voltage means and to the battery to be charged and effective to produce an actuating signal when the voltage difference between said reference voltage means and said battery is at a first predetermined value, thereby to sense battery discharge below a predetermined first condition, second sensing means operatively connected to said reference voltage means and to the battery to be charged, and effective to produce an actuating signal when the voltage difference between said reference voltage means and said battery is at a second predetermined value, thereby to sense when the battery is charged above a predetermined second condition, a main charging source, a reduced voltage charging means effective to provide a reduced voltage, the upper level of which is independent of the level of said main charging source and of the condition of said battery, and control means operatively connected to said first and second sensing means and adapted to receive the actuating signals therefrom, said control means being effective when actuated by said first sensing means to connect the battery to said main charging source and to maintain said connection thereafter until actuated by said second sensing means and effective when so actuated by said second sensing means to connect said battery to said reduced voltage charging means and to maintain said connection until actuated again by said first sensing means when said battery discharges below said predetermined first condition, said control means comprising switch means effective to switch to first and second operative positions in response to the actuation signals of said first and second sensing means, respectively, said switch means comprising first and second energizing means separately connected to said first and second sensing means, respectively, one of said energizing means being effective to energize said switch means to move from said first position to said second position in response to the actuating signal of said first sensing means, and the other of said energizing means being effective to energize said switch means to move from said second position to said first position in response to the actuating signal of said second sensing means.

Claim 14

A battery charging circuit for automatically charging a battery and maintaining the battery in a charged condition comprising means for providing a reference voltage source, first sensing means operatively connected to said reference voltage means and to the battery to be charged and effective to produce an actuating signal when the voltage difference between said reference voltage means and said battery is at a first predetermined value, thereby to sense battery discharge below a predetermined first condition, second sensing means operatively connected to said reference voltage means and to the battery to be charged, and effective to produce an actuating signal when the voltage difference between said reference voltage means and said battery is at a second predetermined value, thereby to sense when the battery is charged above a predetermined second condition, a main charging source, a reduced voltage charging means effective to provide a reduced voltage, the upper level of which is independent of the level of said main charging source and of the condition of said battery, and control means operatively connected to said first and second sensing means and adapted to receive the actuating signals therefrom, said control means being effective when actuated by said first sensing means to connect the battery to said main charging source and to maintain said connection thereafter until actuated by said second sensing means and effective when so actuated by said second sensing means to connect said battery to said reduced voltage charging means and to maintain said connection until actuated again by said first sensing means when said battery discharges below said predetermined first condition, said control means comprising switch means effective to switch to first and second operative positions in response to the actuation signals of said first and second sensing means, respectively, said switch means comprising first and second energizing means separately connected to said first and second sensing means, respectively, one of said energizing means being effective to energize said switch means to move from said first position to said second position in response to the actuating signal of said first sensing means, and the other of said energizing means being effective to energize said switch means to move from said second position to said first position in response to the actuating signal of said second sensing means.

Claim 15

A battery charging circuit for automatically charging a battery and maintaining the battery in a charged condition comprising means for providing a reference voltage source, first sensing means operatively connected to said reference voltage means and to the battery to be charged and effective to produce an actuating signal when the voltage difference between said reference voltage means and said battery is at a first predetermined value thereby to sense battery discharge below a predetermined first condition, second sensing means operatively connected to said reference voltage means and to the battery to be charged, and effective to produce an actuating signal when the voltage difference between said reference voltage means and said battery is at a second predetermined value thereby to sense when the battery is charged above a predetermined second condition, a main charging source, a reduced voltage charging means effective to provide a reduced voltage, the upper level of which is independent of the level of said main charging source and of the condition of said battery, and control means operatively connected to said first and second sensing means and adapted to receive the actuating signals therefrom, said control means being effective when actuated by said first sensing means to connect the battery to said main charging source and to maintain said connection thereafter until actuated by said second sensing means and effective when so actuated by said second sensing means to connect said battery to said reduced voltage chargIng means and to maintain said connection until actuated again by said first sensing means when said battery discharges below said predetermined first condition, said control means comprising switch means effective to switch to first and second operative positions in response to the actuation signals of said first and second sensing means, respectively, energizing means effective to energize said switch means to move between said first and second positions in response to the polarity of the actuating signals of said first and second sensing means, one of said first and second sensing means being connected to one part of said energizing means and being effective to produce an actuating signal of one polarity through said energizing means, and the other of said sensing means being connected to another part of said energizing means and effective to produce an actuating signal of opposite polarity through said energizing means.

Claim 16

A battery charging circuit for automatically charging a battery and maintaining the battery in a charged condition comprising means for providing a reference voltage source, first sensing means operatively connected to said reference voltage means and to the battery to be charged and effective to produce an actuating signal when the voltage difference between said reference voltage means and said battery is at a first predetermined value thereby to sense battery discharge below a predetermined first condition, second sensing means operatively connected to said reference voltage means and to the battery to be charged, and effective to produce an actuating signal when the voltage difference between said reference voltage means and said battery is at a second predetermined value thereby to sense when the battery is charged above a predetermined second condition, a main charging source, a reduced voltage charging means effective to provide a reduced voltage, the upper level of which is independent of the level of said main charging source and of the condition of said battery, and control means operatively connected to said first and second sensing means and adapted to receive the actuating signals therefrom, said control means being effective when actuated by said first sensing means to connect the battery to said main charging source and to maintain said connection thereafter until actuated by said second sensing means and effective when so actuated by said second sensing means to connect said battery to said reduced voltage chargIng means and to maintain said connection until actuated again by said first sensing means when said battery discharges below said predetermined first condition, said control means comprising switch means effective to switch to first and second operative positions in response to the actuation signals of said first and second sensing means, respectively, energizing means effective to energize said switch means to move between said first and second positions in response to the polarity of the actuating signals of said first and second sensing means, one of said first and second sensing means being connected to one part of said energizing means and being effective to produce an actuating signal of one polarity through said energizing means, and the other of said sensing means being connected to another part of said energizing means and effective to produce an actuating signal of opposite polarity through said energizing means.

Claim 17

The battery charging circuit of claim 13, in which said first sensing means comprises first and second semiconductor means operatively connected between said reference voltage means and said energizing means, said first semiconductor means being effective to produce an actuating signal when the battery is discharged below said predetermined first condition, said second semiconductor means being actuated by said actuating signal of said first semiconductor means, and second reference voltage means operatively connected to said energizing means, said second semiconductor means when actuated being effective to enable said second reference voltage means to cause a current to flow through said energizing means in a given direction.