Battery Exercising Device for Autonomous Charge Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rechargeable batteries, such as those used in golf carts and mining machinery, often sit unused for extended periods, leading to charge loss due to self-discharge, and existing chargers struggle to maintain a full charge, especially with temperature variations and power outages.
Innovation Solution
A battery exercising device that periodically charges and discharges batteries using a control unit with a real-time clock, sensors, and modular processing components to manage charge and discharge cycles, ensuring optimal battery maintenance and operation even during power outages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a float charge is continuously applied to maintain battery charge, then the battery remains charged, but the charger requires constant external power and cannot operate during power outages
Solution Approach 1:
The battery charger is designed to draw charging power from the battery itself rather than requiring constant external power. The control unit monitors battery voltage and activates the charging circuit when voltage drops below a threshold, enabling the system to maintain battery charge autonomously during power outages without external power input.
2Measurement precision
If temperature sensing and internal logic are added to dynamically adjust float charge, then charge accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit adjusts charging parameters based on battery voltage thresholds. When battery voltage drops below a predetermined threshold indicating discharge, the control unit activates the charging circuit. This voltage-threshold-based control provides temperature-compensated charging without requiring separate temperature sensors or complex control logic.
3Ease of operation
If the battery sits unused for extended periods, then storage is simplified, but self-discharge causes charge loss and inability to provide power when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The battery charger continuously monitors battery voltage and automatically activates charging when voltage drops below the threshold, even during extended storage periods. This continuous monitoring and automatic recharging ensures the battery maintains sufficient charge and remains ready for use without requiring periodic manual intervention or changing storage conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a lighted connector configured to be attached to a rechargeable battery to allow the rechargeable battery to charged and/or discharged. The lighted connector includes a light that is operably connected to a control unit and/or processing component. The control unit and/or processing component may be programmed to control operation of the light in accordance with various parameters. In some embodiments, the light may be configured to be illuminated in response to an illumination triggering event, such as the lighted connector transitioning from a closed position toward an open position or a battery maintenance device associated with the lighted connector being connected to a power source. In addition, the lighted connector may be configured to be turned off in response to a shut-off triggering event, such as the lighted connector being correctly attached to a rechargeable battery. Furthermore, the light may be used in various ways to provide feedback to the user.