High frequency battery charger and method of operating same
A high frequency charger includes a charge circuit for charging a depleted battery and a boost circuit for jump-starting a vehicle. Two separate high frequency transformers are provided for the charge and boost circuits. A selector switch selectively activates at least one of the charging circuit and the boost circuit.
1 - 77 . (canceled)
78 . A high frequency charger comprising:
a high frequency transformer;
a switching configuration to switch the high frequency transformer to produce a charging current of about 2-20 amps for charging a battery and to switch the high frequency transformer to produce a boost current of about 30-300 amps; and
a controller providing a high frequency driving signal to the switching configuration.
79 . The high frequency charger of claim 78 wherein the boost current from the high frequency transformer has a current of about 60-300 amps.
80 . The high frequency charger of claim 78 wherein the charging current from the high frequency transformer has a current of about 2-15 amps.
81 . The high frequency charger of claim 78 wherein the charging current has a current of about 2-15 amps and the boost current has a current of about 30-300 amps.
82 . The high frequency charger of claim 78 wherein the boost current from the high frequency transformer has a duration of about 3-35 seconds.
83 . A battery charger, comprising:
a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding comprising a first winding portion and a second winding portion;
a switching arrangement coupled to the primary winding for switching a DC current through at least one of the first winding portion and the second winding portion at a frequency of at least 20,000 Hz to produce a charging current for charging a battery and for switching a DC current through at least one of the first winding portion and the second winding portion at a frequency of at least 20,000 Hz to produce a boost current relatively high compared to the charging current and sufficient to jump start a vehicle containing the battery;
an output circuit coupled to the secondary side of the transformer to provide the charging current and the boost current as a DC output; and
connectors adapted to be connected to the battery and electrically coupled to the output circuit.
84 . The high frequency charger of claim 83 further comprising a polarity protection circuit to allow current to flow through the connectors and to the battery only when the connectors are coupled to the battery with a correct polarity.
85 . The high frequency charger of claim 83 further comprising an alternator tester coupled to the connectors and producing an alternator fault signal as a function of voltage.
86 . The high frequency charger of claim 83 wherein the boost current from the high frequency transformer has a current of about 30-300 amps.
87 . The high frequency charger of claim 83 wherein the boost current from the high frequency transformer has a current of about 60-300 amps.
88 . The high frequency charger of claim 83 wherein the charging current from the high frequency transformer has a current of about 2-20 amps.
89 . The high frequency charger of claim 83 wherein the charging current from the high frequency transformer has a current of about 2-15 amps.
90 . The high frequency charger of claim 83 wherein the charging current has a current of about 2-15 amps and the boost current has a current of about 60-300 amps.
91 . The high frequency charger of claim 83 wherein the charging current has a current of about 2-20 amps and the boost current has a current of about 60-300 amps.
92 . The high frequency charger of claim 83 wherein the charging current has a current of about 2-15 amps and the boost current has a current of about 30-300 amps.
93 . The high frequency charger of claim 89 wherein the charging current has a current of about 2-20 amps and the boost current has a current of about 30-300 amps.
94 . A high frequency batter charger, comprising:
a switch circuit having an input for being coupled to a DC input and an output;
a management circuit coupled to the switch circuit to drive the switch circuit at a high frequency;
a high frequency transformer having a primary winding comprising a first and second winding portions and a secondary winding, the output of the switch circuit being coupled to at least one of the first or second primary winding portions to produce a charging current for charging a battery and coupled to at least one of the first or second winding portions to produce a boost current higher than the charging current and sufficient to jump start a vehicle including the battery;
a filter coupled to the secondary winding to produce the charging current and the boost current as DC outputs; and
battery connectors electrically coupled for supplying the DC output charging current or boost current to a battery in a vehicle.
95 . The high frequency charger of claim 94 wherein the switch circuit switches the DC input through the first winding portion to produce the charging current
96 . The high frequency charger of claim 94 wherein the switch circuit switches the DC input through the second winding portion to produce the boost current.
97 . The high frequency charger of claim 94 wherein the first wind portion and second winding portion are separate windings.
98 . The high frequency charger of claim 94 wherein the management circuit comprises a microprocessor and a pulse width modulator.
99 . The high frequency charger of claim 94 wherein the boost current from the high frequency transformer has a current of about 30-300 amps.
100 . The high frequency charger of claim 94 wherein the boost current from the high frequency transformer has a current of about 60-300 amps.
101 . The high frequency charger of claim 94 wherein the charging current from the high frequency transformer has a current of about 2-20 amps.
102 . The high frequency charger of claim 94 wherein the charging current from the high frequency transformer has a current of about 2-15 amps.
103 . The high frequency charger of claim 94 wherein the charging current has a current of about 2-15 amps and the boost current has a current of about 60-300 amps.
104 . The high frequency charger of claim 94 wherein the charging current has a current of about 2-20 amps and the boost current has a current of about 60-300 amps.
105 . The high frequency charger of claim 94 wherein the charging current has a current of about 2-15 amps and the boost current has a current of about 30-300 amps.
106 . The high frequency charger of claim 94 wherein the charging current has a current of about 2-20 amps and the boost current has a current of about 30-300 amps.
107 . The high frequency charger of claim 94 further comprising measuring circuitry coupled to the battery connectors to determine at least a voltage at the battery after the vehicle is started.