Power recovery controller
The inventive subject matter provides a circuit and a method for efficiently charging a battery. In one aspect of the invention, the circuit includes an oscillator that generates a series of current pulses at a frequency that corresponds to a resonant frequency of the battery. Each pulse in the series includes ringing oscillations that includes a main pulse and a group of ringing decaying pulses. The group of ringing decaying pulses includes pulses with gradually smaller amplitudes over time until the pulses completely die out.
1. A method of charging a battery:
determining a resonant frequency of the battery;
feeding a first series of current pulses through the battery at a frequency that corresponds to the resonant frequency;
providing, after feeding the first series of current pulses, a resting period in which no current pulse is fed through the battery; and
feeding, after providing the resting period, a second series of current pulses through the battery at the frequency, wherein each current pulse in the first and second series comprises a main pulse and a group of artificially enhanced ringing decaying pulses.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each pulse in the group of ringing decaying pulses has a smaller amplitude than the main current pulse.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a first decaying pulse has a larger amplitude than a second subsequent decaying pulse in the group of ringing decaying current pulses.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the battery is a primary battery.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the resting period has a same duration as the first interval of time.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the series of current pulses is operated at a duty cycle of no more than 50%.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein feeding the series of current pulses comprises feeding the pulses at a frequency that is within 5% of the resonant frequency of the battery.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the resonant frequency of the battery is a frequency at which the battery accepts electric charges at an optimal efficiency within a range of frequencies.
9. A circuit for charging a battery, comprising
an oscillator configured to generate (i) feed a first series of current pulses through a battery at a frequency that corresponds to a resonant frequency of the battery, (ii) provide, after feeding the first series of current pulses a resting period in which no current pulse is fed through the battery, and (iii) feed a second series of current pulses through the battery at the frequency, wherein each current pulse in the first and second series of the current pulses comprises a main pulse and a group of ringing decaying pulses; and
an inductor configured to artificially enhance the group ringing decaying pulses.
10. The circuit of claim 9 , wherein each pulse in the group of ringing decaying pulses has a smaller amplitude than the main pulse.
11. The circuit of claim 9 , wherein a first decaying current pulse has a larger amplitude than a second subsequent decaying current pulse in the group of ringing decaying current pulses.
12. The circuit of claim 9 , wherein the battery is a primary battery.
13. The circuit of claim 9 , wherein the resting period has a same duration as the first interval of time.
14. The circuit of claim 9 , wherein the oscillator is further configured to operate the series of current pulses at a duty cycle of no more than 50%.
15. The circuit of claim 9 , wherein the oscillator is further configured to feed the series of current pulses at a frequency that is within 5% of the resonant frequency of the battery.
16. The circuit of claim 9 , wherein the resonant frequency of the battery is a frequency at which the battery accepts electric charges at an optimal efficiency within a range of frequencies.