Apparatus and method for step-charging batteries to optimize charge acceptance

摘要

Apparatus and method for charging a battery, wherein a charging voltage is applied to a battery. The charging voltage depends on a base charging voltage which is continually adjusted in the direction that provides a more optimal level of charge acceptance. The direction of a more optimal charge acceptance is determined by adjusting the charging voltage in steps of predetermined magnitudes such that the steps provide an upper pair and a lower pair of spaced-apart charging levels. The current at each stepped voltage is measured, and used to calculate first and second current differentials corresponding to the upper and lower pairs. The base charging level is incremented or decremented to adjust the base charging level in the direction that provided the smaller differential. As the process is repeated, the charging level continually moves closer to a charging voltage level that minimizes the differential thereby providing a more optimal charge acceptance.