Apparatus for controlling excess recharge current applied to a battery

摘要

A battery recharge current source 12 provides a recharge current 14 to battery cells 16. Recharge current 14 is in excess of an optimum recharge current level for battery cells 16 and is divided into currents 26 and 28 by variable shunt load 24 as controlled by charge current control circuit 18. Charge current control circuit 18 is comprised of current sense circuit 20 and load control circuit 22. Current sense circuit 20 produces a current sense signal in response to current through battery cells 16. Load control circuit 22 is responsive to the current sense signal and controls variable shunt load 24 as needed to conduct excess current away from the battery cells.