Improved lead-acid battery management techniques

The consumer and industrial markets are experiencing unprecedented demand for battery management technology. Consumer appetite for the convenience of battery-powered portable equipment such as cellular phones and small form-factor computers is continuing to expand. The industrial market is being besieged by governmental regulations and consumer concerns on environmental pollution. This has increased development emphasis on electric motor-driven tools and vehicles. The secondary-battery industry is under competitive pressure to produce a cell that weighs almost nothing, takes up little space, and has ideal charge/discharge performance. Secondary battery technologies including lead-acid are being challenged to meet the lighter weight, smaller size, and higher performance requirements of these emerging market opportunities. Specifically, lead-acid battery technology is being improved by several innovative techniques that are well published. The battery charging and battery management techniques must keep pace with these improvements and meet or exceed consumer expectations. This paper describes some techniques that enhance the charging and battery management methods available for lead acid batteries. These include voltage rate termination, battery conditioning, and auto-cycle charge algorithms.