1. An apparatus for charging a battery to a nominal battery voltage comprising:
a first input terminal coupled to a reference voltage;
a second input terminal coupled to a DC power source referenced to said reference voltage;
a first output terminal coupled to said reference voltage, and configured to be coupled to a first terminal of said battery;
a second output terminal configured to be coupled to a second terminal of said battery;
a controlled current flow path coupled between said second input terminal and said second output terminal; and
a control circuit which is operative, in response to said DC power source being coupled to said second input terminal, to cause said controlled current flow path to provide a first substantially constant current therethrough from said DC power source to said battery and thereby charge said battery until said battery is charged to said nominal battery voltage and, in response to a constant voltage output of said DC power source transitioning to a value that limits said available charging current to a value less than a programmed constant charging current, and thereby causing a reduction in current flow through said controlled current flow path, to increase the current flow drive to said controlled current flow path for a limited time interval, and thereafter to allow said controlled current flow path to gradually reduce current flow therethrough as said battery voltage remains at said nominal battery voltage.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control circuit is operative, in response to said battery reaching said nominal battery voltage, to effect a thermal foldback reduction in current flow through said controlled current flow path to said second substantially constant current to a current value that produces a thermal dissipation in said current path that does not exceed a prescribed limit.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control circuit is operative, in response to said DC power source being coupled to said second input terminal, to limit the value of current supplied from said DC power source through said current flow path to a value that constrains the initial voltage of said battery to its lowest voltage.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said DC power source comprises an AC-DC converter having an AC input port that is configured to be connected to an AC power outlet (or an external DC-DC power adapter), and a DC output port that is configured to be coupled to said first and second input terminals.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said control circuit is operative, in response to constant voltage output of said AC-DC converter (or DC-DC converter) transitioning to a value that limits said AC-DC converter’s (or DC-DC converter’s) available charging current to a value less than a programmed constant charging current, to increase the turn on drive to said controlled current flow path.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said controlled current flow path comprises a controlled electronic circuit device having an input-output current flow path coupled between said second input terminal and said second output terminal, and wherein said control circuit is operative to enhance current throughput of said input-output current flow path of said controlled electronic circuit device.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said controlled electronic circuit device comprises a MOSFET, and said control circuit is operative to increase gate drive to said MOSFET so as to place said MOSFET in a fully turned on condition, in response to the constant voltage output of said AC-DC (or DC-DC) converter transitioning to a value that limits said AC-DC (or DC-DC) converter’s available charging current to a value less than a programmed constant charging current.
8. An apparatus for charging a battery to a nominal battery voltage comprising a battery charger controller circuit having first and second input terminals configured to be coupled to DC output terminals of an AC-DC (or DC-DC) converter adapter, and first and second output terminals configured to be coupled with first and second terminals of a battery to be charged, said battery charger controller circuit including a controlled current flow path coupled between said first input and output terminals of said battery charger controller circuit, and wherein said battery charger circuit includes a control circuit which is operative to cause said controlled current flow path to provide a first substantially constant current through from said external adapter to said battery and thereby charge said battery to said nominal battery voltage and, in response to a constant voltage output of said external adapter transitioning to a value that limits said available charging current to a value less than a programmed constant charging current, to increase the current flow drive to said controlled current flow path for a limited time interval, and thereafter allow said controlled current flow path to gradually reduce current flow therethrough as said battery voltage remains at said nominal battery voltage.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said control circuit is operative, in response to said battery reaching said nominal battery voltage, to effect a thermal foldback reduction in current flow through said controlled current flow path to a current value that produces a thermal dissipation in said current path that does not exceed a prescribed limit.
10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said control circuit is operative to limit the value of current supplied from said external adapter through said current flow path to a value that constrains the initial voltage of said battery to its lowest voltage.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said control circuit is operative, in response to constant voltage output of said AC-DC (or DC-DC) converter transitioning to a value that limits said converter’s available charging current to a value less than a programmed constant charging current, to increase the current flow drive to said controlled current flow path.
12. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said controlled current flow path comprises a controlled electronic circuit device having an input-output current flow path coupled between said second input terminal and said second output terminal, and wherein said control circuit is operative to enhance current throughput of said input-output current flow path of said controlled electronic circuit device.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said controlled electronic circuit device comprises a MOSFET, and said control circuit is operative to increase gate drive to said MOSFET so as to place said MOSFET in a fully turned on condition, in response to the constant voltage output of said external adapter transitioning to a value that limits said AC-DC (or DC-DC) converter’s available charging current to a value less than a programmed constant charging current.
14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said battery comprises Li-ionLi-polymer battery.
15. A method for charging a battery to a nominal battery voltage comprising the steps of:
(a) coupling an external adapter containing an AC-DC (or DC-DC) converter to a source of power, said adapter having first and second output terminals from which a DC voltage is supplied;
(b) coupling first and second input terminals of a battery charger controller circuit to said first and second output terminals of said adapter, said battery charger controller circuit including a controlled current flow path coupled between said first input terminal and a first output terminal of said battery charger controller circuit;
(c) coupling a battery to be charged to first and second output terminals of said battery charger controller circuit; and
(d) operating said controlled current flow path of said battery charger controller circuit so as to provide a first substantially constant current through from said adapter to said battery and thereby charge said battery to said nominal battery voltage and, in response to a constant voltage output of said adapter transitioning to a value that limits said available charging current to a value less than a programmed constant charging current, increasing current flow drive to said controlled current flow path for a limited time interval, and thereafter allowing said controlled current flow path to gradually reduce current flow therethrough as said battery voltage remains at said nominal battery voltage.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein step (d) comprises, in response to said battery reaching said nominal battery voltage, effecting a thermal foldback reduction in current flow through said controlled current flow path to a current value that produces a thermal dissipation in said current path that does not exceed a prescribed limit.
17. The method according to claim 15, wherein step (d) comprises limiting the value of current supplied from said adapter through said current flow path to a value that constrains the initial voltage of said battery to its lowest voltage.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein step (d) comprises increasing the turn on drive to said controlled current flow path, in response to constant voltage output of said AC-DC (or DC-DC) converter transitioning to a value that limits said converter’s available charging current to a value less than a programmed constant charging current.
19. The method according to claim 15, wherein said controlled current flow path comprises a controlled electronic circuit device having an input-output current flow path coupled between said second input terminal and said second output terminal, and wherein step (d) comprises enhancing current throughput of said input-output current flow path of said controlled electronic circuit device.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said controlled electronic circuit device comprises a MOSFET, and step (d) comprises increasing gate drive to said MOSFET so as to place said MOSFET in a fully turned on condition, in response to the constant voltage output of said adapter transitioning to a value that limits said AC-DC (or DC-DC) converter’s available charging current to a value less than a programmed constant charging current.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A wax composition comprising a water in oil emulsion in an effective amount to form a protective wax film on a substrate, comprising:
an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent;
a wax microemulsion;
a silicone oil comprising at least one liquid dimethylpolysiloxane;
a thickening agent;
an isoparaffinic solvent;
an emulsifying agent;
a polishing agent comprising an anhydrous aluminum silicate;
a polishing agent comprising an aluminum oxide comprising a mean particle size of 0.2 micrometers (200 nm) or less; and
the remainder water.
2. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said silicone oil comprises a blend present in amount of from 8 to 15 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition.
3. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said thickening agent is present in an amount of from between 0.1 to 4 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition.
4. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said isoparaffinic solvent in an amount of up to 25 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition.
5. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said emulsifying agent is present in an amount of from 0.1 to 2 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition.
6. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent is present in an amount of from 25 to 45 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition.
7. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said polishing agent comprises an aluminum silicate in an amount of from between 1 to 5 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition.
8. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said aluminum oxide is present in an amount of from between 1 to 3 percent by weight.
9. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said emulsifying agent comprises a polyglycerol ester of oleic acid.
10. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said emulsifying agent is selected from the group committing of a polyglycerol ester of oleic acid, a sorbitan polyoxyethylene, a sorbitan sesquioleate, a sorbitan trioleate, and a polyoxyethylene trioleate.
11. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said emulsifying agent comprises a long chain fatty alcohol selected from the group consisting of a cetyl alcohol, a stearyl alcohol, an ethoxylated fatty alcohol, a cetyl palmitate, a cetyl myristate, a polyethylene glycol stearate, a glyceryl monostearate, a monolactate, a tallow triglyceride, and a ethoxylated ester.
12. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said emulsifying agent comprises an ethoxylated ester selected from the group committing of a polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, an alkyl glucosinate, an ethoxylated cetyl alcohol, an ethoxylated stearyl alcohol, and a polyoxyethylene nonylphenol.
13. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent contains at least 90 percent aliphatic hydrocarbons.
14. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent contains 0 to 10% hydrocarbons.
15. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent contains less than 1 percent aromatic hydrocarbons.
16. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said isoparaffinic solvent in an amount of from 0.01 to 15.0 percent weight based on the total weight of the composition.
17. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said isoparaffinic solvent comprises a isoparaffin, a paraffinic solvent, a paraffin, and a synthetic isoparaffinic solvent.
18. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said wax is a natural wax in an amount of from between 0.001 to 6.0 percent by weight solids present in a 12-15 percent emulsion based on the total weight of the composition.
19. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said wax comprises a 12-15 percent emulsion of a synthetic wax present in an amount of from between 0.001 to 6.0 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition.
20. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said wax comprises a 12-15 percent emulsion of a natural wax and synthetic blend present in an amount of from between 0.001 to 6.0 percent based on the total weight of the composition.
21. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said wax comprises an amount of from between 0.01 to 1.0 percent based on the total weight of the composition.
22. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said wax has a cationic charge whereby the wax provides a surface-active substance in which the active constituent is the positive ion.
23. The wax composition of claim 19, wherein said synthetic wax is selected from the group consisting essentially of a polyethylene wax, a polypropylene wax, a polyamide wax, and combinations thereof.
24. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said silicone oil comprises a blend of dimethyl polysiloxanes.
25. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said silicone oil is emulsified.
26. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said silicone oil contains a blend of dimethyl polysiloxanes containing amine groups increasing the bonding properties to a substrate surface either through ionic attraction or chemical reaction.
27. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said thickening agent comprises an alkyl quaternary ammonium montmorillonite.
28. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said thickening agent is present in an amount of from 1 to 3 percent by weight of the total composition.
29. The wax composition of claim 1, wherein said anhydrous aluminum silicate comprises a kaopolite treated anhydrous aluminum silicate.
30. The wax composition of claim 1, further comprising a biocide.
31. The wax composition of claim 30 wherein said biocide is present in an amount from 0.01 to 2.0 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition.
32. The wax composition of claim 1, further comprising a preservative.
33. The wax composition of claim 30 wherein said biocide is present in an amount up to 1 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition.
34. The wax composition of claim 1, further comprising a fragrance.
35. The wax composition of claim 34 wherein said fragrance is selected from the group consisting of vanilla, bubble gum, orange, and fruit.
36. The wax composition of claim 34 wherein said fragrance is present in an amount up to 2 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition.
37. A wax composition comprising:
a cationic microemulsion of carnauba wax containing 12-15 percent solids of said carnauba wax an amount 0.001 to 6.0 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition;
a thickening agent comprising an alkyl quaternary ammonium montmorillonite in an amount from 0.1 to 4 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition;
an isoparaffinic solvent in an amount of from 1.0 to 5.0 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition;
an emulsifying agent in an amount of from 0.1 to 2.0 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition;
a silicone oil;
an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent containing at least 90 percent by weight aliphatic hydrocarbons in an amount of from 25 to 45 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition;
an anhydrous aluminum silicate in an amount of from 1.0 to 5.0 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition;
a polishing agent comprising an aluminum oxide having a mean particle diameter of less than 200 nm or less in an amount 1.0 to 3.0 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition; and
the remainder water.
38. A wax composition consisting essentially of:
a natural wax comprising a cationic microemulsion of carnauba wax containing 12-15 percent solids in an amount up to 1-40 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition;
a thickening agent comprising an alkyl quaternary ammonium montmorillonite in an amount from 0.1 to 4 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition;
a isoparaffinic solvent in an amount of from 0.1 to 15 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition;
an emulsifying agent in an amount of from 0.1 to 2.0 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition;
a synthetic wax comprising at least one silicone oil in an amount up from 5 to 20 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition;
an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent containing at least 90 percent by weight aliphatic hydrocarbons in an amount of from 25 to 45 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition;
a silicate comprising an anhydrous aluminum silicate in an amount of from 1 to 5 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition;
a polishing agent comprising an aluminum oxide having a mean particle diameter of less than 200 nm in an amount 0.001 to 8.0 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition; and
the remainder water.