Abstract: Automatic battery charging apparatus in which a control signal is generated by subtracting a signal representing a fraction of the mains supply voltage from the battery voltage so that the control signal represents the state of charge of the battery irrespective of variations in the mains voltage. The charge is terminated when the rate of rise of the control signal falls below a predetermined value; this condition is sensed by sampling the output frequency of a voltage controlled oscillator whose frequency is directly proportional to the control signal. In one arrangement the output frequency is fed to an up-down counter for a sampling period (2 minutes) with the counter counting up and then, after an interval of 30 minutes, the output frequency is fed to the counter for a further sampling period (1 minute 55 seconds) with the counter counting down. If the counter fails to return to zero at the end of a down count the charge is terminated.

Abstract: An automatic battery charger of taper type has means for comparing a reference signal with a control signal varying with battery voltage, and terminating the charge when the rate of rise of battery voltage falls below a predetermined value. To prevent spurious operation due to mains voltage variation, the control signal comprises the difference between a signal dependent on battery voltage and a signal dependent on a.c. supply voltage.The rate of rise of the control signal is monitored by comparing it with a staircase reference voltage which is increased by a step whenever the control signal exceeds it, and termination is initiated if the time interval between two steps exceeds a given period. This may be long enough, e.g. half an hour, to provide an equalizing charge without requiring additional equipment.