2) United States Patent (10) Patent No: US 8,519,672 B2 Kondo (45) Date of Patent: Aug. 27, 2013 (S!) DESULFATION DEVICE AND DESULEATION. 6) References Cited METHOD US. PSTENT DOCUMENTS (71). Applicant T&K Coy Lt, Nagoya UP) 420810 A+ SIDR Kolbowlh 392 ‘onda 4S Sloat Kottows ts (72) Inventor: Toshihike Kondo, Nagoya (JP) 2001/0019257 Al 912001 Bynum etal Sivoclosss Ale 112004 Balt a wos Or) Aviano: TAK Cooled Nowy OP Sniioisoo Ale ‘73011 Nses erry FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS (4) Notice: Subject to any dlaier.thetem ofthis sp Wosooms yee pute is etéded or aijued under 35. JP 2olbtamt ‘82010 ° Wo toce2 7200 USC. 1540) by 0 day wo. 20040030137 42004 wo amoissoy—— Launo (21) Appl. Nos 13788367 Wo Houionot S00 OTHER PUBLICATIONS (22) Filed: Jan, 29, 2013, Seach Rept Os. 25,201 fom Inno Apion (65) Prior Publication Data ‘No. PCTSP201 1/004406. US20130141059.A1 Jun. 6.2013, * cited by examiner Primary Examiner — Bia Too Related US. Application Data (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Beyer Law Group LLP (63) Continuation of application No. PCT/5P2011/004406, (57) ABSTRACT fed on Avg 3,201 A denilftion device 10 dvs is switching circuit 140 by Using pulse wave ere sual ving ple wih of 18 0) Foreign Application Priority Data tsscand frequen of 20000 Fz The switching ici 140 ts withed onto allow extaction of elect cuent of 500 Aug. 25,2010 OP) 2010-188043 mA froma batey vina resistor, while being switched off to sop the extaction of eli ure When he itching (st) mc, Gieut 140 is sich ofa tck setomotve fore anda MUM 1044 —— 200601) revere erent of 500 mA are supplied the bate. The ows in4s (0801) tupplied reverse curet is eeatve current in the form of (52) US.CL spikes. This electric current acts on electrodes ofthe battery Usie sania and hereby enbles removal ofsultion onthe electrodes of the ine, while redacig «temper cease of the (58) Field of Classification Search Fil nSearcl 3 135,biG. 16 lision device 10 dring its operation See application file for complete search history cencaating | oRcuT | ons ae | er -150 PROTECTIVE ‘oRCUT [waverorn | SHAPING | encur swoon 10 Claims, § Drawing Sheets = 1 "ro garteay | oteunais. pe _| saree ‘oRCuTUS 8,519,672 B2 Sheet 1 of 5 Aug. 27, 2013 US. Patent 4LINOYIO SNIHOLIMS: | aunowto LI ob ONIAYHS 4 Ss oer | ainouto 4 oniLvasN30 |} —~ amod legos a = 4 oz o1--7US. Patent Aug. 27, 2013 Sheet 2 of 5 US 8,519,672 B2 Fig.2 ELEOTRIC CURRENT a ca eS ELECTRIC CURRENT bP \ - | ___\US 8,519,672 B2 Sheet 3 of 5 Aug. 27, 2013 US. Patent Fig.6 (yu) LNSHIND OLOTTSUS. Patent Aug. 27, 2013 Sheet 4 of 5 US 8,519,672 B2 ye INITIAL | AFTER LAPSE, i AFTER LAPSE VALUE | OF 34 DAYS | OF 87 DAYS 1,255 | 1.266 MAXIMUM SPEGIFIG GRAVITY | 1.27 | 1.28 MINIMUM SPECIFIC GRAVITY SPECIFIC GRAVITY DIFFERENCE) TOTAL VOLTAGE ff INCREASE RATE OF SPECIFIC GRAVITY) 1. 0087 INITIAL | AFTER LAPSE VALUE | OF 20 DAYS MAXIMUM SPEGIFIG GRAVITY MINIMUM SPECIFIC GRAVITY | SPECIFIC GRAVITY DIFFERENCE TOTAL VOLTAGE “TEMPERATURE 38.2 —— - na INCREASE RATE OF SPECIFIC GRAVITY | 1.040 |US. Patent Aug. 27, 2013 Sheet 5 of 5 US 8,519,672 B2 Fig.9 etecTrc | AMBIENT | AMBIENT | TEMPERATURE] CURRENT | TEMPERATURE|TEMPERATURE| INCREASE (mA) Coy eo) | 26 34 27 40 BATTERY AMBIENT CASING CASING VOLTAGE | TEMPERATURE | TEMPERATURE | TEMPERATURE (vy) i (°C) (cy (°C) 36 25 31 200mA, MBO DIMENT] COMPARISON 500mAUS 8,519,672 B2 1 DESULFATION DEVICE AND DESULFATION METHOD cro REFERENCE TO RELATED “APPLICATIONS: s ‘This application is 2 Continuation of Iteration Appl cation No, PCT/P2011/04406 filed Aug. 3, 2011, which ‘lin benefit of riety to Japanese Apliaton No, 2010- 188083 fled Aug, 25,2010, both of which are hereby incor 10 porated by reference. ‘TECHNICAL FIELD “The present invention relates to technology of removing. sulfation (Gesulfation} on eletrodes of a lead-acid battery. BACKGROUND ART Sulfation ona positive electrode anda negativeelectmde of 29 lead-acid battery is known as one reason of degrading the performances ofthe lead-acidbatery. The sulfation occurson oth the electrodes by the following electrochemical reac- tions ofa diluted sulfuri acd electrolyte solution withthe positive electrode (lead oxide electrode) nd withthe negative electrode (lead electrode) during operation (discharging) of| the lead-acid battery: The electrochemical eactions proceed in the revere dioction during charging Fa Po,st80,126-¥PSO SILA ; tr) ‘ P8480, 80,42e ae ede) Sulfation (lead sulfation) om the surfaces ofthe postive electrode and the negative clectrode (electrode suriaces 5 inolved in charging) inerferes with the desired electro- ‘chemical reactions between the respective electrodes and the ‘lectroyte solution and thereby degrades the charging per formance and the discharging performance of the lead-acid batory Application of a pulse curent to the lead-acid battery is known asthe technique of ecavering the performances ofthe lead-acid battery which are depraded by sulfation ‘This known fechnigue takes account of reduction of per- formance degradation of the lead-acid battery during dis- ‘charging but des consider removal of sulfation onthe elec- trodes of the used lead-acid battery or recovery of performances ofthe lead-acid battery. This known technique ‘also does not take account of shortening a period of time requied for removal of sulfation or reducing a temperature increase ofa removal apparatus daring removal of silfation, ‘There is accordingly a requirement to shorten a period of time requited for removal of sulfation, while reducing heat regeneration during removal of te sulfation inthe lead-acid batery. ‘SUMMARY OF INVENTION I order to achieve atleast part of the above roguzemeat, the invention provides various aspects described below. 60 Acconding to frst aspect, there is provided a desolation device applicable to a lead-acid battery, The desulfiton ‘device of the frst aspect includes: an electrode coanector ‘connected with an electrode ofthe lead-acid battory a drive signal generator configured to generate a pulse wave dive signal byusingeletic cutent extracted from the electrode of the lead-acid hatery via the electrode connector; resistor s 2 configured wo regulate the eletic current extracted from the electrode ofthe lead-acid batery via the electrode connector to oletric curent of not less than 300 mA; and a switcher connected with the deve signal peneratorand withthe resistor and operated in response to the generated pulse wave dive signal to supply a back electromotive force and a reverse current to te lead-acid bantery in synchronism with a falling edge ofthe pulse wave drive sil ‘The desulfation device ofthe ist aspoct supplies a hack clectromotive force and a reverse current to the lead-acid battery in synchronism with a falling edge ofthe pulse wave drive signal, thus shortening the period of time required for removal of sulfation Inthe deslfation device ofthe first aspect, the drive signal generator may generate the pulse wave drive signal of a specific pulse width that causes a temperature increase of the desuliation device to be equal tof less tan a predetermined temperature value. This aspect shorten the period of time equred for removal ofsulfition, while reducing heat gene eration during removal of sulfation in the lead-acid battery. Inthe desulfation device ofthe fist aspect, the drive signal generator may generate the pulse wave drive signal ofa pulse ‘wid that is equal to or less than a pulse width Pwmax. calculated by an equation given below when Thase represents a known temperature increase corresponding to a known pulse widkh Pwhase and Tmax represen an allowable tem- erature increase Pree Pre Tx This spect causes the temperature increase ofthe desullation device to be equal oof less than the allowable temperature Inthe deslfation device ofthe fist aspect, the drive signal ‘zenerator may generate the pulse wave drive signal having 8 smaller pulse wid with an increase in output voltage ofthe lead-acid battery. This aspect effectively reduces heat zenera- tion during removal of sulfation in the lex-acid battery sccording tothe output voltage of the lead-acid battery ‘The desulfation device of the first aspoct may further include wave shaper configured to generatea sawtooth wave Arve signal from the pulse wave drive signal generated bythe Arve signal generator. This aspect improves the efficiency of removal of sulfation, Inthe deslfation device ofthe first aspect, the drive signal enerator may generate the pulse wave drive signal having 2 Trequency of 15000 Hz w 20000 Hand a pulse width of 1 see to 2 yee, and the resistor may regulate the electric current extracted from te electrode a thelead-acid battery electric curent of 300 to $00 mA. This aspect effectively shoctens the period af time required for removal of sulfation, While reducing bea generation during removal of sulfationin the lead-acid batery. “According toa second aspect, there is provided a desu tion method fora lead-acid battery. The desulfation method of the second aspoct includes the steps of: generating a pulse wave drive signal by using electric curren extracted from an electrode of the lead-acid barter: regulating the electiccur- rent extracted from the eloctode ofthe lead-acid battory to electric eneat of not fess than 300m; and supplying a back electromotive force anda reverse current, which ar atributed to theeletrccurentof not less than 300 mA, tothe lead-acidUS 8,519,672 B2 3 bare syncvonim wit fling eg ofthe pulse wave dive sana, wherein the respective steps are performed repataly “Thedesltionmethadofthe second sspecthasthe ilar fictions and advantages fart thowf the deoftion device ofthe fist spect and may be implemented by any of ‘eros apts inthe desolation device ofthe fst sp “The dessin methodafthessconnpet maybe imple inened inthe form of aslltionrenoing program orn the form of computer readable maium in which the ulfaton snowing progam i Nore BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. isa block diagram illustrating the fuetional circuit structure of desulfation device according 10 one emibodi- rent; FIG. 2illustrates an equivalent circuit toa waveform shap- ing circuit provided in the desullation device acconling to the ‘embodiment FIG. 3 illustrates one example of pulse wave dive signal ‘generated by a pulse generating eireit provide ia the des Ulfition device according tothe embodiment; FIG. 4 illustrates one example of a sawtooth wave drive signal peneate by the waveform shaping eieuit provided in the desulfaton device sceording tothe embodiment IG. 3 illustrates one exemplary connection mode of the leslfation device ofthe embodiment with a lead-acid bat- FIG. 6 schematically illustestes a variation in electric eur rent between the desulfiton device ofthe embodiment and the lead-acid battery, FIG. 7 illustrates the results ofa test with respect to the performance recovery of the lead-acid battery by a desulia tion device of a comparative example; FIG. 8 illustrates the resulis ofa test with respect to the performance recovery ofthe lead-acid batery bythe desulia- tion device ofthe embodiment: FIG. 9 illustrates temperature change during operation of the desulfation device ofthe comparative example: and FIG. 10ilustrtes a temperature change ding operation ‘ofthe desulftion device of to the embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS: ‘The following describes someemibodiments ofthe desl tion device and the desufition method! according to the invention with reference tothe accompanied drawings, FIG. sa block diagram illustrating the fuetional circuit structure ofa desulfition device (sulfation removal appara- tus) according to one embodiment. The desulfaton device 10 ‘of the embodiment includes a power circuit 110, 2 pulse generating circuit 120, 2 waveform shaping cievit 130, Switching eircuit 140, a protective circuit 180, an indication light 11, a positive terminal TH and a negative terminal T2, ‘The positive terminal TL is connected with a positive le: trode of lead-acid battery (not shown). The positive terminal THis also connected with the power circuit 110 via a drive signal curent ine Ld atranged to supply the electric current ‘extracted from the positive electrode of te lead-acid battery, to the power circuit 110, while being connected with the svtehing circuit 140 via a poser cureatline Lp aeranged 10 supply the electric eurent extracted from the positive elee- trode ofthe lead-acidbatory, tothe switching circuit 140.The drive signal current line Lal is provided with a diode DL serving io prevent the reverse flow of electic cursent from the power circuit 110 to the positive tenminal TI. The power 4 current line Lpis provided with a diode D2 serving prevent the reverse flow of eletrc curent from the switching cieuit £140 tthe positive terminal Land with resistor RU serving ‘o regulate the eletric curent that is to be supplied to the switching circuit 140, to a predetermined value. The indiea- tion light 11s it on during power supply (during operation) of the desulfation device 10, For example, a light-emitting diode may be used forthe indication light 1. The respective circuits included inthe desulfation dove 10 ofthe emibi- rent may be provided in the form ofan integrated circuit or ‘may sleratvely be provided in the form of discrete circuits ‘The power circuit 110 is connected with the pulse gener- sing circuit 120 via a signal line, and te pulse generating circuit 120 is connected with the waveforn shaping circuit 130 via a signal lie, The wavefomn shaping circuit 130 is coanected withthe switching circuit L40viaa signal line, and the switching circuit 140 is connected withthe power current line Lp as deseribed above, The protective circuit 150 is coanected to the waveform shaping circuit 130, The negative terminal T2 is signal-grounded. Although signal-grounding of only the switching circuit 140 is explicily illustrated in FIG. 1, the respostve other circuits are similarly signal- rounded ‘The power circuit 110 provided in he form of a DC-DC coaverter serving « reduce the voltage level (12V to 48 V) supplied from the lead-acid bartery to 10V that isthe voltage far drive signal (contaleieuit voltage). The eurrent for drive signal subjected tothe voltage step-downby the power circuit ‘10s supplied to the pulse generating czcut 120, The pulse eneratng circuit 120 is provided as a cect serving to use the current for drive signal supplied from the power eiruit 110 and thereby generate a pulse signal wave for driving the switching circuit 140. The pulse generating circuit 120 inter- nally hasan oscillator ad outputs « pulse wave drive signal including a predetermined number of rectangular waves of 8 specified pulse width comresponding oa predetermined fre- queney. In other words, the pulse generating circuit 120 con tinually ouputs a rectangular wave signal of aspecified pulse ‘id at a predetemnined eyele (I/fequeney), ‘The pulse generating circuit 120 ofthis embodiment gen~ cratesa pulse wave drive sigaal ofa specitie pulse wid that ‘uses the temperature inerease of the desulltion device 10 to be equal io orfess than a predetermined temperature vale, “More specifically, the pulse generating circuit 120 generates a pulse wave deve sigal of a pulse width that is equal to.0r Jess than a pulse width Pwwmax calculated by an equation given below when Thase represen a known temperature ‘increase corresponding to aknowa pulse width Psbase at the frequency of 15000 to 20000 Hz. aad Tmax represeats an allowable temperature increase: ‘The pulse width ofthe generated pulse wave drive signals. specifically 1 to 2 usec and is more specifically about 1.4 to 17sec. For example, the maximum allowable pulse widths. shout 3.4 see when the known pose width Pwbase is qual 10 16, the known temperature increase Thase is equal to 28° CC. and the allowable temperature increase Tmax is equal 19 arc. ‘The waveform shaping circuit 130 shapes the pulse wave drive signal generated by the pulse generating circuit 120108 sawtooth waveform and outputs as a sawtooth wave dive signal. FIG. lustrates an equivalent circuit tothe waveform,US 8,519,672 B2 5 shaping circuit provided in the desullation device according ‘otheembodimeat. FIG. Sillustatesoaeexampleof the pulse ‘wave drive signal generated by the pulse generating circuit provided in the desulation device according to the embodi- ‘meat, FIG, 4 illusates one example of the sawtooth wave ‘drive signal generated by the waveform shaping circuit pro- Vid inthe deslfation device according tothe embodiment, The waveloem shaping cieuit 130 sa known circuit and includes, for example, two resistors R2A and R22 connected in parallel o eachother, a capacitor C1 connected in parle) to theresisior 822 anda diode D3 connectedin series withthe resistor R22, The wavefoem shaping circuit 130 enables the pulse vwavefonn shown in FIG. 3 tobe shapes the sawtooth ‘waveform shown inFIG. 4,5, waveform having gentle rises and abzupt alls. Such wave shaping allows a quick switching ‘action of a circuit that is actuated at a falling edge as the trigger, fr example, the switching cireuit 140. ‘The switching circuit 140 is provided asa cirouit switched ‘on and off in response to the shaped pulse wave dive signal According this embodiment, the switching circuit 140 is switched on to allow extraction of electric current from a battery via the power cueent line Lp, while being switched ‘off to stop the extaction of electric eurent fom the battery. ‘The switching circuit 140 thus enables the pulse curentto be flowed outof the battery: For example, a field-effect rasistor (PET) or another switching element may be adopted for the ‘svitcingcieuit 14. ‘The protective circuit 180s provided asa circuit serving to protect the resistor RI from a poteatial file, such as bura- Ing-ou, when the pulse wave ceive signal output from the waveform shaping creuit 130 is kept continuously a a high level. signal eve! that provides instruction for switeh-on ‘oporation tothe switching cireuit 40), The protective eircuit 150may beiplemeated by acireuit using a Zener diodeand «transistor as is known wo one skilled in the at. ‘The resistor RI is used to regulate the vale ofthe power ‘curzeat that sto be supplied to the switching circuit 140, The resisiance value is selected according to the vollage of battery BT as the processing object, in onder to regulate the power current to a curent value of 300 t0 500 mA. The following description is onthe assumption of using the eee tric eurent of $00 mA, ‘The following describes the operations ofthe desulfation device Wacconling to theembodiment. 1G, Silistetes one ‘exemplary connection mode of the desullation device ofthe ‘embodiment with 2 lead-zcid battery. FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a variation in electric curent beeen the desulia- tion device of the embodiment and the lead-acid batery. The ‘desulfation device 10 is used in connection witha batery BT. More specifically, a positive cable L1 connected with the positive terminal T1 ofthe desulfation device 10s connected to-a positive electrode T+ ofthe battery BT, wheres a nega tive cable L2 connected with the nogative terminal T2 is ‘connected to a negative electrode T- ofthe battery BT. The sulfation device 10 operates with the electric curret sup- plied from the battery BT. In alue Words, he electric current ‘extracted from the battery BT via the positive terminal Tis ‘suppl tothe respective circuits vi the ceive signal current line La. Asdescribod above the dosulfation device 10 sconfigured te extract the electric current inthe form of pulses from the battery BT in espouse 1 te pulse wave drive signal. More specifically, the switching cieuit 140 is switched on in response to the pulse wave drive signa to allow the electri ‘current regulate to 500 mA by the esstor RI to low from the switching citcuit 140 into the ground. The switching icuit 140 isswitched off in response othe pulse wave drive 6 signal to stop the flow of the electric current regulated 10 500 ‘MA nto the ground. This series of operations enable the clectrie current in the foam of pulses to be extracted from the battery BT. Whea the desufation device 10 (switching circuit 140) stops the extraction ofelecticcurent ata falling edgeof the pulse wave drive signal, there are a back electromotive force anda reverse current, which areatibuted to inductance components including the positive cable L1, the negative cable 2 and te battery BT. The voltage and electric curent in the form of spikes, which are negative with respect to the desulfation device 10, are then applied wo the buttery BT (on the assumption thatthe electric current extracted from the battery BT is positive). For example, electric curent in the Jarmo spikes as shown inF1G, 6is applied to de battery BT. According to this embodiment, the pulse wave drive signal input into the switching circuit 140 is shaped to have the sawtooth wavefom bythe waveform shaping iruit 130. The switching circuit 140 thus relatively gatly shifts to the ON sate when being switched on, bu instantaneously’ shifting the OFF state when being switched of. Asa result, the elec- tei eurent and voltage in the form of spikes having the high peak (large height) and the small width are provided to the battery BT. The value ofthe reverse curent inthe form of spikes supplied tothe battery BT is, for example, 203 And ‘increases with an increase in service current (power current), The eurrent waveform shown in FIG, 6 s obiined by con necting a esisior to an electrode ofthe battery BT in series and measuring voltage waveforms at both ends ofthe resistor ‘The electric curzent and voltage inthe form of spikes acting ‘on the postive eleerode and the negative eletrode of the battery enable sulfation or suite layers depositing on the positive electrode and the negative electrode (lead sulfate Jayers inthe lead-acid battery) to be moleculey peeled off tnd separate from the respective lecrodes and recovers the charging area involved in charging out of sulfste-covered surface are of each ofthe electrodes to is initial charging ‘rca, The molecular sulfite layer separate into an electyte solution is decomposed during charging ofthe lead-acid bat- ‘ery and is dissolved inthe form of lead ion and sulfate fon into the electrolyte solution. Generation of H2O, whieh pro- ceeds during discharging ofthe lead-acid battery, tops dur- ing charging. Asa result te specie previty ofthe electroyte in the battery BT, i, lead-acid battery, is recovered to ‘approach a fvorable value of 1.280, Results of Verification ‘The following describes results of various tests using the desuliation device 10 according to the embodiment ad 2 desulition device according to «comparative example. Recovery of Battery Performances FIG. 7 illustrates the results ofa test with respect to the perlormunee recovery of the lead-acid battery by the desulfa- tion device ofthe comparative example. FIG. 8 illustrates the resulls of atest with respect to the performance recovery of the lead-acid battery by the desulfaion device of the emiboi- ‘meat, The following conditions were adopted forthe ext ‘Comparative Example: pulse frequency: 20000 Hz, curent value: 200 mA, batter: 48 volt battery manufactured by GS. Yuasa Corporation Embodiment: pulse frequeney: 20000 Hz, eurent valve: 500 mA, battery: 48 vot battery manufactured by GS Yuasa Corporation “The resuls ofthis test prove the recovery ofthe specific rvity bythe deslfation devie 19 ofthe embodiment and ‘verify the mechanism of removing and dissolving the sulfate layers by using the electric eurent inthe foam of spikes as described above.US 8,519,672 B2 1 According to the comparative example shown in FIG. 7, the averge specific gravity of the elaeulyte solution was 1.28Sasitsntalvalueand waschangedto | 266afleralapse ‘of M4 days since the stat of connection and was fuer ‘hanged to 1280 alter lapse of 87 days since the start of 5 ‘onnection. The favorable value ofthe speific rity the Ieaaciattery is gnealy thought to beabout 1.28 which ‘wasachievedafterthe apse of 87 days. The impeovementrate ofthe average specific pavity to the inal value, Le, the inereaserateofthe specific aavity, was 1.0087 after the apse ‘of 3 days and was 1.0199 afer the lapse of $7 days. The increase rate ofthe specific gravity accordingly remained at the valve of 1.0199 alter a lapse of approximately three months. According tothe emiboiment onthe oer hand the sverage specific gravity ofthe eect solution was 1219 1s ‘sits intial value and as changed to | 268aftera lapse of 20, days since the start of connection The improvement rate of thoaverage specific gravity tothe initial value Was 1 O40 afer the lapse of 20 days. The increase rate othe speci gravity accordingly achieved the valve of 1.040 ater lapse of only about hal a month ‘The primary dierence between th embodiment and the comparative example the value of elec curent. The Aeslfation device 10 of the embodiment using the lager ‘ureat value can reover the performances of te battery ‘within time period of about." of the recovery time by the eslfation device othe comparative example. When slong, period of time such as three to four months, required 10 schieve the sufficient improvement ofthe battery perfor mance, is rather dificult forth user of the appara to 30 ceflectively very the improvement effet. The desolation device 1 of the embodiment, onthe other hand allows veri festion of the improvement effet in a relatively shorter period of ine, such as about hal month to one month and ‘an thus mee the demand ofthe user ofthe apparatus. 38 ‘Thesereslsoftheestprovethathelargerlevrc cument applied tothe battery BT peovides the beter aspoversent ‘flect,The simple increase in value elect curent applied tothebatiery BT, however causes apreblemo increasing the ‘operating temperature ofthe desulation device (that may lanage the ict elements, uch es resister). “Temperature Change FIG. illstratesa temperature change during operation of the desulition deve of the comparative example. FIG, 10 ilysttes temperature change diag operation othe des ulation device ofthe embeliment. For the purpose of veri fication, the temperature ofthe casing body f the destin device and the temperature ofthe esistor far repuating the ‘leceiccureat were measured with an ifrrel themaoniler FIG. 9 shows a tempertie change of the comparative ‘example obsained by ineressng the electric curzet supplied totheswitchingceuitofthe deslation device rom 20004 to 500 mA under the conditions ofthe pulse frequency of 20000 Hz and the pase width of 4 yse ofthe pulse wave ‘deve signal. The esl of FIG. 9 show thatthe casing tem perature increased withan increas in value of let eurrnt an that the easing temperature reached 4° Cand the tem perature inctese reached 19°C at 50 a. The temperature ‘ofthe sisi asthe heat source each 14° Ct $00 mu. Inanapplicaion ofthe desulfation device in connection with 60 2 batry located in an engine room of an automobile the ‘operating envionment temperature is about 601 70°C. $0 thatthe temperate the resistor significa exceeds 150° (C-Thereisaccontngly a igh possibility tht he resistor for general purpse is damaged “The destlfaion device 10 ofthe embodiment i, on the ‘otherand driven with he pulse wave drive signal having the s 8 pulse wid of 1.6 usec andthe frequency of 20000 Hz, s0 as ‘oeliginate this problem, FIG. 10 shows the results of veri= fication with respect tothe desulfation device 10 connected to 36 vot battery and toa 48 vot battery and measured at 200 ‘A and 500 mA asthe valueofeectrccureat suppiedto the switching circuit 14. According tothe comparison using the electric current of 200mA, thecasing temperate w2s31°C. and 34°C.and the temperature increase was 6° C. and 8° C. for the 36 volt buttery and forthe 48 wot hatery, respectively According to the embovdiment using the eletric current of $00 mA, om the other hand, the casing temperature was 32" C,and 35° C.and the temperature increase was 5° C.and 8° C. for the 36 volt buttery and forthe 48 volt battery, respectively. The tempera~ tureinereaseof this embodiment is accoedingly reduced 08° CC, compared with the temperature increase of 19°C. inthe comparative example of FIG. 9. This level of temperature increase is substantially equivalent to the temperature increase ofthe comparative example sing the electric cuerent f200 ma, ‘The pulse widthof 6 psec is selected only for the purpose of reducing the temperature increase to level equivalent to the conventional temperature increase, The smaller pulse Wid shouldbe selected, in order to achieve a fuer reduc- tion ofthe remperature increase, The larger pulse width may beseleted, onthe other hand, fora requirement that satisfies the less reduction ofthe temperature inerease. At the operat= Jing curent that i ess than $00 mA, the resistor Rs the Jess amount of heat generation, so thatthe larger pulse width is allowable, At the operating current that i not less than $00 ‘mA, on the other hand, the resistor RU as the greater amount ofhet generation, sothat the smaller pulse wid is desirable, Tho amount of heat generation by the resistor RI increases with an increase in voltage ofthe battery BT, so thatthe smaller pulse width may be used with an inereae in voiage ofthe batery BT, |As described above, the desulfation device 10 of the embodiment increases the working current from the conven tional level of 200 mA to $00 mA, so ast shorten the peti of time required for recovery of the performances of the battery BT to 14M of the conventionally required recovery time. Inother word, the deslfation device 10 af the embei- ‘ment can remove the sullate layers depositing on the elec- teodes of the batery BT more effectively than the cou tional desulfation devie. Increasing the working current to S00 mA causes poten- til problem of temperature increase ofthe desullation device 410 (resistor RI). Reducing the pulse wid ofthe pulse wave dive signal o 1.6 psec thts about 12.5 ofthe conventional pulse width, however, advantageously reduces the tempera- ture increase of the desulfation device 10 at the working current of $00 mA to the level equivalent wo the temperature increase atthe working curent of 200 m.. ‘The desulfation device 10 of the embodiment can tans shocten the period of time required for removal of sulfation, while reducing heat generation during removal of sulfation. Modifications (1) The forgoing description ofthe embodiment includes verification using the pulse wave drive signal having the frequency of 20000 Hz. The frequency of the signal may. however, be les than 20000 Hi or greater than 20000 Hz. (2) The foregoing description ofthe embodiment includes verification using the electri curret of S00 mA. The value of cectriecurent used may, however. be ina range of 30010 500 ‘mA or may be greater than 500 mA. (G) According wo the above embodiment, the pulse wave Arve signal generated by the pulse generating circuit 120 hasUS 8,519,672 B2 9 fixed pulse width The pulse widih may, however, be vari- ‘bleamong a plurality of dtfeent vals by switching opera- tion. According othe shove embodiment, the resistor RY has ‘fixed resistance value. The resistor RI may, however, be a ‘arable resistor whee te tesstance value is variable tong. a plurality of different values by switching operations. In this modification, varying the resistance value secording tothe voltage ofthe battery BT enablesone deslfition device 1010 be applicable oa plurality of diferent battery voltages. This also enables the value of electric current to be adequately ‘changed according tothe voltage ofthe battery BT and allows the user to determine and set desired parameters suitable for the operating environment, thus improving the convenience ‘of the dsulftion device 10 ‘The foregoing has described the invention with reference ‘o theembodimentandsome modifications. Teembadiment ‘of the invention described above is only for the purpose of| facilitating the understanding of the invention and is not intended to limit the iaveaion at al. The invention may be ‘hanged or modified without departing from the ope ofthe invention and includes such modifications and equivalents ‘The invention claimed is: 1A desuliation device applicable o a lead-acid batter, ‘comprising: ‘an electrode eomector connected with an electrode ofthe lead-acid battery’ 18 drive signal generator configured to generate @ pulse ‘wave drive sina with a specific pulse width that causes 4 temperature inerease ofthe deslfation device to be ‘equal oor less than a predetermined temperature value by using electric current extracted from the electrode of ‘the lead-acid battery via the electrode connector; resistor configured to regulate the electric current ‘extracted from the electrode of the lead-acid battery via the elecode connector to eletrie current of not less ‘than 300 mA; and ‘ siteher connected withthe drive signal generator and ‘with the resistor and operated in response to the gener- ated pulse wave drive signal to supply backeletromo- tive foreeand a reverse current othe leased battery in syachronism witha falling edge of the pulse wave drive signal 2. The desulftion device ecording to claim 1, wherein the drive signal generator generates the pulse wave drive ‘signal ofa pulse width that sequal tocrless than pulse ‘width Prymax calculated by an equation given below ‘when Thase represents @ known temperature increase corresponding to a known pulse widlh Pwhate and “Tmax represents an allowable temperature increase, 3. The destlfation device according to elaimn 2, wherein the drive signal generator generates the pulse wave drive signal having a smaller pulse wiih with an increase in ‘ouput voltage ofthe lead-acid battery. 4. The dosulfation device according to claim 1, furer ‘comprising: Fa » 10 ‘a wave shaper configured to generate a sawtooth wave clive signal from the pulse wave drive signal generated by the drive signal generator '5, The desullation device according to claim 1, wherein the drive signal generator generates the pulse wave drive signal having a fequency of 15000 Fizto 20000 Fz and a pulse width of 1 psec to 2 psec, and the resistor regulates the electric current extracted fom the ‘lectrode ofthe Tead-acid battery to electric eurent of 300 to $00 mA, 6, 8 desulfation method for a lead-tcid battery using @ Aesulfation device, comprising the step of ‘generating a pulse wave dive signal witha specific pulse ida hat causes temperature increase ofthe desu. tion device tobe equal to or less than a predetertined temperature value by using electric current extracted from an electode ofthe lead-acid battery: ‘regulating the electric current extracted fom the electode ‘ofthe lead-acid battery to electeiceurrentof notes than 300 mA; and supplying a back electromotive force anda reverse current, ‘which are atteibuted tothe eloctic current of not less than 300 ma, to the lead-acid battery in synchronism ‘with a falling edge of the pulse wave drive signal, wherein the respective steps are performed repeatedly. 7. The desulfation method according to any one of esi whersin the stepof generating the pulse wave drive signal generates the pulse wave drive signal havinga frequency of 15000 Hto 2000012 anda pulse width of | psec to 2ysee, and thestepof regulating the clecticeurent extaeted trom the ‘elecrode ofthe lead-acid batery regulates the eleteie ‘eurtent extracted from the electrode of the lead-acid buatery to electric current of 300 to $00 mA. £8, Tho desullation method aecording to claim 6, wherein thestepof generating the pulse wave drive signal generates the pulse wave drive signal of pulse wid that is equal to or less than a pulse width Pama calculated by a ‘equation given below when Thase represents a kaown lemperatize increase corresponding To a known pulbe ‘width Pwbase and Tmax represents an allowable tem petature increase 6 49. The desullation method according to claim 8, wherein thestepof generating the pulse wave deve signal generates the pulse wave drive signal having smaller pulse with ‘with an increase in output voltae ofthe lead-acid bat- tery. 10, The desulfaion method aocording to claim 6, further comprising the sep of ‘generating savitooth wave die signal rom the generated pulse wave deve signal