Jump start and reverse battery protection circuit

• US 20040066168A1
• Filed: 10/04/2002
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: George, Terry A., Caputo, John V.
• Granted Patent: US 6,803,743 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/105
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0034 using reverse polarity correcting or protecting circuits mechanical means of polarity protection H02J7/0045

Abstract

A jump start protection circuit having a normally open switch and a resistor positioned in parallel intermediate to a battery and a jump start post. A controller manipulates the switch between an open position and closed position, the closed position connects the jump start post to the battery and the open position disconnects the jump start post from the battery. The controller measures voltages at the battery and jump start post and is capable of receiving one or more additional inputs. The controller closes the switch when acceptable jump start conditions are detected. The controller can open the switch or maintain the switch in an open position. The jump start circuit provides protection against attempts to charge a battery with incorrect polarity connections and attempts to charge a battery from a potentially hazardous higher voltage power source.

Claims

1. A jump start circuit for electrical connection between a DC power source and a jump start post, said jump start circuit comprising:

a switch configured to be coupled between said DC power source and said jump start post, said switch having a closed state and an open state;

a resistive element coupled between said DC power source and said jump start post in parallel with said switch; and

a microprocessor being capable of measuring voltage at said DC power source and said jump start post, capable of commanding said switch to close based on detection of a first predetermined condition, and capable of commanding said switch to open based on detection of a second predetermined condition.

2. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch is an electromechanical switch.

3. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch is a solid-state switch.

4. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is a controller.

5. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resistive element comprises a resistor.

6. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said microprocessor does not command said switch to close when the voltages at said DC power source and said jump start post are equal.

7. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said microprocessor does not command said switch to close when the voltages at said jump start post exceeds a threshold value.

8. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second predetermined criteria comprises a step to determine if a voltage level is stable before said microprocessor commands said switch to close.

9. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 1, where said first predetermined condition comprises the voltage at said battery or the voltage at said jump start post being within a predefined range for a predefined period of time.

10. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 1, where said second predetermined condition comprises the voltage at said battery or the voltage at said jump start post exceeding a threshold value for a predefined period of time.

11. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 1, where said second predetermined condition comprises the absolute value of the difference between the voltage at said battery and the voltage at said jump start post exceeding a threshold value.

12. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second predetermined condition comprises a signal indicating that jumper cables have been connected with reverse polarity.

13. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said microprocessor being further capable of receiving at least one input.

14. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second predetermined condition comprises a signal indicating DC power source motion.

15. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second predetermined condition comprises a signal indicating a manual transmission being placed into gear.

16. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second predetermined condition comprises a signal indicating an automatic transmission selector being placed into a reverse or drive mode.

17. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second predetermined condition comprises a signal indicating jumper cable disconnection.

18. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second predetermined condition comprises a signal indicating the occurrence of an event preliminary to jumper cable disconnection.

19. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second predetermined condition comprises a signal indicating a short circuit condition.

20. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second predetermined condition comprises a signal commanding said switch to open.

21. The jump start circuit for electrical connection between a DC power source and a jump start post, said jump start circuit comprising:

a switch configured to be coupled between said DC power source and said jump start post, said switch having a closed state and an open state;

a resistive element coupled between said DC power source and said jump start post in parallel with said switch; and

means to close said switch based on detection of a first predetermined condition and means to open said switch based on detection of a second predetermined condition.

22. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 21, wherein said means to opens and close said switch comprises a controller.

23. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 22, wherein said means to opens and close said switch further comprises a switch driver.

24. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 21, wherein said means to opens and close said switch comprises a state machine.

25. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 21, wherein said means to opens and close said switch comprises a voltage comparator.

26. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 21, wherein said means to open and close said switch does not close said switch when the voltages at said DC power source and said jump start post are equal.

27. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 21, wherein said means to open and close said switch does not close said switch when the voltage at said DC power source or said jump start post exceeds a threshold value.

28. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 21, further comprising a step to determine if a voltage level is stable before said microprocessor commands said switch to close.

29. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 21, where said first predetermined condition comprises the voltage at said battery or the voltage at said jump start post being within a predefined range for a predefined period of time.

30. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 21, where said second predetermined condition comprises the voltage at said battery or the voltage at said jump start post exceeding a threshold value for a predefined period of time.

31. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 21, where said second predetermined condition comprises the absolute value of the difference between the voltage at said battery and the voltage at said jump start post exceeding a threshold value.

32. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 21, wherein said second predetermined condition comprises jumper cables being connected with reverse polarity.

33. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 21, wherein said means to open and close said switch does not close said switch when a short circuit condition is detected.

34. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 21, said jump start circuit having means to receive at least one input.

35. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 34, wherein said second predetermined condition comprises motion of the DC power source.

36. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 34, wherein said second predetermined condition comprises a transmission being placed into gear.

37. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 34, wherein said second predetermined condition comprises jumper cables being disconnected.

38. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 34, wherein said second predetermined condition comprises the occurrence of a predetermined event preliminary to jumper cable disconnection.

39. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 34, wherein said second predetermined condition comprises a short circuit condition.

40. The jump start circuit as claimed in claim 34, wherein said second predetermined condition comprises a signal commanding said switch to open.

41. A method for protecting a circuit comprising:

measuring voltage at a battery;

measuring voltage at a jump start post;

commanding a switch coupled between said jump start post and said battery to open when a predetermined condition is detected.

42. The method as in claim 41, wherein said predetermined condition comprises the voltage at said battery or the voltage at said jump start post exceeding a threshold value for a predefined period of time.

43. The method as in claim 41, wherein said predetermined condition comprises the absolute value of the difference between the voltage at said battery and the voltage at said jump start post exceeding a threshold value.

44. The method as in claim 41 further comprising detecting a signal from a vehicle module.

45. The method as in claim 44, wherein said signal indicates vehicle speed and said predetermined condition comprises speed exceeding a predetermined amount.

46. The method as in claim 44, wherein said signal indicates the gear selected for a transmission and said predetermined condition comprises said transmission being in a reverse or drive gear.

47. The method as in claim 44, wherein said signal indicates a jump start connection has been disconnected and said predetermined condition comprises said jump start connection being disconnected.

48. The method as in claim 44, wherein said signal indicates a step preliminary to a jump start connection being disconnected and said predetermined condition comprises said step being performed.

49. A method for closing a circuit comprising:

measuring voltage at a battery;

measuring voltage at a jump start post;

commanding a switch coupled between said jump start post and said battery to close when a predetermined condition is detected.

50. The method as in claim 49, wherein said predetermined condition comprises the voltage at said jump start post being within a predefined range for a predefined period of time.

51. A DC power supply comprising:

a chargeable battery having positive and negative ends; and

a jump start circuit electrically connected between the positive end of the battery and a jump start post, said jump start circuit comprising;

a switch configured to be coupled between said DC power source and said jump start post, said switch having a closed state and an open state;

a resistive element coupled between said DC power source and said jump start post in parallel with said switch; and

a microprocessor being capable of measuring voltage at said DC power source and said jump start post, capable of commanding said switch to close based on detection of a first predetermined condition, and capable of commanding said switch to open based on detection of a second predetermined condition.

52. A DC power supply comprising:

a chargeable battery having positive and negative ends; and

a jump start circuit electrically connected between the positive end of the battery and a jump start post, said jump start circuit comprising;

a switch configured to be coupled between said DC power source and said jump start post, said switch having a closed state and an open state;

a resistive element coupled between said DC power source and said jump start post in parallel with said switch; and

means to close said switch based on detection of a first predetermined condition and means to open said switch based on detection of a second predetermined condition.