Apparatus and method for protecting a battery from overdischarge
First Claim
1. A battery discharge indicator, comprising:
- a positive connector configured to couple to a positive terminal of the battery;
a negative connector configured to couple to a negative terminal of the battery;
a voltage sensor configured to couple to the battery via the positive connector and the negative connector and to sense a battery terminal voltage; and
a microprocessor, coupled to the voltage sensor, configured to provide a first alarm signal if a magnitude of the battery terminal voltage is below a first threshold voltage level for a first time interval and if the magnitude of the battery terminal voltage is below a second threshold voltage level for a second time interval.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery discharge indicator for protecting a storage battery is provided. The battery discharge indicator includes a positive connector that can couple to a positive terminal of the battery and a negative connector that can couple to a negative terminal of the battery. Also included, is a voltage sensor that couples to the battery via the positive connector and the negative connector and senses a battery terminal voltage. A microprocessor, coupled to the voltage sensor, provides a first alarm signal if a magnitude of the battery terminal voltage is below a first threshold for a first interval of time and if the magnitude of the battery terminal voltage is below a second threshold for a second interval of time.
131 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A battery discharge indicator, comprising:
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a positive connector configured to couple to a positive terminal of the battery;
a negative connector configured to couple to a negative terminal of the battery;
a voltage sensor configured to couple to the battery via the positive connector and the negative connector and to sense a battery terminal voltage; and
a microprocessor, coupled to the voltage sensor, configured to provide a first alarm signal if a magnitude of the battery terminal voltage is below a first threshold voltage level for a first time interval and if the magnitude of the battery terminal voltage is below a second threshold voltage level for a second time interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34)
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33. A method of protecting a vehicle battery from overdischarge, comprising:
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(a) sensing a battery voltage;
(b) providing a first alarm signal if a magnitude of the battery voltage is below a first threshold voltage level for a first interval of time; and
(c) providing the first alarm signal if the magnitude of the battery voltage is below a second threshold voltage level for a second interval of time.
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Specification