TRANSMITTER WITH BATTERY STATUS INDICATOR

• US 20100060467A1
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Controlled Entry Distributors Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Controlled Entry Distributors Incorporated
• Inventors: Kofford, Bradley C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,547,240 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/636.150
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3646 for indicating electrical conditions or variables, e.g. visual or audible indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A battery powered transmitter is provided with a battery status circuit that determines an output voltage level associated with the battery. The battery status circuit is provided with multiple voltage reference thresholds. One or more visual voltage status indicators are electrically coupled with the battery status circuit. The battery status circuit actuates a visual voltage status indicator when the battery status circuit determines the voltage output level of the battery to be within a first output range. One or more additional visual voltage status indicators may be actuated when the battery status circuit determines the voltage output level of the battery to be within other output ranges.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting a signal, the system comprising:

a battery;

a transmitter, electrically coupled with the battery;

a battery status circuit, electrically coupled with the battery to determine a voltage level associated with the battery;

the battery status circuit being provided with a first voltage threshold and a second voltage threshold;

a first visual voltage status indicator electrically coupled with the battery status circuit;

a second visual voltage status indicator electrically coupled with the battery status circuit; and

a third visual voltage status indicator electrically coupled with the battery status circuit;

the battery status circuit being provided to actuate the first visual voltage status indicator when the battery status circuit determines the voltage level of the battery to be above the first voltage threshold;

the battery status circuit further being provided to actuate the second visual voltage status indicator when the battery status circuit determines the voltage level of the battery to be between the first voltage threshold and the second voltage threshold;

the battery status circuit further being provided to actuate the third visual voltage status indicator when the battery status circuit determines the voltage level of the battery to be lower than the second voltage threshold.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first visual voltage indicator, second visual voltage indicator, and third visual voltage indicator are provided as one or more LEDs.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the first visual voltage indicator, second visual voltage indicator, and third visual voltage indicator are provided to different colors of light.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first threshold approximates the voltage output of a 50% charged battery.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the second threshold approximates the voltage output of a 25% charged battery.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the battery status circuit is comprised of a voltage reference circuit and a comparator circuit.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a multicolor LED capable of emitting a first color light, which represents the first visual voltage status indicator, a second color light, which represents the second visual voltage status indicator, and a third color light, which represents the third visual voltage status indicator.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a controller circuit, electrically coupled with the transmitter;

the controller circuit being provided with data that is transmittable by the transmitter and coded to actuate a garage door opener.

9. A method for determining an approximate voltage level of a battery within a transmitting device, the method comprising:

providing a transmission device that includes a battery, a transmitter, a battery status circuit, and at least one visual voltage status indicator;

the battery status circuit being provided with a voltage reference circuit that includes first voltage threshold, a second voltage threshold, and a third voltage threshold;

measuring a battery output voltage from the battery and comparing the battery output voltage against the voltage reference circuit;

actuating the at least one visual voltage status indicator so that a first light is displayed if the battery output voltage is greater than the first voltage threshold;

actuating the at least one visual voltage status indicator so that a second light is displayed if the battery output voltage is equal to or less than the first voltage threshold but greater than the second voltage threshold;

actuating the at least one visual voltage status indicator so that a third light is displayed if the battery output voltage is equal to or less than the second voltage threshold.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one visual voltage indicator is provided as one or more LEDs.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one visual voltage indicator is provided to emit two or more different colors of light.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the first threshold approximates the voltage output of a 50% charged battery.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the second threshold approximates the voltage output of a 25% charged battery.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the battery status circuit is comprised of a voltage reference circuit and a comparator circuit.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one visual voltage indicator is provided as a multicolor capable of emitting a first color light, which represents the first visual voltage status indicator, a second color light, which represents the second visual voltage status indicator, and a third color light, which represents the third visual voltage status indicator.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

providing the transmission device with a controller circuit, electrically coupled with the transmitter;

the controller circuit being provided with data that is transmittable by the transmitter and coded to actuate a garage door opener.

17. A system for transmitting a signal, the system comprising:

a battery;

a transmitting circuit, electrically coupled with the battery;

a battery status circuit (a) electrically coupled with the battery, (b) provided with a first voltage threshold and a second voltage threshold, and (c) capable of determining a voltage level associated with the battery and comparing the voltage level with the first and second thresholds; and

one or more visual voltage status indicators electrically coupled with the battery status circuit.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

logic associated with the battery status circuit to cause the one or more visual voltage status indicators to produce a first signal when the battery status circuit determines the voltage level of the battery to be above the first voltage threshold.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein:

the logic causes the one or more visual voltage status indicators to produce a second signal when the battery status circuit determines the voltage level of the battery to be equal to or less than the first voltage threshold but greater than the second threshold.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein:

the logic causes the one or more visual voltage status indicators to produce a third signal when the battery status circuit determines the voltage level of the battery to be equal to or less than the second voltage threshold.