Low-Voltage Connection with Safety Circuit and Method for Determining Proper Connection Polarity
First Claim
1. A battery-integrated safety circuit for use in establishing that a low-voltage system is safely and properly connected to a battery, comprising:
- a pair of output terminals;
a detection circuit operatively connected to the output terminals and configured to detect whether the output terminals are properly connected to a low-voltage system with a correct polarity; and
a power-controlling circuit configured to provide electrical power to the output terminals only when a proper connection of correct polarity has been detected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A safety circuit for use in low-voltage systems improves safety of and additional features to low-voltage connections. When incorporated into a battery, the circuit leaves the battery disconnected from the low-voltage system until it determines that it is safe to make a connection. When the safety circuit determines that no unsafe conditions exist and that it is safe to connect the battery, the safety circuit may connect the battery by way of a “soft start” that provides a connection over a period of time that reduces or prevents inductive voltage spikes on the low-voltage system. A method is used for detection of proper polarity of the connections between the battery and the low-voltage system. When incorporated into a jumper cable, the safety circuit provides communication abilities, can provide test abilities, and improves connection safety and functionality, such as allowing transfer of power between low-voltage systems having different voltages.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A battery-integrated safety circuit for use in establishing that a low-voltage system is safely and properly connected to a battery, comprising:
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a pair of output terminals; a detection circuit operatively connected to the output terminals and configured to detect whether the output terminals are properly connected to a low-voltage system with a correct polarity; and a power-controlling circuit configured to provide electrical power to the output terminals only when a proper connection of correct polarity has been detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13)
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7. A battery containing a battery-integrated safety circuit comprising:
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a positive terminal; a negative terminal; and a safety circuit operatively connected to the positive terminal and the negative terminal and configured to supply power through the positive and negative terminals only when a connection between the terminals and a low-voltage system has been properly made with a correct polarity. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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14. A safety circuit for use in connecting two low-voltage systems comprising:
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a first pair of terminals for connecting the safety circuit to a first low-voltage system; a second pair of terminals for connecting the safety circuit to a second low-voltage system; at least one pair of transistors in a back-to-back configuration, whereby one transistor of each pair of transistors controls a flow of current between the first and second pairs of terminals in one direction so that the safety circuit can control the flow of current between the first and second pairs of terminals in either direction; an amplifier circuit configured to measure a voltage drop of a selected transistor of each pair of transistors when the selected transistor is switched fully on as a current shunt; and a micro-controller operatively connected to the amplifier circuit and to each pair of transistors and configured to use the measured voltage drop to determine a gate voltage for the other of each pair of transistors to control the current between the first and second pairs of terminals. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification