SUPERVISED BATTERY POWER SUPPLY

• US 3,811,122 A
• Filed: 06/23/1972
• Issued: 05/14/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cerberus ABP Investor LLC (Cerberus Capital Management LP)
• Original Assignee: Alan M. Heim, Samuel Raber
• Inventors: Raber, Samuel, Heim, Alan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Myer, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US05/265,561
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 340/249 320/48
• US Class Current: 340/636.11
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/18 Indicator or display

Abstract

A circuit for indicating the presence or condition of a battery in which the battery while present or in good condition is used as a current by-pass to control an alarm circuit. The circuit is operative irrespective of whether or not a battery charger is connected to the battery.

Claims

1. A supervised battery power supply circuit comprising a battery of one potential, a pair of output terminals for said battery, an alarm device, a control circuit for said alarm device, voltage dropping means, and a second source of direct current of greater potential than said one potential connected to supply said control circuit through said voltage dropping means and normally effective to cause actuation of said alarm device, said battery connected in series with said voltage dropping means and in opposition with said second source of direct current thus increasing current flow through said voltage dropping means to produce increased voltage drop thereover under normal voltage conditions so that the voltage drop is insufficient for actuation of said alarm device and an increase in the resistance of the battery circuit results in decreased voltage drop over the voltage dropping means so that the voltage is sufficient for actuation of said alarm device, whereby the condition of said battery is supervised by the actuation of an alarm upon the occurrence of an increase in resistance or open circuit of said battery or its leads.

2. A supervised battery power supply circuit according to claim 1 in which a battery charger is connected to said battery through a current blocking diode so that upon the occurrence of an open circuit of said battery current flow is blocked from said control circuit to said charger.

3. A supervised battery power supply circuit according to claim 1 in which said voltage dropping means is a resistor.

4. A supervised battery power supply circuit according to claim 1 in which said control circuit includes a zener diode of higher zener voltage than the voltage of said battery connected in series with said voltage dropping means and switching means for said alarm device so that said alarm device is actuated if the zener voltage is exceeded such as would occur under an increase in resistance of the battery.

5. A supervised battery power supply circuit according to claim 1 in which is included a zener diode of lower zener voltage than the voltage of said battery, and a second control circuit is provided controlled by said zener diode, whereby said alarm device is actuated in the event the battery voltage becomes less than said zener voltage.

6. A supervised battery power supply circuit according to claim 1 in which said control circuit includes a transistor biased from said second source of direct current through a series connected zener diode and resistor with the junction between said zener diode and said resistor connected to the base of the transistor.

7. A supervised battery power supply circuit according to claim 1 in which said battery charger is connected to said battery through a current blocking diode, in which said control circuit includes a second source of direct current, a zener diode of higher zener voltage than the voltage of said battery connected so that said alarm device is actuated by said second source of direct current if the zener voltage is exceeded, and in which is included a second zener diode of lower zener voltage than the voltage of said battery, and a second control circuit controlled by said second zener diode from said second source of direct current so that said alarm device is actuated in the event the battery voltage becomes less than said second zener voltage.