Self-testing battery discharge indicator
First Claim
1. Apparatus for indicating the voltage level of a battery and for disabling a load connected to the battery, comprising:
- means for generating a control signal which is representative of the battery voltage when a first signal representative of the battery voltage is applied to said generating means and which is representative of an independent voltage which decreases at a fixed rate when said second signal representative of said independent voltage is applied to said generating means;
means for selectively applying either said first signal or said second signal to said generating means so as to operate said apparatus in a battery testing or self-testing mode, respectively;
first indicator means responsive to said control signal for continually indicating the instantaneous level of said battery voltage when said apparatus is in said battery testing mode and the instantaneous level of said independent voltage when said apparatus is operating in said self-testing mode, said first indicator means being electrically connected to said generator means; and
second indicator means responsive to said control signal for indicating that said battery voltage has dropped below a first predetermined value when said apparatus is operating in said battery testing mode or that said independent voltage has dropped below a second predetermined value when said apparatus is operating in said self-testing mode, said second indicator means also for disabling the load after a predetermined time period has elapsed following a decrease in said battery voltage below said first predetermined value when said apparatus is operating in said battery testing mode or after a decrease in said independent voltage below said second predetermined level when said apparatus is operating in said self-testing mode, said second indicator means being electrically connected to said generator means.
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Abstract
The voltage of a battery connected to a load is monitored to provide a continuous instantaneous indication of the voltage level of the battery and to provide an indication that the battery voltage has fallen to some critical level. Means are provided for generating a control signal which is representative of the battery voltage when the apparatus is operated in the battery testing mode and an independent voltage when the apparatus is operated in the self-testing mode. A first indicator means responsive to the control signal is provided for continually indicating the instantaneous level of the battery voltage when the apparatus is operating in the battery testing mode and the instantaneous level of the independent voltage when the apparatus is operating in the self-testing mode. A second indicator means is provided for indicating that the battery voltage has dropped below a first predetermined value when the apparatus is operating in the battery testing mode or that the independent value when the apparatus is operating in the self-testing mode. The second indicator means also disables the load after a predetermined time period has elapsed following a decrease in the battery voltage below the first predetermined value when the apparatus is operating in the battery testing mode or after a decrease in the independent voltage below the second predetermined level when the apparatus is operating in the self-testing mode.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. Apparatus for indicating the voltage level of a battery and for disabling a load connected to the battery, comprising:
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means for generating a control signal which is representative of the battery voltage when a first signal representative of the battery voltage is applied to said generating means and which is representative of an independent voltage which decreases at a fixed rate when said second signal representative of said independent voltage is applied to said generating means; means for selectively applying either said first signal or said second signal to said generating means so as to operate said apparatus in a battery testing or self-testing mode, respectively; first indicator means responsive to said control signal for continually indicating the instantaneous level of said battery voltage when said apparatus is in said battery testing mode and the instantaneous level of said independent voltage when said apparatus is operating in said self-testing mode, said first indicator means being electrically connected to said generator means; and second indicator means responsive to said control signal for indicating that said battery voltage has dropped below a first predetermined value when said apparatus is operating in said battery testing mode or that said independent voltage has dropped below a second predetermined value when said apparatus is operating in said self-testing mode, said second indicator means also for disabling the load after a predetermined time period has elapsed following a decrease in said battery voltage below said first predetermined value when said apparatus is operating in said battery testing mode or after a decrease in said independent voltage below said second predetermined level when said apparatus is operating in said self-testing mode, said second indicator means being electrically connected to said generator means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Apparatus for indicating the voltage of a battery and for disabling a load connected to the battery, comprising:
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first generator means for generating a first signal representative of a battery voltage; second generator means for generating a second signal representative of an independent voltage which decreases at a fixed rate; amplifier means for generating a control signal which is representative of said battery voltage when said first signal is applied to said amplifier means and which is representative of said independent voltage when said second signal is applied to said amplifier means; means for selectively applying either said first or said second signal to said amplifier means so as to selectively operate said apparatus in a battery testing or a self-testing mode, respectively; first indicator means responsive to said control signal for continually indicating the instantaneous level of said battery voltage when said apparatus is operating in said battery testing mode and the instantaneous level of said independent voltage when said apparatus is operating in said self-testing mode, said first indicator means being electrically connected to said amplifier means; second indicator means for indicating that said battery voltage has dropped below a first predetermined value when said apparatus is operating in said battery testing mode or that said independent voltage has dropped below a second predetermined value when said apparatus is operating in said self-testing mode; disabling means for disabling the load after a predetermined time period has elapsed following a decrease in said battery voltage below said first predetermined value when said apparatus is operating in said battery testing mode or following a decrease in said independent voltage below said second predetermined level when said apparatus is operating in said self-testing mode; and an enabling means responsive to said control signal for enabling said second indicating means and said disabling means when said battery voltage has dropped below said first predetermined value when said apparatus is operating in said battery testing mode or when said independent voltage has decreased below said second predetermined value when said apparatus is operating in said self-testing mode. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification