Plural comparator indicator of battery voltage

• US 4,020,414 A
• Filed: 01/31/1975
• Issued: 04/26/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Konar Corporation
• Original Assignee: Konar Corporation
• Inventors: Paredes, Alfredo E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rolinec, Rudolph V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tokar, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US05/546,099
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 324/21, 324/29.5, 324/72.5, 324/123 R, 324/133, 340/248 B, 340/249, 320/48
• US Class Current: 324/433
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/04 Voltage dividers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16542 for batteries charge condition monitoring in G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3646 for indicating electrical conditions or variables, e.g. visual or audible indicators

Abstract

A battery status indicator for use with a DC battery to provide an indication of the battery'"'"'s ability to provide a necessary amount of charge and is especially useful in a vehicular electrical system using a DC battery. The system is characterized by using miniaturized integrated circuitry for reduced size and increased reliability of operation and includes a single package quad comparator in conjunction with a scaling network of resistors to show very small voltage changes to a network of indicators such as a lightbulb and alarm system. The system is capable of showing in a step-by-step sequence the progressional deterioration in the voltage level of the battery such that it allows one to continuously monitor the status of the battery prior to its becoming inoperable.

Claims

1. A battery charge capacity indicator for providing an indication of charge capacity of said battery comprising:

a pair of battery connecting terminals;

voltage divider network means connected to said battery connecting terminal;

a plurality of voltage comparators, each comparator having a first input individually connected to one of said branches of said voltage divider network means;

means connected to said battery connecting terminals for providing a reference voltage, said reference voltage means connected as a second input to each of said volatage comparators;

a plurality of biased switching means, each switching means connected to a different output of each of said voltage comparators which provides an input signal to bias individual switching means;

a plurality of indicating means, each individual indicator means connected to a different biased switching means,

circuit switching means connected to said battery connecting terminals having a first, second and third position providing a on-off test position of said circuit.