Battery charging apparatus and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for determining whether a battery in a first vehicle is charged from the electrical system of a second vehicle comprising the steps of:
- providing electronic means having inputs adapted to be coupled to said battery and said electrical system, respectively, circuit means coupled to said inputs, and an array of illuminatable display means, coupled to said circuit means, the number of said display means in said array that are illuminated being indicative of the extent to which said battery has been charged;
coupling said electrical system to one of said inputs and coupling said battery to another of said inputs; and
periodically interrogating said electronic means by momentarily isolating said electrical system from said circuit means to ascertain the number of said display means in said array that are illuminated.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for recharging a battery in one vehicle from the electrical system of another vehicle, and for determining when that battery has been sufficiently recharged. In one aspect of the invention there is provided circuit means, adapted to be respectively coupled to both the battery and the electrical system of the two vehicles. The circuit means include an array of light emitting diodes, the number and sequence of illumination of the diodes in the array being indicative of the extent to which the battery has been recharged.
-
Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A method for determining whether a battery in a first vehicle is charged from the electrical system of a second vehicle comprising the steps of:
-
providing electronic means having inputs adapted to be coupled to said battery and said electrical system, respectively, circuit means coupled to said inputs, and an array of illuminatable display means, coupled to said circuit means, the number of said display means in said array that are illuminated being indicative of the extent to which said battery has been charged; coupling said electrical system to one of said inputs and coupling said battery to another of said inputs; and periodically interrogating said electronic means by momentarily isolating said electrical system from said circuit means to ascertain the number of said display means in said array that are illuminated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method for charging the battery of a first vehicle from the electrical system of a second vehicle, said first and second vehicles having, respectively, a first and a second accessory outlet coupled, respectively, to said battery and said electrical system, comprising the steps of:
-
providing electronic means having first and second electrical conductors respectively engageable with said first and second outlets, a first and a second input respectively coupled to said first and said second electrical conductors, circuit means coupled to said inputs, switch means coupled between said circuit means and said second input operable to isolate said second electrical conductor from said circuit means, and an array of illuminatable display means coupled to said circuit means;
the number of said display means that are illuminated being indicative of the condition of said electrical system for recharging said battery, and the extent to which said battery has been recharged;ascertaining whether said electrical system is in condition for charging said battery by coupling said second electrical conductor to said second outlet in said second vehicle and inspecting said array; and ascertaining whether said battery has been recharged by coupling said first electrical conductor to said first outlet in said first vehicle, operating said switch, and inspecting said array. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
-
-
10. Apparatus for charging the battery of one vehicle from the electrical system of a second vehicle, said one vehicle having a first accessory outlet coupled to said battery and said other vehicle having a second accessory outlet coupled to said electrical system comprising:
-
housing means having first and second inputs; a first electrical conductor coupled to said first input, adapted for coupling to said first outlet; a second electrical conductor, coupled to said second input, adapted for coupling to said second outlet; circuit means, disposed inside said housing means; switch means coupled between circuit means and said second input operable to isolate said seond electrical conductor from said circuit means; an array of illuminatable display means, the illumination therefrom being visible from outside said housing, coupled to said circuit means;
the number of said display means that are illuminated being indicative of the extent to which said battery has been recharged; andindicia means, disposed on said housing, schematically representing alternative numbers of said display means that are illuminated. - View Dependent Claims (11)
-
Specification