Programmable timer power switch unit

• US 4,950,913 A
• Filed: 04/21/1989
• Issued: 08/21/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chargeguard, Inc. (Havis, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: David A. Kephart
• Inventors: Kephart, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Osborn, David
• Application Number:
  US07/341,224
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1-10.3, 307/10.7, 307/39, 307/360, 307/592, 307/593, 307/597, 307/598, 307/112, 307/116, 307/117, 307/125, 307/126, 307/130, 307/131, 307/141, 320/29-34, 320/38, 320/40, 320/45, 320/47, 320/48, 320/54, 320/5-14, 361/90, 361/92, 361/93, 361/170, 361/187, 361/195-197, 361/205, 340/428-430, 340/438, 340/455, 340/459, 340/527-529, 340/636, 340/662, 340/663, 340/825.16, 340/825.22, 340/522, 340/566, 340/683, 340/439, 340/441, 364/138, 364/141, 364/143, 364/492, 364/424.01, 364/424.03, 364/424.05, 364/431.08, 364/431.09
• US Class Current: 307/10.7
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16542 for batteries charge condition monitoring in G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3842 combining voltage and current measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0032 disconnection of loads if battery is not under charge, e.g. in vehicle if engine is not running

Abstract

A programmable timer power switch unit for use with a battery includes a power switch receives power from the battery and switches the power to equipment. The unit also has a charge-discharge detector connected to the battery to detect a potential charge of the battery and a vibration-pressure detector which detects any movement of or sounds from the motor. There is a timer-control logic which is connected to the components and disables the power switch when any problems are detected. The unit further includes a programmable delay switch. The purpose of this switch is to allow the equipment to run during a pre-selected item. Also, there is a manual override switch for overriding the timer-control logic when necessary.

Claims

1. A programmable timer power switch unit for use with a motor and battery means, said unit comprising:

power switch means receiving power from the battery means and switching the power to equipment powered by the battery means;

charge-discharge detector connected to the battery means for detecting a potential charge of the battery means;

vibration-pressure detector connected to said charge-discharge detector for detecting vibrations and sounds of the motor;

timer-control logic receiving signals from said charge-discharge detector and said vibration-pressure detector for disabling said power switch means based on the received signals;

programmable delay means connected to said timer-control logic for enabling said timer-control logic for a preselected time; and

manual override switch connected to said power switch means for overriding the disabling signal received from said timer-control logic.

2. The programmable timer power switch unit of claim 1, wherein said charge-discharge detector comprises:

rate of discharge detector for detecting electrical failures by monitoring current consumed by the equipment and comparing the current consumed with a threshold level, wherein the threshold level corresponds to a maximum current usage, said rate of discharge detector sending a rate of discharge error signal whenever the threshold level is exceeded; and

motor charging detector for detecting a charge of the battery means by comparing the detected charge with a fixed reference and verifying the comparison with a HIGH to permit said vibration-pressure detector to indicate the mode.

3. The programmable timer power switch unit of claim 2, wherein said rate of discharge detector includes:

op-amp monitoring means connected to the battery means and the equipment for monitoring the current consumed;

converting means connected to said op-amp monitoring means for converting the monitored current to a voltage level;

op-amp comparing means connected to said converting means for comparing the converted voltage level with the threshold level and sending the rate of discharge error signal whenever the threshold level is exceeded; and

wherein said motor charging detector includes

op-amp verifying means for verifying the charge of the battery means is at least 13.5 volts D.C.

4. The programmable timer power switch unit of claim 3, wherein said timer-control logic comprises:

rate of discharge error input means connected to said op-amp comparing means for receiving the rate of discharge error signal and disabling said power switch means when the error signal indicates the threshold level is exceeded; and

reset means connected to said rate of discharge error input means and said programmable delay switch for resetting said programmable delay switch whenever said power switch means is disabled based on the error signal.

5. The programmable timer power switch unit of claim 1, wherein said unit further comprises:

low voltage detector for comparing an initial voltage of the battery means with a reference voltage during power-up or reset and indicating to said timer-control logic the battery voltage exceeds the reference voltage at which time said timer-control logic enables said power switch means.

6. The programmable timer power switch unit of claim 5, wherein said low voltage detector comprises:

low voltage op-amp means having a non-inverting input connected to a zener diode and a capacitor, wherein the reference voltage on the non-inverting input is established after the capacitor is charged such that before the capacitor is charged said low voltage op-amp means remains HIGH and indicates this status of power-up/reset to said timer-control logic which in turn maintains said power switch in the disabled mode.

7. The programmable timer power switch unit of claim 6, wherein said timer-control logic comprises:

power-up/reset input means connected to said low voltage op-amp means for resetting said programmable delay switch and for disabling said power switch means whenever the received signal from said low voltage op-amp means remains HIGH.

8. The programmable timer power switch unit of claim 1, wherein said vibration-pressure detector comprises:

transducer means for sensing vibrations and sounds of the motor;

transformer means connected to said transducer means for receiving and transforming the sensed vibrations and sounds to a voltage level; and

op-amp mode means connected to said transducer means for receiving said voltage level and comparing said voltage level to said received HIGH wherein the receipt of both said voltage level and said HIGH signifies the motor is either in idle or moving modes rather than an OFF mode.

9. The programmable timer power switch unit of claim 8, wherein said timer-control logic comprises:

vibration-pressure input means connected to said op-amp mode means for resetting said programmable delay switch and for disabling said power switch means whenever said op-amp mode means indicates the mode of the motor is OFF.

10. The programmable timer power switch unit of claim 1, wherein said programmable delay means comprises:

a rotary switch having at least a means for manually pre-selecting time wherein the pre-selected time includes at least one to nine hours and is selectable in one hour increments; and

reset means connected to said time-control logic so that said time-control logic can be reset by said programmable delay means.

11. A programmable timer power switch unit for use with a motor and battery means, said unit comprising:

power switch means receiving power from the battery means and switching the power to equipment powered by the battery means;

rate of discharge detector receiving current from the battery means and detecting current consumed by the equipment;

motor charging detector receiving charge from the battery means, said motor charging detector detecting a specific level of charge;

vibration-pressure detector receiving a signal from said motor charging detector indicating the battery means has the specific level of charge and detecting a mode of the motor, said mode determined from sounds and vibrations;

timer-control logic receiving signals from said rate of discharge detector, low voltage detector and vibration-pressure detector, said timer-control logic determining from the received signals whether a fault exists, if said fault exists, said timer-control logic disables said power switch and disconnects power to the equipment powered by the battery means;

programmable delay means connected to said timer-control logic and for enabling said timer-control logic for a pre-selected time; and

manual override switch means connected to said power switch means for overriding the disabling signal said power switch means receives from said timer-control logic.

12. The programmable timer power switch unit of claim 11, wherein said rate of discharge detector detects electrical failures by monitoring current consumed by the equipment and compares the current consumed with a threshold level, wherein the threshold level corresponds to a maximum current usage, and said rate of discharge detector sends a rate of discharge error signal whenever the threshold level is exceeded;

and

said motor charging detector detects the charge of the battery means by, comparing the detected charge with a fixed reference voltage and verifies the comparison with a HIGH to permit said vibration-pressure detector to indicate the mode of the motor.

13. The programmable timer power switch unit of claim 12, wherein said rate of discharge detector includes op-amp monitoring means connected to the battery means and the equipment for monitoring the current consumed;

converting means connected to said op-amp monitoring means for converting the monitored current to a voltage level;

op-amp comparing means connected to said converting means for comparing the converted voltage level with the threshold level and sending the rate of discharge error signal whenever the threshold level is exceeded; and

wherein said motor charging detector includes

op-amp verifying means for verifying the charge of the battery means is at least 13.5 volts D.C.

14. The programmable timer power switch unit of claim 13, wherein said timer-control logic comprises:

rate of discharge error input means connected to said op-amp comparing means for receiving the rate of discharge error signal and disabling said power switch means when the error signal indicates the threshold level is exceeded; and

reset means connected to said rate of discharge error input means and said programmable delay switch for resetting said programmable delay switch whenever said power switch means is disabled based on the error signal.

15. The programmable timer power switch unit of claim 11, wherein said unit further comprises:

low voltage detector for comparing an initial voltage of the battery means with a reference voltage during power-up or reset and indicating to said timer-control logic the battery voltage exceeds the reference voltage at which time said timer-control logic enables said power switch means.

16. The programmable timer power switch unit of claim 15, wherein said low voltage detector comprises:

low voltage op-amp means having a non-inverting input connected to a zener diode and a capacitor, wherein the reference voltage on the non-inverting input is established after the capacitor is charged such that before the capacitor is charged said low voltage op-amp means remains HIGH and indicates this status of power-up/reset to said timer-control logic which in turn maintains said power switch in the disabled mode.

17. The programmable timer power switch unit of claim 16, wherein said timer-control logic comprises:

power-up/reset input means connected to said low voltage op-amp means for resetting said programmable delay switch and for disabling said power switch means whenever the received signal from said low voltage op-amp means remains HIGH.

18. The programmable timer power switch unit of claim 11, wherein said vibration-pressure detector comprises:

transducer means for sensing vibrations and sounds of the battery means;

transformer means connected to said transducer means for receiving and transforming the sensed vibrations and sounds to a voltage level; and

op-amp mode means connected to said transducer means for receiving said voltage level and comparing said voltage level to said received HIGH wherein the receipt of both said voltage level and said HIGH signifies the motor is either in idle or moving modes rather than OFF mode.

19. The programmable timer power switch unit of claim 18, wherein said timer-control logic comprises:

vibration-pressure input means connected to said op-amp mode means for resetting said programmable delay switch and for disabling said power switch means whenever said op-amp mode means indicates the mode of the motor is OFF.

20. The programmable timer power switch unit of claim 11, wherein said programmable delay means comprises:

a rotary switch having at least a means for manually pre-selecting time wherein the pre-selected time includes at least one to nine hours and is selectable in one hour increments; and

reset means connected to said time-control logic so that said time-control logic can be reset by said time-control logic.