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Protection system with voltage switching

  • US 5,552,642 A
  • Filed: 03/09/1994
  • Issued: 09/03/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A protection system for a motor vehicle having a starting circuit including a starter motor for starting the engine of the vehicle, said system comprising:

  • battery means having first and second battery terminals, said battery means being adapted to be connected to said starting circuit to permit said starter motor to be energized by said battery means,said battery means including a first plurality of cells electrically interconnected to form a first battery portion which provides a first voltage, and a second plurality of cells electrically interconnected to form a second battery portion which provides a second voltage;

    and circuit means connecting said first and second battery portions between said first and second battery terminals, said circuit means including switching means connected between said first battery portion and said second battery portion and operable between a first condition in which said switching means connects only said first battery portion between said first and second battery terminals whereby the voltage at said first and second battery terminals corresponds to said first voltage, and a second condition in which said switching means connects said second battery portion in series with said first battery portion between said battery terminals whereby the voltage provided at said first and second terminals corresponds to the sum of said first and second voltages,said circuit means including control means including signal receiving means coupled to said switching means and a signal transmitting device manually operable by an operator of the vehicle at a location remote from the location of said signal receiving means for generating control signals for enabling said signal receiving means to operate said switching means between said first and second conditions,said first voltage being insufficient to operate said starter motor to start said engine and said voltage equal to said sum of said first and second voltages being sufficient to operate said starter motor to start said engine.

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