Method and device for disconnecting loads from a motor vehicle body
First Claim
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1. A device for disconnecting loads from a motor vehicle battery to prevent a full discharge thereof, said device comprising:
- a plurality of switches switchable between an ON position and OFF position, each of said switches being electrically connected to one of the loads; and
a control unit electrically connected to each of said switches, said control unit producing signals to individually switch each of said switches from said ON position to said OFF position based on predetermined times each of said switches had been in said ON position;
an ignition sensor electrically connected to said control unit to sense the presence or absence of an ignition key; and
said control unit including a monitor to measure the predetermined times when said ignition sensor senses the absence of the ignition key.
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Abstract
A battery protection device disconnects vehicle electronic components from a motor vehicle battery to prevent a full discharge thereof including a plurality of switches switchable between ON and OFF positions, and a control unit electrically connected to each of the switches and capable of switching each of the switches between the ON and OFF positions individually.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A device for disconnecting loads from a motor vehicle battery to prevent a full discharge thereof, said device comprising:
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a plurality of switches switchable between an ON position and OFF position, each of said switches being electrically connected to one of the loads; and a control unit electrically connected to each of said switches, said control unit producing signals to individually switch each of said switches from said ON position to said OFF position based on predetermined times each of said switches had been in said ON position; an ignition sensor electrically connected to said control unit to sense the presence or absence of an ignition key; and said control unit including a monitor to measure the predetermined times when said ignition sensor senses the absence of the ignition key. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10)
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7. A battery protection device for disconnecting vehicle electronic components from a motor vehicle battery to prevent a full discharge thereof, said battery protection device comprising:
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a plurality of switches switchable between an ON position and OFF position, each of said switches being electrically connected to one of the vehicle electronic components, a portion of said switches including relays, each of said relays associated with each of said portion of said switches; a control unit electrically connected to said switches, an ignition sensor electrically connected to said control unit to sense the presence or absence of an ignition key, said control unit including a timer to measure an amount of time each of said switches is in said ON position when said ignition sensor senses the absence of the ignition key, said control unit further including a reset subcircuit for resetting said timer at a predetermined occurrence, said control unit producing signals to individually switch each of said switches from said ON position to said OFF position based on the measured amount of time each of said switches is in said ON position. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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11. A method for disconnecting vehicle components from a motor vehicle battery wherein the vehicle components are controllable by individual operator switches, said method comprising the steps of:
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sensing the absence of an ignition key; sensing an ON position of the individual operator switches; timing a length of time the individual operator switches are in the ON position; and disconnecting one of the vehicle components from the vehicle battery by switching the individual operator switch associated therewith from the ON position to an OFF position when the length of time the individual operator switch associated with the one of the vehicle components is in the ON position a predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification