Battery monitor
First Claim
1. A battery monitoring system for connection to an automotive battery between a battery terminal and a non-critical load, the battery monitoring system comprising:
- voltage means for measuring the voltage of the automotive battery;
load sensing means for measuring the current passing out of the battery to the non-critical load;
evaluation means for determining the state of charge of the battery based on the relationship between measured voltage and measured current to the non-critical load; and
at least one switching means for connecting and disconnecting at least part of the non-critical load from the battery,the load sensing means being capable of,(i) controlling the at least one switching means to disconnect the non-critical load if the stored charge in the battery drops below a pre-determined value,(ii) monitoring the size of the non-critical electrical load connected to the battery, and(iii) causing the at least one switching means to at least temporarily reconnect the non-critical load to the battery if a change in the size of the non-critical load is detected by the load sensing means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery monitoring system includes a circuit for use with a battery which is one of a defined (quantified re volts supplied at known current loads at known discharge levels) type of battery such as the lead-acid batteries used in vehicles. Preferred embodiments monitor at least the battery voltage under load while measuring the drawn current and use stored numerical information in order to determine whether the battery has been discharged down to a predetermined limit; one which generally retains enough charge to perform a defined act such as starting an engine. If the battery is so depleted a non-critical load (e.g. accessories) is disconnected by a switch. Changes in the non-critical load are monitored and the non-critical load is reconnected for a predetermined period when a change is detected in order to start the engine.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A battery monitoring system for connection to an automotive battery between a battery terminal and a non-critical load, the battery monitoring system comprising:
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voltage means for measuring the voltage of the automotive battery; load sensing means for measuring the current passing out of the battery to the non-critical load; evaluation means for determining the state of charge of the battery based on the relationship between measured voltage and measured current to the non-critical load; and at least one switching means for connecting and disconnecting at least part of the non-critical load from the battery, the load sensing means being capable of, (i) controlling the at least one switching means to disconnect the non-critical load if the stored charge in the battery drops below a pre-determined value, (ii) monitoring the size of the non-critical electrical load connected to the battery, and (iii) causing the at least one switching means to at least temporarily reconnect the non-critical load to the battery if a change in the size of the non-critical load is detected by the load sensing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification