Two terminal battery

• US 6,121,750 A
• Filed: 12/08/1998
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Glorywin International Group Limited
• Original Assignee: Glorywin International Group Limited
• Inventors: Hwa, Godwin, Mawston, Ian G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US09/207,549
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/107, 320/126, 429/9, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0445 Multimode batteries, e.g. containing auxiliary cells or electrodes switchable in parallel or series connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A two terminal dual battery with a micro-processor base controller is incorporated into a single unit. Two 12 volt batteries are contained in a single housing sharing a common negative terminal and a single positive terminal. The auxiliary battery is permanently coupled to the external terminals of the battery. A starter section may be coupled to the external battery terminals in parallel with the auxiliary section using a latching electromechanical relay. The relay is controlled by the micro-processor in response to external inputs and battery parameters. One section of the battery is constructed for deep cyclic uses and normally provides power to run auxiliary loads while the other battery section is constructed to fulfill requirements of low internal resistance and efficient low duration high current output.

Claims

1. A battery comprising:

a battery housing,

a first battery section housed in the battery housing,

a second battery section housed in the battery housing adjacent to the first battery section,

a pair of external terminals extending from the battery housing,

a controllable switch having an open state and a closed state,

a control device for selectively operating the controllable switch between the open state and the closed state in response to an input signal,

wherein the first battery section is permanently connected across the pair of external terminals, and

wherein the second battery section is connected across the pair of external terminals through the controllable switch such that when the controllable switch is in the closed state the first battery section and the second battery section are connected in parallel across the pair of external terminals.

2. A battery as recited in claim 1, wherein the first battery section is an auxiliary battery for driving auxiliary components.

3. A battery as recited in claim 2, wherein the auxiliary battery includes plate groups for providing cyclic duty.

4. A battery as recited in claim 1, wherein the second battery section is a starter battery for starting an engine.

5. A battery as recited in claim 4, wherein the starter battery includes plate groups for providing high current duty.

6. A battery as recited in claim 1, wherein the controllable switch is a latch relay.

7. A battery as recited in claim 1, wherein the control device closes the switch if the input signal indicates that the first battery section voltage is below a trigger point.

8. A battery comprising:

a battery housing;

a first battery section housed in the battery housing;

a second battery section housed in the battery housing adjacent to the first battery section;

a pair of external terminals extending from the battery housing;

a controllable switch having an open state and a closed state;

a control device for selectively operating the controllable switch between the open state and the closed state in response to an input signal; and

a vibration sensor;

wherein the first battery section is permanently connected across the pair of external terminals;

wherein the second battery section is connected across the pair of external terminals through the controllable switch such that when the controllable switch is in the closed state the first battery section and the second battery section are connected in parallel across the pair of external terminals; and

wherein the input signal is representative of at least one of a voltage of the first battery section, a voltage of the second battery section, a current of the first battery section, a current of the second battery section, and a state of the vibration sensor.