Apparatus and method for maintaining a threshold value in a battery
First Claim
1. A battery discharge protection system comprising:
- a) a microprocessor being capable of receiving a plurality of inputs, said inputs corresponding to signals from a vehicle;
b) a plurality of electronic switches being configured for movement between an open position and a closed position, said closed position connecting an electrical load to said battery, said open position disconnecting said electrical load from said battery; and
c) a gate input circuit for manipulating said switches between said open and closed positions in response to an output received from said microprocessor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery protection system for a battery having a switching mechanism positioned intermediate to the positive terminal and an electrical load of the battery. A controller manipulates the switching mechanism between an open position and a closed position, the closed position connects the electrical load to the battery and the open position disconnects the electrical load from the battery. The battery protection system utilizes a battery state-of-charge detection system, which instructs the controller to open the switching mechanism when the detection system detects a battery state-of-charge that is lower than a threshold value. The battery protection system is also equipped with a vehicle status detection system, which instructs the controller to close the switching mechanism when a vehicle startup condition is detected by the vehicle status detection system.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A battery discharge protection system comprising:
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a) a microprocessor being capable of receiving a plurality of inputs, said inputs corresponding to signals from a vehicle;
b) a plurality of electronic switches being configured for movement between an open position and a closed position, said closed position connecting an electrical load to said battery, said open position disconnecting said electrical load from said battery; and
c) a gate input circuit for manipulating said switches between said open and closed positions in response to an output received from said microprocessor.
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2. A battery protection system for a battery, comprising:
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a) a switching mechanism positioned intermediate to the positive terminal of a battery and an electrical load;
b) a controller for manipulating said switching mechanism between an open position and a closed position, said closed position connecting said electrical load to said battery and said open position disconnecting said electrical load from said battery; and
c) a battery state-of-charge detection system, said battery state-of-charge protection system instructs said controller to open said switching mechanism when said battery state-of-charge detection system detects a battery state-of-charge that is lower than a threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
d) a vehicle status detection system, said vehicle status detection system instructs said controller to close said switching mechanism when a vehicle startup condition is detected by said vehicle status detection system.
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4. A battery protection system as in claim 2, further comprising:
d) a manual override switch for disconnecting said battery from said electrical load.
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5. A battery protection system as in claim 2, wherein said state of charge protection system instructs said controller to close said switching mechanism when a battery re-connect condition is detected by said vehicle status detection system.
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6. A battery protection system as in claim 5, wherein said battery re-connect condition is a depression of a brake pedal which illuminates a taillight, the illumination of said taillight causing a current fluctuation which is detected by said state of charge protection system.
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7. A battery protection system as in claim 6, wherein said vehicle startup condition is the movement of an ignition switch from an off position to a start position, said start position causes a starter motor to activate, the activation of said starter motor causes a current fluctuation which is detected by said vehicle status detection system.
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8. A battery protection system as in claim 5, wherein said vehicle startup condition is the opening of a car door which illuminates an interior light, the illumination of said interior light causes a current fluctuation which is detected by said vehicle status detection system.
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9. A battery protection system as in claim 2, further comprising:
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d) a vehicle status detection system, said vehicle status detection system instructs said controller to close said switching mechanism when a vehicle startup condition is detected by said vehicle status detection system; and
e) a controller bypass system, said controller bypass system prevents said controller from opening said switching mechanism when a critical vehicle system is in operation.
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10. A battery protection system as in claim 9, wherein said critical vehicle system is the activation of a hazard light of an automobile.
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11. The battery protection system as in claim 10, wherein said hazard light of said automobile produces an AC waveform across a pair of terminals of said battery and said AC waveform is measured by said vehicle status detection system.
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12. A battery protection system as in claim 9, wherein said critical vehicle system is an engine, which is running.
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13. The battery protection system as in claim 12, wherein said engine of said automobile produces an AC waveform across a pair of terminals of said battery and said AC waveform is measured by said vehicle status detection system.
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14. A method for maintaining a minimal charge value within a battery, comprising:
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a) measuring the charge of said battery; and
b) disconnecting said battery from an electrical load when the charge of said battery approaches a minimal threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A device for protecting an automobile lead-acid battery from an over-discharged condition due to an electrical load, said device comprising:
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a) an electronic switch interposed between a battery output terminal and any battery electrical load;
b) a means for determining the state-of-charge of said battery as a function of the discharge due to said electrical load;
c) a means for determining the battery voltage below which the continued reduction in said state-of-charge of said battery would result in an over-discharged condition;
d) a means for causing said electronic switch to transition from a closed-circuit condition to an open-circuit condition, thereby preventing said over-discharged condition; and
e) a means for causing said electronic switch to transition from said open-circuit condition to said closed-circuit condition when a fluctuation in said load occurs. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for maintaining a minimal charge value within a battery, comprising:
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a) periodically measuring the charge of said battery;
b) determining a value depicting the time rate of change of a battery voltage;
c) measuring ambient temperature of said battery;
d) comparing the time rate of change of a battery voltage and the ambient temperature reading to a plurality of values stored in a lookup table and determining a minimal threshold value; and
e) disconnecting said battery from an electrical load when the charge of said battery approaches said minimal threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method for maintaining a minimal charge value within a battery, comprising:
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a) periodically measuring the charge of said battery;
b) storing the measured charges of said battery;
c) determining a value depicting the time rate of change of a battery voltage;
c) measuring ambient temperature of said battery;
d) comparing the time rate of change of a battery voltage and the ambient temperature reading to a plurality of values stored in a lookup table and determining a minimal threshold value; and
e) disconnecting said battery from an electrical load when the charge of said battery approaches said minimal threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
f) prohibiting the disconnection of said battery when a critical vehicle function is enabled.
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26. The method as in claim 25 wherein said critical function is an automobile engine.
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27. A method for maintaining a minimal charge value within a battery, comprising:
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a) determining if a current of a switching mechanism between a battery and a load exceeds a maximum value, if the current of said switching mechanism exceeds a maximum value the battery is disconnected from the load;
b) determining if an automobile engine is running, if the automobile engine is running the current of said switching mechanism is determined again;
c) determining if a hazard lamp of an automobile is operating, if the hazard lamp is enabled the current of said switching mechanism is determined again;
d) overriding a manual shut off switch if said automobile engine is running or said hazard lamp is operating;
e) determining if a maximum temperature of said switching mechanism is exceeded, if the maximum temperature is exceeded the battery is disconnected from the load;
f) comparing a battery voltage and an ambient temperature reading of said battery to a plurality of values stored in a lookup table and determining a minimal threshold value; and
e) disconnecting said battery from an electrical load when the charge of said battery approaches said minimal threshold value.
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Specification