Usage counter for portable jump-starting battery unit
First Claim
1. Apparatus for determining the cycle life of a battery in terms of usage cycles, comprising:
- a reference circuit adapted to be coupled to the battery and establishing a reference voltage level, a usage cycle detection circuit adapted to be coupled to the battery and to the reference circuit and generating a count signal in response to battery voltage dropping below the reference voltage level, and a counter circuit coupled to the detection circuit for counting the number of count signals generated.
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Abstract
A usage counter has input terminals connectable to the terminals of a jump-starting battery pack. The counter has an IC comparator which generates an output signal when battery voltage drops below a predetermined reference level. If the output signal persists for a predetermined time period, indicating an attempt to jump-start an engine with the battery pack, an IC timer is triggered to output a count pulse which is inverted and then counted and displayed by an IC counter/display circuit. The usage counter circuit is powered by the battery pack and has a Zener diode which provides to the IC circuits a limited supply voltage which is unaffected by voltage spikes which might appear at the battery pack terminals. A capacitor maintains the reference voltage level despite momentary drops in battery terminal voltage.
30 Citations
12 Claims
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1. Apparatus for determining the cycle life of a battery in terms of usage cycles, comprising:
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a reference circuit adapted to be coupled to the battery and establishing a reference voltage level, a usage cycle detection circuit adapted to be coupled to the battery and to the reference circuit and generating a count signal in response to battery voltage dropping below the reference voltage level, and a counter circuit coupled to the detection circuit for counting the number of count signals generated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Apparatus for determining the cycle life of a battery in terms of usage cycles, comprising:
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a reference circuit adapted to be coupled to the battery and establishing a reference voltage level, a comparator circuit adapted to be coupled to the battery and to the reference circuit and generating an output signal when battery voltage drops below the reference voltage level, a time delay circuit coupled to the comparator circuit and responsive to an output signal for generating a count signal if the output signal persists for a predetermined time period, and a counter circuit coupled to the time delay circuit for counting the number of count signals generated. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification