Status indicator for battery charger

• US 6,304,060 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2000
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Operating Technical Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Operating Technical Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Dernehl, James U.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US09/507,634
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 320/132, 340/636
• US Class Current: 320/132
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]

Abstract

Apparatus for indicating multiple operating states of a battery charger is formed by first and second color light emitting circuits coupled to a control circuit and one of the output terminals of the battery charger with first and second sense terminals of the respective first and second color light emitting circuits coupled to the other one of the battery charger output terminals such that operating bias may be applied to the light emitting circuits. The light emitting elements of the first and second color light emitting circuits may be positioned to emit light through a common diffusing lens to provide a third color substantially distinct from the first and second colors.

Claims

1. Apparatus for indicating multiple operating states of a battery charger providing a charging voltage across positive and negative output leads comprising:

(a) a dual-color indicator comprising;

(i) a first color light emitting circuit having a first sense terminal and a common terminal; and

(ii) a second color light emitting circuit having a second sense terminal and a common terminal coupled to said common terminal of said first color light emitting circuit;

 

wherein the light emitting elements of said first and second color light emitting circuits are disposed in adjacent relationship to emit light through a common diffusing lens; and

(b) a control circuit having a common terminal coupled to said common terminals of said first and second color light emitting circuits and having first and second charger terminals coupled in series with one of said positive and negative output leads of said battery charger;

wherein said first and second sense terminals of said respective first and second color light emitting circuits are coupled to the other one of said positive and negative output leads such that said coupling of said first and second light emitting circuits is operable to apply operating bias to said light emitting circuits.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said light emitting elements of said first and second light emitting circuits, upon simultaneous activation, emit light through said common diffusing lens and provide an appearance of a third color substantially distinct from said first color and said second color.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said control circuit is operable to allow activation of each said first and second light emitting circuits when the condition of said operating bias for each respective light emitting circuit is met.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said activation is responsive to the level of voltage present across said positive and negative output leads.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said activation is responsive to the level of current flowing between said first and second charger terminals in said one of said positive and negative output leads.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said operating bias is applied to said first and second color light emitting circuits singly or in combination.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said operating bias is applied to said first or second color LED circuit continuously or alternately.

8. A system for indicating multiple operating states of a battery charger:

(a) a dual-color indicator comprising;

(i) a first color light emitting circuit; and

(ii) a second color light emitting circuit coupled to said first color light emitting circuit disposed in adjacent relationship to said first color

light emitting circuit to emit light through a common diffusing lens; and

(b) a control circuit coupled to said indicator wherein said control circuit is operable to apply operating bias to said light emitting circuits of said indicator to indicate multiple distinct states corresponding to predetermined threshold conditions.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said control circuit controls said indicator to indicate:

a first state wherein said first light emitting circuit is on and said second light emitting circuit is off;

a second state wherein said first light emitting circuit is on and said second light emitting circuit is on; and

a third state wherein said first light emitting circuit is off and said second light emitting circuit is on.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said first, second and third states correspond to a substantially discharged battery, a charging battery, and a substantially charged battery.

11. The system of claim 8 further comprising a fourth state wherein said first light emitting circuit is blinking and said second light emitting circuit is off.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising a fifth state wherein said first light emitting circuit is off and said second light emitting circuit is blinking.

13. The system of claim 8 further comprising a sixth state wherein said first light emitting circuit is off and said second light emitting circuit is off.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the control circuit comprises transistors coupled to said first and second light emitting circuits and wherein the predetermined threshold conditions for the multiple distinct states may be modified by changing the bias point for the transistors.

15. The system of claim 8 wherein each state corresponds to a predetermined voltage or current level.

17. The system of claim 8 wherein said circuit means controls said indicator to indicate:

a first state wherein said first light emitting circuit is on and said second light emitting circuit is off;

a second state wherein said first light emitting circuit is on and said second light emitting circuit is on;

a third state wherein said first light emitting circuit is off and said second light emitting circuit is on;

a fourth state wherein said first light emitting circuit is blinking and said second light emitting circuit is off; and

a fifth state wherein said first light emitting circuit is off and said second light emitting circuit is blinking.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising a sixth state wherein said first light emitting circuit is off and said second light emitting circuit is off.

16. A system for indicating multiple operating states of a battery charger:

(a) a dual-color indicator comprising;

(ii) a first color light emitting circuit; and

(ii) a second color light emitting circuit coupled to said first color light emitting circuit disposed in adjacent relationship to said first color light emitting circuit to emit light through a common diffusing lens; and

(c) circuit means coupled to said indicator for controlling said light emitting circuits of said indicator to indicate multiple distinct states corresponding to predetermined threshold conditions.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein each state corresponds to a predetermined voltage or current level.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the predetermined threshold conditions for the multiple distinct states may be modified by changing the bias point for transistors in the circuit means.