Battery charge indicating circuit
First Claim
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1. A voltage indicator circuit for a DC power source, comprising:
- a switch connected to the DC power source for controlling the voltage applied to the remainder of said circuit;
a zener diode series connected between said switch and a plurality of series connected resistors;
a plurality of series connected resistors, one of which is connected to said zener diode;
a plurality of series connected light emitting diodes, each light emitting diode being connected in parallel with one of said resistors;
said zener diode scaling the voltage that is applied to said resistors and said light emitting diodes to a predetermined value.
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Abstract
A voltage indicator circuit for indicating a charge state of a power supply, such as a battery pack, is disclosed. The voltage indicator circuit includes a voltage divider circuit that connects to a plurality of series connected light sources, such as light emitting diodes. Upon activation of the voltage divider circuit, one or more of the light sources may illuminate to provide a visual indication of the current charge state of the power supply. More particularly, the number of light sources illuminated varies according to the charge state of the battery pack.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A voltage indicator circuit for a DC power source, comprising:
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a switch connected to the DC power source for controlling the voltage applied to the remainder of said circuit;
a zener diode series connected between said switch and a plurality of series connected resistors;
a plurality of series connected resistors, one of which is connected to said zener diode;
a plurality of series connected light emitting diodes, each light emitting diode being connected in parallel with one of said resistors;
said zener diode scaling the voltage that is applied to said resistors and said light emitting diodes to a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A device for providing DC power, comprising:
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a battery pack; and
a battery charge indicator circuit connected to said battery pack to indicate a charge state of said battery pack;
a switch for controlling a flow of electric power from said battery pack to said battery charge indicator circuit, a zener diode connected in series, between said switch and said battery charge indicator circuit for scaling the voltage applied to said indicator circuit;
said battery charge indicator circuit further comprising;
a voltage divider circuit formed by a plurality of series connected resistors, the connections between adjacent resistors defining a plurality of respective nodes; and
a plurality of series connected light emitting diodes each having an anode connected to separate nodes of said voltage divider circuit. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A battery powered device for supplying power, comprising:
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a battery having first and second terminals;
a voltage detection circuit, connected to said battery, for detecting a charge state of said battery and having at least two series connected light emitting diodes for generating a visual signal upon a flow of electric current from said battery to said voltage detection circuit;
a switch for controlling said flow of electric current between said battery and said voltage detection circuit; and
a zener diode connected in series between said voltage detection circuit and said switch. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A DC power source comprising:
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a battery pack; and
a battery charge indicator circuit connected to said battery pack to indicate a charge state of said battery pack, said battery charge indicator circuit further comprising;
zener diode connected in series directly between said battery pack and said voltage divider circuit, a zener diode limiting the voltage applied to said voltage divider circuit to a predetermined value;
said voltage divider circuit having a first, second, third, and fourth resistor connected in series;
a first light emitting diode connected in parallel to said second resistor;
a second light emitting diode connected in parallel to said third resistor;
a third light emitting diode connected in parallel to said third resistor; and
a switch for controlling a flow of electric power from said battery pack to said battery charge indicator circuit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification