Automotive-use charger flashing light array

• US 6,992,461 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2003
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cheng-Taal Tang, Hui-Hu Liang
• Original Assignee: Cheng-Taal Tang, Hui-Hu Liang
• Inventors: Liang, Hui-Hu, Tang, Cheng-Taal
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhane, Adolf Deneke
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIGGUSH, AARON C
• Application Number:
  US10/694,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20050093509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/114, 320/134, 320/132, 324/435
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition

Abstract

An automotive charger flashing light array consisting of a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed on a charger. The LEDs are connected to a programmable integrated circuit in a charging circuit such that when the automotive charger is recharging a mobile telephone battery, the programmable integrated circuit outputs control signals that cause the plurality of LEDs to illuminate in various sequences to indicate the state of charging, while also increasing the added value of the automotive charger.

Claims

1. An automotive charger flashing light array comprised of an automotive charger and a charging circuit, wherein the said charging circuit consists of a wave filtering circuit, a voltage stabilizing integrated circuit, and an outputted charging current, the features of which are:

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are disposed on the said automotive charger that are illuminated in a range of numerous different sequences defined by a programmable integrated circuit;

a transistor, the collector output lead of which is connected to the input pin of the said programmable integrated circuit, with its base connected to the output terminal of a parallel resistance circuit and its emitter connected to the output pin of the said voltage stabilizing integrated circuit as well as the input terminal of the said parallel resistance circuit;

as such, a bias voltage sourced from the said parallel resistance circuit causes continuity with the said transistor to control the operation of the said programmable integrated circuit to provide for the differing illumination sequences required of the said plurality of LEDs as defined by the said programmable integrated circuit;

when the battery is fully charged, the said parallel resistance circuit lowers the charging current, causing a drop in the conducted bias voltage of the said transistor that stops data output such that LED illumination is only maintained to indicate power ON status.

2. An automotive charger flashing light array as claimed in claim 1 in which the said parallel resistance circuit and the base of the said transistor are shunted to ground by a voltage regulator to vary control over the continuity cutoff timing of the said transistor and thereby provide the appropriate amount of current needed for charging.