Booster pack with storage capacitor

• US 7,015,674 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: VonderHaar, J. David
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Rajnikant B.
• Application Number:
  US10/112,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20030184258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 320/103, 320/104, 320/116, 320/107, 320/101, 320/137, 320/139, 320/166, 320/105, 320/167, 307/125, 307/66, 307/45, 307/46, 307/72, 323/222, 323/271, 318/139, 318/150, 429/170, 429/500
• US Class Current: 320/103
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/14 Starting of engines by means of electric starters with external current supply F02N11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/122 Provisions for temporary connection of DC sources of essentially the same voltage, e.g. jumpstart cables
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices

Abstract

A jump-start booster pack for starting a vehicle having a depleted vehicle battery is provided. The jump-start booster pack includes a positive connector that can couple to a positive terminal of the vehicle battery and a negative connector that can couple to a negative terminal of the vehicle battery. The apparatus also includes a storage capacitor that provides starting energy to the vehicle when electrical connection is made between the storage capacitor and the vehicle battery through the positive and negative connectors.

Claims

1. An apparatus for starting a vehicle having a depleted vehicle battery, the apparatus comprising:

a portable jump-start booster pack, separate from the vehicle, comprising;

a positive connector configured to couple to a positive terminal of the vehicle battery;

a negative connector configured to couple to a negative terminal of the vehicle battery;

a storage capacitor configured to provide starting energy to the vehicle when electrical connection is made between the storage capacitor and the vehicle battery through the positive and negative connectors; and

a DC-DC converter circuit configured to receive a supply voltage, from a source that is independent of the apparatus for starting the vehicle, and to provide a charging voltage, as a function of the supply voltage, to charge the storage capacitor, wherein the charging voltage is greater than the supply voltage.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the storage capacitor is a supercapacitor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein charging energy is provided to the storage capacitor from the vehicle battery.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein charging energy is provided to the storage capacitor from an alternator of the vehicle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the DC-DC converter circuit comprises a transformer configured to step up the supply voltage.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the DC-DC converter further comprises a bridge rectifier circuit configured to provide rectification of the stepped up supply voltage provided by the transformer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the DC-DC converter circuit includes a transistor.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the DC-DC converter circuit includes a charge storage device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the charge storage device is a capacitor.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input supply voltage is provided by the depleted vehicle battery.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the jump-start booster pack further comprises battery charging circuitry configured to charge the vehicle battery.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the battery charging circuitry is further configured to charge the storage capacitor.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the battery charging circuitry is coupled to the vehicle battery through a four point Kelvin connection.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein he jump-start booster pack further comprises battery testing circuitry configured to test the vehicle battery.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the battery testing circuitry is coupled to the vehicle battery through a four point Kelvin connection.

16. A method of jump-starting a vehicle having a depleted vehicle battery, the method comprising:

providing a portable jump-start booster pack, separate from the vehicle, the jump-start boaster pack comprising;

a positive connector configured to couple to a positive terminal of the vehicle battery;

a negative connector configured to couple to a negative terminal of the vehicle battery;

a storage capacitor configured to provide starting energy to the vehicle when electrical connection is made between the storage capacitor and the vehicle battery through the positive and negative connectors; and

a DC-DC converter circuit configured to receive a supply voltage, from a source that is independent of the apparatus for starting the vehicle, and to provide a charging voltage, as a function of the supply voltage, to charge the storage capacitor, wherein the charging voltage is greater than the supply voltage.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the storage capacitor is a supercapacitor.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising charging the storage capacitor from the vehicle battery.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising charging the storage capacitor from an alternator of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the DC-DC converter circuit comprises a transformer configured to step up the supply voltage.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the DC-DC converter further comprises a bridge rectifier circuit configured to provide rectification of the stepped up supply voltage provided by the transformer.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein the DC-DC converter circuit includes a transistor.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein the DC-DC converter circuit includes a charge storage device.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the charge storage device is a capacitor.

25. The method of claim 16 wherein the supply voltage is provided by the depleted vehicle battery.

26. The method of claim 16 wherein the jump-start booster pack further comprises battery charging circuitry configured to charge the vehicle battery.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the battery charging circuitry is further configured to charge the storage capacitor.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising coupling the battery charging circuitry to the vehicle battery through a four point Kelvin connection.

29. The method of claim 16 wherein the jump-start booster pack further comprises battery testing circuitry configured to test the vehicle battery.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising coupling the battery testing circuitry to the vehicle battery through a four point Kelvin connection.