Programmable power control unit
First Claim
1. A programmable power control unit for connecting a device to a battery to supply power from the battery to the device, the unit comprising:
- a first contact to connect to the battery;
a second contact to connect to the device;
a relay disposed between the first contact and the second contact to electrically connect the first contact to the second contact in response to a signal;
a voltage detector connected to the first contact to detect a voltage at the first contact; and
a processor to generate the signal to engage the relay if the voltage detected by the detector is above a predetermined level V1, to implement a timer function to count down a time period T1 when the detected voltage falls below V1 and the relay is engaged, to reset the timer if the detected voltage rises above V1 during a countdown, and to remove the signal to disengage the relay when the timer times out, and to remove the engage signal to disengage the relay if the detected voltage falls below a second predetermined voltage V2, wherein V2<
V1.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A programmable power system may be used to control the supply of power from a battery to protect the battery from accidental discharge and excessive wear. A programmable power control unit may be connected between a battery and one or more battery operated devices. Typically, the battery is installed in a vehicle (e.g., a motor vehicle, an airplane, or a watercraft) although the unit may be used with any battery powered system. The programmable power control unit may be used to control the supply of power from the battery to one or more auxiliary devices, such as, for example, a two-way CB and ham radio, an AM/FM radio, a music player, a PDA, a TV, a DVD player, a cellular phone, a radar device, a GPS device, a data terminal, a display, and a computer. The programmable power control unit automatically turns the devices on in response to a predetermined battery operating condition, and turns the devices off after a predetermined time period in response a non operating condition.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A programmable power control unit for connecting a device to a battery to supply power from the battery to the device, the unit comprising:
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a first contact to connect to the battery; a second contact to connect to the device; a relay disposed between the first contact and the second contact to electrically connect the first contact to the second contact in response to a signal; a voltage detector connected to the first contact to detect a voltage at the first contact; and a processor to generate the signal to engage the relay if the voltage detected by the detector is above a predetermined level V1, to implement a timer function to count down a time period T1 when the detected voltage falls below V1 and the relay is engaged, to reset the timer if the detected voltage rises above V1 during a countdown, and to remove the signal to disengage the relay when the timer times out, and to remove the engage signal to disengage the relay if the detected voltage falls below a second predetermined voltage V2, wherein V2<
V1. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A programmable power control unit for connecting a device to a battery to supply power from the battery to the device, the unit comprising:
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a first contact to connect to the battery; a second contact to connect to the device; a relay disposed between the first contact and the second contact to electrically connect the first contact to the second contact in response to a signal; an engine sensor to detect operation of engine; a voltage detector connected to the first contact to detect a voltage at the first contact; and a processor to generate the signal to engage the relay when engine operation is detected, to implement a timer function when the detected voltage falls below V1 and the relay is engaged to count down a time period T1, to implement the timer function when no operation of the engine is detected, to reset the timer if the detected voltage rises above V1 during a countdown or engine operation is detected, and to remove the signal to disengage the relay when the timer times out, and to remove the signal to disengage the relay if the detected voltage falls below a second predetermined voltage V2, wherein V2<
V1. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A power control system comprising:
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a battery; a first contact to connect to the battery; a second contact to connect to the device; a relay disposed between the first contact and the second contact to electrically connect the first contact to the second contact in response to a signal; a voltage detector connected to the first contact to detect a voltage at the first contact; and a processor to generate the signal to engage the relay if the voltage detected by the detector is above a predetermined level V1, to implement a timer function to count down a time period T1 when the detected voltage falls below V1 and the relay is engaged, to reset the timer if the detected voltage rises above V1 during a countdown, and to remove the signal to disengage the relay when the timer times out, and to remove the engage signal to disengage the relay if the detected voltage falls below a second predetermined voltage V2, wherein V2<
V1. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification