Microprocessor controlled booster apparatus with polarity protection

• US 7,656,118 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2008
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vector Products Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Randolph, Bruce, Krieger, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Berhanu; Samuel
• Application Number:
  US12/041,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20080203967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 320/103, 320/104, 320/105
• US Class Current: 320/105
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0034 using reverse polarity correcting or protecting circuits mechanical means of polarity protection H02J7/0045

Abstract

A polarity protection circuit for a battery booster device is provided. According to an exemplary embodiment, the polarity protection circuit is comprised of solid-state devices. Preferably no mechanical or electro-mechanical devices, such as solenoids are included in the polarity protection circuit. The polarity protection circuit is electrically connected to the battery to be charged and to the boosting battery. The polarity protection circuit prevents current flow between the batteries unless proper polarity is achieved.

Claims

1. A booster apparatus, comprising:

a first battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal,

a first cable coupled to the positive terminal of the first battery and being provided with means for connecting to a terminal of a depleted battery;

a second cable coupled to the negative terminal of the first battery and being provided with means for connecting to another terminal of the depleted battery;

a solid state switch coupled in series with one of the cables and the first battery;

a polarity sensing circuit coupled between the first cable and the second cable, the polarity sensing circuit providing an enable signal to place the solid state switch in a conducting state when a correct polarity connection is made between the first battery and the depleted battery;

a momentary switch connected between the first and second cable; and

means for interrupting current flow to the depleted battery when the momentary switch is depressed, wherein the means for interrupting current flow comprises a resistor and a capacitor coupled in series with the momentary switch between the first cable and the second cable and another switch having a control electrode coupled between the resistor and the capacitor and providing a disabling signal to the solid state switch when the momentary switch is depressed.

2. The booster apparatus of claim 1, wherein only a single cable is connected to each terminal of the depleted battery.

3. The booster apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid state switch comprises a plurality of transistors connected in parallel with each other between one of the means for connecting and one of the terminals of the first battery.

4. The booster apparatus of claim 3, wherein the transistors are a part of a current path between the first battery and the depleted battery.

5. The booster apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a frequency generator coupled to one of the first and second cables and injecting a frequency into that cable;

and a frequency detector coupled to the other one of the first and second cables, the frequency detector opening the solid state switch when the frequency detector ceases to detect the frequency from the frequency generator.

6. The booster apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a microprocessor coupled to the solid state switch and the polarity sensing circuit and being responsive to the enable signal from the polarity sensing circuit to control the solid state switch to enable a current flow between the first battery and the depleted battery.

7. The booster apparatus of claim 1, wherein the depleted battery is intended for use in a vehicle.

8. The booster apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a display coupled to the microprocessor for displaying selected outputs of the microprocessor and an input device for accepting operator inputs to the microprocessor for controlling the jump starter system.

9. The booster apparatus of claim 6, further comprising at least one sensor connected to an input of the microprocessor for producing a signal representing a measured value.

10. The booster apparatus of claim 6, further comprising an audible alarm connected to an output of the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is connected to the first battery for automatically measuring the voltage of the first battery and producing a signal to activate the alarm when the voltage of the first battery is below a predetermined level.

11. The booster apparatus of claim 6, further comprising an air compressor controlled by an output of the microprocessor.

12. The booster apparatus of claim 6, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to accept a desired tire inflation pressure value input by an operator via the input device and to display the desired pressure on the display, the microprocessor automatically controlling the air compressor to inflate a tire to the desired pressure by comparing a measured pressure of the tire to the desired pressure until the desired pressure is attained.

13. The booster apparatus of claim 1, wherein the polarity sensing circuit comprises an opto-isolator.

14. The booster apparatus of claim 13, wherein the opto-isolator includes a uni-directional current conducting, light emitting component that only conducts current when the battery cables connect the positive terminal of the first battery to the positive terminal of the depleted battery and the negative terminal of the first battery to the negative terminal of the depleted battery.

15. The booster apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a safety switch opening the solid state switch to thus disable current flow between the first battery and the depleted battery.

16. The booster apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a high voltage providing circuit for keeping the solid state switch in a conducting state even if the voltage of the first battery decays to a low level.

17. The booster apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an indicator for indicating that the cables can be safely removed from the depleted battery.

18. The booster apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an indicator for indicating that a correct polarity connection is made between the first battery and the depleted battery.

19. The booster apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a measurement device for measuring the voltage of at least one of the first battery and the depleted battery.

20. The booster apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voltage is measured at least one of before the depleted battery is charged and after the depleted battery is charged.

21. The booster apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a de-sulfating circuit controlled by the microprocessor for de-sulfating a battery.

22. The booster apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for detecting a voltage surge after the depleted battery is jump started.

23. The booster apparatus of claim 6, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to detect a voltage surge after the depleted battery is jump started.

24. The booster apparatus of claim 6, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to place the at least one FET in a non-conducting state, then check the measured signal about once every second, and place the at least one FET in a conducting state if a depleted battery is present.

25. The booster apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

means for injecting a signal of a predetermined frequency into one of the first and second cables; and

means for detecting frequency coupled to the other of the first and second cables, the means for detecting placing the FETs into a non-conducting state when the means for detecting ceases to detect the frequency from the means for injecting.

26. The booster apparatus of claim 1 comprising:

means for measuring a charge rate of the depleted battery;

means for determining an amount of time the depleted battery has been charging;

means for measuring a voltage of the depleted battery; and

means for detecting at least one of an overtime fault, a shorted cell battery fault, a bad battery fault, and an open cell battery fault based on at least one of the charge rates amount or time and voltage of the depleted battery.

27. The booster apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a display on which fault is visually indicated.

28. The booster apparatus of claim 26, wherein the means for detecting detects the overtime fault if the charge rate is greater than a predetermined current, the depleted battery has been charging longer than a predetermined amount of time, and the voltage of the depleted battery is greater than or equal to a predetermined voltage.

29. The booster apparatus of claim 26, wherein the predetermined current is 2 amps, the predetermined time is 18 hours, and the predetermined voltage is 12 volts.

30. The booster apparatus of claim 26, wherein the means for detecting detects the shorted cell battery fault if the charge current is greater than a predetermined current, the depleted battery has been charging more a predetermined amount of time, and the voltage of the depleted battery is less than or equal to a predetermined voltage.

31. The booster apparatus of claim 26, wherein the predetermined time is one hour, and the predetermined voltage is 11 volts.

32. The booster apparatus of claim 26, wherein the means for detecting detects the bad battery fault if no voltage is detected at the means for measuring.

33. The booster apparatus of claim 26, wherein the means for detecting detects the open cell battery fault if the charge current is less than a predetermined current, the depleted battery has been charging more a predetermined amount of time, and the voltage of the depleted battery is greater than or equal to a predetermined voltage.

34. A booster apparatus, comprising:

a first battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal,

a first cable coupled to the positive terminal of the first battery and being provided with means for connecting to a terminal of a depleted battery;

a second cable coupled to the negative terminal of the first battery and being provided with means for connecting to another terminal of the depleted battery;

a solid state switch coupled in series with one of the cables and the first battery;

a polarity sensing circuit coupled between the first cable and the second cable, the polarity sensing circuit providing an enable signal to place the solid state switch in a conducting state when a correct polarity connection is made between the first battery and the depleted battery; and

a user actuated safety switch having a normally open contact coupled between the first and second cables and providing a disabling signal to the solid state switch when actuated to a closed contact position, thereby placing the solid state switch in a non-conducting state.

35. The booster apparatus of claim 34 further

comprises:

a resistor and a capacitor coupled in series between the safety switch and one of the first cable and the second cable; and

another switch having a control electrode coupled between the resistor and the capacitor and providing the disabling signal to the solid state switch when the safety switch is actuated to the closed contact position.

36. The booster apparatus of claim 34 wherein the solid state switch comprises a plurality of transistors connected in parallel with each other between one of the means for connecting and one of the terminals of the first battery.

37. The booster apparatus of claim 34 wherein the transistors are a part of a current path between the first battery and the depleted battery.

38. The booster apparatus of claim 34 further comprising a frequency generator coupled to one of the first and second cables and injecting a frequency into that cable;

and a frequency detector coupled to the other one of the first and second cables, the frequency detector opening the solid state switch when the frequency detector ceases to detect the frequency from the frequency generator.

39. The booster apparatus of claim 34 further comprising a microprocessor coupled to the solid state switch and the polarity sensing circuit and being responsive to the enable signal from the polarity sensing circuit to control the solid state switch to enable a current flow between the first battery and the depleted battery.