Transmitter with battery status indicator

• US 8,547,240 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Controlled Entry Distributors Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Controlled Entry Distributors Incorporated
• Inventors: Kofford, Bradley C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SIGMUND N
• Application Number:
  US12/205,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20100060467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,852 Days
• Field of Search: 324/106, 340/825.69, 340/636.15, 340/539.1, 455/67.11, 320/134
• US Class Current: 340/636.15
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3646 for indicating electrical conditions or variables, e.g. visual or audible indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A battery powered transmitter is provided with a battery status circuit that determines an output voltage level associated with the battery. The battery status circuit is provided with multiple voltage reference thresholds. One or more visual voltage status indicators are electrically coupled with the battery status circuit. The battery status circuit actuates a visual voltage status indicator when the battery status circuit determines the voltage output level of the battery to be within a first output range. One or more additional visual voltage status indicators may be actuated when the battery status circuit determines the voltage output level of the battery to be within other output ranges.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting a signal, the system comprising:

a battery;

a transmitter, electrically coupled with the battery;

a battery status circuit comprising a voltage reference circuit and a comparator circuit, the battery status circuit being electrically coupled with the battery to determine a voltage level associated with the battery each instance the transmitter transmits data, wherein the voltage level indicates a current strength of a signal emitting from the transmitter, wherein the voltage level is determined by measuring a reduction in the voltage level across at least one circuitry element electrically coupled to the battery status circuit, wherein the battery status circuit receives a first voltage input from a first transistor, the first voltage input representing an actual voltage supply level of the battery, wherein the battery status circuit receives a second voltage input from a second transistor, the second voltage input representing a first voltage threshold, and wherein the battery status circuit receives a third voltage input from a third transistor, the third voltage input representing a second voltage threshold, and wherein the battery, the transmitter, and the battery status circuit are enclosed in a housing;

the first voltage threshold being determined by determining a receiver'"'"'s ability to receive signals at a first signal strength from the transmitter, environmental conditions, and an intended use of the transmitter, the first threshold approximating the voltage output of a charged battery at a first level;

the second voltage threshold being determined by determining the receiver'"'"'s ability to receive signals at a second signal strength from the transmitter, environmental conditions, and an intended use of the transmitter, the second threshold approximating the voltage output of the charged batter at a second level, the second level being less than the first level;

a first visual voltage status indicator electrically coupled with the battery status circuit;

a second visual voltage status indicator electrically coupled with the battery status circuit; and

a third visual voltage status indicator electrically coupled with the battery status circuit, the first visual voltage status indicator, the second visual voltage status indicator, and the third visual voltage status indicator being provided as one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), the one or more LEDs providing a first color of light for the first voltage status indicator, a second color of light for the second visual status indicator, and a third color of light for the third visual voltage status indicator, the first, second, and third colors of light being different from one another, the first, second, and third colors of light representing a particular output voltage;

the battery status circuit being provided to actuate the first visual voltage status indicator when the battery status circuit determines the actual voltage supply level of the battery to be above the first voltage threshold, the first visual voltage status indicator emitting a light of the first color according to a first predetermined pattern;

the battery status circuit further being provided to actuate the second visual voltage status indicator when the battery status circuit determines the actual voltage supply of the battery to be between the first voltage threshold and the second voltage threshold, the second visual voltage status indicator emitting a light of the second color according to a second predetermined pattern;

the battery status circuit further being provided to actuate the third visual voltage status indicator when the battery status circuit determines the actual voltage supply of the battery to be lower than the second voltage threshold, the third visual voltage status indicator emitting a light of the third color according to a third predetermined pattern;

a controller circuit, electrically coupled with the transmitter, the controller circuit being provided with data that is transmittable by the transmitter and coded to actuate a garage door opener;

the battery status circuit further being provided to measure output voltage of the battery at each activation of the transmitter, wherein the transmitter is activated by a user depressing a button coupled to the transmitter.