Transmitter with battery status indicator

• US 8,797,172 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2013
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• 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:
  US14/041,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20140070952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 309 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 having a voltage supply level;

a transmitter electrically coupled with the battery, the transmitter having a button, the transmitter transmitting data via a signal when a user presses the button;

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

a battery status circuit, the battery status circuit comprising a voltage reference circuit and a comparator circuit, the battery status circuit electrically coupled with the battery to determine the voltage supply level of the battery each time the transmitter transmits data by measuring a reduction in a voltage level across at least one circuitry element electrically coupled to the battery status circuit, the voltage level indicating a present strength of the signal of the transmitter,

the battery status circuit receiving a first voltage input from a first transistor, the first voltage input representing an actual voltage supply level of the battery,

the battery status circuit receiving a second voltage input from a second transistor, the second voltage input representing a first voltage threshold, and

the battery status circuit receiving a third voltage input from a third transistor, the third voltage input representing a second voltage threshold,

wherein

the first voltage threshold is 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 is 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 battery at a second level, the second level being less than the first level;

a first, a second, and a third voltage status light emitting diode (LED), each of the voltage status LEDs electrically coupled with the battery status circuit, the first voltage status LED emitting a first color of light, the second voltage status LED emitting a second color of light, and the third voltage status LED emitting a third color of light, the colors of light each being different and each representing a particular different output voltage,

the battery status circuit actuating the first voltage status LED according to a first predetermined pattern when the actual voltage supply level of the battery is above the first voltage threshold,

the battery status circuit actuating the second voltage status LED according to a second predetermined pattern when the actual voltage supply level of the battery is between the first voltage threshold and the second voltage threshold, and

the battery status circuit actuating the third voltage status LED according to a third predetermined pattern when the actual voltage supply level of the battery is lower than the second voltage threshold; and

the battery, the transmitter, the controller circuit, and the battery status circuit are enclosed in a housing.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing is a handheld housing for performing portable transmissions.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first voltage threshold is set at fifty percent of a nominal value of the battery.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the second voltage threshold is set at twenty-five percent of the nominal value of the battery.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second voltage threshold is set at twenty-five percent of a nominal value of the battery.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the battery status circuit receives the first voltage input from the first transistor at a specified sampling interval.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the battery status circuit receives the first voltage input from the first transistor at each transmission of data of the transmitter.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller circuit is selected from a group consisting of:

(a) a microcontroller and (b) a plurality of comparator and reference circuits.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first color of light is green, the second color of light is yellow, and the third color of light is red.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is inoperable to transmit data when the actual voltage supply level of the batter is lower than the second voltage threshold.