Microprocessor controlled booster apparatus with polarity protection

• US 20040130298A1
• Filed: 12/10/2002
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vector Products Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vector Products Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Krieger, Michael, Randolph, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 7,345,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/165
• 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 polarity detection circuit, comprising:

cables for connecting a first battery to a depleted battery;

a polarity sensing circuit coupled to the first battery for providing an enable signal when a correct polarity connection is made between the first battery and the depleted battery; and

a solid state switch coupled to the polarity sensing circuit, the solid state switch permitting current flow between the first battery and the depleted battery when it receives the enable signal.

2. The polarity detection circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a safety switch that when activated prevents the solid state switch from permitting current flow between the first battery and the depleted battery.

3. The polarity detection circuit of claim 1, wherein the polarity sensing circuit comprises an opto-isolator.

4. The polarity detection circuit of claim 1, wherein the polarity sensing circuit comprises an LED coupled to one of the cables, the diode being forward biased when a correct polarity connection is made between the first battery and the depleted battery;

and

a phototransistor coupled to the diode, current flow through the forward biased LED turning on the phototransistor to provide the enable signal.

5. The polarity detection circuit of claim 1, wherein the solid state switch comprises at least one transistor.

6. The polarity detection circuit of claim 5, wherein the current from the first battery flows through the at least one transistor to the depleted battery.

7. The polarity detection circuit of claim 1, wherein the solid state switch comprises at least one FET having a control electrode, the control electrode receiving the enable signal to place the FET into a conducting state.

8. The polarity detection circuit of claim 7, wherein the FET is a part of a current path between the first battery and the depleted battery.

9. The polarity detection circuit of claim 1, further comprising a frequency generator coupled to one of the cables and injecting a signal of a predetermined frequency into that cable.

10. The polarity detection circuit of claim 9, further comprising a frequency detector coupled to the other one of the cables, the frequency detector preventing the solid state switch from permitting current flow between the first battery and the depleted battery when the frequency detector ceases to detect the signal of predetermined frequency injected by the frequency generator.

11. 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.

12. The booster apparatus of claim 11, wherein only a single cable is connected to each terminal of the depleted battery.

13. The booster apparatus of claim 11, 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.

14. The booster apparatus of claim 13, wherein the transistors are a part of a current path between the first battery and the depleted battery.

15. The booster apparatus of claim 11, 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.

16. The booster apparatus of claim 11, 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.

17. The booster apparatus of claim 16, wherein the depleted battery is intended for use in a vehicle.

18. The booster apparatus of claim 16, 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.

19. The booster apparatus of claim 16, further comprising at least one sensor connected to an input of the microprocessor for producing a signal representing a measured value.

20. The booster apparatus of claim 16, 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.

21. The booster apparatus of claim 18, further comprising an air compressor controlled by an output of the microprocessor.

22. The booster apparatus of claim 21, 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.

23. The booster apparatus of claim 16, wherein the polarity sensing circuit comprises an opto-isolator.

24. The booster apparatus of claim 23, 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.

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

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

26. The booster apparatus of claim 16, 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

30. The booster apparatus of claim 29, wherein the voltage is measured at least one of before the depleted battery is charged and after the depleted battery is charged.

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

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

32. The booster apparatus of claim 16, further comprising means for detecting a voltage surge after the depleted battery is jump started.

33. The booster apparatus of claim 16, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to detect a voltage surge after the depleted battery is jump started.

34. A portable booster apparatus, comprising:

means for providing power;

means for connecting the means for providing power to a depleted battery;

means for detecting polarity of the connection between the means for providing power and the depleted battery and for generating an enable signal when a correct polarity is detected; and

at least one FET having a control electrode and being coupled to the means for detecting polarity, the control electrode receiving the enable signal and placing the FET into a conducting state to allow current flow between the means for providing power and the depleted battery.

35. The booster apparatus of claim 34, further comprising means for indicating a correct polarity connection to a user.

36. The booster apparatus of claim 35, wherein the means for indicating comprises a LED.

37. The booster apparatus of claim 34, further comprising means for interrupting current flow after a correct polarity connection has been established.

38. The booster apparatus of claim 37, further comprising at least one sensor connected to an input of the microprocessor for producing a measured signal representing the presence of the depleted battery at the means for connecting and wherein the means for interrupting comprises a microprocessor programmed to place the FET in a non-conducting state if no depleted battery is present.

39. The booster apparatus of claim 38, 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.

40. The booster apparatus of claim 37, wherein the means for interrupting comprises a momentary switch adapted to short circuit the control electrode of the FET when depressed.

41. The booster apparatus of claim 37, further comprising an indicator for indicating when current flow has been interrupted.

42. The booster apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

means for injecting a signal of a predetermined frequency into the means for connecting; and

means for detecting frequency coupled to the means for connecting on an opposite side of the depleted battery than the means for injecting, 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.

43. The booster apparatus of claim 34, wherein the means for detecting polarity comprises an opto-isolator.

44. A jump starter system, comprising:

a first battery having positive and negative terminals;

a pair a battery cables having first ends connected to the positive and negative terminals, respectively, of the first battery and second ends adapted for connection to positive and negative terminals of a depleted battery;

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 rate, amount of time and voltage of the depleted battery.

45. The charger claim 44, further comprising a display on which fault is visually indicated.

46. The charger of claim 44, 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.

47. The charger claim 46, wherein the predetermined current is 2 amps, the predetermined time is 18 hours, and the predetermined voltage is 12 volts.

48. The charger of claim 44, 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.

49. The charger claim 48, wherein the predetermined time is 1 hour, and the predetermined voltage is 11 volts.

50. The charger of claim 44, wherein the means for detecting detects the bad battery fault if no voltage is detected at the means for measuring.

51. The charger of claim 44, 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.

52. A computer-readable information storage medium for use with a computer controlling a jump starter system, comprising a first battery having positive and negative terminals, a pair a battery cables having first ends connected to the positive and negative terminals, respectively, of the first battery and second ends adapted for connection to positive and negative terminals of a depleted battery, the computer-readable information storage medium storing computer-readable program code for causing the computer to perform the steps of:

measuring a charge rate of the depleted battery;

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

measuring a voltage of the depleted battery; and

detecting at least one of an overtime fault, a shorted cell battery fault, a bad battery fault, an open cell battery fault, and an alternator fault based on at least one of the charge rate, amount of time and voltage of the battery.

53. The computer-readable information storage medium of claim 52 further comprising code for causing the computer to perform the step of visually indicating the fault on a display.

54. The computer-readable information storage medium of claim 52 further comprising code for causing the computer to perform the step of detecting 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.

55. The computer-readable information storage medium of claim 54, wherein the predetermined current is 2 amps, the predetermined time is 18 hours, and the predetermined voltage is 12 volts.

56. The computer-readable information storage medium of claim 52 further comprising code for causing the computer to perform the step of detecting 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.

57. The computer-readable information storage medium of claim 56, wherein the predetermined time is 1 hour, and the predetermined voltage is 11 volts.

58. The computer-readable information storage medium of claim 52 further comprising code for causing the computer to perform the steps of:

indicating the bad battery fault if no voltage is detected at the second ends of the cables; and

proceeding with a charging operation if a voltage is detected at the second ends of the cables.

59. The computer-readable information storage medium of claim 52 further comprising code for causing the computer to perform the step of detecting 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.

60. The computer-readable information storage medium of claim further comprising code for causing the computer to perform steps of:

checking for a rapid rise in voltage after the vehicle has been started;

indicating the alternator is working properly if the rapid rise in voltage is present; and

indicating the alternator is not working properly if the rapid rise in voltage is not present.