Vehicle battery controller
First Claim
1. A vehicle battery controller for controlling the connection of a rechargeable auxiliary battery to a rechargeable main battery of a vehicle electrical system including an engine-driven battery charger, the controller comprising a first comparison means for connecting the auxiliary battery to the main battery during engine starting if the auxiliary battery voltage is greater than a first threshold, and a second comparison means for disconnecting the auxiliary battery from the main battery during engine running if the battery voltage produced by said connection of said auxiliary battery to said main battery is less than a second threshold.
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Abstract
The vehicle battery controller includes a controller for interconnecting an auxiliary battery to a main battery for engine starting or charging. If the auxiliary battery voltage is lower than a first threshold before engine starting its subsequent use is inhibited. If the main battery voltage exceeds the auxiliary battery voltage by more than a predetermined margin, the auxiliary battery is not used for engine starting. When the engine is running and the charging system is operating, the auxiliary battery is disconnected when the common voltage is below a second threshold.
53 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A vehicle battery controller for controlling the connection of a rechargeable auxiliary battery to a rechargeable main battery of a vehicle electrical system including an engine-driven battery charger, the controller comprising a first comparison means for connecting the auxiliary battery to the main battery during engine starting if the auxiliary battery voltage is greater than a first threshold, and a second comparison means for disconnecting the auxiliary battery from the main battery during engine running if the battery voltage produced by said connection of said auxiliary battery to said main battery is less than a second threshold.
- 2. A vehicle battery controller for controlling the connection of a rechargeable auxiliary battery to a rechargeable main battery of a vehicle electrical system including an engine-driven battery charger, the controller comprising a first comparison means for connecting the auxiliary battery to the main battery during engine starting if the auxiliary battery voltage is greater than a first threshold, and a second comparison means for disconnecting the auxiliary battery during engine running if the battery voltage produced by said connection of said auxiliary battery is less than a second threshold, and wherein said second comparison means is arranged, after disconnection of the auxiliary battery from the main battery, to connect the auxiliary battery if the main battery voltage is greater than a third threshold.
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11. A method of controlling the use of an auxiliary battery in a vehicle electrical system which includes a main battery, an auxiliary battery, an engine starting apparatus and an engine-driven battery charger, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) comparing the auxiliary battery voltage with a first threshold before the engine is started and preventing connection of the auxiliary battery to the main battery if the auxiliary battery voltage is less than said threshold; (b) comparing the excess of the main voltage battery over the auxiliary voltage battery with a predetermined margin; (c) connecting the auxiliary battery to the main battery after an engine starting operation if the excess exceeds the margin, but before the engine starting operation otherwise; (d) comparing the common battery voltage when the engine is running and the batteries are interconnected with a second threshold; and (e) disconnecting the auxiliary battery from the main battery if the common battery voltage is less than said second threshold. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification