Portable jump-starting battery pack with charge monitoring system

• US 6,344,733 B1
• Filed: 09/22/2000
• Issued: 02/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Technologies Incorporated (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Technologies Incorporated (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Inventors: Crass, Matthew M., Iverson, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US09/663,694
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 320/137, 320/162, 320/152, 320/158, 320/143, 320/145, 702/63
• US Class Current: 320/143
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage

Abstract

A battery pack includes a lead-acid battery and a charger port and an electronic switch connected between the two, the switch being controlled by a microcontroller which is connected to each of the battery and the charger port for separately monitoring the voltages thereat. The microcontroller operates under the control of a program which includes routines for comparing the battery voltage to the charger port voltage, for preventing closure of the switch unless the charger port voltage is at least a predetermined level and at least the battery voltage, for adjusting the duty cycle of the switch in accordance with the magnitude of the difference between the charger port voltage and the battery voltage, for detecting a bad battery by measuring the length of time required to increase the battery voltage from first to second predetermined levels, for reducing the switch duty cycle to a trickle charge level in the event of bad battery detection, and for disabling the bad battery detection routine in the event that a cigarette lighter adapter is coupled to the charger port. Audible and visible indicators may be provided to signal charging condition.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising:

a battery,

a charger port adapted to be coupled to an associated charging system, and

a control circuit coupled to the charger port and to the battery for separately monitoring battery voltage and voltage at the charger port and responsive to the monitored voltages for controlling charging of the battery from the charger port,

the control circuit including an electronic switch for coupling the charger port to the battery, and a processor coupled to the switch and operating under stored program control for controlling the operation of the switch in response to the monitored voltages,

the processor program including a routine for comparing the battery voltage with the voltage at the charger port and for adjusting the duty cycle of the switch in accordance with the magnitude of the difference between the voltage at the charger port and the battery voltage.

2. The battery pack of claim 1, and further comprising an annunciator for indicating voltage conditions.

3. The battery pack of claim 2, wherein the annunciator includes a visible indicator.

4. The battery pack of claim 2, wherein the annunciator includes an audible indicator.

5. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the switch is a MOSFET switch.

6. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the processor includes a program routine which prevents charging of the battery unless the voltage of the charger port is at least at a predetermined level and is equal to or greater than the battery voltage.

7. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the control circuit includes a circuit for producing a signal when the battery voltage is at least at a predetermined level.

8. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the battery is a lead-acid battery.

9. A battery pack comprising:

a battery,

a charger port adapted to be coupled to an associated charging system, and

a control circuit coupled to the charger port and to the battery for separately monitoring battery voltage and voltage at the charger port and responsive to the monitored voltages for controlling charging of the battery from the charger port,

the control circuit including an electronic switch for coupling the charger port to the battery, and a processor coupled to the switch and operating under stored program control for controlling the operation of the switch in response to the monitored voltages,

the processor program including a routine to determine whether or not a cigarette lighter adapter is connected to the charger port.

10. The battery pack of claim 9, wherein the processor program includes a routine for determining whether or not the battery is accepting a charge, and for disabling that routine when a cigarette lighter adapter is connected to the charger port.

11. A battery pack comprising:

a battery,

a charger port adapted to be coupled to an associated charging system, and

a control circuit coupled to the charger port and to the battery for separately monitoring battery voltage and voltage at the charger port and responsive to the monitored voltages for controlling charging of the battery from the charger port,

the control circuit including a processor operating under stored program control, the program including a routine which measures the time required for the battery voltage to be raised from a first predetermined level to a second predetermined level and for providing a signal when the measured time period is at least a predetermined time.

12. The battery pack of claim 11, wherein the control circuit includes a switch coupled between the battery and the charger port and connected to the processor, the processor program including a routine which reduces the duty cycle of the switch to a trickle charge level if the measured time period is equal to or greater than the predetermined time period.