Method and apparatus for providing supplemental power to an engine
First Claim
1. A method for delivering supplemental power from a portable jump starter to an engine comprising the steps of:
- positioning said portable jump starter proximate the engine;
temporarily manually connecting conductive leads from said portable jump starter to the electrical system of the engine;
automatically selecting a voltage output of one or more system batteries housed in said portable jump starter and one or more system capacitors housed in said portable jump starter,verifying the polarity of the conductive leads;
providing an alert if said polarity is incorrect;
assessing the voltage level of said electrical system;
applying power from said system batteries and said system capacitors to said electrical system;
monitoring the current output of said system batteries and said system capacitors;
measuring one or more voltage levels to determine one or more fault conditions;
examining the current through a shunt cable; and
electrically disconnecting said conductive leads from said electrical system when the engine starts.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus provides supplemental power to an engine. The method and apparatus includes a pair of conductive leads for connecting the supplemental power to an engine electrical system, one or more batteries connected in parallel with one or more capacitors, a relay connected to the conductive leads, a shunt cable connecting the batteries and capacitors to the relay and a processor for controlling the relay to selectively apply electrical power to the engine electrical system. The method and apparatus includes safety features to reduce the risk of injury to the operator and damage to the apparatus and/or engine electrical system.
37 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for delivering supplemental power from a portable jump starter to an engine comprising the steps of:
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positioning said portable jump starter proximate the engine; temporarily manually connecting conductive leads from said portable jump starter to the electrical system of the engine; automatically selecting a voltage output of one or more system batteries housed in said portable jump starter and one or more system capacitors housed in said portable jump starter, verifying the polarity of the conductive leads; providing an alert if said polarity is incorrect; assessing the voltage level of said electrical system; applying power from said system batteries and said system capacitors to said electrical system; monitoring the current output of said system batteries and said system capacitors; measuring one or more voltage levels to determine one or more fault conditions; examining the current through a shunt cable; and electrically disconnecting said conductive leads from said electrical system when the engine starts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification