Patent ID: 7675261
Filing Date: 2010-03-09
Classification: B60L,H01M,Y02E,Y02P,Y02T

Abstract:
1. An auxiliary battery attachment apparatus for attachment to a first battery apparatus, the auxiliary battery attachment apparatus and the first battery apparatus providing electrical energy to an external electrical system on an as-needed basis when so attached, the first battery apparatus including a first battery disposed within a first battery housing, the first battery housing including at least one positive terminal and at least one negative terminal, the first battery supplying electrical energy to the at least one positive terminal and the at least one negative terminal of the first battery housing, the auxiliary battery attachment apparatus comprising: a second battery housing including at least one positive terminal and at least one negative terminal, the at least one positive terminal of the second battery housing being electrically connectable to the at least one positive terminal of the first battery housing and the at least one negative terminal of the second battery housing being electrically connectable to the at least one negative terminal of the first battery housing, the at least one positive terminal and the at least one negative terminal of the second battery housing being electrically coupleable to the external electrical system; a second battery disposed within the second battery housing and including a positive output and a negative output, the negative output of the second battery being electrically connected to the at least one negative terminal of the second battery housing; at least one positive coupling coupleable to the at least one positive terminal of the first battery housing; at least one negative coupling coupleable to the at least one negative terminal of the first battery housing; at least one switching device operable in at least two states to selectively electrically connect the at least one positive terminal of the second battery housing to one of the at least one positive coupling and the positive output of the second battery, the at least one switching device being operable in a first state to electrically connect the at least one positive terminal of the second battery housing to the at least one positive coupling, the at least one switching device being further operable in a second state independent of the first state to electrically connect the at least one positive terminal of the second battery housing to the positive output of the second battery; and a one-way charging circuit electrically connected between the at least one positive coupling and the positive output of the second battery, the one-way charging circuit being configured to prevent current flow from the second battery and facilitate simultaneous charging of the first battery and the second battery when the at least one switching device is in the first state, the at least one positive coupling is coupled to the at least one positive terminal of the first battery housing, and the at least one negative coupling is coupled to the at least one negative terminal of the first battery housing, wherein the first battery and the second battery do not supply electrical energy to the external electrical system simultaneously when the at least one positive terminal and the at least one negative terminal of the second battery housing are electrically coupled to the external electrical system and when one of: (i) the at least one switching device is in the first state, and (ii) the at least one switching device is in the second state and a voltage of the first battery is less than or equal to a voltage of the second battery.