Patent ID: 6590396
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: H02J

Abstract:
A device for indicating in-use charging and abnormal discharging of a combustion engine battery following engine turn-off, comprising:(a) a first circuit for the indicating in-use battery charging during engine operation, through and following engine turn-off, said first circuit comprising: (i) a first circuit current sensor operatively connected for sensing in-use battery charging current, converting said sensed in-use battery charging current into a voltage proportional to said sensed in-use battery charging current, and generating an in-use battery charging signal corresponding to said voltage; (ii) a charge level tester operatively connected to said first circuit current sensor for measuring a magnitude of said in-use battery charging signal sent by said first circuit current sensor, comparing said in-use battery charging signal magnitude to a pre-determined in-use battery charging level, and generating a charge level tester signal proportional to said in-use battery charging signal magnitude when said in-use battery charging signal magnitude is greater than said pre-determined in-use battery charging level; (iii) a latch circuit operatively connected to said charge level tester for receiving and registering said charge level tester signal sent by said charge level tester as an indication of the in-use battery charging, storing said indication of the in-use battery charging, and generating a latch circuit signal corresponding to said stored indication of the in-use battery charging; (iv) a charge indicator operatively connected to said latch circuit for receiving said latch circuit signal corresponding to said stored indication of the in-use battery charging, and providing an indication of said in-use battery charging to an engine operator during the in-use engine operation, through and following the engine turn-off; and (v) a first circuit voltage level tester operatively connected to the engine battery for measuring voltage of the engine battery, comparing said battery voltage to a pre-determined battery voltage level corresponding to engine starting, and sending a first circuit voltage level tester signal to said latch circuit for resetting said latch circuit when said battery voltage is less than said pre-determined battery voltage level corresponding to engine starting; and (b) a second circuit for the indicating abnormal battery discharging following engine turn-off, said second circuit comprising: (i) a second circuit current sensor operatively connected for sensing battery discharging current, converting said sensed battery discharging current into a voltage proportional to said sensed battery discharging current, and generating a battery discharging signal corresponding to said voltage; (ii) a discharge level tester operatively connected to said second circuit current sensor for measuring a magnitude of said battery discharging signal sent by said second circuit current sensor, comparing said battery discharging signal magnitude to at least one pre-determined battery discharging level corresponding to the battery abnormal discharging, and generating a discharge level tester signal proportional to said battery discharging signal magnitude when said battery discharging signal magnitude is greater than said at least one pre-determined battery discharging level; (iii) a delay mechanism for delaying sending of said discharge level tester signal by said discharge level tester until said delay mechanism receives an indication of the engine turnoff and sends a delay mechanism signal corresponding to said indication of the engine turn-off to said discharge level tester; (iv) a high discharge indicator operatively connected to said discharge level tester for receiving said delayed discharge level tester signal corresponding to the battery abnormal discharging, and providing an indication of the battery abnormal discharging to an engine operator following the engine turn-off; and (v) a second circuit voltage level tester operatively connected to the engine battery for measuring said battery voltage, comparing said battery voltage to a pre-determined battery voltage level corresponding to the engine turn-off, and sending a second circuit voltage level tester signal to said delay mechanism when said battery voltage is less than said pre-determined battery voltage level corresponding to the engine turn-off.