Patent ID: 7612524
Filing Date: 2009-11-03
Classification: H02J,Y02T

Abstract:
1. An engine-powered land vehicle comprising: an engine and a drivetrain through which the engine propels the vehicle on land; a battery bank comprising one or more D.C. storage batteries; an electric starter motor that draws current from the battery bank to crank the engine at starting; electric load circuits that are fed from the battery bank through a disconnect switch module, wherein the disconnect switch module comprises one or more pairs of high-current, high-side solid state switch devices, the devices of each pair each comprising a solid-state switch comprising a source terminal and a drain terminal providing a conduction path through the switch, the source terminal of one device of each pair being connected to the load circuits, the source terminal of the other device of each pair being connected to the battery bank, and the drain terminals of the devices of each pair being connected in common, and wherein the module comprises a processor that is associated with each solid-state switch and that comprises an algorithm for processing data corresponding to battery bank voltage for causing the solid-state switches to disconnect the battery bank from the electric load circuits when data corresponding to battery bank voltage indicates that a battery has been connected in the battery bank to create a double battery.