Abstract:
A programmable timer power switch unit for use with a battery includes a power switch receives power from the battery and switches the power to equipment. The unit also has a charge-discharge detector connected to the battery to detect a potential charge of the battery and a vibration-pressure detector which detects any movement of or sounds from the motor. There is a timer-control logic which is connected to the components and disables the power switch when any problems are detected. The unit further includes a programmable delay switch. The purpose of this switch is to allow the equipment to run during a pre-selected item. Also, there is a manual override switch for overriding the timer-control logic when necessary.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a monitoring device for monitoring a system battery powering an external device, such as a two-way radio, when the motor is not running. During this time, the battery is discharged by the external device. A timer in the monitoring device allows the radio to run for a pre-set time. The device also includes a separate voltage detector which will override the timer and shut off the radio upon the detection of a low battery voltage as well as a vibration detector which detects vibrations from the engine to reset the timer whenever the motor is started. 
     The battery of the automobile powers CBs, AM/FM radios, two-way radios, radar devices and other electronic communication systems. A problem has developed from connecting numerous electronic equipment to the battery of the motor. This electronic equipment drains the car battery. 
     People who use communication systems in their cars or trucks need to leave the two-way radio, for example, on when the vehicle is unattended. With modern technology, this can include waiting for a page vehicle location detection by a control center, status reporting or in-coming data. The most common reason, however, is the inconvenience of manually turning the radio off each time one leaves the vehicle. Accordingly, people constantly forget at the end of the day to turn the radio off. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The unit described is designed to overcome the problems of the prior art. When the motor is not running, the battery is being discharged and this condition starts a timer which will eventually disconnect the radio or other connected equipment at the end of a pre-set time. If the battery is weak, a separate voltage detector will override the timer and shut the radio off. This condition will continue until the vehicle is started, thereby activating a vibration detector which will reset the system. 
     The programmable timer power switch, hereinafter referred to as PTPS is an electronic device that, when installed into a motor vehicle, will keep the battery from discharging to a point where it can no longer charge or turn over a motor from a cold start. When the situation arises, the user can choose to keep operating any equipment, e.g., CB, radio, or computer terminal, that is connected through the PTPS for a preselected period of time after the vehicle motor has been turned off. 
     This preselected period delays the time at which power is switched off to all equipment connected to the PTPS unit. The time interval is user programmable from one to nine hours, in one hour increments, by way of turning a single rotary switch. During this delay cycle, the PTPS is constantly monitoring for a low voltage battery level or any sudden current surges due to faulty equipment or poor charging which would causes the battery to be weak and non-operative. 
     Should any of the above conditions be detected, the PTPS unit will immediately deactivate the power switch from the battery , thus preventing the load through the PTPS from contributing to permanent damage to the battery itself. One light emitting diode (LED) will indicate any of these failures. In an emergency situation, the PTPS can be overridden manually through an external switch. When activated, this switch will bypass normal control circuitry and re-connect power to all the equipment connected through the PTPS unit. 
     One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the figures and will be described in greater detail below and with reference to these figures. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the programmable timer switch unit; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of a power up reset and low voltage detector; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of a motor charging detector made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic circuit diagram of a rate of discharge detector made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram of a vibration and pressure detector made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram of the timer and control logic made in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic circuit diagram of a power switch unit made in with the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the PTPS unit generally indicated by numeral 10. PTPS unit 10 is connected between a vehicle battery 11 and electrical equipment 13. PTPS unit 10 consists of a number of detectors, switches and logic components. 
     There is a low voltage detector 12 for detecting the voltage of the motor battery 11. There is a vibration/pressure detector 14 which detects vibrations or sounds from the motor 15. There is a rate of discharge detector 16 which detects current from the vehicle battery 11. There is a motor charging detector 26 which sets a minimum voltage for operating vehicle battery 11. There is a timer/control logic unit 22 which receives signals from the detector units and indicates any errors or problems with a light emitting diode. There is a power switch 20 which controls the on-off power from the vehicle battery 11 to the electrical equipment 13. There is a programmable time delay switch 24 which can be manually set. There is a manual override switch 30 which is used to override the timer/control logic 22 of the system and turn &#34;on&#34; or &#34;off&#34; power switch 20. 
     Each section within PTPS unit 10 is inter-dependent and performs specific functions necessary for proper operation. 
     When vehicle motor 15 is ON, battery 11 charges to its full capacity. This charge raises the voltage level to approximately 14.5 volts D.C. During this time, vibration/pressure detector 14 monitors for vehicle vibrations, and verifies the vehicle is either in idle or moving mode. Both the low voltage 12 and the rate of discharge 16 detectors are in a constant testing state. 
     Unless the battery 11 is poorly charged, vehicle alternator (not shown) is not functional or equipment 13 is faulty as connected to the PTPS unit 10, these two detectors, 12 and 16, will not flag any fault conditions. A fault condition is indicated by HIGH on the respective outputs of the detectors. 
     When the vehicle engine 15 is in idle or moving mode, the detectors indicate normal conditions and the manual override switch 30 is OFF. Now, PTPS unit 10 automatically activates the power switch 20 and power is sent to all equipment 13 connected to the vehicle battery 11 by way of PTPS unit 10. Under these conditions, power switch 20 will only be deactivated if a low voltage level or any excess current is detected. 
     When vehicle motor 15 is turned OFF, and the vehicle generator (not shown) has been deactivated, the battery voltage resumes a voltage level of 12 volts D.C. with the delay timer 24 programmed to some selected time period, such as 1-9 hours, timer/control logic 22 will continue to activate power switch 20 without any interruptions, but will start the delay timer 24 counting down the selected time interval. At this time, should no flags from either detector exist, (i.e., the low voltage 12 or rate of discharge 16) delay timer 24 will proceed counting to zero and deactivate power switch 20 at the end of the time period. 
     On the other hand, if a fault is detected during the countdown period, timer/control logic 22 will immediately reset the timer 24 as well as disable the power switch 20 and disconnect power to all equipment 13 which, is control by the PTPS unit 10. 
     The low voltage detector 12 will now be described with reference to FIG. 2. When the PTPS unit 10 is first installed into a motor vehicle, a power up RESET will be generated. When the power is initially applied, a fixed reference voltage on the non-inverting input of op-amp OA-1 will be established due to zener diode D1. 
     The voltage on the inverting input of op-amp OA-1 will not be established until capacitor C1 has been charged. While capacitor C1 is charging, the output of op-amp OA-1 will remain HIGH and cause timer/control logic 22 to disable power switch 20. In other words, the voltage on the inverting input is less than the voltage on the non-inverting input of op-amp OA-1 input. Once capacitor C1 has become charged, the voltage level on the non-inverting input will be high enough to cause the output of op-amp OA-1 to reverse to a normal LOW level. 
     With PTPS unit 10 operational, should vehicle battery 11 ever go below the reference voltage set by zener diode D1, a HIGH is generated at the output of op-amp OA-1 and a RESET signal is sent to timer/control logic 22 to disable power switch 20. The timer/control logic unit 22 will be further explained with reference to FIG. 6. This RESET signal is generated whether vehicle motor 15 is in idle, moving or OFF modes, and will remain HIGH until the voltage level has been corrected, such as replacing the battery or alternator. In emergency situations, manual override switch 30 can override control logic 22 allowing power switch 20 to continue to operate as long as manual override switch 30 is activated. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, motor charging detector 26 is used only to detect whether the alternator is charging the battery 11 to its full capacity by reflecting an elevated voltage of approximately 14.5 volts D.C. Motor charging detector unit 26 compares a fixed reference voltage with a ratio of the elevated voltage and verifies a battery voltage somewhere above 13.5 volts D.C. A HIGH on the output of op-amp OA-2 permits vibration/pressure detector unit 14 to pass its own D.C. sensed voltage through a comparator, such as op-amp OA-6 as shown in FIG. 5. This signal confirms the vehicle motor 15 is operating and is in idle or moving mode. The combination of these two detectors, (i.e., 14 and 26), prevents vehicle tampering and any external method of deception. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, while PTPS unit 10 is operating, rate of discharge detector 16 is constantly testing for excessive current or for any electrical failures that might occur, such as shorts or faulty equipment. 
     Op-amp OA-3 monitors the level of current consumed by the equipment 13, powered through the power switch 20 and converts the current to a voltage level. This level is sampled at a specific clock rate which is controlled by clock pulses from IC-4 and held steady by way of three MOS-FETS IC 5, when the clock is HIGH. This voltage level is then applied to the non-inverting input of op-amp OA-4 and compared to a threshold level that appears on the inverting input. The threshold level at op-amp OA-4 is a preset D.C. voltage which corresponds to the maximum allowable rate of discharge or current usage for the PTPS unit 10. 
     Whenever the sample voltage level is greater than the threshold level and the rate of current consumption has exceeded its normal safe level of usage, the output of op-amp OA-4 will go HIGH. This will reset timer/control logic 22 which in turn will disable power switch 20. However, because of the design of the PTPS circuit 10, large temporary bursts of excess current will be ignored to keep power switch 20 from being turned off or being interrupted due to any current surges invoked when any new equipment is activated. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, vibration/pressure detector 14 allows PTPS unit 10 to monitor and determine whether vehicle motor 15 is in idle, moving or OFF modes. Vibration and sound pressure is sensed through a transducer 40 coupled via a transformer T1 amplified by an op-amp OA-5. This output of an AC voltage is then filtered, conditioned, and applied to a non-inverting input of an op-amp OA-6 as a D.C. voltage. The inverting input of the op-amp OA-6 has a DC-reference voltage. As previously explained with reference to FIG. 3, this reference voltage is enabled only through motor charging detector 26 and corresponds to a preset level of vibration and sound pressure sensitivity. When vehicle motor 15 is in idle or moving modes, the non-inverting input of op-amp OA-6 will be higher than the inverting input and will produce a HIGH on the output. This HIGH signal will be sent to the timer/control logic 22 which will determine whether power switch shown 20 should be activated. 
     Should vehicle motor 15 be in the OFF mode, the output of op-amp OA-6 will be LOW, and this LOW signal will keep power switch 20 disabled. 
     With reference to FIG. 6, under the condition where vehicle motor 15 has just been turned OFF and no reset situation exists, a trigger pulse is generated by IC 2. This trigger pulse is 1/2 the normal pulse of IC 2 when vehicle motor 15 is in idle or moving modes. This pulse activates delay timer circuit IC 1 automatically and keeps power switch 20 enabled. 
     Referring more specifically to FIG. 6, timer/control logic 22 of PTPS unit 10 keeps track of all conditions being monitored and starts as well as resets delay timer IC 1 and controls power switch 20. The delay timer of IC 1 can be preprogrammed by the user through a rotary switch. For example, a time of one to nine hours, in one hour increments, could be set. This allows power switch 20 to conduct until the end of the pre-selected delay period. 
     A trigger pulse generates a signal which is 1/2 of IC 2 and will activate the delay timer of IC 1 if there is no RESET or if the current consumption by way of the rate of discharge- detector 16 is within normal limits, and if vehicle motor 15 has just been turned off by vibration/pressure detector 14. 
     Any time a failure condition is detected, by any of the detectors, a RESET or error signal will be sent to timer/control logic 22. Accordingly, the delay timer of IC 1 is reset and power switch 20 is disabled from conducting, except in the case of a manual override. 
     When a normal time delay period has completed its cycle, the delay timer of IC 1 will generate a HIGH on its combined outputs and cause control logic 22 to reset itself at 1/2 of IC 2. At the same time, power switch 20 will be disabled. 
     Referring now to FIG. 7, power switch 20 is essentially controlled through timer/control logic circuit 22. It consists of a basic transistor driver Q1 and a relay RL 1 that is rated for high current. When a HIGH is received from timer/control circuit 22, relay RL 1 will engage. The engaging of relay RL 1 permits current to flow to equipment 13 connected through PTPS unit 10. The option of manually override 30 is included by way of a switch SW 2 in the case of an emergency. 
     The following is a listing of suitable elements for the circuits of FIGS. 2-7: 
     
         ______________________________________PTPS PARTS UNIT LIST______________________________________LM 2903  OA-4, OA-6       ComparatorTLC 272  OA-1, OA-2, OA-3, OA-5                     CMOS OP-AMPUA2240C  IC 1             Timer ChipMC14013  IC 2             Dual D Flip-flopMC14071  IC 3             Quad OR GateMM74C04  IC 4             Hex InverterMC14066  IC 5             Quad MOS-FETS2N2222   Q1               NPN Transistor1N5239   D1               Zener Diode1N5231   D2               Zener DiodeKDS-1 4-12    SW-1             BCD Rotary Switch    T1               Transformer    LED              Light Emitting Diode    Transducer       32 Ohm Speaker    SW-2             SPST Toggle Switch______________________________________ 
    
     All other diodes, resistors and capacitors are common components. 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modification and equivalents may be resulted to falling within the scope of the invention which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the claims.