Abstract:
An apparatus provides supplemental power to an engine. The 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 switch for controlling the relay to selectively apply electrical power to the engine electrical system. The apparatus includes safety features to reduce the risk of injury to the operator and damage to the apparatus and/or engine electrical system.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional application of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 13/768,534, filed on Feb. 15, 2013, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 12/436,562, filed May 6, 2009 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,493,021), which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 12/330,875, filed Dec. 9, 2008, which claims the benefit of provisional patent application 61/018,715, filed Jan. 3, 2008, all entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTAL POWER TO AN ENGINE. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a portable power source for a motor vehicle and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus to provide supplemental power to start internal combustion and turbine engines. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Internal combustion and turbine engines require a power source to start. Commonly, this power source is in the form of a battery, which provides power to a starter motor, which in turn drives the engine. The crankshaft of the engine is rotated by the starter motor at a speed sufficient to start the engine. If the battery goes dead or otherwise lacks sufficient power for the starter motor to drive the engine, the engine won&#39;t start. Environmental factors, such as temperature, affect the output of the battery and power required to rotate the engine. 
         [0004]    If the battery lacks sufficient power to start the engine, a supplemental power source is necessary to jump start the engine. Typically, jumper cables are used to connect the battery of one vehicle to the dead battery of another vehicle needing to be jumped. The batteries are connected in parallel using heavy cables (jumper cables) which are connected to the terminals of the batteries using conductive clamps. 
         [0005]    Several potential problems arise from the use of conventional jumper cables. Batteries in motor vehicles are capable of producing from 2,500 to more than 45,000 watts of power. If the batteries are cross-connected or the clamps inadvertently contact each other when one end of the jumper cables is connected to a battery, sparking can occur resulting in damage to the battery, the electrical system of the vehicle, and injury to the user of the jumper cables. If the jumper cables are not properly connected, there is a potential for the batteries exploding and fire, which may result in injury to those in proximity to the vehicle being jumped. Furthermore, the user is not given any indication as to the reason the battery is dead, which may only cause additional problems when trying to jump start the dead battery. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present invention provides an apparatus and method for temporarily delivering supplemental power to the electrical system of a vehicle. The apparatus and method performs real-time monitoring of all system parameters to increase the safety and effectiveness of the unit&#39;s operation while providing additional parametric and diagnostic information obtained before, during and after the vehicle starting operation. 
         [0007]    The present invention monitors the voltage of the battery of the vehicle to be jump started and the current delivered by the jump starter batteries and capacitors to determine if a proper connection has been established and to provide fault monitoring. For safety purposes, only if the proper polarity is detected can the system operate. The voltage is monitored to determine open circuit, disconnected conductive clamps, shunt cable fault, and solenoid fault conditions. The current through the shunt cable is monitored to determine if there is a battery explosion risk, and for excessive current conditions presenting an overheating condition, which may result in fire. The system includes one or more internal batteries and capacitors to provide the power to the battery of the vehicle to be jump started. Once the vehicle is started, the vehicle&#39;s electrical system may recharge the batteries and capacitors before the unit automatically electrically disconnects from the vehicle&#39;s battery. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of the portable power source of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  (divided into  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B,  2 C and  2 D) is a schematic of the portable power source, control circuit and sensors of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3-8  are flow charts of the processing steps of the portable power source of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 9  is a flow chart of the interrupt service routine of the system of the portable power source of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for the claims and/or as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
         [0013]    Moreover, except where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description and in the claims are to be understood as modified by the word “about” in describing the broader scope of this invention. Practice within the numerical limits stated is generally preferred. Also, unless expressly stated to the contrary, the description of a group or class of materials as suitable or preferred for a given purpose in connection with the invention implies that mixtures or combinations of any two or more members of the group or class may be equally suitable or preferred. 
         [0014]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , the portable supplemental power source (jump starter) of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  10 . Jump starter  10  includes a programmable microprocessor  12  which receives inputs  14  and produces informational outputs  16  and control outputs  18 . Microprocessor  12  provides flexibility to the system  10  to allow updates to the functionality and system parameters without changing the hardware. In the preferred embodiment, an 8-bit microprocessor with 64K bytes of programmable flash memory is used to control the system  10 . One such microprocessor is the ATmega644P available from Atmel Corporation. The microprocessor  12  may be programmed via an internal connector  90 , or an external connector  92  (see  FIG. 2 ). It should be understood that other programming ports may be included are not limited to the two shown in the figure. 
         [0015]    A capacitor voltage sensor  49  monitors the voltage level of one or more capacitor  21 . The capacitors  21  may include energy storage modules containing six or more ultracapacitor cells, for example. The capacitor modules  21  may be connected in series to obtain higher operating voltages or in parallel to provide additional energy storage. One such capacitor module is the Boostcap Energy Storage Module available from Maxwell Technologies, Inc. 
         [0016]    A battery voltage sensor  20  monitors the voltage level of one or more jump starter batteries  22 . A reverse voltage sensor  24  monitors the polarity of the jumper cables on line  26  which are connected to the vehicle&#39;s electrical system  28 . A vehicle voltage sensor  30  monitors the voltage on line  37  (voltage of the vehicle). When the contacts are open, the solenoid voltage sensor  32  input to microprocessor  12  is used to measure the voltage of the jump starter capacitors  21  and batteries  22 , which may be configured for various jump starter voltages. When the contacts are closed, the voltage difference between the capacitors  21  and batteries  22 , and the contact relay  34  is used to measure the voltage drop across a temperature-and-resistance calibrated 00 AWG shunt cable  36  in order to calculate the current being delivered by the jump starter capacitors  21  and batteries  22  to the vehicle&#39;s electrical system  28 . Although the present invention is disclosed and described as temporarily connected to a vehicle, it should be understood that it is equally applicable to a stationary engine. Additionally, the connection method to the electrical system or batteries of the engine to be started is not important and may include conductive clamps, NATO connectors, or may be permanently hardwired to the system, for example. 
         [0017]    A battery temperature sensor  38  monitors the temperature of the jump starter&#39;s batteries  22  to detect overheating due to excess current draw from the batteries during jump starting. A shunt cable temperature sensor  40  monitors the temperature of the 00 AWG shunt cable  36  in order to compensate for resistance changes of the shunt cable due to the high current passing through the shunt cable  36  and to detect overheating conditions. The unit  10  also includes automatic  42  and manual  44  pushbutton inputs to accept user input to select either automatic or manual operation. 
         [0018]    The temperature of 00 AWG shunt cable  37  may also be monitored by a temperature sensor or thermal switch  41 . As long as the temperature of the cable  37  is below a predetermined limit, the input on line  58  is passed through sensor  41  to line  59  to enable the contact relay  34  as controlled by system microcontroller  12 . If the temperature of the cable  37  exceeds a predetermined limit, then the temperature sensor  41  presents an open circuit to control line  58  to disable contact relay  34  and not allow power to be applied to the vehicle  28 . It should be understood that the temperature sensor  41  may be coupled to cable  36 ,  37  or any other cable that may become overheated. Additional temperature sensors may be used to provide additional protection of the system from overheating. 
         [0019]    A capacitor temperature sensor  47  monitors the temperature of the jump starter capacitors  21  to detect overheating due to excess current draw from the capacitors during jump starting. 
         [0020]    The microprocessor  12  includes several outputs  16  to provide information to the user and to control the application of power to the vehicle to be jump started. An LCD display  46  may be used to display user instructions, error messages, and real-time sensor data during operation of the jump starter  10 . A reverse voltage LED  48  is illuminated when the microprocessor  12  determines that a reverse voltage jumper cable voltage is detected by reverse voltage sensor  24 . An auto mode LED  50  is illuminated when the automatic mode pushbutton  42  is depressed. A manual mode LED  52  is illuminated when the manual mode pushbutton  44  is depressed. If the voltage level of the jump starter batteries  22  drop below a value of twenty percent of the normal level, a charge battery LED  54  is illuminated. The charge battery LED  54  remains illuminated until the batteries  22  are charged to a minimum state of charge such as fifty percent, for example. A fault LED  56  is turned on anytime the microprocessor  12  detects any operational, sensor or internal fault. An audible warning may also be provided  70 . The fault LED  56  remains illuminated until the fault condition is cleared. 
         [0021]    A contact relay control output  58  operates the contact relay  34  through temperature sensor  41 . When the jump starter operation has been successfully initiated, the contact relay  34  is closed and the jump starter capacitors  21  and batteries  22  are connected to the starter system or batteries of the vehicle to be started  28 . The contact relay  34  is opened when a successful start cycle has been completed, a start fault has occurred or the operator interrupts the jump starter cycle. An optional key pad  72  may be included and used for entry of a passcode to operate the unit  10 , or to identify one or more users of the system which may be stored to track user operation. For example, if two different users operate the unit  10  and error conditions are recorded for one of the users, this information may be used to identify training issues that need to be addressed. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B,  2 C,  2 D and  3 - 8 , when the jump starter  10  is initially powered on  200 , the microcontroller  12  initializes the hardware, reads all system parameters and variables, and initializes the interrupt service routine  202  (See  FIG. 8 ). All stored performance history is read from the onboard, non-volatile memory  204  and a start message is displayed  206  on the LCD display  46 . The history is saved for diagnostic, unit use and safety purposes. The microcontroller  12  then performs a system self-test operation  208  where the LCD  46 , all LEDs  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54  and  56 , all sensors  20 ,  24 ,  30 ,  32 ,  38 ,  40 , the push buttons  42  and  44 , and the system batteries  22  are tested and their status displayed  208  on the LCD  46 . If a fault is detected  400 , an error message is displayed  402  and system operation is halted. 
         [0023]    Once the initialization and self-test operations are completed, the system starts into a main processing loop  210 . An interrupt service routine (“ISR”)  500  ( FIG. 9 ) is also started which constantly monitors all input sensor values and user input buttons. The ISR  500  is periodically called by the microcontroller  502 . A check is made to determine if the serial input buffer flag is set  504 . If the flag is set  504 , then configuration information is read and flags set or cleared  506 . If the output flag is set  508 , the information is transmitted to an external PC and the output buffer flag is cleared  510 . Next, all input parameters are read  512 , and a moving average is calculated for each parameter  514 . If the PC remote flag is set  516 , all parameters and statuses are copied to the output buffer  518  and the output buffer flag is set  520 . The manual mode AC starting current profile is calculated  522 , all event timer counts are incremented  524 , and the status of the automatic  42  and manual  44  pushbuttons is monitored and set  526 . All calculations, timer counts, and status indications (flags) are stored in the internal memory of the microprocessor  12 . 
         [0024]    At the start of the main process loop  210 , the flags are checked  404  beginning with the shunt calibration flag  406 . If the shunt calibration flag is set  406 , the starter contact relay  34  is closed  408 . The temperature of the shunt cable is measured  410  and the voltage drop across the shunt cable is read  412 . The temperature of the shunt cable is measured a second time and averaged with the previous reading  414 . The shunt resistance is then calculated and saved  416  and the shunt calibration flag is cleared  418 . 
         [0025]    Next, if the flag to upload data to an external PC is set  420 , the information is copied to the output buffer  422 , the output buffer ready flag is set  424 , and the upload data flag is cleared  426 . If the download data from PC flag is set  428 , data is copied from the input buffer  430 , and the download data flag is cleared  432 . 
         [0026]    If the PC remote control flag is set  434 , the remote control status flag is toggled  436 . If the flag is true, the unit  10  can be controlled remotely by a PC or locally by the buttons. If the flag is false, the unit can only be controlled locally. 
         [0027]    If the system does not detect a battery charging voltage  212 , once jumper cables  60  have been manually connected to the vehicle to be started  28 , the voltage is measured by the reverse voltage sensor  24  to determine if the cables have been properly connected to the vehicle  214 . If the voltage measured is significantly less than the voltage of the jump starter capacitors  21  and batteries  22 , then a reverse polarity connection of the jumper cables to the vehicle is determined and an error flag is set and the event saved in non-volatile memory  216 . A “Reverse Polarity” error message is displayed  218  on the LCD  46 , and the reverse voltage LED  48  is illuminated  216 . Any further jump starter action by the operator is ignored until the reverse polarity condition is corrected  220 , at which point processing returns to the start of the main processing loop  210 . 
         [0028]    If the jumper cables  60  are not reverse connected  214 , then the state of charge of the capacitors  21  and batteries  22  is determined  222 . If the voltage level of the system batteries  22  measured by the voltage sensor  30  is equal to a state of charge of eighty percent or more below a fully charged voltage level  222 , an error flag is set and the event recorded in memory  224 . The charge battery LED  54  is illuminated and the LCD  46  displays a “Charge Battery” message  225 . The system stays in this condition, which prohibits any further jump starter action by the operator until a charging voltage is detected  226 , which is great enough to indicate that a battery charger (not shown) has been connected to the batteries  22 . 
         [0029]    If the system has detected a battery charger voltage  212 , a “Battery Charging” message is displayed  228  on the LCD  46 , and the charge LED  54  is illuminated. The voltage profile of the battery  22  is monitored to determine if the charge is complete  230 . A completed charge is determined by monitoring the charging voltage rise to a threshold value then decrease by a predetermined percentage. This voltage peaking and subsequent fall-off is a characteristic of the battery chemistry indicating that the battery has reached its maximum charge capacity. Once the charging has reached a minimum charged level or is completed  230 , the processing returns to the beginning of the main processing loop  210 . The jump starter batteries  22  only need to reach a 50% charge in order for the system to attempt to start the vehicle. 
         [0030]    If the battery or capacitor temperature measured by sensors  38  and  47  rises above a maximum safe threshold  232 , an error flag is set and the event recorded in non-volatile memory  234 . An error message “Battery Over Temperature” or “Capacitor Over Temperature” is displayed  236  on the LCD  46  and the Fault LED  56  is illuminated. The system prevents any further operation until the battery and/or capacitor temperature falls below a safe level  238 . Once a safe temperature is reached, processing returns to a ready state at the beginning of the main processing loop  210 . 
         [0031]    If the voltage of one or more of the capacitors measured by the capacitor voltage sensor  49  exceeds a predetermined limit  239 , such as 2.8 volts, for example, an error flag is set and the event recorded in non-volatile memory  241 . An error message “Capacitor Over Voltage” is displayed  243  and the fault LED  56  is illuminated. Processing then returns to the main processing loop  210 . 
         [0032]    If the temperature of the shunt cable  36  rises above a safe threshold temperature  240 , an error flag is set and the event recorded in memory  242 . An error message “Cable over Temperature” is displayed  244  on the LCD  46  and the Fault LED  56  is illuminated. The system prevents any further operation until the shunt cable temperature falls below a minimum safe temperature  246 . Once a safe temperature is reached, the system returns to a ready state at the beginning of the main processing loop  210 . 
         [0033]    Next, the system checks the status of the automatic  42  and manual  44  push buttons. If neither button has been pushed  248 , a “Ready” message is displayed  250  on the LCD  46  and processing returns to the main processing loop  210 . When no error conditions are detected and no user inputs are being processed, the system remains in the ready mode, and displays a “Ready” text message on the LCD  46 . Other information such as the selected jump starter voltage, the percentage change of the batteries  22 , the temperature of the batteries, and the vehicle voltage, for example, may also be displayed on LCD  46 . 
         [0034]    If one of the push buttons  42  or  44  has been selected, the system will compare the operator-configured starter voltage against the voltage of the vehicle to be started  28 . The jump starter  10  may be configured for 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42 or 48 volts, for example, using a selector jumper  55 . For example, if the batteries  23  are both 12-volt batteries, the system may be configured for 12- or 24-volt operation. For example, if jumper  27  is placed across terminals  31 , the 24-volt configuration may be selected. If jumper  29  is placed across terminals  31 , the 12-volt configuration may be selected. If the batteries  23  are 12-volt batteries and a battery  25  is a 6-volt battery, 18- or 30-volt configurations may be provided. For example, if jumper  27  is placed across terminals  31 , the 30-volt configuration may be selected. If jumper  29  is placed across terminals  31 , the 18-volt configuration may be selected. It should be understood that two or more batteries of the same or different voltage levels may be used to meet the voltage requirements of the vehicle to be started. If the difference between the voltage selected and the voltage measured is not within a predetermined range and tolerance  252 , a “Wrong Selector Volts” message is displayed  254  on the LCD  46  and further operation is prohibited until the correct voltage is selected  256  at which point processing returns to the main processing loop  210 . 
         [0035]    If the selected voltage is within the correct range  252 , then the system determines which button was selected  258 . If the Auto button  42  was pushed, a ninety-second count down timer is started and displayed  260  on the LCD  46 . During this time the system monitors the vehicle voltage  262 . If the system does not detect a voltage drop  264  within 90 seconds  265 , the automatic operation is cancelled and processing returns to the main processing loop  210 . The automatic operation may also be interrupted and canceled by pushing the auto button  267 . If the vehicle voltage drops by twenty percent or more from the initially measured voltage  264 , then the vehicle&#39;s starter motor is engaged and is trying to start the vehicle. If the maximum number of start attempts has not been exceeded  266 , the contact relay  34  is closed and the contact relay on timer is started  268 , connecting the jump starter&#39;s capacitors  21  and batteries  22  to the vehicle&#39;s starting system  28 . The start cycle counter is incremented  270 , a “Jump Starter On” message is displayed  272  along with the average current being drawn, and the Auto Mode LED  50  is illuminated. If the relay on timer expires indicating that the relay  34  has been closed for ninety seconds without a start complete event, the relay  34  is automatically opened by the system to reduce the probability of overheating any component in the jump starter or vehicle. 
         [0036]    The system monitors all input sensors  14  and the current status of the jump starter for possible fault conditions. Upon detection of any fault condition, the system will open the contact relay  34  (if closed), and display a message indicating that a fault has occurred, and what action, if any, should be taken by the operator. 
         [0037]    If the battery temperature exceeds a maximum limit  274 , a battery temperature error count is incremented  276 . The contact relay  34  is opened, a “Battery Temp” error message and temperature is displayed  278  on the LCD  46  and the fault LED  56  is illuminated. Processing returns to the main processing loop  210 . 
         [0038]    If the shunt cable temperature exceeds a maximum limit  280 , a cable temperature error count is incremented  282 . The contact relay  34  is opened, a “Cable Temp” error message and temperature is displayed  278  on the LCD  46  and the fault LED  56  is illuminated. Processing returns to the main processing loop  210 . 
         [0039]    If the system detects a geometric rise in the starting current  284  during the first 16 seconds after the contact relay  34  is closed, a current doubling error count is incremented  286 , a “Battery Explosion” error message is displayed  288  on the LCD  46 , the contact relay  34  is opened and the fault LED  56  is illuminated  290 . The system may be returned to the ready mode if the Automatic button  42  is pressed by the operator  292 , or automatically after five minutes  294 . 
         [0040]    If no current flow is detected by the system  296  indicating that there is an open circuit within the system, an open circuit error count is incremented  298 , an “Open Circuit” error message is displayed  300  on the LCD  46 , the contact relay  34  is opened and the fault LED  56  is illuminated  290 . The system may be returned to the ready mode if the Automatic button  42  is pressed by the operator  292 , or automatically after five minutes  294 . 
         [0041]    If the system detects an increase in the difference between the measured jump starter battery voltage  20  and the voltage measured  30  across the contact relay  34  indicating that one of the jump starter cables has been disconnected  302  from the vehicle&#39;s battery or starter system  28  then a jumper cable unplugged error count is incremented  304 , a “Jumper Cable Unplugged” error message is displayed  306  on the LCD  46 , the contact relay  34  is opened and the fault LED  56  is illuminated  290 . The system may be returned to the ready mode if the Automatic button  42  is pressed by the operator  292 , or automatically after five minutes  294 . 
         [0042]    During the jump starting process if the current measured across the shunt cable  36  is greater than a preset maximum current such as 1400 amps for a short period of time such as 500 ms  308 , the over max current error count is incremented  310 , an “Over MAX Starting Current” error message is displayed  312  on LCD  46 , the contact relay  34  is opened and the fault LED  56  is illuminated  290 . The current across the shunt cable  36  is also measured to determine if it exceeds a predetermined current such as 1000 amps for more than a predetermined period of time such as 15 seconds  314 . If this over current condition is determined, an over high current error count is incremented  316 , an “Over High Crank Amps” error message is displayed  318  on the LCD  46 , the contact relay  34  is opened and the fault LED  56  is illuminated  290 . The system may be returned to the ready mode if the Automatic button  42  is pressed by the operator  292 , or automatically after five minutes  294 . 
         [0043]    If the system detects a decrease in the jump starter battery voltage  20 , but does not detect an appreciable current flow through the jump starter, a shunt cable  36  failure is indicated  320 . The shunt cable  36  is a precisely measured and calibrated 00 AWG wire, the temperature of which is monitored  40  and used to calculate the resistance across the length of the cable  36 . 
         [0044]    The voltage drop across the cable  36  is also measured to calculate the current through the shunt cable  36  using Ohm&#39;s Law. If the shunt cable  36  fails, the system cannot reliably measure the starting current which would present a safety hazard. 
         [0045]    If the system detects a shunt cable failure  320 , a current shunt error count is incremented  322 , a “Current Shunt Failure” error message is displayed  324  on the LCD  46 , the contact relay  34  is opened and the fault LED  56  is illuminated  290 . The system may be returned to the ready mode if the Automatic button  42  is pressed by the operator  292 , or automatically after five minutes  294 . 
         [0046]    If the system detects a great difference between the vehicle&#39;s voltage  30  and the contact relay  34  voltage  326 , the contact relay  34  may have failed indicating an over high starter current condition. A contact relay failure count is incremented  328 , a “Contact Relay Error” message is displayed  330  on the LCD  46 , the contact relay  34  is opened and the fault LED  56  is illuminated  290 . The system may be returned to the ready mode if the Automatic button  42  is pressed by the operator  292 , or automatically after five minutes  294 . 
         [0047]    If manual mode is selected  258 , “Manual” is displayed  332  on the LCD  46 , the system will prompt the operator to press the manual button  44  again. If the manual button  44  is pressed a second time  334 , then the system checks the number of start attempts  266 . If the maximum number of start attempts has been exceeded  266 , an over start attempt error count is incremented  336 , a “Cool Down Unit” message is displayed  338  on the LCD  46 , and the system waits for five minutes for the system to cool  340 . Once the cool down time has expired, processing returns to the main processing loop  210 . If the total start attempts have not exceeded the limit  266 , the processing continues at block  268  as described above. 
         [0048]    If in auto mode and the starting current decreases by 20% from the maximum measured current  342 , then the start cycle is complete. A decrease in the starting current indicates that the vehicle has started and its alternator is now generating its own current reducing the demand from the jump starter batteries  22 . If the starting current is below the threshold  342 , a “Start Cycle Complete” message is displayed  344  on LCD  46 , and the contact relay is opened  346 . This message remains displayed until the operator presses the Auto button  292 , or if there is no user activity for five minutes  294 , after which the system returns to the main processing loop  210 . 
         [0049]    If in manual mode, the jump starter  10  may be used when the battery voltage of the vehicle is below 10 volts, or if the vehicle&#39;s battery is not connected. In the situation where the vehicle&#39;s battery is present but has a voltage of less than 10 volts, the jump starter will start to charge the vehicle&#39;s battery before any starting operation begins. If the vehicle&#39;s battery is extremely low or completely dead, once the contactor is closed, the jump starter&#39;s batteries will start to charge the batteries. The current will rise sharply and then start to decrease, but this does not indicate that a start attempt has been made or that the vehicle&#39;s starter motor has been cranked. The algorithm looks for this initial increase and then decrease in the delivered current and then waits for a minimum of three alternating current cycles indicating that the vehicle&#39;s starter has been engaged. Due to the compression/decompression cycles of the pistons, the starting current will rise and fall in a generally sinusoidal pattern. The algorithm looks for this so that it knows that the vehicle&#39;s starter motor has been activated. Once this alternating current cycle has been detected, if the current then decreases by approximately twenty percent and remains low, this indicates a start complete, the contactor is opened, the start complete message is displayed and then the system waits for the Auto button to be pushed or the 5 minute timeout. 
         [0050]    If the vehicle&#39;s battery holds the charge, then the starting cycle in manual mode is the same as described above for automatic mode. If the battery does not hold the charge or if no battery is present, the system waits until the vehicle&#39;s starter motor is engaged. Once the vehicle&#39;s starter motor is engaged and the engine is turning over, the system  10  monitors the jump starter current flow. As the engine turns over the jump starter&#39;s current increases and decreases with the compression stroke of the engine&#39;s pistons. During a piston&#39;s compression cycle, the current from the jump starter&#39;s batteries  22  increases due to the increased power demand of the starter motor. During a piston&#39;s decompression cycle, the current flow decreases due to the decreased power demand of the starter motor. This current increase and decrease is generally sinusoidal which is recognized by the system. 
         [0051]    Once the system has detected three more sinusoidal current flow cycles, the same 20% decrease threshold in current as set forth above for the automatic mode determination, may be used to determine when the vehicle&#39;s engine has started  348 . If the engine has started, the “Start Cycle Complete” message is displayed  344  on the LCD  46  and the contact relay opened  346 . 
         [0052]    If the engine has not been started  348 , the system next checks the relay closed time. If the maximum time set for the contact relay to be closed has expired  350 , a “Maximum Starter On” message is displayed  352  on the LCD  46  and the contact relay is opened  346 . 
         [0053]    If the contact relay closed time has not expired, the system checks for a cycle halt flag. Any cycle may be interrupted by the Auto button being pressed by the operator. If the Auto button is pressed  354 , a “Start Cycle Halted” message is displayed  356  on the LCD  46 , and the contact relay opened  346 . 
         [0054]    At the completion of a start cycle the jump starter  10  has opened the contact relay  34  and the message “Start complete” is displayed  46 , and the starting current is displayed for diagnostic assessment of the vehicle&#39;s starting system. At this time the voltage of the vehicle  28  is monitored. Normal vehicle charging voltages fall within certain ranges for 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42 and 48 volts systems. The jump starter displays the running vehicle&#39;s voltage and makes an assessment to determine if the vehicle&#39;s generated voltage is actually great enough to charge the vehicle&#39;s battery. If the voltage is below a threshold for charging the vehicle&#39;s battery, the jump starter displays “Vehicle Not Charging” message and shows the measured voltage. If the vehicle&#39;s generated voltage is great enough to charge the vehicle&#39;s battery, the jump starter displays “Vehicle Charging” showing a working vehicle charging system and displays the vehicle charging voltage. 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a diode  35  may be connected across the contact  34  to charge the capacitors  21  and jump starter batteries  22  from the vehicle charging system  28 . The charging system of the vehicle may be used to charge the capacitors  21  and jump starter batteries  22 . Whenever the vehicle has a working charging system this will occur as long as the cables are connected to the vehicle. This allows the capacitors  21  and jump starter batteries  22  to be fully recharged in about 1 to 5 minutes and can therefore start many vehicles in a row without becoming discharged. Even in situations in which the jump starter batteries  22  may be discharged to an extent that they alone may not be able to provide the necessary power to start a vehicle, the capacitors  21  may be rapidly recharged to start many vehicles in a row. This is very useful when starting fleets of vehicles with dead batteries. 
         [0056]    It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto, except in so far as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable equivalents thereof.