Patent ID: 7679314

Claim:
A multiple battery system for supplying electrical energy to an electrical system, the multiple battery system comprising: a battery housing including at least one positive terminal and at least one negative terminal, the at least one positive terminal and the at least one negative terminal being electrically coupleable to the electrical system; a first battery disposed within the battery housing, the first battery including a first positive output and a first negative output, the first negative output being electrically connected to the at least one negative terminal; a second battery disposed within the battery housing, the second battery including a second positive output and a second negative output, the second negative output being electrically connected to the at least one negative terminal; at least one switching device operable in at least two states to selectively electrically connect the at least one positive terminal to one of the first positive output and the second positive output, the at least one switching device being operable in a first state to electrically connect the first positive output to the at least one positive terminal, the at least one switching device being further operable in a second state independent of the first state to electrically connect the second positive output to the at least one positive terminal; and a one-way charging circuit electrically connected between the first positive output and the second positive output, the one-way charging circuit being configured to facilitate simultaneous charging of the first battery and the second battery when the at least one switching device is in the first state, the one-way charging circuit being further configured to prevent current flow from the second battery when the at least one switching device is in the first state, wherein the first battery and the second battery do not supply electrical energy to the electrical system simultaneously when the at least one switching device is in the first state or when 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.