Patent ID: 7986055

Claim:
In a vehicle having a battery that selectively supplies electric power for starting an engine of the vehicle and that selectively supplies electric power to a plurality of electric loads of the vehicle, a method of protecting the battery comprising: (a) measuring a temperature of the battery, a temperature of the vehicle's engine and an ambient temperature; (b) determining a state of charge (SOC) of the battery; (c) determining a first threshold based on the measured temperature of the battery, the vehicle's engine, and the ambient temperature; (d) determining a second threshold based on the measured temperature of the battery, the vehicle's engine, and the ambient temperature, said second threshold being different than the first threshold; (e) taking a first remedial action if the SOC is below the first determined threshold; and (f) taking a second remedial action if the SOC is below the second determined threshold, said second remedial action being different from the first remedial action.