Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging – One cell or battery charges another
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-06
2001-07-17
Wong, Peter S. (Department: 2838)
Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging
One cell or battery charges another
C307S048000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06262559
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
This application relates to battery power packs of the type used for jump-starting automotive vehicles and, in particular, to lead-acid battery packs of the thin metal film type. The application relates in particular to charge maintenance in such battery power packs.
It is known to provide portable battery power packs for providing DC power in emergency situations and/or remote locations, such as for the purpose of jump-starting automotive vehicle engines, the batteries of which have become discharged for some reason. Such battery power packs typically include lead-acid batteries of a capacity to provide DC voltage and current sufficient for starting an automotive vehicle engine. Battery powerpacks are typically rechargeable and, since lead-acid batteries can become irreparably damaged if their voltage drops below a predetermined value, it is desirable that they be recharged after each use. A simple way of recharging such a battery power pack is to leave it connected to the battery of the vehicle being jump-started so that, after the vehicle engine starts, the battery power pack can be recharged by the vehicle charging system (alternator or generator). Prior battery packs have also been provided with auxiliary charger ports so that they can be connected to free-standing chargers when not connected to the vehicle.
However, lead-acid battery packs can also undergo a significant amount of self-discharge during extended periods of non-use, such as during storage, transportation or the like. Accordingly, it is also known to provide a lead-acid battery power pack with a built-in set of alkaline batteries to provide a “keeper” charge current through a diode and a resistance to make up for self discharge while “on the shelf.” However, such built-in keeper charge systems add to the size, weight, complexity and overall cost of the battery power pack. Thus, the designer of the battery power pack is faced with a decision to reduce the size of the keeper batteries to minimize size, weight, cost and the like, while also minimizing the length of time that the charge of the battery power pack can be maintained, or increasing the size of the keeper batteries to lengthened the time that the charge can be maintained on the battery power pack, at the expense of added size, cost, weight and the like.
SUMMARY
This application describes a system which avoids the disadvantages of prior battery power packs while affording additional structural and operating advantages.
An important feature is the provision of a system which affords a technique for maintaining the charge in a battery power pack during extended periods of non-use, without adding to the size or weight of the battery power pack.
Another feature is the provision of a system of the type set forth which utilizes an auxiliary portable keeper battery pack which can be easily quick-coupled to and decoupled from the battery pack, and which is of simple and economical construction.
Certain ones of these and other features may be attained by providing a portable keeper battery pack for providing a keeper charge to a battery power pack which has a charger port, the keeper battery pack comprising: a housing, an array of interconnected alkaline battery cells disposed in the housing, and a cable having an inner end connected to the array within the housing and an outer end disposed outside the housing and provided with a quick-connect connector removably electrically connectable to the charger port.
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Boulder Technologies Corporation, “SecureStart™ Owner's Manual for all SS 101 Series Models” revised 2/00, see the entire document.*
Brochure for Bolder “SecureStart” Battery Pack (prior to Jun. 1, 1999).
Becker Thomas P.
Eggert Daniel M.
Seyfarth Shaw
Snap-on Technologies, Inc.
Toatley Jr. Gregory J
Wong Peter S.
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