Back to results
US 4,365,241 AGranted
Device for indicating the charging state of a battery
AssigneeMitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorMitsuharu Morishita
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device of indicating the charging state of a battery including a series combination of a diode and an indicating lamp connected between an output terminal of a rectifying means of an alternator and a battery. A first switching means activates the indicating lamp when the battery voltage is less than a first lower predetermined value. A second switching means turns the first switching means off when the battery voltage rises above the first predetermined value. A third switching means reactivates the indicating lamp when the battery voltage exceeds a second higher predetermined value.
Claims14
A device for indicating the charging state of a battery charged by an alternator having a field winding connected to the battery by rectifying means comprising:
- a series combination of a diode and an indicating lamp adapted to be connected between an output terminal of the rectifying means and the battery;
- first switching means for forming a current path including the field winding, the diode, the indicating lamp and the battery when the battery voltage is less than a first predetermined value;
- second switching means for turning the first switching means off when the battery voltage reaches the first predetermined value;
- and
- third switching means connected to the battery exclusively at the junction of the diode and the indicating lamp under normal operating conditions, said third switching means provided for detecting the battery voltage and for forming a current path including the indicating lamp and the battery and excluding the field winding when the battery voltage reaches a second predetermined value higher than the first predetermined value, whereby said indicating lamp provides an indication of the battery voltage reaching said second predetermined value.
2 more elements
A device for indicating the charging state of a battery comprising:
- a single indicating means in series with a diode and said battery;
- means for activating said single indicating means in response to the battery voltage being below a first predetermined value;
- and
- means for sensing the battery voltage and for activating the single indicating means in response to the voltage of the battery being above a second predetermined value greater than said first predetermined value to indicate that the battery voltage is above the second predetermined value, said means for sensing and activating being connected to said battery exclusively at the junction of said diode and said single indicating means under normal operating conditions.
1 more element
A device for indicating the charging state of a battery charged by an alternator having a field winding connected to the battery by rectifying means comprising:
- a series combination of a first diode and an indicating lamp adapted to be connected between an output terminal of the rectifying means and the battery;
- first switching means for forming a current path including the field winding, the first diode, the indicating lamp and the battery when the battery-voltage is less than a first predetermined value;
- second switching means for turning the first switching means off when the battery voltage reaches the first predetermined value;
- and
- third switching means connected to the junction of the first diode and the indicating lamp for forming a current path including the indicating lamp and the battery and excluding the field winding when the battery voltage reaches a second predetermined value higher than the first predetermined value, wherein the third switching means comprises a transistor having a collector-emitter circuit connected between the junction of the first diode and indicating lamp and ground, and a second reference diode having an anode connected to the base of the transistor and a cathode connected to the output terminal of the rectifying means, the second reference diode becoming conductive when the voltage of the rectifying means reaches the second predetermined value thereby rendering the transistor conductive.
2 more elements
A device for indicating the charging state of a battery comprising:
- an alternator for charging said battery and having a field winding, a first rectifying output terminal and a second rectifying output terminal, said first rectifying output terminal being coupled to said battery;
- a series combination of a diode and an indicating lamp, said diode being coupled between said second rectifying output terminal and said battery in such a manner that the cathode of said diode is connected to said second rectifying output terminal and that the anode of said diode is connected to said indicating lamp;
- a first transistor having a base connected to said second rectifying output terminal, a collector connected to said field winding and an emitter connected to ground, said first transistor being rendered conductive to form a current path, including said field winding, to said indicating lamp when the battery voltage is less than a first predetermined value;
- a second transistor having a collector connected to the base of said first transistor and an emitter connected to ground, said second transistor operating to render said first transistor non-conductive when biased;
- a first constant voltage diode having an anode connected to the base of said second transistor and a cathode connected to said second rectifying output terminal, said first constant voltage diode being rendered conductive to bias said second transistor when the battery voltage reaches the first predetermined value;
- a third transistor having a collector connected to the anode of said first diode and an emitter connected to ground;
- and
- a second constant voltage diode having an anode connected to the base of said third transistor and a cathode connected to said second rectifying output terminal, said second constant voltage diode operating to bias said third transistor to form a current path, excluding said field winding, to said indicating lamp when the battery voltage reaches a second predetermined value which is higher than said first predetermined value.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.