Battery disconnect device

A battery disconnect device for use in a vehicle for disconnecting the battery from an electrical load, said vehicle having an engine and means for generating a voltage to charge said battery when said engine is running, said battery disconnect device comprising:

• means for generating a voltage signal corresponding to the voltage across the terminals of said battery:
• means for generating a cut-off voltage signal in response to at least one operational parameter of said battery, said means for generating a cut-off voltage comprising a value which increases as a function of time;
• means for comparing said voltage signal with said cut-off voltage and for generating an output signal in response to said voltage signal being equal to or less than said cut-off voltage level signal;
• disconnect timer means enabled by said output signal for generating a battery disconnect signal a predetermined period of time after being enabled by said output signal;
• means for disconnecting said battery from said electrical load in response to said battery disconnect signal;
• and
• means responsive to a mechanical input for generating a reconnect signal activating said means for disconnecting to reconnect said battery to said load.

A battery protection device for disconnecting a battery from an electrical load comprising:

• means for generating a voltage signal corresponding to the battery voltage;
• means responsive to at least one operating parameter of said battery for generating a cut-off voltage;
• means for comparing said voltage signal with said cut-off voltage to generate a disconnect signal in response to said battery voltage being equal to or less than said cut-off voltage;
• means responsive to a mechanical input for generating a reconnect signal;
• means for disconnecting said battery from said electrical load in response to said disconnect signal, said means for generating a disconnect signal comprising means for generating an output signal in response to said battery voltage being equal to or less than said cut-off voltage, said means for disconnecting further comprising disconnect timer means for generating said disconnect signal a predetermined time after receiving said output signal;
• said battery is being used in a vehicle having an engine and means for recharging said battery, said means for generating said cut-off voltage comprises:
• a long term timer for generating time signals corresponding to the period of time that has elapsed since receiving a reset signal;
• means responsive to said time signals for generating said cut-off voltage having a value increasing with time;
• means for generating said reset signal in response to the operation of said engine, said means for generating said reset signal comprising means for generating a reset signal in response to electrical noise generated by the operation of said engine;
• and
• means for reconnecting said battery to said load in response to a subsequently generated reconnect signal.

A battery protection device for disconnecting a battery from an electrical load comprising:

• means for generating a voltage signal corresponding to the battery voltage;
• means responsive to at least one operating parameter of said battery for generating a cut-off voltage;
• means for comparing said voltage signal with said cut-off voltage to generate a disconnect signal in response to said battery voltage being equal to or less than said cut-off voltage;
• means responsive to a mechanical input for generating a reconnect signal;
• means for disconnecting said battery from said electrical load in response to said disconnect signal, said means for generating a disconnect signal comprising means for generating an output signal in response to said battery voltage being equal to or less than said cut-off voltage, said means for disconnecting further comprising disconnect timer means for generating said disconnect signal a predetermined time after receiving said output signal;
• said battery is being used in a vehicle having an engine and means for recharging said battery, said means for generating said cut-off voltage comprises:
• a long term timer for generating time signals corresponding to the period of time that has elapsed since receiving a reset signal;
• means responsive to said time signals for generating said cut-off voltage having a value increasing with time;
• means for generating said reset signal in response to the operation of said engine, said means for generating said reset signal comprises means for generating said reset signal in response to said means for recharging said battery generating a predetermined voltage indicative of the engine running;
• and
• means for reconnecting said battery to said load in response to a subsequently generated reconnect signal.

A battery disconnect device for use in a vehicle for disconnecting the battery from an electrical load, said vehicle having an engine and means for generating a voltage to charge said battery when said engine is running, said battery disconnect device comprising:

• means for generating a voltage signal corresponding to the voltage across the terminals of said battery;
• means for generating a cut-off voltage signal in response to at least one operational parameter of said battery, said means for generating a cut-off voltage comprises a long term timer means for generating a time signal corresponding to the time elapsed since it was last reset, said long term timer means generates a time-out signal after a predetermined period of time, said means for generating a cut-off voltage further comprises means for generating a cut-off voltage having a value which increases with time in response to said time signals;
• means for comparing said voltage signal with said cut-off voltage and for generating an output signal in response to said voltage signal being equal to or less than said cut-off voltage level signal;
• disconnect timer means enabled by said output signal for generating a battery disconnect signal a predetermined period of time after being enabled by said output signal, said disconnect timer means is also enabled by said time-out signal;
• means for disconnecting said battery from said electrical load in response to said battery disconnect signal;
• and
• means responsive to a mechanical input for generating a reconnect signal activating said means for disconnecting to reconnect said battery to said load.

A battery disconnect device for use in a vehicle for disconnecting the battery from an electrical load, said vehicle having an engine and means for generating a voltage to charge said battery when said engine is running, said battery disconnect device comprising:

• means for generating a voltage signal corresponding to the voltage across the terminals of said battery;
• means for generating a cut-off voltage signal in response to at least one operational parameter of said battery, said means for generating a cut-off voltage comprises a long term timer means for generating a time signal corresponding to the time elapsed since it was last reset, said means for generating a cut-off voltage further comprises means for generating a cut-off voltage having a value which increases with time in response to said time signals;
• means for comparing said voltage signal with said cut-off voltage and for generating an output signal in response to said voltage signal being equal to or less than said cut-off voltage level signal;
• disconnect timer means enabled by said output signal for generating a battery disconnect signal a predetermined period of time after being enabled by said output signal;
• means for disconnecting said battery from said electrical load in response to said battery disconnect signal;
• means for generating a reset signal in response to the operation of said engine, said reset signal resetting said disconnect and long term timer means, said means for generating a reset signal being in response to electrical noise generated by said engine when operating;
• and
• means responsive to a mechanical input for generating a reconnect signal activating said means for disconnecting to reconnect said battery to said load.

A battery disconnect device for use in a vehicle for disconnecting the battery from an electrical load, said vehicle having an engine and means for generating a voltage to charge said battery when said engine is running, said battery disconnect device comprising:

• means for generating a voltage signal corresponding to the voltage across the terminals of said battery;
• means for generating a cut-off voltage signal in response to at least one operational parameter of said battery, said means for generating a cut-off voltage comprises a long term timer means for generating a time signal corresponding to the time elapsed since it was last reset, said means for generating a cut-off voltage further comprises means for generating a cut-off voltage having a value which increases with time in response to said time signals;
• means for comparing said signal with said cut-off voltage and for generating an output signal in response to said voltage signal being equal to or less than said cut-off voltage level signal;
• disconnect timer means enabled by said output signal for generating a battery disconnect signal a predetermined period of time after being enabled by said output signal;
• means for disconnecting said battery from said electrical load in response to said battery disconnect signal;
• means for generating a reset signal in response to the operation of said engine, said reset signal resetting said disconnect and long term timer means, said means for generating a reset signal comprising means for generating a reset signal in response to a first predetermined voltage across the terminals of said battery indicating said battery is being charged;
• and
• means responsive to a mechanical input for generating a reconnect signal activating said means for disconnecting to reconnect said battery to said load.