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US 6,144,189 AGranted
Device for and method of switching and monitoring batteries
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the National Security Agency
InventorCraig A. Rockenbauch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is a device for switching and monitoring batteries for powering a battery-operated device that includes an n-to-1 multiplexer; batteries; a sensor array; a controller; a receiver; a transmitter; and diodes for selectively connecting power for the multiplexer, the sensor array, the controller, the receiver, and the transmitter.
Claims17
A device for switching and monitoring batteries for providing power to a battery-operated device, comprising:
- a) an n-to-1 multiplexer, having n multiplexer inputs, having a command input, having a power input, and having an output, where the n-to-1 multiplexer includes a state where none of the n multiplexer inputs are connected to the output;
- b) n batteries, wherein each of the n batteries is connected to one of the n multiplexer inputs of the n-to-1 multiplexer;
- c) a sensor array, having an input connected to the output of the n-to-1 multiplexer, having a power input connected to the power input of the n-to-1 multiplexer, having a voltage output, and having a sensor output;
- d) a controller, having a sensor input connected to the sensor output of the sensor array, having a receiver input, having a power input connected to the power input of the n-to-1 multiplexer, having a command output connected to the command input of the n-to-1 multiplexer, and having a status output;
- e) a receiver, having a power input connected to the power input of the n-to-1 multiplexer, having a receiving input, and having an output connected to the receiver input of the controller;
- f) a transmitter, having a power input connected to the power input of the n-to-1 multiplexer, and having a transmitting output connected to the status output of the controller;
- and
- g) n diodes, where each of the n diode has a cathode and an anode, where all of the cathodes of the n diodes are connected together, where each anode of the n diodes is connected to one of the n batteries, and where the cathodes of the n diodes are connected to the power input of the n-to-1 multiplexer.
5 more elements
A device for switching and monitoring batteries for providing power to a battery-operated device, comprising:
- a) an n-to-1 multiplexer, having n multiplexer inputs, having a command input, having a power input, and having an output, where the n-to-1 multiplexer does not include a state where none of the n multiplexer inputs are connected to the output;
- b) n-1 batteries, wherein each of the n-1 batteries is connected to one of the n multiplexer inputs of the n-to-1 multiplexer;
- c) a sensor array, having an input connected to the output of the n-to-1 multiplexer, having a power input connected to the power input of the n-to-1 multiplexer, having a voltage output, and having a sensor output;
- d) a controller, having a sensor input connected to the sensor output of the sensor array, having a receiver input, having a power input connected to the power input of the n-to-1 multiplexer, having a command output connected to the command input of the n-to-1 multiplexer, and having a status output;
- e) a receiver, having a power input connected to the power input of the n-to-1 multiplexer, having a receiving input, and having an output connected to the receiver input of the controller;
- f) a transmitter, having a power input connected to the power input of the n-to-1 multiplexer, and having a transmitting output connected to the status output of the controller;
- and
- g) n-1 diodes, where each of the n-1 diode has a cathode and an anode, where all of the cathodes of the n-1 diodes are connected together, where each anode of the n-1 diodes is connected to one of the n-1 batteries, and where the cathodes of the n-1 diodes are connected to the power input of the n-to-1 multiplexer.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.