Intelligent switch for battery

An intelligent switch for preventing undesirable discharge of a battery for a vehicle, comprising:

• a switch connected in circuit with the battery and being configured to toggle between a first state for preventing current flow from the battery and a second state for allowing current flow from the battery;
• a voltage monitor connected to the battery and being configured to provide a low voltage signal when the voltage from the battery falls below a predetermined voltage threshold level;
• a vibration sensor configured to detect vibration of the vehicle and provide a vibration signal indicative thereof;
• and
• a controller connected to receive the low voltage signal and the vibration signal and being configured to generate a control signal for toggling the switch to the first state when no vibration of the vehicle is detected and to the second state when vibration is detected.

A method of preventing undesirable discharge of a battery for a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• monitoring a voltage level of the battery and providing a voltage signal indicative of the voltage level;
• detecting vibration of the vehicle and providing a vibration signal indicative thereof;
• receiving the voltage signal and the vibration signal;
• generating a control signal based on the voltage signal when the voltage level from the battery falls below a predetermined threshold voltage level and based on the vibration signal when no vibration of the vehicle is detected, the control signal toggling a switch to a first state for preventing current flow from the battery;
• and
• generating another control signal for toggling the switch to a second state for allowing current flow from the battery when vibration is again detected.

An intelligent switch for preventing undesirable discharge of a rechargeable vehicle battery, comprising:

• a switch connected in circuit with the battery and being configured to toggle between a first state for preventing current flow from the battery and a second state for allowing current flow from the battery;
• a voltage monitor connected to the battery and being configured to provide a voltage signal indicative of the voltage level of the battery;
• a vibration sensor configured to detect vibration of the vehicle and provide a vibration signal indicative thereof;
• a controller connected to receive the voltage signal and the vibration signal and being configured to generate a control signal for toggling the switch to the first state when no vibration of the vehicle is detected subsequent to the voltage level of the battery falling below a predetermined voltage threshold and to the second state when vibration is detected;
• and
• at least one timer configured to start counting a predetermined period of time in response to the voltage level of the battery falling below the predetermined voltage threshold, at the end of which predetermined period of time the controller is to generate said control signal for toggling the switch to the first state.

A method of preventing undesirable discharge of a battery for a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• monitoring a voltage level of the battery and providing a voltage signal indicative of the voltage level;
• detecting vibration of the vehicle and providing a vibration signal indicative thereof;
• receiving the voltage signal and the vibration signal;
• generating a control signal based on the voltage signal when the voltage level from the battery falls below a predetermined threshold voltage level in the absence of vehicle vibration, the control signal toggling a switch to a first state for preventing current flow from the battery;
• and
• generating another control signal for toggling the switch to a second state for allowing current flow from the battery when vibration is again detected.