Jump Starter Auto Safety Jumper Module

Abstract

A jump starting system safety device includes an automatic safety jumper module that safely delivers energy between a discharged automotive battery and a built-in or externally add-on automatic safety jumper module. The automatic safety jumper module is comprised of a solid state high energy safety power switch with smart controls and a high energy safety power switch. The high energy safety power switch is controlled by a micro-controller with reverse polarity protections and actively monitored input signals.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/112,934, filed on Feb. 6, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0002] The invention was not made under government contact nor was funded grant money used to fund the research.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention is an auto safety jumper module. The present invention is in the automotive field, particularly, jump starting systems, and more particularly, in the field of portable jump starting systems with power safety devices. Motor vehicles require an initial jolt of electric current to start their engine. This jolt of current is delivered by the battery of the motor vehicle. At times, due to environmental conditions or other unexpected depletion scenarios, the on board battery loses its energy and is unable to deliver sufficient energy to start an engine. Because of this condition, a temporary alternative energy source is required. This alternative source is known in the automotive industry as a jump starting system. When an automotive vehicle has a discharged depleted battery, a conventional jump starting system provides the particular vehicle with a quick jolt of electric current required to start the engine via cables and alligator clamps. Other conventional jump starting systems may not contain a battery, but instead are made up of straight jumper cables with alligator clamps. The jumper cables operate by connecting a vehicle with a discharged battery directly in parallel with the battery of a fully operating vehicle battery. A downside of a conventional jump starting system or juniper cables is that they may or may not include a safety switch. The safety switch basically prevents the energy from flowing from one battery to the other. This safety switch is a protection against accidental `wrong connections.` A wrong connection occurs when the dead battery and the good battery are connected with opposite polarities. For example, the positive of the good battery is connected to the negative of the dead battery, or vice versa. This will be a dangerous scenario that may cause an explosion and possible harm to user(s). Because of this danger, many jump starting systems include a safety switch in their systems and even use color coded jumper cables and clamps to properly identify the proper battery polarity. However, even with visual indications and a safety switch, improper connections may still occur. This provides an opportunity to improve the already existing systems with the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention is a jump starting system safety device. The assistance device is an automatic safety jumper module. More specifically, when an automotive battery is deeply discharged and in need of a jump start, the energy between two systems will be safely delivered using a built-in or externally add-on auto safety jumper module., This particular auto safety jumper module behaves as an ON/OFF switch, except it is controlled by an internal microprocessor and instead of mechanical parts, the switch action will be achieved using solid state devices. This means the electric current will flow through a semiconductor doping material instead of mechanical parts. Additionally, no intervention from the user will be required since the operating switch action will be automatic, unlike a manual safety switch(s). Typically, a jump start system consists of an internal battery connected to a safety power switch and a pair of cables with alligator clamps for connection to battery posts. The internal battery and safety switch are enclosed in a portable container with the cables and clamps externally exposed. The present invention will succeed prior systems by automatically detecting improper connection and preventing the flow of electric current between the two systems until a proper connection is made. This invention will make a safer way to interface both systems by auto activation and de-activation.

[0005] The invention will initially detect if a jump starting system is properly connected to a discharged battery. Determining if the battery is connected properly is the first task to be completed. This is accomplished by comparing the voltage of the good jump start system, with the voltage on the discharged system. The voltage of the properly operating, charged system will initially power the electronic controls inside the auto safety jumper module. After the auto safety jumper module circuit is active, a microprocessor inside the auto safety jumper module will receive a signal from the discharge battery upon connection. The micro-processor will determine if a proper connection has been made and either activate the flow of electric current between the two systems or not. This particular function is known as a reverse polarity detection circuit. The reverse polarity circuit checks the battery voltage of the good system, then, waits to receive the signal from the discharged system or system in need of a jolt of electric current; If, there is an improper connection, there is an internal solid state device(s) called a FET that will reverse bias (activate) this voltage and add it to the internal voltage of the good battery making it appear as if both batteries are connected now in series. In other words, the reverse voltage of the discharged battery system will be added to the voltage of the battery on the good system. The microprocessor will process this signal increase as an adverse condition and will prevent the auto safety jumper module from allowing any flow of current. This method of detecting reverse polarity defers from other systems that use a single or dual sensing wire integrated into the cable(s) and alligator clamps to detect a reverse connection. We will be using the residual energy of the discharged or depleted battery to bias (activate) the solid state device upon connecting the alligator clamps to the battery as previously mentioned. The second stage of the process occurs when a good connection is established between a jump start system and a depleted battery.

[0006] The invention will detect that a good connection exists between the systems and will then allow energy to flow freely, overcoming the downside earlier described of a possible explosion occurring. The energy will flow from the good system battery through the auto safety jumper module, to the pair of cables with alligator clamps and into the depleted battery. The auto safety jumper module behaves as an ON/OFF power device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following drawings.

[0008] FIG. 1 shows a diagram view of the operation sequence of the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a close up view of the safety jumper module with a single or several MOSFET connected for higher current capability upon activation and deactivation of the present invention.

[0010] A MOSFET is a three pin device, with a gate, a channel source to drain. It can be considered in this invention as an ON/OFF power switch capable of high current delivery when turned ON. There are no mechanical parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention is a better and safer way to transfer energy between two systems. The present invention describes a built-in or externally add-on auto safety jumper module that will only become energized when a proper electrical connection exists, i.e. positive-positive and negative-negative connection. As such this is an improved method from other conventional methods. FIG. 1 illustrates the functionality and essential elements of a complete jump starting system. The complete system and invention is made up of four essential components. The first is a good source of energy, which typically will come from a battery 1. The second is a programmable device, preferably a micro-controller 2. The microcontroller is an active component and functions as the brains of the invention. This integrated circuit keeps track of the constant variables from its inputs in an internal volatile memory segment to monitor in real time any changes in the incoming signals. It is constantly updating. Third is a device to control the flow of electric current 3 MOSFET. The fourth component is a set of good transmission lines to safely carry the energy between systems 4. The invention will be directly linked to the good power source and the first essential component, as previously described as a good source of energy 1. The source of energy typically will come from an automotive type of battery of any chemistry. The invention is not limited to an automotive battery; but can be used with any other type of energy source, provided that is compatible with the depleted system and has greater than six volt potential. initially, the good system will provide the energy needed to power the micro-controller 2, which is actively monitoring input changes reverse connection 5, voltage at the gate 7 and changes to the drain voltage 8. The micro-controller's main function is to power ON and OFF the safety jumper module 3 which controls the flow of electric current between two energy potentials. The micro-controller will link the two systems after processing various decision input signals. One of the active signals the micro-controller will be processing is the reverse polarity detection input. A reverse polarity exists when two voltage potentials are inversely connected to one another. If the system determines a reverse polarity exists, the micro-controller 2 will not engage the jumper module 3 and will remain in an infinite opened condition until the correct signal is received by the microcontroller at the input pin which in FIG. 1 is referred as reverse polarity 5. The reverse polarity is determined by detecting the voltage signal coming from the depleted system 6. This voltage signal will power an internal FET monitored by the micro-controller 2. If the incoming voltage signal is added to that of the good source, this will be processed as a reverse polarity condition and prevent the safety jumper module 3 from powering. For clarity, a reverse polarity is understood to be when a transmission line and alligator clamp is connected to the opposite potential to that of the opposite system.

[0012] The second condition that is processed, if no reverse polarity exists, is a good connection. A good connection is determined to exist when there is no added input voltage received at input pin which in FIG. 1 is referred to as reverse polarity input signal 5. As previously stated, the micro-controller is actively checking for any changes to the input and adjusting decisions accordingly.

[0013] After clearing the possibility for reverse polarity, the micro-controller powers ON the auto jumper module 3. The micro-controller 2 bias (activate) the gate 7 of the MOSFET module and gradually begins to increase the voltage. The resistance to turn on is inversely proportional to the voltage; so as the voltage is increased, the resistance is decreased, allowing the MOSFET to begin opening and allowing current to flow. The micro controllers actively monitor for any energy flow from drain-to-source, if no change in current is detected, it is processed by the micro-controller that no connection exists between the two systems and the micro-controller will continue monitoring for any change in energy before allowing the bulk of the current to flow. If a good connection is detected and a flow of current is detected, the micro-controller processes this data as a good and safe connection between the systems and starts increasing the gate voltage 7 of the auto jumper module until is fully ON. When the module is fully ON, the highest energy flow is allowed.

[0014] Referring now to FIG. 2. The process to fully turn ON a single or multiple MOSFET as shown on module 18, A MOSFET is used in the invention as a semiconductor switch. As such, we choose an enhancement mode type which is designed to default to an open condition upon powering. If OV is applied at the gate 16 and the differential voltage between gate 16 and the source 17 of the MOSFET is less than the threshold voltage required to turn ON the MOSFET, the MOSFET will remain in an opened condition and no current will flow. If a large positive voltage potential is applied to the gate 16 and the differential voltage between the gate 16 and the source 17 voltage is larger than the threshold voltage, the MOSFET switch is closed and electric current will flow, The task of our microcontroller 2 is to adjust this particular voltage potential at the gate 16 of the MOSFET to power ON or OFF this device as needed. As previously stated, this voltage is known as the threshold voltage: it is the minimum voltage differential between the gate 16 and the source 17 needed for electric current to begin conducting. This particular voltage varies depending on manufacturer, so we will call it our Vgs value. The invention continuously scans for any change in the current to verify a connection still exists between the systems. This allows the invention to also detect any accidental disconnect from battery posts, to ensure it is safe.

Claims

1. A solid state high energy safety power switch with smart controls comprising: Multiple solid state devices which are electronically configured to act as a power switch with high current capabilities; Digital controls which are programmed with a time sequence and duty cycle for the energizing and de-energizing of two systems; and A Matching polarity detector wherein the said multiple solid state devices are controlled by said digital controls that prevent energy transfer between the two systems until said matching polarity detector signals proper polarity is achieved.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the multiple solid state devices are MOSFETS.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein the digital controls are micro-controllers.

4. The invention of claim 1, wherein the digital controls are microprocessors.

5. The invention of claim 1, wherein the matching polarity detector is a DC electrical system with positive and negative potentials.

6. The invention of claim 1, wherein the digital controls actively monitor an increase or decrease to the Vgs voltage to determine the status of the two systems.

7. The invention of claim 6, wherein the Vgs voltage is set to predetermined reference voltage around 100 mV.

8. The invention of claim 1, wherein the time sequence will delay activating the energy transfer until proper connection is engaged between all internal solid-state devices.

9. The invention of claim 1, wherein such solid state high energy safety power switch with smart controls is integrated as an internal component of a larger system, such as a power supply.

10. The invention of claim 1, wherein such solid state high energy safety power switch with smart controls is an external component that is externally mounted and direct connected.

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