Abstract A battery status indicator for use with a DC battery to provide an indication of the battery's ability to provide a necessary amount of charge and is especially useful in a vehicular electrical system using a DC battery. The system is characterized by using miniaturized integrated circuitry for reduced size and increased reliability of operation and includes a single package quad comparator in conjunction with a scaling network of resistors to show very small voltage changes to a network of indicators such as a lightbulb and alarm system. The system is capable of showing in a step-by-step sequence the progressional deterioration in the voltage level of the battery such that it allows one to continuously monitor the status of the battery prior to its becoming inoperable.
A battery charge capacity indicator for providing an indication of charge capacity of said battery comprising: a pair of battery connecting terminals; voltage divider network means connected to said battery connecting terminal; a plurality of voltage comparators, each comparator having a first input individually connected to one of said branches of said voltage divider network means; means connected to said battery connecting terminals for providing a reference voltage, said reference voltage means connected as a second input to each of said volatage comparators; a plurality of biased switching means, each switching means connected to a different output of each of said voltage comparators which provides an input signal to bias individual switching means; a plurality of indicating means, each individual indicator means connected to a different biased switching means, circuit switching means connected to said battery connecting terminals having a first, second and third position providing a on-off test position of said circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A battery charge capacity indicator for providing an indication of charge capacity of said battery comprising: a pair of battery connecting terminals; voltage divider network means connected to said battery connecting terminal; a plurality of voltage comparators, each comparator having a first input individually connected to one of said branches of said voltage divider network means; means connected to said battery connecting terminals for providing a reference voltage, said reference voltage means connected as a second input to each of said volatage comparators; a plurality of biased switching means, each switching means connected to a different output of each of said voltage comparators which provides an input signal to bias individual switching means; a plurality of indicating means, each individual indicator means connected to a different biased switching means, circuit switching means connected to said battery connecting terminals having a first, second and third position providing a on-off test position of said circuit.