GB2301477A

GB2301477A - Reprogrammable battery

Info

Publication number: GB2301477A
Application number: GB9524597A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alfredo Spinelli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-05-29
Filing date: 1995-12-01
Publication date: 1996-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 2015-12-01
Also published as: GB9524597D0; GB2301477B; AUPN324895A0

Abstract

A reprogrammable battery is disclosed. The device displayed in Fig. (1, 2 and 3), is used for controlling current flow to battery terminal(s). The battery lock uses a timing device or keypad (1), and remote control wireless device, receiver (2) to enable the battery current flow to be fully controlled. A sensing circuit amplifier (22A and 22B), is used to enable small amounts of current to be drawn from it while it is locked, and will automatically fully lock the flow if more than a small amount is drawn from its' terminal's. A mechanical switch Fig.(3) can be used to replace the electronically controlling device /or vice versa. This device can be connected to any battery to secure, to prevent, to save, and to prolong battery power.

Description

[pANLM RAEL A] REPROGRAMMABLE BA1=RY This invention relates to improvements in battery current flow output terminal(s).

There are many needs for a battery current flow terminal(s) to be restricted, locked and/or timed. From many proposals this is not obtainable.

For a number of applications these proposals have considerable disadvantages; for example a battery connected to a warning device or electric fance has not the ability of time and/or power saving. Simultaneously, a battery connected to a motor vehicle, motor boat, or even to a motor cycle have restrictions and limitations, in itself. These proposals can easily be mechanically bypassed and current drawn from at will.

These problems are overcome by the present invention, which provides a reprogrammable current flow terminal(s), later referred to as reprogrammable battery lock, built into the battery, which can be operated either remotely or through a reprogrammable timing device and /or by the use of a coding keypad to draw, lock, control and restrict current flow from the battery terminal(s).

The reprogrammable battery lock is a microprocessor based latching current switch that is used to secure current flow and/or partially secure current flow to the battery terminal(s).

The combination lock will automatically reset if a wrong key, that is not in the possible combination, is pressed. There is no time delay so a simple personal combination is all that is required to operate the lock; the controlling device is connected in line to one of the battery terminal(s), and it cannot be mechanically bypassed at will. The IPANEL B] microprocessor is expandable so that a number of practical programmes can be put in place; the key pad combinations are also expandable but 1 to 10 digits is typical.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings 1/2 and 212 in which: In the drawing 1/2: Fig 1 shows one example of a voltage regulator device according to this invention; Fig 2 shows application of electronic circuits and devices relating to its operation; Fig 3 shows a partial circuit of a mechanical output switch relating to this invention.

In the drawing u2: Fig 4 demonstrates an application relating to this invention to a typical commonly used battery, T F:r) read-out (3) from drawing 1/2. Conductor cable connector (39), keypad and remote control extension socket (40).

Referring to Fig (1), (2), (3) it can be seen that the reprogrammable battery lock comprises of components and devices, these components and devices are not restricted, and can be placed on a circuit board taking many shapes which are not illustrated herein.

Fig. (4) shows a typical commonly used battery on which one terminal has been disabled and a reprogrammable battery lock device has been put in its place. It should be noted that any suitable arrangement may be used. It will be realised that the battery lock device according to this invention can be manuf8ctured from various materials and /or by different processes for the device to operate, these are the basis of this invention and reference to its working will now be made.

[PANEL C1 OPERATION Power is supplied to the circuit via the battery. Where battery voltage is higher than the circuit requirement then a V.C.C. voltage controlled circuit is included .This device is found in figure 1 of drawings 1/2. Power is supplied to the circuit via the battery connection (16) to V+ and VSS where VSS = full battery voltage negative (V-); connector (12) = frill battery voltage positive, (V+). Diode (17) and capacitor (18) provide for protection against power supply spikes and dips, voltage regulator (19) regulates the input voltage down to a suitable voltage (5) for main circuit (8).

Microprocessor (8) provides all the functions of the combination lock, it scans the keypad, decodes any key pressed and responds by activating the output LED (3) through resistor (15) and/or output switch (31)..(34), via resistor (28) and transistor (38).

LED (3) is used to signal various conditions of the combination lock to the operator, this is driven directly from the main circuit (8) and current limiting resistor (15).

Output switch (31)...(34) is expandable, addition of more FET'S or similar devices will increase the current output capabilities, normally measured in amperes and/or parts of amperes, for small current proposals.

Keypad (1) is a push button 4 x 3 type, the main circuit (8) applies voltage to the rows and reads the voltage at the columns to decipher which key has been pressed. Resistor pack (6) provides protection to the microprocessor (8) in case the cable via socket 4A and 4B is cut or shorted to ground, and/or removed.

Resistor pack (7) provides pull down currents from keypad (1) to microprocessor (8).

Capacitor (9) and resistor (10) makes the clock inside microprocessor (8) oscillate and hence run.

[PANELD] Resistor (11) and reset circuit device (13) assures sure that microprocessor (8) resets correctly when power is first applied, and/or re-applied.

Capacitor (14) provides power supply decoupling.

Remote control receiver (2) provides over-ride input to the microprocessor (8), in turn microprocessor (8) sends a signal to transistor (38) via current limiting resistor (28).

Operation of output switch on combination lock The output switch on the combination lock is controlled by the microprocessor (8). A signal from the microprocessor is sent to transistor (38), via resistor (28). The signal from the microprocessor (8) is voltage amplified by transistor (38) to enable the output FET'S (31)..(34) to turn ON or OFF.

When the signal from the microprocessor is at a low level, transistor (38) is turned off This allows voltage to be applied to the gates of the FET'S (31)..(34), via resistor (29) and resistors (30)..(33), turning them on. This allows current to flow from terminal (37) through the battery negative, effectively "unlocking" the device.

When at the signal from the microprocessor is at high level, transistor (38) is turned on. This stops the voltage from being applied to the FET'S (31). (34). Current then cannot flow thus "locking" the device.

Zenner diode (32) provides protection to the FET'S (31)..(34) against over voltage surges.

[PANLEj Operation of Mechanical Output Switch on combination Loclu Figure (3) drawing 1/2 A signal from the microprocessor (8) is sent to transistor (38), via resistor (28). The signal from microprocessor (8) is voltage amplified by transistor (38) to enable coil (35) to turn on or off. Signal from transistor (38) is amplified via connection (12).

Diode (36) provides protection to transistor (38).

Rails A and B is the mechanical output controlled switch shown at figure (3) drawings 1/2.

Operation of the Current Limiting Circuit Figure 3 drawing 1/2 A current limiting circuit is used to detect if more than a preset current is being drawn from the battery it can be made adjustable, operation of the current limit circuit is at; follows.

Sense resistor (39) provides the sensing voltage, it is in the main current path from the battery, amplifier (22A) and resistors (20), (21) and (23) amplify the sense voltage resistor (23) which is adjustable to allow for different current settings, this is compared by amplifier (22B) with a reference voltage formed by diode (26). If the current flow from the battery is increased the voltage at the output of (22A) would rise, and at a particular level would make amplifier (22B) switch its output, this sends a signal to microprocessor (8), then depending on the state of the lock, the action taken by the microprocessor. Resistors (24), (25) and (27) provide proper bias conditions for the amplifier (22B).

Claims

[pANELY\

The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. An electronic locking device to prevent current flow from a battery, which can be operated by a re-programmable combinational keypad.
2. The reprogrammable battery lock device of claim 1 makes use of a keypad, which can be remotely mounted, to enable the battery to be unlocked by entering a multi-digit code.
3. The reprogrammable battery lock device of claim 1 has the facility to be controlled by a wireless remote control receiver.
4. The reprogrammable battery lock device of claim 1 wherein has a current detection circuit to automatically lock the battery should more than a prescribed amount of current be drawn from the battery.
5. The reprogrammable battery lock device of claim 4 wherein the current detection circuit is bypassed when the battery is unlocked allowing full current to be drawn from the battery.
6. The reprogrammable battery lock device of claim 5 wherein has the ability of fully locking the current flow, wherein the current detection circuit is not included into the device, and also full current flow when battery lock is unlocked.

IPANEL G]
7. The reprogrammable battery lock device of claim 1 wherein has the ability to be reprogrammed to allow for different personal identification combinations to be used to access the battery.
8. The reprogrammable battery lock device of claim 7 herein also has the ability to be programmed for timed locking and unlocking.
9. The reprogrammable battery lock device of claim 1 wherein has the ability to accept an electronically controlled output device, and/or mechanical controlled output switch.
10. A reprogrammable battery lock device substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1-4 of the accompanying drawings.