Vehicle battery with a self-contained backup capability

1 . A vehicle or other system battery with a self-contained backup capability, comprising:

a vehicle battery unit of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle battery unit includes:

a main battery portion; and

a backup battery portion; and

a control device for selectively communicating a transfer of energy from the backup battery portion to the main battery portion when a voltage or other health indicator level of the main battery portion is determined to be below a reference threshold,

wherein the backup battery portion is mechanically attachable to the main battery portion of the vehicle battery unit using an interlocking system,

wherein the main battery portion and the backup battery portion are each directly re-chargeable contemporaneously via an alternator of the vehicle,

wherein the control device automatically communicates the transfer of energy from the backup battery portion to the main battery portion using a relay switch, and

wherein the control device for selectively communicating the transfer of energy from the backup battery portion to the main battery portion further comprises:

forming a first circuit path so as to place the main battery portion in parallel with the backup battery portion, such that the alternator of the vehicle is enabled to charge both the main battery portion and the backup battery portion contemporaneously until at least the voltage or other health indicator level of the main battery portion is determined to be greater than or equal to the reference threshold; and

when the voltage or other health indicator level of the main battery portion is determined to be greater than or equal to the reference threshold, forming a second circuit path such that the main battery portion is enabled to provide a voltage source for the vehicle, and such that the backup battery portion is external to the second circuit path that is enabled to provide the voltage source for the vehicle.

2 . The vehicle or other system battery of claim 1 , wherein the control device communicates the transfer of energy from the backup battery portion to the main battery portion in response to receiving a command.

3 . The vehicle or other system battery of claim 2 , wherein the command is received from a user of the vehicle via a communications interface, and wherein the communications interface is further used for providing states of voltage or other health indicators levels of the main battery portion and the backup battery portion to the user.

4 . The vehicle or other system battery of claim 2 , wherein the receiving the command comprises one of: a user pressing a button or making a selection within the vehicle, the user making a selection of an action via a display component of the vehicle, the user making a selection via a separate device communicatively coupled to the vehicle, and the user making a selection via a separate device communicatively coupled to the vehicle.

5 . The vehicle or other system battery of claim 1 ,

wherein the interlocking system enables at least one of: a physical installation of the backup battery portion on top of the main battery portion, and a physical installation of the main battery portion on top of the backup battery portion; and

wherein a circuit path is formed so as to place the main battery portion in parallel with the backup battery portion when the relay switch is activated by the control device, and wherein the backup battery portion is disconnected from the main battery portion when the relay switch is deactivated by the control device.

6 . The vehicle or other system battery of claim 1 , wherein a reference voltage or other health indicator threshold is predetermined based on a type of vehicle.

7 . The vehicle or other system battery of claim 6 , wherein the reference voltage or other health indicator threshold is further adjustable by a user.

8 . The vehicle or other system battery of claim 1 , wherein the control device is a microcontroller unit or an Application Specific Integrated Circuit.

9 . The vehicle or other system battery of claim 1 , wherein the backup battery portion is charged until a determination is made indicating that sufficient charging of the backup battery portion has occurred.

10 . A method for providing a voltage source to a vehicle using a vehicle battery with a self-contained backup capability, the method comprising:

receiving a command for transferring energy from a backup battery portion of a vehicle battery unit to a main battery portion of the vehicle battery unit or detecting that a voltage or other health indicator level of a main battery portion is below a reference level, wherein the backup battery portion is mechanically attachable to the main battery portion of the vehicle battery unit using an interlocking system;

communicating a transfer of energy from the backup battery portion to the main battery portion using a relay switch;

forming a first circuit path so as to place the main battery portion in parallel with the backup battery portion and that an alternator of the vehicle is enabled to charge both the main battery portion and the backup battery portion contemporaneously until at least the voltage or other health indicator level of the main battery portion is determined to be greater than or equal to a reference threshold; and

when the voltage or other health indicator level of the main battery portion is determined to be greater than or equal to the reference threshold, forming a second circuit path such that the backup battery portion is external to the second circuit path and is enabled to provide the voltage source for the vehicle,

wherein both the main battery portion and the backup battery portion are each directly re-chargeable contemporaneously via an alternator of the vehicle.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining whether or not sufficient charging of the backup battery portion has occurred; and

when sufficient charging of the backup battery portion has not occurred, continuing charging of the backup battery portion until the backup battery portion is sufficiently charged.

12 . A system for providing a voltage source to a vehicle using a vehicle or other system battery with a self-contained backup capability, comprising:

at least one processor configured to:

receive a command for transferring energy from a backup battery portion of a vehicle battery unit to a main battery portion of the vehicle battery unit or detect that a voltage or other health indicator level of the main battery portion is below a reference level, wherein the backup battery portion is mechanically attachable to the main battery portion of the vehicle battery unit using an interlocking system;

communicate a transfer of energy from the backup battery portion to the main battery portion using a relay switch;

form a first circuit path so as to place the main battery portion in parallel with the backup battery portion and that and alternator of the vehicle is enabled to charge both the main battery portion and the backup battery portion contemporaneously until at least the voltage level or other health indicator of the main battery portion is determined to be greater than or equal to a reference threshold;

determine whether or not a voltage level or other health indicator of the main battery portion is greater than or equal to the reference threshold; and

when the voltage level or other health indicator of the main battery portion is determined to be greater than or equal to the reference threshold, form a second circuit path such that the backup battery portion is external to the second circuit path and the main battery portion is enabled to provide the voltage source for the vehicle,

wherein both the main battery portion and the backup battery portion are each directly re-chargeable contemporaneously via an alternator of the vehicle.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine whether or not sufficient charging of the backup battery portion has occurred; and

when sufficient charging of the backup battery portion has not occurred, continue charging of the backup battery portion until the backup battery portion is sufficiently charged.

14 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing thereon computer executable instructions for providing a voltage source to a vehicle, using a vehicle or other system battery with a self-contained backup capability, including instructions for:

receiving a command for transferring energy from a backup battery portion of a vehicle battery unit to a main battery portion of the vehicle battery unit or detecting that a voltage level or other health indicator of the main battery portion is below a reference level, wherein the backup battery portion is mechanically attachable to the main battery portion of the vehicle battery unit using an interlocking system;

communicating a transfer of energy from the backup battery portion to the main battery portion using a relay switch;

forming a first circuit path so as to place the main battery portion in parallel with the backup battery portion and an alternator of the vehicle is in enabled to charge both the main battery portion and the backup battery portion contemporaneously until at least the voltage level or other health indicator of the main battery portion is determined to be greater than or equal to a reference threshold;

determining whether or not the voltage level or other health indicator of the main battery portion is greater than or equal to the reference level; and

when the voltage level or other health indicator of the main battery portion is greater than or equal to the reference level, forming a second circuit path such that the backup battery portion is external to the second circuit path and the main battery portion is enabled to provide the voltage source for the vehicle,

wherein both the main battery portion and the backup battery portion are each directly re-chargeable contemporaneously via an alternator of the vehicle.

15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , the instructions including further instructions for:

determining whether or not sufficient charging of the backup battery portion has occurred; and

when sufficient charging of the backup battery portion has not occurred, continuing charging of the backup battery portion until the backup battery portion is sufficiently charged.

16 . The vehicle or other system battery of claim 1 , wherein the main battery portion has a main battery positive terminal and a main battery negative terminal, wherein the backup battery portion has a backup battery positive terminal and a backup battery negative terminal, and wherein the communication of the transfer of energy includes making a first direct non-stepped up or stepped down circuit connection of the main battery positive terminal with the backup battery positive terminal, and making a second direct non-stepped up or stepped down circuit connection of the main battery negative terminal with the backup battery negative terminal.

17 . The vehicle or other system battery of claim 1 , wherein the main battery portion and the backup battery portion have a same voltage level.

18 . The vehicle or other system battery of claim 1 , wherein a combination of the batteries after the backup battery portion and the main battery portion are interlocked has dimensions to enable installation in a conventionally sized battery box.

19 . The vehicle or other system battery of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes a combustion engine.