Portable vehicle battery jump start apparatus with safety protection

1. An apparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a depleted or discharged vehicle battery with positive and negative polarity terminals, the apparatus comprising:

a power supply;

a positive polarity vehicle battery terminal connector;

a negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connector;

a vehicle battery isolation sensor connected in circuit with the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connectors, the vehicle battery isolation sensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery when connected between the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connectors;

a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit with the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connectors, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect a polarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connectors and to provide an output signal indicating that the positive and negative polarity terminals of the vehicle battery are properly connected to the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery connectors;

a power switch connected between the power supply and the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connectors; and

a microcontroller configured to receive input signals from the vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, the microcontroller is configured to provide an activating output signal to turn on the power switch to cause the power supply to be connected to the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery connectors in response to the microcontroller receiving input signals simultaneously from the sensors indicating both the presence and connection of the vehicle battery to the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery connectors and proper polarity connection of the positive and negative polarity terminals of the vehicle battery with the positive and negative polarity battery terminal connectors, and the microcontroller is configured to provide a deactivating output signal to turn off the power switch to cause the power supply to be disconnected from the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery connectors in response to the microcontroller receiving input signals from the sensors indicating the absence of the vehicle battery connected to the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery connectors and/or improper polarity connection of the positive and negative polarity terminals of the vehicle battery to the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery connectors.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle battery isolation sensor is a separate isolation sensor configured to detect the presence of the vehicle battery connected to the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery connectors.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle battery isolation sensor detects presence or absence of the vehicle battery prior to any initial connection and is not reliant upon any pre-established connection or operation of the circuit with the positive and negative polarity battery terminal connectors.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connectors comprise a positive polarity battery clamp and a negative polarity battery clamp.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connectors comprise a positive polarity battery clamp connected to a positive polarity battery cable and a negative polarity battery clamp connected to a negative polarity battery cable.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an output port having positive and negative polarity outputs, the output port being configured to connect with a single removable plug, the single plug being connected to the positive and negative polarity cables.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power supply comprises a lithium ion battery.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the lithium ion battery comprises a battery pack of multiple lithium ion batteries.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power switch comprises a plurality of FETs in parallel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle isolation sensor and reverse polarity sensor comprise optically coupled isolator phototransistors.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of power diodes coupled between the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connectors and the power supply to prevent back-charging of the power supply from an electrical system connected to the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connectors.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to detect temperature of the power supply and to provide a temperature signal to the microcontroller.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a voltage measurement circuit configured to measure output voltage of the power supply and to provide a voltage measurement signal to the microcontroller.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a voltage regulator configured to convert output voltage of the power supply to a voltage level appropriate to provide operating power to electrical components of the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a USB output port configured to provide charging power from the power supply to a USB-chargeable device.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a USB charging port configured to provide charging power from an external power source to the power supply.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a flashlight circuit configured to provide a source of light to a user.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the source of light is at least one LED.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the at least one LED to provide a visual alarm indicating an emergency situation.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of visual indicators configured to display remaining capacity status of the power supply.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein said plurality of visual indicators comprises a plurality of LEDs providing output light of different colors.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a visual indicator configured to warn a user when a vehicle battery is connected with reverse polarity.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising separate visual indicators configured to display the power on status of the apparatus, and the jump start boost power status of power supplied to the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connectors.

24. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a manual override switch configured to activate a manual override mode to enable a user to connect jump start power to charge the vehicle battery when the vehicle battery isolation sensor is unable to detect presence of the vehicle battery.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein said microcontroller is configured to detect actuation of the manual override switch for at least a predetermined period of time before activation of the manual override mode.

26. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a jumper cable device including a plug configured to plug into an output port of the apparatus, a pair of battery cables integrated with the plug at one respective end thereof and being configured to be connected to terminals of the vehicle battery at another respective end thereof.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein the jumper cable device further comprises a pair of ring terminals configured to respectively connect the pair of battery cables at another end thereof with either the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery terminals or the positive or negative polarity battery clamps.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein the output port and the plug are dimensioned so that the plug will fit into the output port only in one specific orientation.

29. An apparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a depleted or discharged vehicle battery with positive and negative polarity terminals, the apparatus comprising:

a power supply;

a positive polarity vehicle battery terminal connector;

a negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connector;

a vehicle battery isolation sensor connected in circuit with the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connectors, the vehicle battery isolation sensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery when connected between the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connectors;

a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit with the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connectors, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect a polarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connectors and to provide an output signal indicating that the positive and negative polarity terminals of the vehicle battery are properly connected to the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery connectors;

a power switch connected between the power supply and the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connectors; and

a microcontroller configured to receive input signals from the vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, the microcontroller configured to control operation of the power switch,

wherein the microcontroller is configured to turn on the power switch when receiving input signals from the vehicle isolation sensor and reverse polarity sensor indicating both the presence and connection of the vehicle battery to the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery connectors and proper polarity connection of the positive and negative polarity terminals of the vehicle battery with the positive and negative polarity battery terminal connectors, and

wherein the microcontroller is configured to turn off the power switch when receiving input signals from the sensors indicating the absence of the vehicle battery connected to the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery connectors and/or improper polarity connection of the positive and negative polarity terminals of the vehicle battery to the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery connectors.

30. An apparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a depleted or discharged vehicle battery with positive and negative polarity terminals, the apparatus comprising:

a power supply;

a positive polarity vehicle battery terminal connector;

a negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connector;

a vehicle battery isolation sensor connected in circuit with the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connectors, the vehicle battery isolation sensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery when connected between the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connectors;

a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit with the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connectors, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect a polarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connectors and to provide an output signal indicating that the positive and negative polarity terminals of the vehicle battery are properly connected to the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery connectors;

a power switch connected between the power supply and the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery terminal connectors; and

a microcontroller configured to receive input signals from the vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, the microcontroller is configured to turn on the power switch to cause the power supply to be connected to the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery connectors in response to the microcontroller receiving input signals simultaneously from the sensors indicating both the presence and connection of the vehicle battery to the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery connectors and proper polarity connection of the positive and negative polarity terminals of the vehicle battery with the positive and negative polarity battery terminal connectors, and the microcontroller is configured to turn off the power switch to prevent the power supply from being connected to the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery connectors in response to the microcontroller not receiving the input signals simultaneously from the sensors indicating both the presence and connection of the vehicle battery to the positive and negative polarity vehicle battery connectors and proper polarity connection of the positive and negative polarity terminals of the vehicle battery with the positive and negative polarity battery terminal connectors.