Jump Starting Apparatus
A jump starting apparatus configured for jump starting a vehicle battery includes a rechargeable battery, a first battery cable having a first battery terminal connector for connecting the jump starting apparatus to a first battery terminal of the vehicle battery, a second battery cable having a second battery terminal connector for connecting the jump starting apparatus to a second battery terminal of the vehicle battery, a first conductor bar or plate connecting a conductor of the first battery cable to a first tab or terminal of the rechargeable battery, and a safety control system or circuit configured for detecting when the jump starting apparatus is properly connected to the vehicle battery and then switching on power from the rechargeable battery to the vehicle battery only when the jump starting apparatus is properly connected to the vehicle battery.
1 . A jump starting apparatus configured for jump starting a vehicle battery, the jump starting apparatus comprising:
a rechargeable battery;
a first battery cable having a first battery terminal connector for connecting the jump starting apparatus to a first battery terminal of the vehicle battery;
a second battery cable having a second battery terminal connector for connecting the jump starting apparatus to a second battery terminal of the vehicle battery;
a first conductor bar or plate connecting a conductor of the first battery cable to a first tab or terminal of the rechargeable battery; and
a safety control system or circuit configured for detecting when the jump starting apparatus is properly connected to the vehicle battery and then switching on power from the rechargeable battery to the vehicle battery only when the jump starting apparatus is properly connected to the vehicle battery.
2 . The jump starting apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a switching circuit coupled between the first conductor bar or plate and the conductor of the first battery cable, the switching circuit being controllable for switching on power from the rechargeable battery to the vehicle battery to provide current for jump starting the vehicle battery.
3 . The jump starting apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first tab or terminal of the rechargeable battery is a negative polarity tab or terminal.
4 . The jump starting apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second conductor bar or plate for connecting a conductor of the second battery cable to a second tab or terminal of the rechargeable battery.
5 . The jump starting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a conductor of the second battery cable is directly connected to the second tab or terminal of the rechargeable battery.
6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the jump starting apparatus is properly connected to the vehicle battery when the first and second battery terminal connectors are connected with proper polarity to the first and second battery terminals of the vehicle battery.
7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the jump starting apparatus is properly connected to the vehicle battery when the first and second battery terminal connectors are physically and electrically connected and connected with proper polarity to the first and second battery terminals of the vehicle battery.
8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the safety control system or circuit comprises a microcontroller.
9 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the safety control system or circuit further comprises one or more sensors connected to the microcontroller configured for determining whether the vehicle battery is properly connected to the jump starting apparatus prior to connecting power from the rechargeable battery to the vehicle battery.
10 . The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the one or more sensors connected to the microcontroller are configured to determine whether the vehicle battery has a proper polarity connection with the jump starting apparatus prior to connecting power from the rechargeable battery to the vehicle battery.
11 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the one or more sensors is two or more separate sensors connected to the microcontroller.
12 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the two or more sensors include a presence sensor to determine whether the vehicle battery is electrically connected between the first and second battery terminal connectors and a reverse polarity sensor to determine whether the vehicle battery has proper polarity connection with the first and second battery terminal connectors.
13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rechargeable battery is a lithium ion battery.
14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of power diodes coupled between the rechargeable battery and at least one of the first and second battery terminal connectors to prevent back-charging of the rechargeable battery from the vehicle battery or an electrical system connected to the vehicle battery.
15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a voltage measurement circuit configured to measure output voltage of the rechargeable battery and to provide a voltage measurement signal to the safety control system or circuit.
16 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a visual indicator configured to warn a user when the vehicle battery is connected to the jump starting apparatus with reverse polarity.
17 . 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 the first and second battery terminal connectors when the safety control system or circuit is unable to detect presence of a vehicle battery.
18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the safety control system or circuit 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.
19 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the rechargeable battery is a lithium ion battery having a positive tab and a negative tab.
20 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein one end of the second tab or terminal of the rechargeable battery at least partially wraps around an exposed end of the conductor of the second battery cable.
21 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the switching circuit is controlled by the safety control system or circuit or switching on the power from the rechargeable battery.
22 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the switching circuit includes one or more relays.