Removable Battery Pack Jump Starter for Low-Charge Cranking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle battery jump starters face limitations in voltage, power source undervoltage, sparking, and short circuiting, making them less versatile and effective, especially when AC mains power is not available, and they may not have sufficient charge to jump start a vehicle battery.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle battery jump starter powered by a removable and rechargeable battery pack, which includes a battery pack interface, a power boost circuit with energy storage devices, and terminal clamps, allowing the battery pack to charge the power boost circuit and discharge current to jump start a vehicle battery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional vehicle battery jump starter with internal power source is used, then the device can jump start a vehicle battery when charged, but the device lacks sufficient charge when AC mains power is not available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary energy storage device (supercapacitor bank) between the battery pack and the vehicle battery. The battery pack charges the supercapacitor bank, which then provides the high current surge needed for jump starting. This intermediary allows the system to accumulate energy over time from a lower-power source and deliver it as a high-power pulse when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the energy storage parameters by using a supercapacitor bank with high power density characteristics instead of a traditional battery. Supercapacitors can discharge much higher currents for shorter durations, making them suitable for jump starting applications where high current is needed briefly to crank the engine.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a battery pack for power tools is used to power the jump starter, then the jump starter can be used anywhere with a battery pack, but the battery pack current output is insufficient to directly jump start the vehicle battery
Solution Approach 1:
The supercapacitor bank serves as a power amplification intermediary that accepts charge from the battery pack's limited current output and transforms it into the high current output required for jump starting. The battery pack charges the supercapacitors at a lower current rate, and the supercapacitors discharge at the high current rate needed for the vehicle battery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary charging of the supercapacitor bank from the battery pack before the jump starting operation. This preliminary action allows the battery pack to transfer energy to the supercapacitors in advance, preparing the high-power storage device for the subsequent high-current discharge needed for jump starting.
3Ease of operation
If the battery pack is used to directly jump start the vehicle battery, then the setup is simple, but the current magnitude from the battery pack is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit acts as an intermediary that manages the charging of the supercapacitor bank from the battery pack and controls the discharge to the vehicle battery. This automated control maintains ease of operation by eliminating the need for manual intervention, while the supercapacitor bank provides the necessary current amplification.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances the versatility of vehicle battery jump starters by enabling them to be used anywhere with a battery pack, providing sufficient current to jump start a vehicle battery, even when AC mains power is not available, by combining the discharge current from the battery pack and energy storage devices.
Implementation Method 1
the battery pack is first used to charge an energy storage device or devices (e.g., a bank of supercapacitors, lithium polymer battery cells, etc.)
Implementation Method 2
After the supercapacitors or lithium polymer battery cells are charged, current can be discharged from both the battery pack and the supercapacitors or lithium polymer battery cells
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle battery jump starter that is powered by a removable and rechargeable battery pack, such as a battery pack used with various hand-held power tools. The battery pack removably connects to a vehicle battery jump starter and can be selectively used to charge a power boost module within the vehicle battery jump starter. The power boost module includes, for example, a plurality of supercapacitors or lithium polymer battery cells. The power boost module in combination with the battery pack 100 can be used to jump start a vehicle battery.