Battery charging apparatus

Abstract

Method and apparatus for surface charging an automobile battery is presented. The apparatus comprises a plurality of batteries configured in series to provide a surface charge to a target battery in a vehicle. A surface charge provides a time limited window in which to start the vehicle after its battery has been discharged. The plurality of batteries in the apparatus does not have to be discarded after their charge has been depleted because the apparatus further comprises a charging circuit for recharging the used batteries from the target battery. Recharging the plurality of batteries, which are normally “non-rechargeable”, at least once provides a destination for used batteries that would otherwise be discarded. Embodiments may comprise an LED to signify when a target battery has sufficient surface charge to warrant an attempt to start the vehicle. The apparatus is a small portable device that can stored anywhere in the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A battery charging apparatus comprising:
 a case having a bottom surface and a vertical wall attached to the bottom surface in a substantially perpendicular configuration to define a volume of space above the bottom surface for housing a plurality of batteries with one or more connections facing upwards and one or more connections facing downwards;   a case cover coupled to the case to secure the plurality of batteries within the case;   a first plurality of conductive elements above the bottom surface of the case and below the plurality of batteries and in contact with said connections facing downwards on the plurality of batteries;   a second plurality of conductive elements beneath the case cover and above the plurality of batteries and in contact with said connections facing upwards on the plurality of batteries, wherein the first plurality of conductive elements and the second plurality of conductive elements connect the plurality of batteries electrically in series by circuitry resulting in a positive battery terminal and a negative battery terminal;   a positive contact electrically connected to the positive battery terminal;   a negative contact electrically connected to the negative battery terminal;   a connector for electrically coupling with an interface to a target battery, said connector having a positive lead removably coupled to said positive contact and a negative lead removably coupled to said negative contact;   a first diode coupled between said positive lead and said positive contact to allow current to flow in a first direction from said plurality of batteries to said target battery; and   a second diode coupled between said positive lead and said positive contact to allow current to flow in a second direction from said target battery to the plurality of batteries for recharging the plurality of batteries.   
     
     
         2 . The battery charging apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the interface to the target battery comprises a cigarette lighter plug. 
     
     
         3 . The battery charging apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a charge control circuit coupled between said positive lead and positive contact, said charge control circuit including a switch with a first and second position, wherein said first position allows current to flow in said first direction from the plurality of batteries to the target battery through the positive contact and wherein said second position allows current to flow in said second direction from the target battery through an inductor regulated by a voltage regulator to the plurality of batteries through the positive contact. 
     
     
         4 . The battery charging apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of said plurality of batteries is an AA alkaline battery, and wherein said second position of said switch causes recharging of said AA alkaline battery. 
     
     
         5 . The battery charging apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said recharging of said plurality of batteries occurs only after said plurality of batteries become used batteries. 
     
     
         6 . The battery charging apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a status circuit, the status circuit including a light, the light illuminating when the target battery has a voltage greater than a threshold amount. 
     
     
         7 . The battery charging apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second diode is rated at a lower current than said first diode. 
     
     
         8 . A battery charging apparatus comprising:
 a case having a bottom surface and a vertical wall attached to the bottom surface in a substantially perpendicular configuration to define a volume of space above the bottom surface for housing a plurality of batteries with one or more connections facing upwards and one or more connections facing downwards;   a case cover coupled to the case to secure the plurality of batteries within the case;   a first plurality of conductive elements above the bottom surface of the case and below the plurality of batteries and in contact with said connections facing downwards on the plurality of batteries;   a second plurality of conductive elements beneath the case cover and above the plurality of batteries and in contact with said connections facing upwards on the plurality of batteries, wherein the first plurality of conductive elements and the second plurality of conductive elements connect the plurality of batteries electrically in series by circuitry resulting in a positive battery terminal and a negative battery terminal;   a positive contact electrically connected to the positive battery terminal;   a negative contact electrically connected to the negative battery terminal;   a connector for electrically coupling with an interface to a target battery, said connector having a positive lead removably coupled to said positive contact and a negative lead removably coupled to said negative contact; and   a charge control circuit coupled between said positive lead and said positive contact, said charge control circuit including a switch with a first and second position, wherein said first position allows current for charging the target battery to flow in a first direction from the plurality of batteries to the target battery, and wherein said second position allows current for recharging the plurality of batteries to flow in a second direction from the target battery through an inductor regulated by a voltage regulator to the plurality of batteries.   
     
     
         9 . The battery charging apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the interface to the target battery comprises a cigarette lighter plug. 
     
     
         10 . The battery charging apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a charge control circuit coupled between said positive lead and positive contact, said charge control circuit including a switch with a first and second position, wherein said first position allows current to flow in a first direction from the plurality of batteries to the target battery through the first diode and wherein said second position allows current to flow in a second direction from the target battery through an inductor regulated by a voltage regulator to the plurality of batteries through the second diode. 
     
     
         11 . The battery charging apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said plurality of batteries is an AA alkaline battery, and wherein said second position of said switch causes recharging of said AA alkaline battery. 
     
     
         12 . The battery charging apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said recharging of said plurality of batteries occurs only after said plurality of batteries become used batteries. 
     
     
         13 . The battery charging apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a status circuit, the status circuit including a light, the light illuminating when the target battery has a voltage greater than a threshold amount. 
     
     
         14 . The battery charging apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said second diode is rated at a lower current than said first diode. 
     
     
         15 . A battery charging apparatus comprising:
 a case for housing a plurality of batteries with one or more connections facing upwards and one or more connections facing downwards, wherein each of said plurality of batteries is an alkaline battery;   a case cover coupled to the case to secure the plurality of batteries within the case;   a first plurality of conductive elements above the bottom surface of the case and below the plurality of batteries and in contact with said connections facing downwards on the plurality of batteries;   a second plurality of conductive elements beneath the case cover and above the plurality of batteries and in contact with said connections facing upwards on the plurality of batteries, wherein the first plurality of conductive elements and second plurality of conductive elements connect the plurality of batteries electrically in series by circuitry resulting in a positive battery terminal and a negative battery terminal;   a positive contact electrically connected to the positive battery terminal;   a negative contact electrically connected to the negative battery terminal;   a connector for electrically coupling with an interface to a target battery, said connector having a positive lead removably coupled to said positive contact and a negative lead removably coupled to said negative contact; and   a charge control circuit coupled between said positive lead and said positive contact, said charge control circuit including a switch with a first and second position, wherein said first position allows current for charging the target battery to flow in a first direction from the plurality of batteries to the target battery, and wherein said second position allows current for recharging the plurality of batteries to flow in a second direction from the target battery to the plurality of batteries.   
     
     
         16 . The battery charging apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the interface to the target battery comprises a cigarette lighter plug. 
     
     
         17 . The battery charging apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of said plurality of batteries is an AA alkaline battery, and wherein said second position of said switch causes recharging of said AA alkaline battery. 
     
     
         18 . The battery charging apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said recharging of said plurality of batteries occurs only after said plurality of batteries become used batteries. 
     
     
         19 . The battery charging apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said recharging of said plurality of batteries is regulated by said charge control circuit. 
     
     
         20 . The battery charging apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a status circuit, the status circuit including a light, the light illuminating when the target battery has a voltage greater than a threshold amount.