Backup Battery System

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for the automatic provisioning of backup starting power to a starter of a vehicle with a depleted main starting battery. The system comprises a backup battery installed in the vehicle and electrically coupled conditionally to the main starting battery, a controller, a wireless transceiver and a wireless personal computing device with a recharging application installed therein. An exemplary method includes monitoring the main starting battery and the backup battery, receiving a recharge command, electrically connecting the backup battery to the main starting battery, starting the vehicle and disconnecting the backup battery. The installed application also comprises a graphical user interface though which the deterioration of the main charging battery may be monitored and through which the controller may send an assistance request to a third party.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 ) A vehicle back-up battery system, comprising:
 a vehicle starter;   a driver's door;   a first battery electrically connected to the vehicle starter;   a switch;   a second battery electrically coupled to the vehicle starter via the switch;   a controller configured to receive two or more parameter inputs and to control the position of the switch based on the two or more parameter inputs; and   a memory device containing instructions that are executed by the controller that:
 determine whether the driver's door is open or closed as a first parameter input, 
 determine whether voltage of the first battery is above or below a minimum starting voltage as a second parameter input; and 
 determine the voltage of the second battery when the voltage of the first battery is below the minimum starting voltage. 
   
     
     
         2 ) The system of  claim 1 , wherein the memory device contains additional instructions that when executed by the controller start a timer and shut the switch when the voltage of the secondary battery is at or above the minimum starting voltage the instructions, wherein the switch is configured to allow current to flow from the second battery to the first battery. 
     
     
         3 ) The system of  claim 2 , wherein the memory device contains additional instructions that when executed by the controller determine an elapsed time on the timer and monitor the voltage on the main starting battery. 
     
     
         4 ) The system of  claim 3 , wherein the memory device contains additional instructions that when executed by the controller disconnect the second battery from the first battery when the voltage of the first battery reaches or exceeds the minimum starting voltage. 
     
     
         5 ) The system of  claim 3 , wherein the memory device contains additional instructions that when executed by the controller open the relay switch when the voltage of the first battery reaches or exceeds a run voltage and the elapsed time has not reached a minimum elapsed time. 
     
     
         6 ) The vehicle back-up battery system of  claim 5 , wherein memory device contains additional instructions that when executed by the controller maintain the relay switch closed until a voltage of the second battery voltage reaches a maximum value, then opens the relay switch. 
     
     
         7 ) A method for providing starting current in a vehicle, comprising:
 electronically determining that a driver's door is open;   determining a voltage of a main starting battery;   determining a voltage of a back-up battery after the voltage of the main starting battery is determined to be below a minimum starting voltage;   electronically shutting a switch when the voltage of the back-up battery is at or above the minimum starting voltage, wherein the switch is configured to allow current to flow from the back-up battery to the main starting battery;   electronically opening the switch when the voltage of the main starting battery reaches or exceeds a run voltage; and   providing starting current to vehicle starter from the main starting battery.   
     
     
         8 ) The method of  claim 7 , further comprising engaging a vehicle starter after the voltage of the main starting battery is at or above a minimum starting voltage. 
     
     
         9 ) The method of  claim 7 , further comprising generating a warning message when the voltage of the back-up battery is below the minimum starting voltage. 
     
     
         10 ) The method of  claim 9 , wherein the warning message is transmitted from the vehicle via a transceiver to a wireless communication device. 
     
     
         11 ) A system for providing starting current in a vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle starter;   a driver's door;   a first battery electrically connected to the vehicle starter;   a second battery;   a means for determining a status of the driver's door;   a means for determining the voltage of the first battery and the second battery based on the status of the driver's door;   a means for conditionally connecting the second battery to the first battery based on the voltage of the first battery and the second battery; and   a means for sending one of a SMS text message and an e-mail to a communication device based on the voltage of at least one of the first battery and second battery.   
     
     
         12 ) The system of  claim 11  further comprising a timer, the timer being configured to measure an elapsed time after it is determined that the voltage of the second battery is greater than a minimum starting voltage by the means for determining the voltage of the first battery and the second battery based on the status of the driver's door. 
     
     
         13 ) The system of  claim 12  wherein the timer increments until the voltage of the first battery is equal to or greater than a run voltage. 
     
     
         14 ) The system of  claim 13 , wherein the incrementing of the timer determines whether the controller compares the voltage of the first battery to one of the run voltage and the minimum starting voltage. 
     
     
         15 ) The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a means for creating one or more reference voltages. 
     
     
         16 ) The system of  claim 15 , wherein the means for creating one or more reference voltages comprises a means for dividing voltages. 
     
     
         17 ) The system of  claim 11  further comprising a means for communication between a controller, the means for determining the voltage of the first battery and the second battery, and the means for conditionally connecting the second battery to the first battery and the switch. 
     
     
         18 ) a means for sending one of a SMS text message and an e-mail to a communication device based on the voltage of at least one of the first battery and second battery 
     
     
         19 ) A method for providing starting current in a vehicle, comprising:
 determining the open/closed status of a driver's door by one of a first switch or a voltage change;   determining the voltage of a main starting battery after the driver's door is determined to be opened;   determining the voltage of a back-up battery after the voltage of the main starting battery is determined to be below a minimum starting voltage;   starting a timer and shutting a second switch after the voltage of the back-up battery is determined to be at or above the minimum starting voltage, wherein the switch allows current to flow from the back-up battery to the main starting battery;   determining an elapsed time and the voltage on the main starting battery;   energizing the vehicle starter after one of the voltage of the main starting battery reaches or exceeds the minimum starting voltage or an elapsed time reaches a minimum elapsed time;   opening the second switch after the voltage of the main starting battery reaches or exceeds a run voltage and the elapsed time has not reached a minimum elapsed time; and   maintaining the second switch closed until the back-up battery voltage reaches a maximum value, then opening the second switch.   
     
     
         20 ) The method of  claim 19  further comprising generating a warning message comprising executable text when the voltage of the back-up battery is below the minimum starting voltage.