US Patent: 6,252,378
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| Usage Counter for Portable Jump-Starting Battery Unit
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Patentees:
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| Matthew M. Crass (exact or similar names) - Pleasant Prairie, WI |
| Thomas P. Becker (exact or similar names) - Kenosha, WI |
| Manufacturer: |
| Not known to have been produced |
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Patent Dates:
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| Applied: |
Jun. 19, 2000 |
| Granted: |
Jun. 26, 2001 |
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Stan Schulz
Snap-On Tools Company History
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Description: |
| Seyfarth & Shaw - patent attorneys
This application claims the benefit of the filing date of copending U.S. provisional application No. 60/175,363, filed Jan. 10, 2000.
Abstract
A usage counter has input terminals connectable to the terminals of a jump-starting battery pack. The counter has an IC comparator which generates an output signal when battery voltage drops below a predetermined reference level. If the output signal persists for a predetermined time period, indicating an attempt to jump-start an engine with the battery pack, an IC timer is triggered to output a count pulse which is inverted and then counted and displayed by an IC counter/display circuit. The usage counter circuit is powered by the battery pack and has a Zener diode which provides to the IC circuits a limited supply voltage which is unaffected by voltage spikes which might appear at the battery pack terminals. A capacitor maintains the reference voltage level despite momentary drops in battery terminal voltage.
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