CPC B60L 53/14 (2019.02) [H02J 1/122 (2020.01); H02J 7/0029 (2013.01); H02J 7/0034 (2013.01); H02J 7/0047 (2013.01); H02J 7/342 (2020.01); H02J 7/00 (2013.01); H02J 7/0048 (2020.01); H02J 7/00302 (2020.01); H02J 7/00306 (2020.01); H02J 7/00309 (2020.01); H02J 2310/46 (2020.01)] | 11 Claims |
1. A jump starter apparatus for jump starting a vehicle battery, comprising:
a power supply that includes one or more rechargeable batteries;
a USB port configured to receive power from an external power source for charging the one or more batteries;
a DC-DC converter coupled between the USB port and the one or more rechargeable batteries and configured to increase a voltage received from the external power source for charging the one or more rechargeable batteries;
a vehicle battery isolation sensor configured to detect presence of the vehicle battery connected to the jump starter apparatus;
a reverse polarity sensor, separate from the vehicle battery isolation sensor, configured to detect a proper polarity connection between the jump starter apparatus and the vehicle battery; and
a power switch configured to electrically connect the power supply to the vehicle battery,
wherein the power switch is controlled based on signals from the vehicle battery isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor such that the power supply is connected to the vehicle battery when both (i) the vehicle battery isolation sensor currently indicates that the vehicle battery is connected to the jump starter apparatus, and (ii) the reverse polarity sensor currently indicates that the jump starter and the vehicle battery are connected with the proper polarity connection.
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