Patents Examined by P. Tibbits
  • Patent number: 6437538
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring battery voltage is provided that can detect battery voltage with high accuracy, and also can be miniaturized with cost and noise reduced. The apparatus comprises: a capacitor which is charged to the voltage of each module, switches which connect and disconnect this capacitor and the module, a voltage follower which outputs the voltage across the capacitor, and switches which connect and disconnect the voltage follower and the capacitor. For the aforementioned switches, photo MOSFETs are used. Furthermore, to prevent discharge from the capacitor, a voltage follower is installed. Therefore, by using not a complicated circuit but inexpensive and simple elements, a low cost and miniaturized apparatus for measuring battery voltage is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takafumi Tsurumi, Tomohiko Maeda, Kouji Sakai, Naoki Ohsawa, Kazunori Sato