Battery sequencer

Abstract

In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a sequencer used to allow a battery maintenance device to charge and/or discharge one or more rechargeable batteries. In one embodiment a sequencer includes at least one relay, at least one relay control configured to selectively activate and deactivate the at least one relay, and a processing component, wherein the processing component is configured to receive a first input and programmed to activate the at least one relay via the at least one relay control in response to the first input. In another embodiment, a system includes a battery maintenance device that is in communication with the sequencer that has at least one relay, at least one relay control, and a processing component configured to receive a first input and programmed to activate the at least one relay via the at least one relay control in response to the first input.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A battery sequencer comprising:
 a. at least one relay;   b. at least one relay control configured to selectively activate and deactivate the at least one relay; and   c. a processing component, wherein the processing component is configured to receive a first input and programmed to activate the at least one relay via the at least one relay control in response to the first input.   
     
     
         2 . The battery sequencer of  claim 1 , further comprising a power supply in communication with at least one of the at least one relay, the at least one relay control and the processing component. 
     
     
         3 . The battery sequencer of  claim 1 , wherein the processing component is programmed to deactivate the at least one relay via the at least one relay control in response to a second input. 
     
     
         4 . The battery sequencer of  claim 1 , wherein the sequencer is configured to be in electrical communication with a plurality of rechargeable batteries and a battery maintenance device, wherein the sequencer provides communication between the battery maintenance device and one or more of the plurality of rechargeable batteries. 
     
     
         5 . The battery sequencer of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one relay comprises a first relay and a second relay and the at least one relay control comprises a first relay control configured to selectively activate and deactivate the first relay and a second relay control configured to selectively activate and deactivate the second relay. 
     
     
         6 . The battery sequencer of  claim 5 , wherein the processing component is programmed to activate the first relay via the first relay control in response to the first input and deactivate the second relay via the second relay control in response to the first input. 
     
     
         7 . The battery sequencer of  claim 6 , wherein the processing component is programmed to deactivate the first relay via the first relay control in response to a second input and activate the second relay via the second relay control in response to the second input. 
     
     
         8 . The battery sequencer as in  claim 1 , wherein the processing component comprises at least one of a microcontroller or a microprocessor. 
     
     
         9 . The battery sequencer of  claim 8 , wherein the processing component comprises a CPU. 
     
     
         10 . The battery sequencer of  claim 8 , wherein the processing component comprises a PIC microcontroller. 
     
     
         11 . The battery sequencer as in  claim 1 , wherein the sequencer further comprises a feedback mechanism in communication with the processing component. 
     
     
         12 . The battery sequencer of  claim 11 , wherein the feedback mechanism is configured to provide feedback to a user regarding at least one piece of information about the sequencer. 
     
     
         13 . The battery sequencer of  claim 11 , wherein the feedback mechanism comprises at least one of a light, a display, a piezo indicator, or a speaker. 
     
     
         14 . The battery sequencer of  claim 11 , wherein the feedback mechanism is in communication with the processing component via one of a wired connection or a wireless connection. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a. a battery maintenance device; and   b. a sequencer in communication with the battery maintenance device, wherein the sequencer comprises:
 i. at least one relay; 
 ii. at least one relay control configured to selectively activate and deactivate the at least one relay; and 
 iii. a processing component, wherein the processing component is configured to receive a first input and programmed to activate the at least one relay via the at least one relay control in response to the first input. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the battery maintenance device comprises a battery charger. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the battery maintenance device comprises a battery exercising device. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the battery exercising device comprises a discharge circuit operable to allow the battery exercising device to selectively discharge a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         19 . A system comprising:
 a. a first battery maintenance device;   b. a second battery maintenance device; and   c. a sequencer in communication with the first battery maintenance device and the second battery maintenance device, wherein the sequencer comprises:
 i. at least one relay; 
 ii. at least one relay control configured to selectively activate and deactivate the at least one relay; and 
 iii. a processing component, wherein the processing component is configured to receive a first input and programmed to activate the at least one relay via the at least one relay control in response to the first input. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first battery maintenance device comprises a battery charger and the second battery maintenance device comprises a battery exercising device.