Battery health evaluation

• US 10,144,306 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2017
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Dudar, Aed M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Amrany, Adi
• Application Number:
  US15/408,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20180201151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 307 91, 307 101, 307 106, 307 107
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/25 by controlling the electric load
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3647 for determining the ability of a battery to perform a critical function, e.g. cranking
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle includes a battery health evaluation system. A vehicle battery is electrically loaded upon determining that an ambient temperature equals or exceeds a first temperature. A voltage of the battery is measured during loading. A magnitude of the voltage plateau is determined. The battery is identified as inadequate upon determining that the magnitude of the plateau is less than the target voltage.

Claims

1. A computing device, programmed to:

electrically load a vehicle battery of a vehicle upon determining that an ambient temperature equals or exceeds a first temperature;

measure a voltage of the battery during loading;

determine a magnitude of a voltage plateau; and

identify the battery as inadequate upon determining that the magnitude of the plateau is less than a target voltage.

2. The computing device of claim 1, further programmed to, upon determining that the magnitude of the plateau is equal to or greater than the target voltage again load the battery, make a second measurement of the battery voltage and identify a second voltage plateau, determine a magnitude of the second plateau, and identify the battery as inadequate upon determining that the magnitude of the second plateau is less than a target voltage.

3. The computing device of claim 2, wherein loading of the battery is achieved by energizing a starter motor and defueling an engine prior to loading the vehicle battery.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein loading of the battery is achieved by energizing a starter motor.

5. The computing device of claim 4, further programmed to defuel a vehicle engine prior to loading the vehicle battery.

6. The computing device of claim 1, further programmed to adjust the target voltage for an ambient temperature.

7. The computing device of claim 6, wherein the target voltage is 9.5 volts at an ambient temperature of seventy degrees Fahrenheit.

8. The computing device of claim 1, further programmed to order a replacement battery when the vehicle battery is identified as inadequate.

9. The computing device of claim 8, further programmed to direct the vehicle to a service facility for installation of the replacement battery.

10. The computing device of claim 9, further programmed to summon a mobile battery service when the vehicle is not able to travel to the service facility.

11. A method of determining and responding to a vehicle battery'"'"'s health, the method comprising the steps of:

electrically loading a vehicle battery of a vehicle upon determining that an ambient temperature equals or exceeds a first temperature;

measuring a voltage of the battery during loading;

determining a magnitude of a voltage plateau; and

identifying the battery as inadequate upon determining that the magnitude of the plateau is less than a target voltage.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of, upon determining that the magnitude of the plateau is equal to or greater than the target voltage, again loading the battery, making a second measurement of the battery voltage and identifying a voltage plateau, determining a magnitude of the second plateau, and identifying the battery as inadequate upon determining that the magnitude of the second plateau is less than a target voltage.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein loading of the battery is achieved by energizing a starter motor and to defuel an engine prior to loading the vehicle battery.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein loading of the battery is achieved by energizing a starter motor.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of further defueling a vehicle engine prior to loading the vehicle battery.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of adjusting the target voltage for an ambient temperature.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the target voltage is 9.5 volts at an ambient temperature of seventy degrees Fahrenheit.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of ordering a replacement battery when the vehicle battery is identified as inadequate.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of directing the vehicle to a service facility for installation of the replacement battery.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of summoning a mobile battery service when the vehicle is not able to travel to the service facility.