Automotive vehicle electrical system diagnostic device

• US 20030038637A1
• Filed: 07/19/2002
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I., Sampson, William G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,126,341 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• 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 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/374 with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3842 combining voltage and current measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00041 in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/163 with special means for initiating or limiting the excitation current
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An automotive vehicle electrical system diagnostic apparatus includes first and second electrical connections configured to electrically couple to an electrical system of an automotive vehicle which includes a battery. Digital samples are obtained during operation of the vehicle which are related to the system. The digital samples are stored in memory.

Claims

1. An automotive vehicle electrical system diagnostic apparatus, comprising:

a first electrical terminal configured to electrically couple to a first terminal of a battery of an automotive vehicle;

a second electrical terminal configured to electrically couple to electrical wiring of the automotive vehicle, the first and second electrical terminals configured to connect in series with the battery and the electrical system of the automotive vehicle;

a low resistance electrical path between the first and second electrical terminals configured to carry an electrical current to operate the vehicle therethrough;

digital sample circuitry coupled to the low resistance electrical path configured to provide a plurality of digital samples during operation of the vehicle which are related to the electrical current flowing through the low resistance electrical path; and

a memory configured to store the plurality of digital samples.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including an electrical connection configured to measure a voltage across the battery.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 including a databus connection configured to couple to a databus of the vehicle and wherein the memory is further configured to store data received from the databus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 including an output configured to provide an output to an operator related to battery condition.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the stored digital samples are a function of a forcing function applied to the battery.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 including an output configured to output the stored digital samples.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 including a mount configured to mount the apparatus to the vehicle.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the mount comprises a magnetic mount.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first electrical connection comprises a battery clamp.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the digital samples are stored during operation of the vehicle.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein operation of the vehicle is sensed based upon a voltage applied to the battery.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein operation of the vehicle is sensed based upon monitoring of a databus of the vehicle.

3. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the electrical connection used to measure voltage across the battery comprises Kelvin connections.

14. An automotive vehicle electrical system diagnostic apparatus, comprising:

a first Kelvin connection configured to electrically couple to a first terminal of a battery of an automotive vehicle;

a second Kelvin connection configured to electrically couple to electrical wiring of the automotive vehicle;

digital sample circuitry coupled to the first and second Kelvin connections configured to provide a plurality of digital samples during operation of the vehicle which are related to a dynamic perimeter of the battery measured with the first and second Kelvin connections;

a memory configured to store the plurality of digital samples; and

a processor configured to store the digital sample in the memory when engine operation is detected.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 including first and second series electrical connections configured to measure an electrical current through the battery.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 including a databus connection configured to couple to a databus of the vehicle and wherein the memory is further configured to store data received from the databus.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 including an output configured to provide an output to an operator related to battery condition.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the stored digital samples are a function of a forcing function applied to the battery.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 including an output configured to output the stored digital samples.

20. The apparatus of claim 14 including a mount configured to mount the apparatus to the vehicle.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the mount comprises a magnetic mount.

22. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first electrical connection comprises a battery clamp.

23. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein operation of the vehicle is detected based upon a voltage applied to the battery.

24. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein operation of the vehicle is sensed based upon monitoring of a databus of the vehicle.

25. The apparatus of claim 14 including a current sensor configured to sense an electrical current through the battery.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the current connector is configured to non-invasively couple to a conductor coupled to the battery.

27. A method of diagnosing operation of a vehicle electrical system, comprising:

temporarily coupling a diagnostic device electrically in series to a battery of a vehicle;

operating the vehicle;

digitally sampling an electrical signal through the series connection to the battery during operation of the vehicle to obtain a plurality of digital samples; and

storing the plurality of digital samples in a memory.

28. The method of claim 27 including coupling first and second battery electrical connections to the battery and measuring a voltage across the battery.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the battery connections comprise Kelvin connections.

30. The method of claim 27 including connecting to a databus of the vehicle and storing data retrieved from the databus.

31. The method of claim 27 including providing an output to an operator related to battery condition.

32. The method of claim 27 including applying a correct function to the battery and wherein the stored digital samples are a function of the forcing function applied to the battery.

33. The method of claim 27 including outputting the stored digital samples.

34. The method of claim 27 including mounting diagnostic apparatus to the vehicle.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the mounting comprises magnetically mounting.

36. The method of claim 27 including detecting operation of the vehicle based upon a voltage applied to the battery.

37. The method of claim 27 including detecting operation of the vehicle based upon monitoring of a databus of the vehicle.

38. A method of diagnosing operation of a vehicle electrical system, comprising:

temporarily electrically coupling a first Kelvin connection to a first terminal of a battery of a vehicle;

temporarily electrically coupling a second Kelvin connection to a second terminal of a battery of a vehicle;

detecting operation of an engine of the vehicle;

digitally sampling a signal received from the first and second Kelvin connections during operation of the vehicle, the digital samples related to a dynamic perimeter of the battery; and

storing the plurality of digital sampler in a memory.

39. The method of claim 38 including measuring an electrical current flowing through the battery from the vehicle electrical system.

40. The method of claim 38 including coupling first and second battery electrical connections to the battery and measuring a voltage across the battery.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the battery connections comprise Kelvin connections.

42. The method of claim 38 including connecting to a databus of the vehicle and storing data retrieved from the databus.

43. The method of claim 38 including outputting an output to an operator related to battery condition.

44. The method of claim 38 including applying a correct function and wherein the stored digital samples are a function of the forcing function applied to the battery.

45. The method of claim 38 including outputting the stored digital samples.

46. The method of claim 38 including mounting diagnostic apparatus to the vehicle.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein the mounting comprises magnetically mounting.

48. The method of claim 38 including detecting operation of the vehicle based upon a voltage applied to the battery.

49. The method of claim 38 including detecting operation of the vehicle based upon monitoring of a databus of the vehicle.