Battery sensor device

• US 20030057770A1
• Filed: 10/22/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Heim, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 6,787,935 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/203 Resistors used for electric measuring, e.g. decade resistors standards, resistors for comparators, series resistors, shunts resistors in general H01C; microwave or radiowave terminations H01P1/26; coupling devices H01R
• 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 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• 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: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/108 Normal resistors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/581 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/287 Intermediate parts between battery post and cable end piece
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery sensor device has a fastening device that can be directly fastened to the pole of a vehicle battery. The battery sensor and the fastening device are combined to an integrated component. The fastening device is fastened to a single pole only and is provided with a terminal that is conventional in motor vehicles. Alternatively or additionally, the component is adapted to conventional battery pole troughs as regards its shape and size.

Claims

1. Battery sensor arrangement having a fastening device which can be connected directly to a pole of a motor vehicle battery, wherein the battery sensor (3, 4) and the fastening device are combined to an integrated structural unit, the fastening device is connected only to a single pole, the fastening device has a clamp (1, 2) conventional for battery connection cables in the motor vehicle, and the structural unit is adapted with respect to its size and shape to conventional battery pole troughs.

2. Battery sensor arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the battery sensor (3, 4) consists of a planar measuring shunt (3) and of an electronic unit (4), in that the measuring shunt (3) is further developed as a resistance element (11) with two resistance connections (10a, 10b) constructed as mechanical carriers, in that the electronic unit (4) is fastened to the resistance connections (10a, 10b), and in that the resistance element (11) is integrated in the electronic unit (4) in a circuit-related manner.

3. Battery sensor arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the battery sensor (3, 4) consists of a planar measuring shunt (3) and an electronic unit (4), in that the measuring shunt (3) is further developed as a resistance element (11) with two resistance connections (10a, 10b) constructed as mechanical carriers, in that the electronic unit (4) or the carrier board (12) of the electronic unit (4) is fastened to the planar resistance connections (10a, 10b) by means of an electrically conducting material (14).

4. Battery sensor arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the battery sensor (3, 4) is fastened by way of a first resistance connection (10a) in a conducting manner and is fastened by way of the second resistance connection (10b) in an insulating manner to the clamp body (1), and in that the connection cable for the motor vehicle supply assigned to a pole of a battery can be connected to the second resistance connection (10b).

5. Battery sensor arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the electronic unit (4) is connected with a temperature sensor (13;

13a;

13b) which is arranged in a heat-conducting manner on a resistance connection (10a, 10b) or directly on the clamp body (1).

6. Battery sensor arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the electronic unit (4) has a connector (16) to which at least one supply cable to the other pole of the battery can be connected.

7. Battery sensor arrangement according one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the electronic unit (4) has a connector (16) to which at least one communication line to other electronic equipment in the motor vehicle can be connected.

8. Battery sensor arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the electronic unit (4) has a measuring, analyzing and/or control unit (20) which determines the battery voltage (U_batt), the battery current, the battery temperature and/or other battery indicator quantities.

9. Battery sensor arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a resistance connection (10b) has an interruption which can be closed by way of a power switch (19), and in that the power switch (19) can be controlled by the measuring, analyzing and/or control unit (20).