Battery monitor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for monitoring a battery, the apparatus comprising:
- control means for initiating a battery monitoring test, means, responsive to the control means, for generating a reference ramp voltage signal and a measurement ramp voltage signal, the measurement ramp voltage signal applied to the battery; and
means for comparing a difference between a measurement ramp voltage signal output from the battery and the reference ramp voltage signal for determining battery condition.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for monitoring at least one battery. A reference ramp voltage signal is applied to a battery. A difference between a measurement ramp voltage signal output from the battery and the reference signal is compared with a threshold to determine battery condition. The determined battery condition can be transmitted remotely from the battery location.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring a battery, the apparatus comprising:
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control means for initiating a battery monitoring test, means, responsive to the control means, for generating a reference ramp voltage signal and a measurement ramp voltage signal, the measurement ramp voltage signal applied to the battery; and
means for comparing a difference between a measurement ramp voltage signal output from the battery and the reference ramp voltage signal for determining battery condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8)
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7. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein:
the data communication means is a serial interface.
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9. An apparatus for monitoring a plurality of batteries, the apparatus comprising:
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control means for initiating monitoring of one battery of the plurality of batteries;
means, responsive to the control means, for generating a reference ramp voltage signal and a measurement ramp voltage signal;
means for connecting the reference voltage signal to the one battery under test; and
the control means comparing the measurement ramp voltage signal output from the battery with the reference ramp voltage signal for determining battery condition. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for monitoring a battery comprising the steps of:
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initiating a battery monitoring test;
generating a reference ramp voltage signal and a measurement ramp voltage signal, the measurement ramp voltage signal applied to the battery; and
comparing the measurement ramp voltage signal output from the battery with the reference ramp voltage signal against a threshold to determine battery condition. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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22. The method of 21 wherein the step of generating the ramp voltage signal and the measurement ramp voltage signal further comprises the step of:
generating the reference ramp voltage signal and the measurement ramp voltage signal as DC ramp signals.
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26. A method for line monitoring a plurality of batteries, the method comprising:
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initiating monitoring of one parameter of one battery of the plurality of connected batteries;
generating a reference ramp voltage signal and a measurement ramp voltage signal, and applying the measurement ramp voltage signal to the one battery; and
monitoring a measurement ramp voltage signal output from the battery with the reference ramp voltage signal and comparing a difference therebetween against a threshold to indicate battery condition. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification