Electronic battery tester having a user interface to configure a printer

• US 20040251908A1
• Filed: 06/16/2003
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Knopf, Roger
• Granted Patent: US 7,408,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382

Abstract

An apparatus for testing a storage battery includes an input configured to select a printer protocol from a plurality of printer protocols. A memory contains a plurality of printer protocol selection commands. Each of the printer protocol selection commands corresponds with each of the printer protocols. A processor is coupled to the input and the memory such that the processor can retrieve one of the plurality of printer protocol selection commands that corresponds to the selected printer protocol. A communication interface is configured to send the printer protocol selection command to a printer, the printer protocol selection command is configured to cause the printer to communicate in accordance with the selected printer protocol.

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing a storage battery, the apparatus comprising:

test circuitry coupled to the storage battery and configured to provide a measurement output related to a condition of the storage battery;

an input configured to select a printer protocol from a plurality of printer protocols;

a memory configured to contain a plurality of printer protocol selection commands associated with each of the printer protocols;

a processor coupled to the input and the memory, the processor configured to retrieve one of the plurality of printer protocol selection commands in the memory that corresponds to the selected printer protocol, the processor further coupled to the test circuitry and configured to generate test data associated with the measurement output which is related to battery condition; and

a communication interface coupled to the processor and configured to send the printer protocol selection command to a printer, the printer protocol selection command configured to cause the printer to communicate in accordance with the selected printer protocol.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the test circuitry further includes charging circuitry to charge the storage battery.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input comprises a user input.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the test circuitry is coupled to the storage battery with Kelvin connections.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the test circuitry and the processor are configured to measure a dynamic parameter of the storage battery.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured with an output protocol to transmit the test data to the printer in accordance with the selected printer protocol.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the printer receives the selected printer protocol, completes a linefeed and prints a text string indicating an output that the printer is ready to accept.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input further includes a layered menu interface having a plurality of menu levels.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the layered menu interface has a first level comprising options for testing the storage battery.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the layered menu interface has a second level comprising utility options.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the utility options comprise:

coupon mode, printer type, language, contrast, set data and time, set address, test counter and configure printer.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein if the configure printer option is selected, then the layered menu interface displays a third level comprising the plurality of printer protocols.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein if the printer type is selected, then the layered menu interface displays a third level comprising a plurality of output protocols for configuring the apparatus to transmit the test data to the printer in accordance with the selected printer protocol.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of printer protocols include an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) protocol, a Hewlett Packard Infrared (HPIR) protocol and a Recommended Standard 232 (RS232) protocol.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein if the configure printer option is selected, then layered menu interface displays a third level comprising a plurality of options that include:

select a protocol, baud rate, flow control, font, character scaling, print density, printer current, feed control, auto off and reset.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein if the select a protocol option is selected, then the layered menu interface displays a fourth level comprising the plurality of printer protocols, wherein the printer protocols include an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) protocol, a Hewlett Packard Infrared (HPIR) protocol and a Recommended Standard 232 (RS232) protocol.

17. A method of printing measurement information related to testing a storage battery, the method comprising:

selecting a printer protocol from a plurality of protocols in a user input;

retrieving a printer protocol selection command from a plurality of printer protocol selection commands in a memory that corresponds to the selected printer protocol;

sending the printer protocol selection command to a communication interface, wherein the communication interface receives the printer protocol selection command and sends the printer protocol selection command to the printer; and

communicating with the printer in accordance with the selected printer protocol.

18. The method of claim 17 and further comprising:

selecting an output protocol option from a plurality of output protocols in accordance with the selected printer protocol; and

transmitting test data to the printer.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein selecting the printer protocol further comprises the step of providing a layered menu interface to select the printer protocol and the output protocol.

20. A method of employing a user interface in a battery tester to print measurement information related to testing a storage battery, the method comprising:

providing a layered menu interface that displays a plurality of user options in a plurality of levels;

selecting a utility option from the plurality of options in a first level of the plurality of levels;

selecting a configure printer option from the plurality of options in a second level of the plurality of levels;

selecting a printer protocol from the plurality of options in a third level of the plurality of levels; and

sending the selected printer protocol to a communication interface, wherein the communication interface receives the printer protocol and sends the printer protocol to the printer.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of selecting a printer protocol from the plurality of options further comprises:

selecting a printer protocol from a plurality of configure printer options in the third level of the plurality of levels; and

selecting a printer protocol from a plurality of printer protocols in a fourth level of the plurality of levels.

22. The method of claim 20 and further comprising:

selecting an output protocol from the plurality of output protocols in the second level;

selecting the output protocol that corresponds with the selected printer protocol; and

transmitting test data to the printer.