Modular electronic battery tester

• US 20050001626A1
• Filed: 07/01/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kevin I. Bertness, Stephen J. Mcshane
• Original Assignee: Kevin I. Bertness, Stephen J. Mcshane
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I., McShane, Stephen J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,998,847 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/36 Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]

Abstract

An electronic battery tester is provided for testing storage batteries. Battery test circuitry is configured to couple to the storage battery and measure a condition of the battery. A removable module is configured to couple to the battery tester to add increased functionality.

Claims

1-32. -32. (Cancelled)

33. An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery comprising:

a microprocessor configured to determine a dynamic parameter of the battery;

a data bus coupled to the microprocessor configured to carry data in the electronic battery tester;

a connector coupled to the data bus and configured to receive a removable digital module, the connector including electrical connections which couple the data bus to the removable module; and

wherein the microprocessor is configured to couple to the removable module and send or receive data from the removable module on the data bus.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the data bus includes a serial connection.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the data bus includes electrical connections to first and second Kelvin connections.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the data bus includes a power supply connection.

37. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the data bus includes a reset connection.

38. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the data bus includes an analog voltage connection.

39. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the data bus includes a bar code reader connection.

40. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the data bus includes an infrared driver connection.

41. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the data bus includes a frequency count connection.

42. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the data bus includes an I²C connection.

43. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the data bus includes an SPI connection.

44. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the data bus includes a load control connection.

45. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive data from a vehicle through a connection to the removable module.

46. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the microprocessor is configured to send data to a printer on the data bus.

47. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive software from the removable module through the data bus.

48. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive a software key from the removable module through the data bus.

49. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the microprocessor is configured to calibrate measurements by coupling to a calibrated reference in the removable module.

50. A removable module configured to couple to the data bus through the connector of the battery tester of claim 33.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the module includes a memory.

52. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the module includes test circuitry.

53. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the module includes a printer.

54. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the module is configured to couple to a printer.

55. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the memory includes software.

56. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the memory includes a software key.

57. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the module includes a calibrated reference.

58. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the module includes a resistive load.

59. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the module includes a USB connection.

60. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the module includes a PCMCIA connection.

61. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the module includes a wireless communication from I/O.

62. The apparatus of claim 50 including a screw configured to attach the removable module to the battery tester.

63. The apparatus of claim 50 including a latch configured to attach the removable module to the battery tester.

64. The apparatus of claim 50 wherein the removable module includes circuitry configured to scale a test measurement.

65. A removable module configured to removably couple to an electronic battery tester, comprising;

an electrical connector configured to electrically couple to a data bus of the electronic battery tester; and

digital circuitry electrically coupled to the electrical connector, the digit circuitry including a memory.

66. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein the electrical connector is configured to couple to a serial data bus of the battery tester.

67. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein the data bus includes connections to first and second Kelvin connections.

68. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein the data bus includes a power supply connection.

69. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein the data bus includes a reset connection.

70. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein the data bus includes an analog voltage connection.

71. The apparatus of claim 65 including analog circuitry coupled to the electrical connector.

72. The apparatus of claim 65 including an input/output coupled to the electrical connector.

73. The apparatus of claim 65 including an infrared driver connection.

74. The apparatus of claim 65 including a bar code reader.

75. The apparatus of claim 65 including a frequency count connection.

76. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein the data bus includes an I²C.

77. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein the data bus includes an SPI connection.

78. The apparatus of claim 65 including a resistive load.

79. The apparatus of claim 65 including a calibrated reference.

80. The apparatus of claim 65 including a memory.

81. The apparatus of claim 65 including test circuitry.

82. The apparatus of claim 65 including a printer.

83. The apparatus of claim 80 wherein the memory includes software.

84. The apparatus of claim 80 wherein the memory includes a software key.

85. The apparatus of claim 65 including a USB connection.

86. The apparatus of claim 65 including a PCMCIA connection.

87. The apparatus of claim 65 including a screw configured to couple the removable module to the battery tester.

88. The apparatus of claim 65 including a latch configured to attach the removable module to the battery tester.

89. The apparatus of claim 65 including circuitry to scale a test measurement.

90. The apparatus of claim 65 including a multi meter.

91. An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery comprising:

a microprocessor means for determining a dynamic parameter of the battery;

a data bus means for carrying data in the electronic battery tester;

a connector means coupled to the data bus for connecting to removable digital module, the connector means including electrical connection means for coupling the data bus means to the removable module; and

wherein the microprocessor means is further for sending or receiving data from the removable module on the data bus means.

92. A removable module configured to removably couple to an electronic battery tester, comprising;

an electrical connector means for electrically coupling to a data bus means of the electronic battery tester; and

digital circuitry for electrically coupling to the electrical connector, the digit circuitry means including a memory means for storing data.