Handheld tester for starting/charging systems
First Claim
1. A hand-held, portable tester for testing a starter/charger system of an internal combustion engine, comprising a processor in circuit communication with an electronic test circuit and a display, said test circuit being capable of performing at least one test on a battery of the starting/charging system and said processor executing code implementing a user menu providing a user with at least a battery test option, which if selected causes the tester to:
- (a) perform a plurality of battery tests on a starter/charger system battery connected to the tester, the plurality of tests including at least one test for a first type of battery and at least one test for a second type of battery; and
(b) display a plurality of different battery test results for the battery, including displaying at least one test result for the first type of battery and at least one test result for the second type of battery.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The hand-held portable tester provides an improved system and method for testing storage batteries, vehicle starting systems and vehicle charging systems. The system and method more accurately calculates tests results for multiple types of storage batteries. The system and method provides a convenient charging system test that is completed at a single engine speed. In addition, the hand-held portable tester provides a coded or encrypted output for battery tests that can be identified with the battery to ensure compliance with battery return policies and detour fraud. A system and method of decoding or decrypting the output is also provided.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A hand-held, portable tester for testing a starter/charger system of an internal combustion engine, comprising a processor in circuit communication with an electronic test circuit and a display, said test circuit being capable of performing at least one test on a battery of the starting/charging system and said processor executing code implementing a user menu providing a user with at least a battery test option, which if selected causes the tester to:
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(a) perform a plurality of battery tests on a starter/charger system battery connected to the tester, the plurality of tests including at least one test for a first type of battery and at least one test for a second type of battery; and
(b) display a plurality of different battery test results for the battery, including displaying at least one test result for the first type of battery and at least one test result for the second type of battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A hand-held, portable tester for testing a starter/charger system of an internal combustion engine, comprising a processor in circuit communication with an electronic test circuit and a display, said test circuit being capable of performing at least one test on the starting/charging system and said processor executing code implementing a user menu providing a user with at least the following selectable test options:
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(a) a battery test option, which if selected causes the tester to;
i. perform a plurality of battery tests on a starter/charger system battery connected to the tester, the plurality of tests including at least one test for a first type of battery and at least one test for a second type of battery; and
ii. display a plurality of different battery test results for the battery, including displaying at least one test result for the first type of battery and at least one test result for the second type of battery;
(b) a starter test option, which if selected causes the tester to prompt the user to start the internal combustion engine and further causes the tester to measure and display an output relating to a voltage across the battery while the internal combustion engine is started; and
(c) a charger test option, which if selected causes the tester to perform a plurality of tests on a charging circuit of the starter/charger system by;
i. prompting the user to put the vehicle in a Fast-Idle, No-Load state and then measuring and displaying an output relating to a voltage across the battery in the Fast-Idle, No Load state;
ii. prompting the user to put the vehicle in a Fast-Idle, High-Load state and then measuring and displaying an output relating to a voltage across the battery in the Fast-Idle, High Load state; and
iii. prompting the user to put the vehicle in a Fast-Idle state and then performing and displaying an output relating to a ripple test across the battery in the Fast-Idle state. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A hand-held portable tester for testing a storage battery, comprising:
- a processor in circuit communication with battery test circuitry, with a memory, and with an output;
(a) wherein the memory comprises;
(i) battery test logic for causing the processor to obtain at least one piece of raw test data via the battery test circuitry and at least one piece of test information;
(ii) encryption logic for causing the processor to provide an encrypted output that includes at least one piece of raw test data; and
wherein the encrypted output does not also include a battery test result. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
- a processor in circuit communication with battery test circuitry, with a memory, and with an output;
Specification