Energy management system for automotive vehicle

• US 20050024061A1
• Filed: 06/14/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I., Cox, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,688,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/12 using control strategies taking into account route information estimation or calculation of non-directly measurable driving parameters B60W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3647 for determining the ability of a battery to perform a critical function, e.g. cranking

Abstract

A battery monitor is provided for use with a battery of an automotive vehicle. The battery monitor can provide real time battery condition measurements and can selectively control the charging of the battery through an alternator of the vehicle based upon the measured battery condition.

Claims

1. An apparatus method for testing an electrical system of a vehicle, comprising:

test circuitry to test the electrical system of the vehicle;

an input configured to receive information related to changes in an environment of the electrical system of the vehicle; and

a predictive output which is a function of a test performed by the test circuitry and the input and is indicative of a prediction of performance of the electrical system in a new environment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input is related to a weather forecast.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input is related to geographic information.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input is related to electrical loads applied to a battery of the electrical system.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input is related to changes in electrical loads applied to a battery of the electrical system.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the predictive output is related to available energy for operating electrical loads of the vehicle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrical system includes a battery and the test circuitry is configured to perform a battery test.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the battery test is related to a measurement of a dynamic parameter of the battery.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the test circuitry includes a four point Kelvin connection configured to couple to the battery.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the test circuitry includes a current sensor configured to measure current flow through an electrical conductor coupled to the battery.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrical system includes a battery charger configured to charge a battery of the electrical system, and wherein the battery charger is responsive to the predictive output.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the test circuitry is configured- to measure a state of charge of the battery and the battery charger is responsive to a measured state of charge.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the predictive output is indicative of a likelihood that an engine of the vehicle will start.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input is further configured to receive information related to a particular application of the vehicle.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input comprises a manual input.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input comprises an input from a databus.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input includes information from a global positioning system.

18. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the output indicates that a battery of the electrical system is insufficient for powering the load with power supplied by the battery.

19. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the input comprises a current measurement to determine power requirement of a new load applied to the battery.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the test circuitry is further configured to perform a battery test in accordance with a test criteria and wherein the test criteria is a function of the predictive output.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the predictive output is a function of an age of a component of the electrical system.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the predictive output is indicative of excess energy available from the electrical system for use in powering loads coupled to the electrical system.

23. A method of testing an electrical system of a vehicle, comprising:

testing the electrical system of the vehicle;

receiving an input related to changes in an environment of the electrical system; and

providing a predictive output which is a function of the testing and the received input, wherein the predictive output is indicative of a prediction of performance of the electrical system in a new environment.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the input is related to weather forecast.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the input is related to geographic information.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the input is related to loads applied to a battery of the electrical system.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein the input is related to changes in loads applied to a battery of the electrical system.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein the output is related to available energy for operating loads of the vehicle.

29. The method of claim 23 wherein the electrical system includes a battery and the testing includes performing a battery test.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the battery testing includes measuring a dynamic parameter of the battery.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the testing includes coupling a four point Kelvin connection to the battery.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the testing includes measuring current flow through an electrical conductor coupled to the battery.

33. The method of claim 23 including controlling a battery charger configured to charge a battery of the electrical system in response to the predictive output.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the testing includes measuring a state of charge of the battery and the battery charger is responsive to a measured state of charge.

35. The method of claim 23 wherein the predictive output is indicative of a likelihood that an engine of the vehicle will start.

36. The method of claim 23 wherein the input is further configured to receive information related to a particular application of the vehicle.

37. The method of claim 23 wherein the input comprises a manual input.

38. The method of claim 23 wherein the input comprises an input from a databus.

39. The method of claim 23 wherein the input includes information from a global positioning system.

40. The method of claim 26 wherein the predictive output indicates that a battery of the electrical system is insufficient for powering a load coupled to the battery.

41. The method of claim 26 wherein the input comprises a current measurement to determine power requirement of a new load coupled to the battery.

42. The method of claim 23 wherein the test circuitry is further configured to perform a battery test and wherein the test criteria is a function of the predictive output.

43. The method of claim 23 wherein the predictive output is a function of an age of a component of the electrical system.

44. The method of claim 23 wherein the predictive output is indicative of excess energy available from the electrical system for use in powering loads coupled to the electrical system.