Battery monitor with wireless remote communication

• US 20050151657A1
• Filed: 08/23/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CPG Beyond, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intellibatt, LLC (Capitol Power Group LLC)
• Inventors: Lockhart, Bradley W., Toomey, Jason W., Burry, Bruce R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,394,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/636.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16542 for batteries charge condition monitoring in G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/389 Measuring internal impedance, internal conductance or related variables
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/396 Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence

Abstract

An apparatus and method for monitoring at least one battery condition. A ac signal is applied to a battery. A difference between a signal output from the battery and a threshold determines a battery condition. The determined battery condition is transmitted remotely from the battery location through a controller to a network server and/or is visibly displayed at the battery location.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring an operative condition of a battery, the method comprising the steps of:

injecting an ac signal across battery terminals;

detecting an analog ac signal output from the battery, the ac signal output being proportional to the injected ac signals;

determining the battery internal resistance based on the analog ac signal output and the injected ac signal;

comparing the battery internal resistance with a threshold resistance to determine an operative condition of the battery.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

providing wireless communication means for communicating the determined operative condition of the battery to a remote controller.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

providing a visual indication of the determined operative condition of the battery.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of providing a visual indication further comprises:

providing at least one illuminatable means to indicate one of the battery test state and at least one battery operating condition.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of providing an illuminatable means further comprises the step of:

providing at least one light emitting device.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

providing a control means for executing the steps of injecting, detecting, determining, and comparing, the control means associated with a battery.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of:

mounting the control means on the battery.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of:

associating one control means with each of a plurality of batteries located in one location.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

providing a controller, remote from the control means; and

providing wireless communication means in the control means and the controller, for communicating the determined operative condition of the battery from the control means to the controller.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

determining at least one of the nominal battery voltage test and a battery terminal temperature test.

11. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of:

associating a discrete identification for each control means and each associated battery.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

means for initiating monitoring an operative condition of the associate battery on a preset, periodic time schedule.

13. An apparatus for monitoring an operative condition of a battery comprising:

means for injecting an ac signal across battery terminals;

means for detecting an analog ac signal output from the battery, the ac signal output being proportional to the injected ac signals;

means for determining the battery internal resistance based on the analog ac signal output and the injected ac signal;

means for comparing the battery internal resistance with a threshold resistance to determine an operative condition of the battery.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

means for injecting an ac signal across battery terminals;

means for detecting an analog ac signal output from the battery, the ac signal output being proportional to the injected ac signals;

means for determining the battery internal resistance based on the analog ac signal output and the injected ac signal;

means for comparing the battery internal resistance with a threshold resistance to determine an operative condition of the battery.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

means, coupled to a control means, for wirelessly communicating the determined operative condition of the battery to a remote controller.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

control means including the injecting means, the detecting means, the determining means, and the comparing means, the control means associated with one battery.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein:

the control means is mounted on the one battery.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

means for providing the visual indication of the determined operative condition of the battery.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

an illuminatable means, activated by the control means, to provide a visual indication of at least one of the battery test state and the determined battery operative condition.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein:

the illuminatable means is mounted in proximity to the battery.

21. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein:

electric power for operating the injecting means, the detecting means, the determining means, and the comparing means is supplied from the battery undergoing test.