Wireless battery monitor

• US 20050162172A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Franklin Grid Solutions, LLC (EBW, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I.
• Granted Patent: US 7,774,151 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00041 in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/163 with special means for initiating or limiting the excitation current

Abstract

An electronic battery tester and method includes generating battery test data from an electronic battery test. The battery test data is transmitted over a wireless communication medium. In another aspect, a method and apparatus is provided for receiving battery test data from a wireless communication medium.

Claims

1. An electronic battery tester, comprising:

test circuitry configured to test a storage battery and to generate test data;

a memory configured to store identification information; and

communication circuitry configured to transmit the test data and the identification information over a wireless communication medium.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the identification information is related to the storage battery.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the identification information is related to the electronic battery tester.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the identification information comprises a unique address.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the unique address comprises a serial number of the battery.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the unique address comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to operate in half-duplex mode when sending and receiving signals over the wireless communication medium.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to operate in full-duplex mode when sending and receiving signals over the wireless communication medium.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the test data is periodically transmitted over the wireless communication medium.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the test data is transmitted over the wireless communication medium in response to polling of the battery tester.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communication circuitry utilizes radio frequency (RF) signals to transmit the test data and the battery identification information over the wireless communication medium.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 the communication circuitry utilizes infrared (IR) to transmit the test data and the battery identification information over the wireless communication medium.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the test data relates to a condition of the battery.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the test circuitry is configured to determine a dynamic parameter of the battery.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the dynamic parameter of the battery is a conductance of the battery.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the test circuitry comprises Kelvin connections configured to couple to terminals of the battery.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the test circuitry comprises a temperature sensor that is configured to measure a temperature of the battery.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to transmit the measured temperature over the wireless communication medium.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the test circuitry is configured to receive software updates.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the test circuitry is configured to receive information related to the battery.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the test circuitry is configured to periodically test the battery at a first predetermined period.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to periodically transmit the test data at a second predetermined period.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to receive a test activation signal over the wireless communication medium.

24. A method of monitoring a plurality of storage batteries, comprising:

(a) performing a battery test on each of a plurality of storage batteries and generating corresponding test data;

(b) transmitting test data for each of the plurality of storage batteries over a wireless communication medium.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising transmitting, over the wireless communication medium, identification information along with the test data for each of the plurality of storage batteries.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the identification information is related to individual batteries of the plurality of storage batteries.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the identification information is related to individual battery testers of a plurality of battery testers, wherein each battery tester of the plurality of battery testers performs step (a) on the corresponding storage battery of the plurality of storage batteries.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the identification information comprises a plurality of unique addresses.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein each unique address of the plurality of unique addresses comprises a different serial number of each battery of the plurality of storage batteries.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein each unique address of the plurality of unique addresses comprises a different IP address.

31. The method of claim 24 wherein the transmitting test data step (b) is carried out in a half-duplex mode.

32. The method of claim 24 wherein the transmitting test data step (b) is carried out in a full-duplex mode.

33. The method of claim 24 wherein the transmitting step (b) further comprises periodically transmitting the test data over the wireless medium.

34. The method of claim 24 wherein steps (a) and (b) are carried out in response to receiving a polling signal.

35. The method of claim 24 further comprising utilizing RF signals to carry out the transmitting step (b).

36. The method of claim 24 wherein the test data for each of the plurality of storage batteries relates to a condition of each of the plurality of storage batteries.

37. The method of claim 24 wherein performing a battery test step (a) comprises determining a dynamic parameter of each storage battery of the plurality of storage batteries.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the dynamic parameter of each storage battery of the plurality of storage batteries is a conductance of each storage battery of the plurality of storage batteries.

39. The method of claim 24 further comprising sensing a temperature of each of the plurality of storage batteries.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising transmitting the sensed temperature of each of the plurality of storage batteries over the wireless communication medium.

41. The method of claim 24 wherein the performing the battery test step (a) comprises periodically performing the battery test, at a first predetermined period, on each of the plurality of batteries and generating corresponding test data.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein transmitting the test data step (b) comprise periodically transmitting the test data, at a second predetermined period, for each of the plurality of storage batteries over the wireless communication medium.

43. The method of claim 24 further comprising performing steps (a) an (b) in response to receiving a test activation signal over the wireless communication medium.

44. The method of claim 24 further comprising receiving the transmitted test data for each of the plurality of storage batteries over the wireless communication medium.

45. The method of claim 44 further comprising at least temporarily storing the received test data for each of the plurality of storage batteries.

46. A battery monitoring system, comprising:

a first electronic battery tester comprising;

a first test circuit configured to test a first storage battery and to generate test data corresponding to the first storage battery;

a first memory configured to store a first identifier;

a first communication circuit configured to transmit the test data, corresponding to the first storage battery, and the first identifier over a wireless communication medium;

a second electronic battery tester comprising;

a second test circuit configured to test a second storage battery and to generate test data corresponding to the second storage battery;

a second memory configured to store a second identifier;

a second communication circuit configured to transmit the test data, corresponding to the second storage battery, and the second identifier over a wireless communication medium;

and

a receiving station configured to receive the test data, corresponding to the first storage battery and the second storage battery, and the first and second identifier over the wireless communication medium

47. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the first identifier relates to the first storage battery and the second identifier relates to the second storage battery.

48. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the first identifier relates to the first electronic battery tester and the second identifier relates to the second electronic battery tester.

49. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein each of the first identifier and the second identifier comprises a unique address.

50. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein the unique address comprises a serial number of one of the first storage battery and the second storage battery.

51. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein the unique address comprises an IP address.

52. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein each of the first communication circuit and the second communication circuit is configured to operate in half-duplex mode when sending and receiving signals over the wireless communication medium.

53. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein each of the first communication circuit and the second communication circuit is configured to operate in full-duplex mode when sending and receiving signals over the wireless communication medium.

54. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the test data corresponding to the first storage battery and the second storage battery is periodically transmitted over the wireless communication medium.

55. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the test data corresponding to the first storage battery and the second storage battery is transmitted over the wireless communication medium in response to polling of the first battery tester and the second battery tester.

56. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the first communication circuit and the second communication circuit utilize RF signals to transmit the test data, corresponding to the first storage battery and the second storage battery, and the first and second identifier over the wireless communication medium.

57. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the test data corresponding to the first storage battery relates to a condition of the first storage battery, and the test data corresponding to the second storage battery relates to a condition of the second storage battery.

58. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein each of the first test circuit and the second test circuit is configured to determine a dynamic parameter of each of the corresponding first storage battery and second storage battery.

59. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the dynamic parameter of each of the first storage battery and the second storage battery is a conductance of the corresponding first storage battery and second storage battery.

60. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein each of the first test circuit and the second test circuit comprises Kelvin connections configured to couple to terminals of a corresponding one of the first storage battery and second storage battery.

61. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein each of the first battery tester and the second battery tester comprises a temperature sensor that is configured to measure a temperature of each of the corresponding first storage battery and second storage battery.

62. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein each one of the first communication circuit and the second communication circuit is configured to transmit the measured temperature of each of the first storage battery and the second storage battery over the wireless communication medium.

63. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein each of the first test circuit and the second test circuit is configured to receive software updates.

64. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein each of the first test circuit and the second test circuit is configured to receive information related to the corresponding first storage battery and second storage battery.

65. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein each of the first test circuit and the second test circuit is configured to periodically test the corresponding first storage battery and the second storage battery at a first predetermined period.

66. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein each of the first communication circuit and the second communication circuit is configured to periodically transmit the test data related to the corresponding first storage battery and second storage battery at a second predetermined period.

67. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein each of the first communication circuit and the second communication circuit is configured to receive a test activation signal over the wireless communication medium.

68. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein each of the first test circuit and the second test circuit is configured to test each one of the corresponding first storage battery and the second storage battery upon receipt of an activation signal from the receiving station.

69. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the receiving station comprises an output configured to display received test data corresponding to the first storage battery and the second storage battery.

70. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the receiving station comprises a user interface that includes a battery monitoring and test activation screen.

71. The apparatus of claim 70 wherein the battery monitoring and test activation screen is configured to operate in a manual mode.

72. The apparatus of claim 70 wherein the battery monitoring and test activation screen is configured to operate in an automatic refresh mode.

73. The apparatus of claim 70 wherein the user interface further comprises a user login screen, which controls user access to the battery monitoring and test activation screen.

74. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the receiving station comprises a receiver and a computing device that is coupled to the receiver, the computing device is configured to at least temporarily store the received test data corresponding to the first storage battery and the second storage battery.

75. The apparatus of claim 74 wherein the receiver is a RF receiver.

76. The apparatus of claim 74 wherein the receiver is coupled to the computing device using an RS-232 cable.

77. The apparatus of claim 74 wherein the receiving station is configured to couple to an Internet connection and thereby serve as a web server.

78. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the at least temporarily stored data corresponding to the first storage battery and the second storage battery is accessed using a web browser.

79. The apparatus of claim 78 wherein each of the first test circuit and the second test circuit is activated, to test each of the corresponding first storage battery and second storage battery, using the web browser.

80. The apparatus of claim 74 wherein the receiving station is configured to couple to an Intranet connection.

81. The apparatus of claim 80 wherein the at least temporarily stored data corresponding to the first storage battery and the second storage battery is accessed from a client computer coupled to the Intranet.

82. The apparatus of claim 81 wherein each of the first test circuit and the second test circuit is activated, to test each of the corresponding first storage battery and second storage battery, form the client computer coupled to the Intranet.

83. A receiving station comprising:

a receiver configured to receive, over a wireless communication medium, battery test data from a battery tester; and

a computing device that is coupled to the receiver, the computing device is configured to at least temporarily store the received test data.

84. The apparatus of claim 83 wherein the receiver is a RF receiver.

85. The apparatus of claim 83 wherein the receiver is coupled to the computing device using an RS-232 cable.

86. The apparatus of claim 83 wherein the receiving station is configured to couple to an Internet connection and thereby serve as a web server.

87. The apparatus of claim 86 wherein the at least temporarily stored data is accessed using a web browser.

88. The apparatus of claim 87 wherein the battery tester is activated, to test a storage battery, using the web browser.

89. The apparatus of claim 83 wherein the receiving station is configured to couple to an Intranet connection.

90. The apparatus of claim 89 wherein the at least temporarily stored data is accessed from a client computer coupled to the Intranet.

91. The apparatus of claim 89 wherein the battery tester is activated, to test a storage battery, form the client computer coupled to the Intranet.

92. The apparatus of claim 83 wherein the receiving station comprises a user interface that includes a battery monitoring and test activation screen.

93. The apparatus of claim 92 wherein the battery monitoring and test activation screen is configured to operate in a manual mode.

94. The apparatus of claim 92 wherein the battery monitoring and test activation screen is configured to operate in an automatic refresh mode.

95. The apparatus of claim 92 wherein the user interface further comprises a user login screen, which controls user access to the battery monitoring and test activation screen.

96. A method of receiving battery test data, the method comprising:

(a) providing a receiver capable of receiving, over a wireless communication medium, battery test data from a battery tester; and

(b) coupling a computing device to the receiver, the computing device is capable of at least temporarily storing the received test data.

97. The method of claim 96 wherein the providing a receiver step (a) comprises providing a RF receiver.

98. The method of claim 96 wherein coupling the computer to the receiver step (b) comprises coupling the computing device to the receiver using an RS-232 cable.

99. The method of claim 96 further comprising coupling the computing device to an Internet connection.

100. The method of claim 99 further comprising accessing the at least temporarily stored data using a web browser.

101. The method of claim 100 further comprising activating the battery tester, to test a storage battery, using the web browser.

102. The method of claim 96 further comprising coupling the computing device to an Intranet connection.

103. The method of claim 102 further comprising accessing the at least temporarily stored data using a client computer coupled to the Intranet.

104. The method of claim 96 further comprising activating the battery tester, to test a storage battery, form the client computer coupled to the Intranet.