Battery monitor

• US 20060017582A1
• Filed: 08/23/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CPG Beyond, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tarma, LLC
• Inventors: Lockhart, Bradley W., Toomey, Jason W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,474,228 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 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/374 with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus and method for monitoring at least one battery condition. An 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 either wirelessly or through a network to controller 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:

detecting a battery operating parameter;

comparing the detected battery operating parameter with a threshold value to determine an operative condition of the battery; and

executing the steps of detecting and comparing by one control means associated with one battery.

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

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

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of providing a visual indication further comprises:

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

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of providing an illuminatable means further comprises the step of:

providing at least one light emitting device.

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

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

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of:

mounting the control means on the battery.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

locating a controller remote from the control means; and

providing communication means in the processor and the controller for communicating the determined operative condition of the battery to the controller.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of detecting a battery operating parameter comprises the step of:

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

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

means for initiating the detecting step for each battery on a preset, periodic time schedule.

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

providing a processor communicating with a data memory coupling the processor and the control means on each of the batteries in data communication by a central area network.

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

means for detecting a battery operating parameter;

means for comparing the detected battery operating parameter with a threshold value to determine an operative condition of the battery; and

means for executing the steps of detecting and comparing by one control associated with one battery.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein:

one control is mounted on one battery.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein:

the control and the battery are mounted in a single case.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

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

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein:

the illuminatable element is mounted in proximity to the battery.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

an electric power source for supplying electric power to the detecting means, the comparing means, and the control.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

Kelvin connections adapted to electrically connect the control to positive and negative terminals of a battery.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

a processor communicating with a data memory; and

the processor including a central processing unit executing a stored control program.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the control further comprises:

means for testing at least one of battery internal resistance, battery nominal voltage and battery terminal temperature.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the central processing unit in the control stores the detected battery condition from a test of at least one of a battery internal resistance, nominal battery voltage and battery terminal temperature in the data memory.

21. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

means for storing at least one of the time and day date in the data memory for communicating battery conditions to the processor.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising:

the control flagging the test data with an alarm tag when any of the battery test conditions are out of threshold boundaries; and

the control transmitting the alarm tag to a remote controller at one of the set one of the time and the date, and immediately for at least one of the tested battery conditions.

23. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

a central area network serially connecting the control on each of a plurality of batteries to all other controls and to the processor.

24. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

a modem, coupled to the processor, for communicating battery test data externally of the processor.

25. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

a portable processor executing a stored control program connectable in data communication with the processor.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising:

a universal serial bus connection between the portable processor and the central processor.