Electronic battery tester with relative test output

• US 20060282226A1
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kevin I. Bertness, Vonderhaar J. David
• Original Assignee: Kevin I. Bertness, Vonderhaar J. David
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I., Vonderhaar, J. David
• Granted Patent: US 7,295,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery determines a condition of the battery. The condition is a relative condition and is a function of a dynamic parameter of the battery and an empirical input variable.

Claims

1-67. -67. (canceled)

68. An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery, comprising:

Kelvin connections configured to couple to terminals of the battery;

measurement circuitry coupled to the Kelvin connections configured to measure a dynamic parameter of the battery and a voltage across terminals of the battery;

an empirical variable input configured to receive an empirical input variable; and

computation circuitry configured to provide a relative test output related to a geographical areas as a function of the dynamic parameter and the empirical input variable, the relative test output indicative of a condition of the battery.

69. The apparatus of claim 68 wherein the computation circuitry is further configured to provide an output related to a load size.

70. The apparatus of claim 68 wherein the computation circuitry is further configured to provide an output related to a number of starts.

71. The apparatus of claim 68 wherein the computation circuitry is further configured to provide an output related to vehicle size.

72. The apparatus of claim 68 wherein computation circuitry is further configured to provide an output related to vehicle type.

73. The apparatus of claim 68 wherein the computation circuitry is further configured to provide an output related to engine size.

74. An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery, comprising:

Kelvin connections configured to couple to terminals of the battery;

measurement circuitry coupled to the Kelvin connections configured to measure a dynamic parameter of the battery and a voltage across terminals of the battery;

an empirical variable input configured to receive an empirical input variable; and

computation circuitry configured to provide a relative test output related to vehicle size as a function of the dynamic parameter and the empirical input variable, the relative test output indicative of a condition of the battery.

75. The apparatus of claim 74 wherein the computation circuitry is further configured to provide an output related to a load size.

76. The apparatus of claim 74 wherein the computation circuitry is further configured to provide an output related to a number of starts.

77. The apparatus of claim 74 wherein computation circuitry is further configured to provide an output related to vehicle type.

78. The apparatus of claim 74 wherein the computation circuitry is further configured to provide an output related to engine size.

79. The apparatus of claim 74 wherein the computation circuitry is further configured to provide an output related to geographic area.

80. A method for testing a storage battery comprising:

coupling Kelvin connectors to positive and negative terminals of the battery;

measuring a dynamic parameter of the battery using the Kelvin connectors;

receiving an empirical input variable; and

determining a relative test output related to a condition of the battery and indicative of a geographic area based upon the dynamic parameter and the empirical input variable.

81. The method of claim 80 including determining a relative test output related to a load size.

82. The method of claim 80 including determining a relative test output related to a number of starts.

83. The method of claim 80 including determining a relative test output related to vehicle size.

84. The method of claim 80 including determining a relative test output related to vehicle type.

85. The method of claim 80 including determining a relative test output related to engine size.

86. A method for testing a storage battery comprising:

coupling Kelvin connectors to positive and negative terminals of the battery;

measuring a dynamic parameter of the battery using the Kelvin connectors;

receiving an empirical input variable; and

determining a relative test output related to a condition of the battery and indicative of a vehicle size based upon the dynamic parameter and the empirical input variable.

87. The method of claim 86 including determining a relative test output related to a load size.

88. The method of claim 86 including determining a relative test output related to a number of starts.

89. The method of claim 86 including determining a relative test output related to vehicle type.

90. The method of claim 86 including determining a relative test output related to engine size.

91. The method of claim 86 including determining a relative test output related to geographic area.