Device and method for determining operating parameters of a battery

• US 20070018615A1
• Filed: 07/13/2005
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Graf, Hans-Michael, Lang, Maximilian
• Application Number:
  US11/180,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20070018615A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/160
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm

Abstract

A device monitors the operating parameters of a battery, in particular a starter battery for an automobile. The operating parameters include at least the battery voltage and the device is supplied from the battery voltage. For power-saving and yet precise determination of operating parameters for the period of time which is particularly significant in practice after a drop in the battery voltage, the device comprises a battery parameter detection device which determines the operating parameters of the battery in an awake state, stores these in digital form and/or supplies them to a digital interface output. The detection device is inactive in a sleep state and has a reduced consumption of electricity. A cut-off detection device compares the battery voltage with the predetermined cut-off voltage during the sleep state and awakens the detection device from the sleep state if the battery voltage falls below the predetermined cut-off voltage.

Claims

1. A device for determining operating parameters of a battery, comprising:

an operating parameter detection device configured to operate in an awake state and in a sleep state, said operating parameter detection device determining operating parameters in the battery in the awake state, and storing the operating parameters in digital form and/or providing the operating parameters at a digital interface output, and said operating parameter detection device being inactive in the sleep state and having reduced consumption of electricity relative to the awake state; and

a cut-off voltage detection device connected to said operating parameter detection device, said cut-off voltage detection device, at least in the sleep state of said operating parameter detection device, permanently comparing the battery voltage with a predetermined cut-off voltage and, when the battery voltage falls below the predetermined cut-off voltage, bringing about a transition of said operating parameter detection device from the sleep state into the awake state.

2. The device according to claim 1, configured for determining the operating parameters of a starter battery of a motor vehicle, the operating parameters including at least an operating voltage, and the device being supplied from the battery voltage.

3. The device according to claim 1, which further comprises an energy storage device for temporarily maintaining an operation of the device during failure of the battery voltage.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said operating parameter detection device, after a transition from the sleep state into the awake state has been brought about by said cut-off voltage detection device, determining a predetermined sequence of operating parameters and storing the operating parameters in digital form as non-volatile data.

5. The device according to claim 1, which comprises a digital interface output for outputting the operating parameters.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said digital interface output is configured to output the operating parameters upon being determined and/or saved operating parameters in digital form.

7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a digital interface input for inputting control signals.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said operating parameter detection device comprises:

a measurement device for measuring analog operating variables of the battery;

an A/D converter device for converting the measured operating variables into digital measurement data;

a storage device for storing the digital measurement data and/or status data derived therefrom; and

a microprocessor device for controlling an operation of at least one of said measurement device, said A/D converter device, said storage device, and/or for calculating status data from the digital measurement data.

9. A method for determining operating parameters of a battery, the operating parameters including a battery voltage and the device being supplied from the battery voltage, the method which comprises:

switching an operating parameter detection device between an awake state and a sleep state;

in the awake state, operating the operating parameter detection device to determine the operating parameters of the battery and to store the operating parameters in digital form and/or to output at a digital interface output; and

in the sleep state, inactivating the operating parameter detection device and causing the operating parameter detection device to have reduced current consumption in comparison with the awake state; and

at least in the sleep state of the operating parameter detection device, continuously comparing the battery voltage with a predetermined cut-off voltage and, if the operating voltage falls below the predetermined cut-off voltage, bringing about a transition of the operating parameter detection device from the sleep state into the awake state.

10. The method according to claim 9, which comprises monitoring a starter battery of a motor vehicle.