Electronic battery testing in circuit
First Claim
1. A battery testing apparatus for use with a battery and a utility power source, said battery testing device comprising:
- a battery charger/tester, to be connected to the battery, operable to selectively allow either;
electrical current to flow to the battery through said battery charger/tester;
or electrical current to flow from the battery through said battery charger/tester;
a switch, connected to said battery charger/tester and to be connected to the utility power source, wherein when the switch is closed the utility power source and the battery charger/tester are electrically connected and when the switch is open the utility power source and the battery charger/tester are electrically disconnected;
a controller electrically connected to said battery charger/tester and said switch via control lines, and to be electrically connected to the utility power source, and the battery via sense lines, and having a battery charge mode and a battery test mode, wherein;
in the battery charge mode, said controller is operable to control said switch such that said switch is closed to electrically connect the utility power source to the battery charger/tester, and control said battery charger/tester to allow electrical current to flow from the utility power source to the battery; and
in the battery test mode, said controller is operable to control said switch such that said switch is closed to electrically connect the utility power source to the battery charger/tester, control said battery charger/tester to allow current to flow from the battery to the utility power source via said switch, and to collect test data from the current flowing from the battery.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A battery testing apparatus including battery charger/tester and a controller having battery charge mode and a battery test mode. In the battery charge mode, the controller causes a utility power source to be connected to the battery charger/tester, and the battery charger/tester allows electrical current to flow from the utility power source to the battery. In the battery test mode, the battery charger/tester allows current to flow to the utility power source so as to provide a consistently repeatable power draw from the battery reducing the error in detection of a weakened battery.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A battery testing apparatus for use with a battery and a utility power source, said battery testing device comprising:
-
a battery charger/tester, to be connected to the battery, operable to selectively allow either;
electrical current to flow to the battery through said battery charger/tester;
or electrical current to flow from the battery through said battery charger/tester;a switch, connected to said battery charger/tester and to be connected to the utility power source, wherein when the switch is closed the utility power source and the battery charger/tester are electrically connected and when the switch is open the utility power source and the battery charger/tester are electrically disconnected; a controller electrically connected to said battery charger/tester and said switch via control lines, and to be electrically connected to the utility power source, and the battery via sense lines, and having a battery charge mode and a battery test mode, wherein; in the battery charge mode, said controller is operable to control said switch such that said switch is closed to electrically connect the utility power source to the battery charger/tester, and control said battery charger/tester to allow electrical current to flow from the utility power source to the battery; and in the battery test mode, said controller is operable to control said switch such that said switch is closed to electrically connect the utility power source to the battery charger/tester, control said battery charger/tester to allow current to flow from the battery to the utility power source via said switch, and to collect test data from the current flowing from the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A battery charging, battery testing, and battery backup apparatus for use with a battery, a utility power source, and a load, said apparatus comprising:
-
a switch, to be connected to the load at a load node and to the utility power source, wherein when the switch is closed the load and the utility power source are electrically connected and when the switch is open the load and the utility power source are electrically disconnected; a power bridge, electrically connected to the switch at the load node, and to be electrically connected to the battery, operable to selectively allow electrical current to flow to the battery through said power bridge or allow electrical current to flow from the battery through said power bridge; a controller electrically connected to said power bridge and said switch via control lines, and to be electrically connected to the utility power source, the load, and the battery via sense lines, and having a battery charge mode, a battery test mode, and a battery backup mode, wherein; in the battery charge mode, said controller is operable to control said switch such that said switch is closed to electrically connect the utility power source to the load node, and control said power bridge to allow electrical current to flow from the load node to the battery; in the battery test mode, said controller is operable to control said switch such that said switch is closed to electrically connect the utility power source to the load node, control said power bridge to allow current to flow from the battery to the load node and to the utility power source via said switch, and to collect test data from the current flowing from the battery; and in the battery backup mode, said controller is operable to control said switch such that said switch is open to electrically disconnect the utility power source from the load node, and control said power bridge to allow electrical current to flow from the battery to the load node to provide battery backup to the load. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification