STORAGE BATTERY AND BATTERY TESTER

• US 20090295395A1
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I.
• Granted Patent: US 8,203,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/388 involving voltage measurements

Abstract

A storage battery is provided which has a first and second post for electrically coupling to an electrical system. A test plug is provided for use in coupling the storage battery to an electronic battery tester. In another aspect, a battery tester is provided having a plug configured to couple to a test plug of a storage battery for use in performing an electronic battery test on the storage battery.

Claims

1. A storage battery, comprising:

at least one battery cell;

first and second terminals configured to couple the at least one battery cell to an electrical system;

a test receptacle electrically coupled to the at least one cell for use in coupling the at least one battery cell to a battery tester.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the test receptacle provides a first connection coupled to the first terminal and a second connection coupled to the second terminal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the test receptacle includes a third connection coupled to the first terminal and a fourth connection coupled to the second terminal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 including at least one fuse electrically coupled between the first terminal and the test receptacle.

5. An electronic battery tester including a battery tester plug configured to connect to the test receptacle of the battery of claim 1.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the battery tester includes a forcing function and a sense amplifier.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the battery tester is configured to measure a dynamic parameter of the storage battery through the test receptacle.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 including a analog to digital converter which is configured to digitize a voltage measured across connectors of the test receptacle.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the battery tester is further configured to couple to a temperature sensor through the test receptacle.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the temperature sensor is mounted to the storage battery.

11. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the battery tester plug and the test receptacle include four connections.

12. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the battery tester plug and the test receptacle include six connections.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 including at least one circuit breaker electrically coupled between the first terminal and the test receptacle.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 including at least one PTC element connected between the first terminal and the test receptacle.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the test receptacle include a polarity key.

16. The apparatus of claim 5 including at least one fuse electrically coupled between circuitry of the battery tester and the battery tester plug.

17. The apparatus of claim 5 including at least one circuit breaker electrically coupled between circuitry of the battery tester and the battery tester plug.

18. The apparatus of claim 5 including at least one PTC element electrically coupled between circuitry of the battery tester and the battery tester plug.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the test receptacle is attached to a test receptacle mount, the test receptacle mount electrically coupled to the first and second terminals.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the test receptacle mount is attached to a housing of the battery.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the test receptacle mount includes a temperature sensor.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrical system comprises an automotive vehicle electrical system.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrical system comprises a backup power source electrical system.

24. A method of testing a storage battery of the type which couples to an electric system, comprising:

electrically coupling a test receptacle to at least one storage cell of the storage battery, the at least one storage cell further electrically coupled to first and second terminals of the battery which couple to the electrical system;

electrically connecting a test plug of a battery tester to the test receptacle, the test plug and the test receptacle providing at least four electrical connections, wherein two of the electrical connections are electrically coupled to the first terminal of the battery and two the electrical connections are electrically coupled to the second terminal of the battery thereby providing Kelvin connections to the first and second terminals;

applying a forcing function with the battery tester to the battery through the test plug and the test receptacle, the forcing function applied between the first and second terminals of the battery using a first pair of the electrical connections;

sensing, in the battery tester through the test plug and the test receptacle, a response to the applied forcing function using a second pair of the electrical connections;

determining a battery condition based upon the sensed response.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the test receptacle provides a first connection coupled to the first post and a second connection coupled to the second post.

26. The method of claim 24 including at least one fuse electrically coupled between the first terminal and the test receptacle.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the battery tester is configured to measure a dynamic parameter of the storage battery.

28. The method of claim 24 including coupling a temperature sensor in the storage battery to the battery tester.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the temperature sensor is mounted to the storage battery.

30. The method of claim 24 wherein the test receptacle is attached to a test receptacle mount, the test receptacle mount electrically coupled to the first and second terminals.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the test receptacle mount is attached to a housing of the battery.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein the test receptacle mount includes a temperature sensor.

33. The method of claim 24 wherein the electrical system comprises an automotive vehicle electrical system.

34. The method of claim 24 wherein the electrical system comprises a backup power source electrical system.