BATTERY TESTING SYSTEM

• US 20110273181A1
• Filed: 05/07/2010
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PCT International Incorporated (Andes Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: PCT International Incorporated (Andes Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lee, Dirkmann, Park, Mansik
• Application Number:
  US12/776,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20110273181A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/429
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00041 in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00043 using switches, contacts or markings, e.g. optical, magnetic or barcode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/005 Detection of state of health [SOH]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The present invention allows batteries to be tested in conjunction with being re-charged, and identifies failed or failing batteries before they are put to further use. The present invention can simultaneously test and charge multiple batteries, and can simultaneously test and charge different types of batteries. A system according to various aspects of the present invention comprises a control system. The control system includes: (1) a processor, (2) a user interface in communication with the processor, and (3) a memory in communication with the processor. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: identify a provided battery to be tested; and receive, through the user interface, a selection one or more tests to perform on the battery. The system further includes a battery testing system in communication with the control system. The battery testing system comprises a battery interface for coupling with the battery and is configured to perform the one or more tests on the battery.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

(a) a control system comprising;

(1) a processor;

(2) a user interface in communication with the processor; and

(3) a memory in communication with the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

identify a provided battery to be tested; and

receive, through the user interface, a selection one or more tests to perform on the battery; and

(b) a battery testing system in communication with the control system, the battery testing system comprising a battery interface for coupling with the battery, the battery testing system configured to perform the one or more tests on the battery.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein identifying the battery includes receiving an identifier associated with the battery.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a scanner in communication with the control system, wherein the identifier is received by the control system via the scanner.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the scanner is in communication with the battery interface.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the scanner comprises one or more scanning devices selected from the list consisting of:

a barcode reader;

a laser scanner;

an optical scanner;

a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader; and

combinations thereof.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the scanner is configured to measure a characteristic of the battery.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the measured characteristic of the battery includes one or more of:

a configuration of the battery;

a dimension of the battery;

a shape of at least a portion of the battery;

a weight of the battery;

a volume of the battery;

an electrical characteristic of the battery;

a visual identifier associated with the battery; and

an electronic identifier associated with the battery.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the identifier is received by the control system through the user interface.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the memory further stores instructions to cause the processor to retrieve, from a database, test settings associated with the identifier, wherein the battery testing system is configured to perform the one or more tests in accordance with the test settings.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the test settings are further associated with a group to which the battery associated with the identifier belongs.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the memory further stores instructions to cause the processor to modify the test settings in accordance with input received through the user interface.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein identifying the battery includes determining one or more of:

a manufacturer of the battery and a model of the battery.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the battery interface is configured to couple with a plurality of different battery types.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the memory further stores instructions to cause the processor to display a representative image of a type of the battery using the user interface.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the memory further stores instructions to cause the processor to display a plurality of images, each image representative of one or more of the plurality of battery types, and wherein identifying the battery to be tested includes receiving, through the user interface, a selection of one of the plurality of images.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores instructions to cause the processor to display, through the user interface, a status for the one or more tests.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the status for the one or more tests includes one or more of:

a test result;

an elapsed time;

a total expected time;

a voltage;

a current;

an accumulated power;

a consumed power; and

a remaining power.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the battery testing system comprises a plurality of battery interfaces for coupling with a respective plurality of provided batteries.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the memory further stores instructions to cause the processor to display, using the user interface, a plurality of icons, each icon corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of batteries.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein each icon includes an indicator corresponding to one or more status conditions selected from the group consisting of:

a battery is coupled to the battery interface corresponding to the icon;

a battery is not coupled to the battery interface corresponding to the icon;

a test is in progress for a battery coupled to the battery interface corresponding to the icon;

a test passed for a battery coupled to the battery interface corresponding to the icon; and

a test failed for a battery coupled to the battery interface corresponding to the icon.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein each icon displays one or more of:

a voltage of the battery corresponding to the icon; and

a power level corresponding to the icon.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the memory further stores instructions to cause the processor to receive, through the user interface, a selection of an icon from the plurality of icons by a user and display, using the user interface, a status for the one or more tests for the battery corresponding to the selected icon.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the status for the one or more tests includes one or more of:

a test result;

an elapsed time;

a total expected time;

a voltage;

a current;

an accumulated power;

a consumed power; and

a remaining power.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores instructions to cause the processor to store, in a database, one or more of:

a status of at least one of the one or more tests;

a result for at least one of the one or more tests; and

an identifier associated with the battery.