VEHICLE BATTERY TESTING

• US 20120105067A1
• Filed: 10/29/2010
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Makarewicz, Nathan P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,461,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/427
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382

Abstract

A method of estimating a state of charge of a battery in a vehicle undergoing a vehicle assembly process. The method may include the steps of: installing the battery in the vehicle; employing a sensor mounted in the vehicle to automatically sense battery net amp hours during at least a portion of the vehicle assembly process; storing the net amp hours in a control module mounted in the vehicle; mounting a data link connector in the vehicle to provide communication with the controller; temporarily connecting a tool connector of a battery test assembly to the data link connector and transmitting the stored net amp hours data to the battery test tool from the control module; and comparing the net amp hours to a predetermined maximum net amp hours to estimate if the state of charge of the battery is acceptable.

Claims

1. A method of estimating a state of charge of a battery in a vehicle undergoing a vehicle assembly process, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) installing the battery in the vehicle;

(b) employing a sensor mounted in the vehicle to automatically sense battery net amp hours during at least a portion of the vehicle assembly process;

(c) storing the net amp hours in a control module mounted in the vehicle;

(d) mounting a data link connector in the vehicle to provide communication with the controller;

(e) temporarily connecting a tool connector of a battery test assembly to the data link connector and transmitting the stored net amp hours data to the battery test tool from the control module; and

(f) comparing the net amp hours to a predetermined maximum net amp hours to estimate if the state of charge of the battery is acceptable.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

(g) if the net amp hours is greater than the predetermined maximum net amp hours, then charging the battery prior to shipping the vehicle from a vehicle assembly plant.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein steps (e) and (f) are further defined by the vehicle assembly process being completed before steps (e) and (f) are carried out.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein steps (e) and (f) are further defined by the vehicle assembly process not being completed before steps (e) and (f) are carried out.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) is further defined by the sensor being an electrical current sensor operatively engaging a ground wire connected to a negative terminal of the battery.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein step (c) is further defined by the control module being a body control module.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) is further defined by the control module being a body control module.

8. A method of estimating a state of charge of a battery in a vehicle undergoing a vehicle assembly process, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) installing the battery in the vehicle;

(b) employing a sensor mounted in the vehicle to automatically sense battery net amp hours during at least a portion of the vehicle assembly process;

(c) storing the net amp hours in a control module mounted in the vehicle;

(d) mounting a data link connector in the vehicle to provide communication with the controller;

(e) temporarily connecting a tool connector of a battery test assembly to the data link connector and transmitting the stored net amp hours data to the battery test tool from the control module; and

(f) determining an amount of net amp hours used during a particular vehicle assembly process based on the net amp hours data transmitted to the battery test tool.