SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY GATHERING BATTERY INFORMATION

• US 20120182132A1
• Filed: 01/24/2012
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Franklin Grid Solutions, LLC (EBW, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: McShane, Stephen J., Stukenberg, Todd J., Bertness, Kevin I., Philbrook, John S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,496,720 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.51
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided in which a radio frequency identification (RIFD) tag is associated with the storage battery and is used in conjunction with a battery test, battery charger, or other battery maintenance. A cable configured to be affixed to the storage battery. The cable is configured to store information and wirelessly communicate the information to a battery tester. A battery maintenance device configured to couple to the battery and to perform battery maintenance on the battery through the cable. The battery maintenance device includes wireless communication circuitry configured to communicate with a memory of the cable.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

associating a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag with a storage battery; and

storing battery information into the RFID tag.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

reading the battery information from the RFID tag;

testing the battery using the battery information;

obtaining a battery test; and

storing the battery test result into the RFID tag.

3. The method of claim 2 including the step of identifying trends in the battery test results based upon the battery information retrieved from the RFID tag.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the testing is performed at a manufacturing plant.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the testing is performed at a stationary location of the battery during normal operation of the battery.

6. The method of claim 1 and further comprising storing test technician information into the RFID tag.

7. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

obtaining information related to the vehicle in which the battery is installed; and

storing the information related to the vehicle in the RFID tag.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery information comprises battery temperature information.

9. The method of claim 1 including storing timestamp information in the RFID tag.

10. The method of claim 1 including identifying trends in battery test results.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein associating comprises attaching the RFID tag to the storage battery.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein associating comprises of attaching a cable which includes the RFID tag to the battery.

14. The method of claim 1 including adding an additional RFID tag to provide additional memory.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery information comprises battery rating.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a radio frequency identification (RFID) configured to be associated with a storage battery, the RFID tag is configured to store and wirelessly transmit information related to the battery; and

a computing device comprising;

a computing device memory;

a processor; and

a receiver, which operates under the control of the processor, configured to receive the transmitted information related to the battery.

13. The method of claim 18 including performing a battery test using the cable.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 and wherein the RFID tag is further configured to store information related to a vehicle in which the battery is used.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 and wherein the computing device comprises a battery tester.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 and wherein the battery tester is configured to program test technician information into the RFID tag.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 and wherein the RFID tag is configured to store information related to a plurality of tests over time carried out on the battery.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 and wherein the battery tester is configured to identify degradation of the storage battery based on the stored information related to the plurality of battery tests.

22. The apparatus of claim 16 and wherein the battery tester is further configured to determine a slope of degradation of the battery.

23. The apparatus of claim 16 including a cable configured to be affixed to the battery, the cable for use in performing a battery test on the battery.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the RFID tag is coupled to the cable.

25. The apparatus of claim 16 including a label affixed to the battery and wherein the RFID tag in included in the label.

26. The apparatus of claim 16 including an additional RFID tag to provide additional storage memory.

27. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the cable provides a Kelvin connection to the battery.

28. The apparatus of claim 23 including a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the battery and wherein the RFID tag is configured to store battery temperature information.