BATTERY MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20120299721A1
• Filed: 05/24/2012
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spireon Incorporated (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Spireon Incorporated (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jones, Lawrence A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,060,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/521
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/10 actuating a signalling device
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/30 Detection related to theft or to other events relevant to anti-theft systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• 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 2010/4271 Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4278 Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A battery monitoring device attached to a vehicle battery includes a battery voltage sensor, motion sensor, location determination module, memory device, wireless modem, and controller. The battery voltage sensor senses the voltage level of the vehicle battery, the motion sensor senses movement of the battery monitoring device, and the location determination module determines the location of the battery monitoring device. The memory device stores a unique identification number associated with the battery monitoring device. Upon detection of an event as indicated by the battery voltage signal or the motion signal or the location information, the wireless modem transmits an alert message that includes the unique identification number and information regarding the event. The components of the device may be encapsulated in a potting compound within a cavity on the battery housing, or they may be enclosed in a housing that is separable from the battery housing.

Claims

1. A battery monitoring device configured to be attached to a housing of a vehicle battery, the battery monitoring device comprising:

a battery voltage sensor for sensing a voltage level of the vehicle battery and generating a battery voltage signal based on the voltage level;

a motion sensor for sensing movement of the battery monitoring device and generating a motion signal based on the movement;

a location determination module for determining a location of the battery monitoring device and generating location information based on the location;

a memory device for storing at least a unique identification number associated with the battery monitoring device;

a wireless modem for transmitting an alert message from the battery monitoring device; and

a controller for receiving the battery voltage signal, the motion signal and the location information, and for generating the alert message based on an event indicated by one or more of the battery voltage signal, the motion signal and the location information, wherein the alert message includes at least the unique identification number and information regarding the event.

2. The battery monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the battery voltage sensor, motion sensor, location determination module, memory device, wireless modem and controller are encapsulated in a potting compound and disposed within a cavity on the housing of the vehicle battery.

3. The battery monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the battery voltage sensor, motion sensor, location determination module, memory device, wireless modem and controller are disposed within a monitoring device housing that is separable from the housing of the vehicle battery, wherein electrical connection between the battery monitoring device and terminals of the vehicle battery is accomplished when the monitoring device housing is attached to the battery housing.

4. The battery monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the controller generates the alert message when the motion signal indicates a movement event.

5. The battery monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the controller generates the alert message when the battery voltage signal indicates that the voltage of the battery has dropped below a predetermined threshold.

6. The battery monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the controller generates the alert message when the location information indicates a change of location event.

7. The battery monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the controller periodically generates a status message that includes at least the unique identification number and the location information, and the wireless modem transmits the status message from the battery monitoring device.

8. A battery monitoring system comprising:

battery monitoring device configured to be attached to a housing of a vehicle battery, the battery monitoring device comprising;

a battery voltage sensor for sensing a voltage level of the vehicle battery and generating a battery voltage signal based on the voltage level;

a motion sensor for sensing movement of the battery monitoring device and generating a motion signal based on the movement;

a location determination module for determining a location of the battery monitoring device and generating location information based on the location;

a memory device for storing at least a unique identification number associated with the battery monitoring device;

a wireless modem for transmitting an alert message from the battery monitoring device; and

a controller for receiving the battery voltage signal, the motion signal and the location information, the controller for generating the alert message based on an event indicated by one or more of the battery voltage signal, the motion signal and the location information, wherein the alert message includes at least the unique identification number and information regarding the event;

a service provider server computer in communication with one or more of the wireless communication network and the wide area communication network, the service provider server computer for receiving the alert message from the wide area communication network or the wireless communication network, for generating an alert notification based on the alert message, where the alert notification includes at least information regarding the event, and for sending the alert notification to a customer who is associated with the battery monitoring device that transmitted the alert message.

9. The battery monitoring system of claim 8 further comprising:

a customer database accessible by the service provider server computer, the customer database for storing a plurality of unique identification numbers of a plurality of battery monitoring devices in association with customer information; and

the service provider server computer for accessing the customer information from the customer database and identifying the customer who is associated with the battery monitoring device that transmitted the alert message based on the unique identification number in the alert message.

10. The battery monitoring system of claim 9 wherein the service provider server computer accesses the customer information including one or more of an email address, phone number, and instant message address associated with the customer, and sends the alert notification to the customer via one or more of an email message, text message and instant message.

11. A method for monitoring a vehicle battery using a battery monitoring device attached to the vehicle battery, the method comprising:

(a) activating the battery monitoring device;

(b) sensing a voltage level of the vehicle battery and generating a battery voltage signal based on the voltage level;

(c) sensing movement of the battery monitoring device and generating a motion signal based on the movement;

(d) determining a location of the battery monitoring device and generating location information based on the location;

(e) determining that an event has occurred based on one or more of;

a drop in battery voltage level below a predetermined threshold level as indicated by the battery voltage signal;

movement of the battery monitoring device as indicated by the motion signal; and

a change in location of the battery monitoring device as indicated by the location information; and

(f) generating an alert message based on the event, the alert message including at least a unique identification number associated with the battery monitoring device and information regarding the event; and

(g) wirelessly transmitting the alert message from the battery monitoring device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein step (f) includes generating the alert message including the location information comprising location coordinates of the battery monitoring device.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein step (f) includes generating the alert message including information indicating that the battery voltage level is below the predetermined threshold when so determined in step (e).

14. The method of claim 11 wherein step (f) includes generating the alert message including information indicating movement of the battery monitoring device when so determined in step (e).

15. The method of claim 11 wherein step (f) includes generating the alert message including information indicating a change in location of the battery monitoring device when so determined in step (e).

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

(h) periodically generating a status message that includes at least the unique identification number and the location information; and

(i) wirelessly transmitting the status message from the battery monitoring device.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

(h) communicating the alert message via one or more communication networks to a service provider server computer;

(i) the service provider computer operating on the alert message to extract therefrom at least the unique identification number and information regarding the event;

(j) accessing a customer database containing customer information stored in association with a plurality of unique identification numbers, each assigned to a corresponding battery monitoring device;

(k) determining customer information associated with the unique identification number extracted from the alert message;

(l) generating an alert notification containing at least the information regarding the event extracted from the alert message; and

(m) sending the alert notification to a customer identified by the customer information associated with the unique identification number extracted from the alert message.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

step (f) including generating the alert message including the location information; and

(n) providing a webpage accessible to the customer on which a map is displayed with the location of the battery monitoring device indicated thereon.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein step (a) includes sending an electronic message including an activation request from a customer mobile communication device.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein step (a) includes sending an activation request via a website provided by a service provider.