BATTERY MAINTENANCE ALERT DEVICE AND PROCESS

• US 20130009782A1
• Filed: 05/01/2012
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: USA Clean, Inc.
• Original Assignee: USA Clean, Inc.
• Inventors: Brandt, Gregory W., Bushert, Bruce E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,601,814 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/657
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/06 Lead-acid accumulators semi-lead accumulators H01M10/20
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The invention provides a battery maintenance alert process and device capable of tracking one or more operational variables for a lead-acid battery and lead-acid battery-operated equipment and alerting the user of the battery or battery-operated equipment when it is time to perform battery maintenance or service.

Claims

1. A lead-acid battery maintenance alert process comprising:

providing an automated battery maintenance alert device for a lead-acid battery or a lead-acid battery-operated equipment, wherein said device is capable of (i) tracking one or more operational variables of said battery or battery-operated equipment, (ii) generating an alert when said one or more operational variables has reached a preselected threshold value, and (iii) receiving input that resets one or more operational variables on said device;

providing a system for entering information into a database, wherein said database comprises identifying information and associated installation information and service event information for a plurality of lead-acid batteries or lead-acid battery-operated equipments;

determining whether installation information or updated service event information for a lead-acid battery or lead-acid battery-operated equipment has been entered into said database by a preselected time; and

sending a notification to a user that no installation information or updated service event information has been entered into said database for said battery or battery-operated equipment if said installation information or updated service event information has not been entered by said time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said battery is a deep-cycled lead-acid battery or a valve-regulated lead acid battery.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more operational variables comprise calendar time, usage hours, charge cycle or any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said preselected threshold value or preselected time is determined based on battery type.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more operational variables comprise calendar time and said preselected threshold value is 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, 120 days, 150 days, 180 days, or 210 days.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more operational variables comprise battery use time and said preselected threshold value is 30 hours, 60 hours, 90 hours, 120 hours, 150 hours, 180 hours or 210 hours.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more operational variables comprise charge cycle and said preselected threshold value is 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 30, 60, 120 charge cycles.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said automated battery maintenance alert device comprises a database component operative to maintain a database containing one or more operational variables of a lead-acid battery or lead-acid battery-operated equipment, a processor operative to continuously track said one or more operational variables when said device is connected to said battery, and a feedback component under the control of said processing component that is operative to alert the user of said battery or battery-operated equipment that one or more operational variables is near, has reached or has surpassed a select threshold value.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said system for entering information into said database is an automated telephone system or a web-based electronic submission system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying information further comprises identifying information for a battery maintenance alert device associated with said battery or battery-operated equipment.

11. The method of claims 1, wherein said associated service event information comprises the date of battery installation, the date of one or more service events or a combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said preselected time is 60 days to 1000 days after the previous service event information update.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said preselected time is 60 days, 90 days, 120 days, 150 days, 180 days, 210 days, 240 days, 270 days, 300 days, 330 days, 360 days, 390 days, 420 days, 450 days, 480 days, 510 days, 540 days, 570 days, 600 days, 630 days, 660 days, 690 days, 720 days, 750 days, 780 days, 810 days, 840 days, 870 days, 900 days, 930 days, 960 days or 990 days after the previous service event information update.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said user is notified using a computerized notification system.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said user is notified using a computerized notification system, and wherein said computerized notification system is a phone calling system, text messaging system, auto email messaging system, or any combination thereof.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said alert is a continuous or pulsing auditory signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said auditory signal is a continuous or pulsing sound generated by an electronic or mechanical component.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said alert is a steady or flashing visual signal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said visual signal is a steady or flashing light, a lit text based display, a lit graphical display, or any combination thereof

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said alert comprises auditory information conveyed by a computer generated voice, text information provided on a text user interface or graphical user interface, or a combination thereof.

21. A computerized battery maintenance alert process comprising:

(a) maintaining an electronic database comprising identifying information and associated installation and service event information for a plurality of lead-acid batteries or lead-acid battery-operated equipments;

(b) determining whether installation information, or updated service event information, for a battery or battery-operated equipment has been entered into said database by a preselected time; and

(c) controlling a user notification system to notify the user if said installation information, or updated service event information, has not been entered into said database by said preselected time.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said battery is a deep-cycled lead-acid battery or a valve-regulated lead acid battery.

23. The method of claims 21, wherein said identifying information further comprises identifying information for a battery maintenance alert device associated with said battery or battery-operated equipment.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said identifying information comprises a serial number for said battery or battery-operated equipment, a serial number for a battery maintenance alert device associated with said battery or battery-operated equipment, or a combination thereof.

25. The method of claims 21, wherein said associated service event information comprises date of battery installation, date of one or more service events or a combination thereof.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein said preselected time is 60 days to 1000 days after the previous service event information update.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein said preselected time is 60 days, 90 days, 120 days, 150 days, 180 days, 210 days, 240 days, 270 days, 300 days, 330 days, 360 days, 390 days, 420 days, 450 days, 480 days, 510 days, 540 days, 570 days, 600 days, 630 days, 660 days, 690 days, 720 days, 750 days, 780 days, 810 days, 840 days, 870 days, 900 days, 930 days, 960 days or 990 days after the previous service event information update.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein said user notification system is an automated phone calling system, an automated text messaging system, an automated email messaging system or any combination thereof.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing information to said user related to the maintenance or service of said battery or battery-operated equipment.

30. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 21.

31. An article of manufacture comprising a computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure, a first field containing data representing an operational variable of a battery or battery-operated equipment, a second field containing data representing a preselected threshold value for an operational variable, and a third field containing data representing the difference between the first field and the second field.

32. A battery maintenance alert device comprising a database component operative to maintain a database containing one or more operational variables of a battery or battery-operated equipment, a processor operative to continuously track said one or more operational variables when said device is connected to said battery, and a feedback component under the control of said processing component that is operative to alert the user of said battery or battery-operated equipment that one or more operational variables is near, has reached or has surpassed a preselected threshold value.

33. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 32, further comprising a voltage regulation component operative to receive power from said battery and supply a stable voltage to said battery maintenance device when said device is connected to said battery.

34. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 33, wherein said voltage regulation component comprises a 3.3V, 5 V or a + or −

36 V DC regulator.

35. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 32, wherein said processor comprises one or more timers.

36. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 32, wherein said processor comprises a component operative to convert an analog signal received from said battery to a digital signal.

37. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 32, wherein said processor comprises a controller operative to control signal output from said processor to said feedback component.

38. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 32, wherein said processor is programmed to continuously determine whether said battery is idle, in use or in a charge cycle when said device is connected to said battery.

39. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 38, wherein said processor utilizes signal input from two shunts attached to said battery to determine whether said battery is idle, in use or in a charge cycle.

40. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 38, wherein said processor utilizes signal input from a floating shunt to determine whether said battery is idle, in use or in a charge cycle.

41. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 32, wherein said processor is programmed to continuously compute one or more operational variables of said battery or battery-operated equipment, maintain in said database component a database comprising said one or more operational variables for any given time, and provide on said feedback component an output indicating whether said one or more operational variables is near, has reached or has surpassed a preselected threshold value.

42. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 32, wherein said user feedback component generates an auditory signal.

43. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 42, wherein said auditory signal is an electronically-generated sound, mechanically-generated sound, information conveyed by a computer-generated voice or a combination thereof.

44. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 32, wherein said user feedback component comprises a light indicator.

45. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 44, wherein said light indicator is one capable of generating a flashing light.

46. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 32, wherein said user feedback component comprises a text user interface.

47. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 46, wherein said user interface allows a user to enter service event information for said battery or battery-operated equipment.

48. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 47, wherein said service event information comprises information pertaining to whether any diagnosis, maintenance, repair or any combination thereof has been performed on said battery.

49. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 47, wherein said service event information comprises the date on which any diagnosis, maintenance, repair or any combination thereof was performed on said battery.

50. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 32, wherein said user feedback component comprises a graphical user interface.

51. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 50, wherein said user interface allows a user to enter service event information for said battery or battery-operated equipment.

52. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 50, wherein said service event information comprises information pertaining to whether any diagnosis, maintenance, repair or any combination thereof has been performed on said battery and if so, the date on which said diagnosis, maintenance, repair or any combination thereof was performed.

53. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 32, wherein said user feedback component comprises a text or graphical user interface that provides information pertaining to one or more operational variable of said battery or battery-operated equipment.

54. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 32, wherein said one or more operational variables comprise calendar time since the date of battery installation, calendar time since the last service event, cumulative battery use time since the date of battery installation or date of last service event, number of charge cycles since the date of battery installation date of last service event, or any combination thereof.

55. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 54, wherein said calendar time since the date of battery installation or time since the last service event is determined in number of days.

56. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 54, wherein said cumulative battery use time is determined in number of hours.

57. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 32, wherein when said one or more operational variables comprise calendar time since the date of battery installation, or calendar time since the last service event, then said preselected value for said time since the date of battery installation, or time since the last service event, is 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, 120 days, 150 days, 180 days or 210 days.

58. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 32, wherein when said one or more operational variables comprises cumulative battery use time since the date of battery installation or date of last service event, and said preselected value for said cumulative battery use time is 30 hours, 60 hours, 90 hours, 120 hours, 150 hours, 180 hours or 210 hours.

59. The battery maintenance alert device of claim 32, wherein when said one or more operational variables comprises number of charge cycles since the date of battery installation or date of last service event, and said preselected value for number of charge cycles since the date of battery installation or date of last service event is 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 30, 60, 120 charge cycles.

60. In a battery maintenance alert device having a text or graphical user interface including a display and a selection device, a method of providing and selecting from a menu on the display, the method comprising retrieving a set of menu entries for the menu, the menu entries representing the day, month, year or any combination thereof of a battery installation or a service event, displaying the set of menu entries on said display, receiving one or more menu entry selection signals indicative of the selection device pointing at one or more selected menu entries of the set of menu entries, and in response to said one or more signals, entering said one or more menu entry selections into a database.