BATTERY PACK TESTER

• US 20130311124A1
• Filed: 11/08/2012
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: van Bremen, Johannes Arnoldus Theodorus
• Granted Patent: US 10,429,449 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/104
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/386 using test-loads
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/396 Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4285 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5011 for several cells simultaneously or successively
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5083 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An apparatus and method for testing a battery pack are provided. Measurement circuitry is configured to measure parameters of batteries within the battery pack. The measurement circuitry responsively provides an output indicative of a condition of a battery in the battery pack. The output is based upon a measured parameter of the battery pack and a correction factor.

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing batteries connected in a battery pack, wherein the battery pack comprises a plurality of batteries, the apparatus comprising:

a forcing function configured to apply a forcing function signal to a battery;

measurement circuitry configured to measure a response of the battery to the applied forcing function signal;

a memory containing a correction factor;

a microprocessor configured to calculate a corrected dynamic parameter based upon the applied forcing function signal, the response of the battery to the applied forcing function signal and the correction factor stored in the memory.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including a user input configured to receive an input from an operator.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including a display configured to display an output to an operator, wherein the display is further configured to instruct the operator to test individual batteries within the battery pack.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory contains a plurality of correction factors.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein one correction factor of the plurality of correction factors stored in the memory is selected based upon a user input.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the correction factor is based upon dynamic parameters measured in a nominal battery pack.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 including an output comprising a relative representation of conditions of batteries within the battery pack.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dynamic parameter comprises battery conductance.

9. A method for testing batteries connected in a battery pack, the battery pack comprising a plurality of batteries, the method comprising:

forming a battery pack using a plurality of batteries which are in good condition;

measuring a dynamic parameter for each of the good batteries while the batteries are connected in the battery pack, the dynamic parameter obtained by applying a forcing function;

determining a correction factor based upon the plurality of measured dynamic parameters;

testing a battery pack of an unknown condition, comprising;

measuring a dynamic parameter for each of the plurality of batteries in the battery pack of an unknown condition by applying a forcing function to each of the batteries;

correcting the measured dynamic parameters using the correction factor to obtain corrected dynamic parameters;

determining condition of each battery within the battery pack based upon its corrected dynamic parameter.

10. The method of claim 9 including receiving an input from an operator.

11. The method of claim 9 including displaying an output to an operator, wherein the display is further configured to instruct the operator to test individual batteries within the battery pack.

12. The method of claim 9 including storing a plurality of correction factors in a memory.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein one correction factor of the plurality of correction factors stored in the memory is selected based upon a user input.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the correction factor is based upon dynamic parameters measured in a nominal battery pack.

15. The method of claim 9 including outputting a relative representation of conditions of batteries within the battery pack.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the dynamic parameter comprises battery conductance.