SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING THE STATUS OF A VEHICLE BATTERY SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring a vehicle status for a vehicle having a battery and an alternator, the method comprising the steps of:
- as the vehicle is being started, detecting on a monitoring unit a voltage fluctuation of the voltage output by the battery, the voltage fluctuation having signal attributes characteristic of initiation of a starter motor;
measuring on the monitoring unit a vehicle minimum voltage of the voltage fluctuation;
after the vehicle has started, measuring on the monitoring unit a vehicle running voltage output by the alternator;
comparing on the monitoring unit the vehicle running voltage to a first predefined criteria to determine a vehicle alternator status representative of an operational condition of the alternator;
after the vehicle has been turned off, measuring on the monitoring unit a vehicle off voltage output at the battery; and
comparing on the monitoring unit the vehicle minimum voltage and the vehicle off voltage according to a second predefined criteria to determine a vehicle battery status representative of an operational condition of the battery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for monitoring the status of a vehicle utilizing a monitoring unit and a receiver unit. The monitoring unit is operatively connectable to the vehicle via a diagnostic port and detects the voltage output by the vehicle'"'"'s battery when the vehicle'"'"'s engine is turned on and off, and voltage output by the alternator while the engine is running. From these voltage measurements, the monitoring unit determine the operational status of the vehicle'"'"'s battery and alternator by comparison to predefined criteria, such as optimal voltage ranges or a threshold minimum voltage. When the monitoring unit detects that the vehicle'"'"'s battery or alternator may be malfunctioning, a signal indicating a malfunction is transmitted to the receiver unit, for example the driver'"'"'s cellular phone, which will generate a warning notification alerting the operator to the existence and component responsible for the malfunction.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring a vehicle status for a vehicle having a battery and an alternator, the method comprising the steps of:
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as the vehicle is being started, detecting on a monitoring unit a voltage fluctuation of the voltage output by the battery, the voltage fluctuation having signal attributes characteristic of initiation of a starter motor; measuring on the monitoring unit a vehicle minimum voltage of the voltage fluctuation; after the vehicle has started, measuring on the monitoring unit a vehicle running voltage output by the alternator; comparing on the monitoring unit the vehicle running voltage to a first predefined criteria to determine a vehicle alternator status representative of an operational condition of the alternator; after the vehicle has been turned off, measuring on the monitoring unit a vehicle off voltage output at the battery; and comparing on the monitoring unit the vehicle minimum voltage and the vehicle off voltage according to a second predefined criteria to determine a vehicle battery status representative of an operational condition of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for monitoring a vehicle status with a monitoring unit, the monitoring unit comprising:
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a monitoring circuit in electrical communication with a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU) for receiving from the ECU; a vehicle minimum voltage output by the battery during initiation of a starter motor; a vehicle running voltage output by the alternator while the vehicle is running; and a vehicle off battery voltage output by the battery after the vehicle has been subsequently turned off; and a data processor in communication with the monitoring circuit for receiving and storing the vehicle minimum voltage, the vehicle running voltage, and the vehicle off voltage, the voltage data processor being operative to compare the vehicle running voltage to a predetermined running voltage range and to generate an alternator malfunction signal in response to a determination that the vehicle running voltage is outside a predetermined running voltage range;
the data processor further being operative to compare the minimum battery voltage and the subsequent vehicle off voltage and to generate a battery malfunction signal in response to a determination that the battery is not sufficiently retaining a charge. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium readable by a data processing apparatus including an output device, the medium tangibly embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by the data processing apparatus to perform a method for monitoring a vehicle alternator and battery status, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving on the data processing apparatus an alternator status signal or a battery status signal; and generating a warning notification on the output device in response to receipt of an alternator status signal corresponding to a vehicle alternator status representative of a malfunctioning alternator or a battery status signal corresponding to a vehicle battery status representative of a malfunctioning battery.
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21. A system for monitoring a vehicle status, the system comprising:
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a monitoring unit comprising; a monitoring circuit in electrical communication with a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU) for receiving from the ECU; a vehicle minimum voltage output by the battery during initiation of a starter motor; a vehicle running voltage output by the alternator while the vehicle is running; a vehicle off voltage output by the battery after the vehicle has been subsequently turned off; a wireless communication circuit in communication with the monitoring circuit for transmitting the vehicle minimum voltage, the vehicle running voltage, and the vehicle off voltage; a receiver unit comprising; a wireless receiver for receiving the vehicle minimum voltage, the vehicle running voltage, and the vehicle off voltage; and a data processor in communication with the wireless receiver for receiving and storing the vehicle minimum voltage, the vehicle running voltage, and the vehicle off voltage, the voltage data processor being operative to compare the vehicle running voltage to a predetermined running voltage range and to generate an alternator malfunction signal in response to a determination that the vehicle running voltage is outside the predetermined running voltage range;
the data processor further being operative to compare the vehicle minimum voltage and the subsequent vehicle off voltage and to generate a battery malfunction signal in response to a determination that the battery is not sufficiently retaining a charge.
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22. The system of claim 22, wherein a battery malfunction signal is also generated in response to a determination that the vehicle minimum voltage is below a predetermined minimum battery output level.
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23. A method for monitoring a hybrid vehicle status for a hybrid vehicle having a battery and an alternator, the method comprising the steps of:
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As the vehicle is running, measuring on the monitoring unit a vehicle running voltage output by the alternator; comparing on the monitoring unit the vehicle running voltage to a first predefined criteria to determine a vehicle alternator status representative of an operational condition of the alternator; after the vehicle has been turned off, receiving on the monitoring unit a battery status output at the battery control module; and comparing on the monitoring unit the battery status output to a second predefined criteria to determine a vehicle battery status representative of an operational condition of the battery.
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Specification