CALIBRATION AND PROGRAMMING OF IN-VEHICLE BATTERY SENSORS

• US 20160238667A1
• Filed: 04/28/2016
• Published: 08/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2013
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: McMahan, Nicholas G., Losinski, Lance Michael, Palmisano, Andrew J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,843,574 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/023 for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3842 combining voltage and current measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An in-vehicle battery sensor includes a sensor configured to couple to a storage battery. A memory is configured to store calibration information. An input receives calibration information which is saved in the memory. A controller performs a battery test on the storage battery using the sensor output and the stored calibration information.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle battery sensor, comprising:

a sensor configured to couple to the storage battery and provide a sensor output;

a memory configured to store calibration information;

an input configured to receive calibration information and save the calibration in the memory; and

a controller configured to perform a battery test on the storage battery using the sensor output and the stored calibration information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the calibration information is correlated to cold cranking amps (CCA) of the battery.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller measures a resistance of the battery and the stored calibration information correlates the measured resistance to cold cranking amps (CCA) of the battery.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory is further configured to store a battery testing algorithm.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the battery testing algorithm is received through the input and stored into the memory.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to determine state of charge of the battery.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the controller identifies a bad battery based upon a measured CCA and a state of charge of the battery.

8. A tool configured to program the battery sensor of claim 1.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the tool further includes an electronic battery tester configured to perform a battery test on the battery and wherein a result from the electronic battery tester is used to provide the calibration information.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor measures voltage.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor measures current.

12. A tool for programming electronic battery monitors, comprising:

a sensor configured to couple to a storage battery and sense an electrical parameter of the storage battery;

I/O circuitry configured to couple to an electronic battery monitor and communicate with the electronic battery monitor; and

a microprocessor configured to perform a battery test on the storage battery using the sensor and further configured to store data in a memory in the electronic battery monitor through the I/O circuitry as a function of a result of the battery test.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the microprocessor performs a test based upon a dynamic parameter.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the microprocessor measures a conductance of the battery.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the programming is related to amp hour capacity of the battery.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the stored data is related to CCA of the battery.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the stored data is related to the Peukert number of the battery.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein, the stored data is related to the battery chemistry.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the I/O directly communicates with a databus of the vehicle.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the databus is in accordance with the OBDII standard.

21. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the stored data is related to a full charge open circuit voltage of the storage battery.

22. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the stored data is related to a full discharge open circuit voltage of the storage battery.

23. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the I/O circuitry is configured to communicate with a databus of the electronic battery monitor.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the databus is in accordance with the CAN standard.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the databus is in accordance with the LIN standard.

26. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the stored data is a function of the battery test of the storage battery.

27. The apparatus of claim 12 including a forcing function source configured to couple to the storage battery and apply a forcing function to the storage battery.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the sensor is configured to sense a response of the storage battery to the applied forcing function.

29. The apparatus of claim 12 including a local operator interface.

30. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the stored data comprises calibration information.

31. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the stored data comprises programming instructions related to an algorithm used by the electronic battery monitor to test the storage battery.

32. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the I/O circuitry comprises wireless communication circuitry.

33. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the I/O circuitry comprises wired communication circuitry.

34. The apparatus of claim 12 including a battery charger configured to apply a charge to the storage battery.

35. The apparatus of claim 12 including an electrical load configured to apply a load to the storage battery.