BATTERY TEST SYSTEM WITH CAMERA

• US 20160266212A1
• Filed: 02/02/2016
• Published: 09/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Carlo, Michael R., Gospodarek, Dale A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,816,605 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/367 Software therefor, e.g. for battery testing using modelling or look-up tables
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/378 specially adapted for the type of battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/22 Matching criteria, e.g. proximity measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/63 Scene text, e.g. street names
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/224 of printed characters having additional code marks or containing code marks

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a battery test system for a vehicle that includes a camera configured to capture an image of a vehicle identification number located on the vehicle, the camera being coupled to a processor which determines characters of the vehicle identification number from the image of the camera and correlates the characters of the vehicle identification number to a vehicle identification number database to receive battery parameters for the vehicle, a battery tester that is removably connected to terminals of a battery of the vehicle and configured to receive battery test results, and a display which conveys information relating to the battery parameters and the battery test results.

Claims

1. A battery test system for a vehicle, comprising:

a camera configured to capture an image of a vehicle identification number located on the vehicle, the camera being coupled to a processor which determines characters of the vehicle identification number from the image of the camera and correlates the characters of the vehicle identification number to a vehicle identification number database to receive battery parameters for the vehicle;

a battery tester that is removably connected to terminals of a battery of the vehicle and configured to receive battery test results; and

a display which conveys information relating to the battery parameters and the battery test results.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the battery parameters and the battery test results are shown on the display.

3. The system for claim 1, wherein the battery parameters and the battery test results are compared to provide an indication of a state of the battery.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the comparison of the battery parameters and the battery test results provides a recommendation as to whether the battery should be replaced.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera and the battery tester are contained within a housing.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the vehicle identification number database is stored on a memory and the memory is further contained within the housing.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the memory stores a battery test management system that includes a set of instructions to be performed by the processor.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the vehicle identification number database is stored on a memory remote from the housing and connected to the processor by wireless transmission.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the memory remote from the housing is configured to communicate with a server to update the vehicle identification number database.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein a battery parameter of the battery parameters and a battery test result of the battery test results is cold cranking amps.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein a battery parameter of the battery parameters and a battery test result of the battery test results is cranking amps.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the battery of the vehicle has a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and the battery tester includes a first cable which terminates in a first clamp to create the removable connection to the positive terminal of the battery and a second clamp to create the removable connection to the negative terminal of the battery.

13. The system of claim 1, comprising a user interface configured to enable a tester to manually input the battery parameters.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle identification number database includes information linking a plurality of vehicle identification numbers with one or more of a manufacturer of the vehicle, a manufacture location, a model of the vehicle, a body style of the vehicle, a type of vehicle, an engine type of the vehicle, a year of manufacture, and the battery parameters.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine the characters of the vehicle identification number from the image of the camera using optical character recognition.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is configured to show the vehicle identification number.

17. The system of claim 1, comprising a wireless communication device configured to communicate with an external computing device to provide updates to the vehicle identification number database.

18. A method of testing a battery for a vehicle, comprising:

capturing an image of a vehicle identification number of the vehicle using a camera;

processing the image of the vehicle identification number to determine characters of the vehicle identification number;

comparing the characters of the vehicle identification number to a vehicle identification number database to determine battery parameters of the vehicle;

testing the battery to determine battery test results; and

displaying the battery test results and the battery parameters.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein comparing the characters of the vehicle identification number to the vehicle identification number database comprises associating a character from among the characters to a determine the battery parameters.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the battery parameters include cold cranking amps, cranking amps, another battery rating, or a combination thereof.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein capturing the image of the vehicle identification number further comprises positioning the camera to take an image of the vehicle identification number.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein testing the battery further comprises connecting a battery tester to the battery and receiving information from the battery.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein connecting the battery tester to the battery comprises connecting a first cable of the battery tester to a positive terminal of the battery and connecting a second cable of the battery tester to a negative terminal of the battery.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein displaying the battery test results and the battery parameters further comprises advising as to whether the battery should be replaced.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein processing the image of the vehicle identification number to determine characters of the vehicle identification number comprises using optical character recognition.