Method and apparatus for determining the capacity of lead acid storage batteries
First Claim
1. A method for determining the capacity of a lead acid storage battery, said method comprising the steps of:
- (1) sensing an initial open circuit voltage of the battery when no current flows through the battery;
(2) storing the value of said initial open circuit voltage;
(3) sensing the voltage of the battery while current flows through the battery in a first direction;
(4) comparing the value of the sensed voltage with the value of the stored initial open circuit voltage to produce a difference value representing the rate of current flow through the battery in said first direction;
(5) adjusting said stored initial open circuit voltage value as a function of said difference value to produce a first direction current flow, adjusted, stored voltage value; and
,(6) utilizing said first direction current flow, adjusted, stored voltage value, said value representing the then capacity of the battery while current flows therethrough in said first direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining the capacity of lead acid storage batteries are disclosed. The battery'"'"'s initial open circuit voltage is stored in a settable memory. Thereafter, the open circuit voltage values of the battery throughout the discharge period are determined by measuring loaded voltages with reference to the stored open circuit voltages to detect the discharge rates. The rates of discharge are used to reset the stored value of the initial open circuit voltage measurement thereby producing a moving reference. The memory output value is a function of the capacity of the battery. During the charge period, the charge voltages are measured with reference to the stored open circuit voltages to detect the charge rates. The rates of charge are used to reset the stored value of an initial open circuit voltage measurement. Again, the memory output value is a function of the capacity of the battery.
42 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for determining the capacity of a lead acid storage battery, said method comprising the steps of:
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(1) sensing an initial open circuit voltage of the battery when no current flows through the battery; (2) storing the value of said initial open circuit voltage; (3) sensing the voltage of the battery while current flows through the battery in a first direction; (4) comparing the value of the sensed voltage with the value of the stored initial open circuit voltage to produce a difference value representing the rate of current flow through the battery in said first direction; (5) adjusting said stored initial open circuit voltage value as a function of said difference value to produce a first direction current flow, adjusted, stored voltage value; and
,(6) utilizing said first direction current flow, adjusted, stored voltage value, said value representing the then capacity of the battery while current flows therethrough in said first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for determining the capacity of a lead acid storage battery, said method comprising the steps of:
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(1) sensing an initial open circuit voltage of the battery prior to a discharge period; (2) storing the value of said initial open circuit voltage; (3) sensing the voltage of the battery under load; (4) comparing the value of the sensed loaded voltage with the value of the stored initial open circuit voltage to produce a difference value representing the rate of discharge of the battery; (5) adjusting said stored initial open circuit voltage value as a function of said difference value to produce an adjusted, stored voltage value; and
,(6) utilizing said adjusted, stored voltage value, said value representing the then capacity of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for determining the capacity of a lead acid storage battery, said method comprising the steps of:
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(1) sensing an initial open circuit voltage for the battery prior to a charge period; (2) storing the value of said initial open circuit voltage; (3) sensing the voltage of the battery under charge; (4) comparing the value of the sensed charge voltage with the value of the stored initial open circuit voltage to produce a different value representing the rate of charge of the battery; (5) adjusting said stored initial open circuit voltage value as a function of said difference value to produce an adjusted, stored voltage value; and
,(6) utilizing said adjusted, stored voltage value, said value representing the then capacity of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. An apparatus for determining the capacity of a lead acid storage battery comprising:
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(1) means for sensing an initial open circuit voltage of the battery when no current flows through the battery; (2) means for storing the value of said initial open circuit voltage; (3) means for sensing the voltage of the battery while current flows through the battery through the battery in a first direction; (4) means for comparing the value of the sensed voltage with the value of the stored initial open circuit voltage to produce a difference value representing the rate of current flow through the battery in said first direction; (5) means for adjusting said stored initial open circuit voltage value as a function of said difference value to produce a first direction current flow, adjusted, stored voltage value; and
,(6) means for utilizing said first direction current flow, adjusted, stored voltage value, said value representing the then capacity of the battery while current flows therethrough in said first direction. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. An apparatus for determining the capacity of a lead acid storage battery comprising:
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(1) means for sensing an initial open circuit voltage of the battery prior to a discharge period; (2) means for storing the value of said initial open circuit voltage; (3) means for sensing the voltage of the battery under load; (4) means for comparing the value of the sensed loaded voltage with the value of the stored initial open circuit voltage to produce a difference value representing the rate of discharge of the battery; (5) means for adjusting said stored initial open circuit voltage value as a function of said difference value to produce an adjusted, stored voltage value; and
,(6) means for utilizing said adjusted, stored voltage value, said value representing the then capacity of the battery.
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17. An apparatus for determining the capacity of a lead acid storage battery comprising:
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(1) means for sensing an initial open circuit voltage for the battery prior to a charge period; (2) means for storing the value of said initial open circuit voltage; (3) means for sensing the voltage of the battery under charge; (4) means for comparing the value of the sensed charge voltage with the value of the stored initial open circuit voltage to produce a different value representing the rate of charge of the battery; (5) means for adjusting said stored initial open circuit voltage value as a function of said difference value to produce an adjusted, stored voltage value, said value representing the then capacity of the battery.
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Specification