Battery condition monitoring and recording system for electric vehicles
First Claim
1. A battery pack monitoring device permanently attached to a battery pack which battery pack is a replaceable pack in a battery-using installation, such that when the battery pack in the installation is exhausted, the entire battery pack may be replaced with a new pack having a battery pack monitoring device, and the replaceable pack is recharged external of the battery-using installation, the battery pack comprising a plurality of batteries, each battery comprising a plurality of cells, the device comprising:
- a) a plurality of sensor means for collecting information on at least one of the cells, each of the sensors having inputs for monitoring a parameter of the cell,b) a plurality of data output means for communicating data about the battery pack, andc) computer means for processing and storing data, comprising;
i) a plurality of input port means for accepting data connected to the plurality of sensors,ii) a plurality of output port means for transmitting data connected to the plurality of data output means,iii) a plurality of data input/output means for communicating with an external data processing means for collecting data, one of the data input/output means receives identification indicia from the battery-using installation, such that the installation is identified to the battery monitoring device,iv) nonvolatile memory means for storing instructions and data, andv) programmable processor means for processing data connected to the input port means, output port means, data input/output means, and memory means, in which data about the battery pack collected through the sensors is accepted by the computer means through the input port means and is processed by the programmable processor means based upon instructions stored in the memory means and is accumulated as processed data, the processed data being stored in the memory means and the processed data and the identification indicia of the battery-using installation is communicated to the external data processing means through the data input/output means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for accumulating information about storage batteries, especially useful for electric vehicles, in which a microcomputer having memory and associated sensors is built into each battery pack. The device accumulates data about the usage and condition of the pack, and identification data on the user, then transmits the data to an external computer when the pack is charging.
346 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A battery pack monitoring device permanently attached to a battery pack which battery pack is a replaceable pack in a battery-using installation, such that when the battery pack in the installation is exhausted, the entire battery pack may be replaced with a new pack having a battery pack monitoring device, and the replaceable pack is recharged external of the battery-using installation, the battery pack comprising a plurality of batteries, each battery comprising a plurality of cells, the device comprising:
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a) a plurality of sensor means for collecting information on at least one of the cells, each of the sensors having inputs for monitoring a parameter of the cell, b) a plurality of data output means for communicating data about the battery pack, and c) computer means for processing and storing data, comprising; i) a plurality of input port means for accepting data connected to the plurality of sensors, ii) a plurality of output port means for transmitting data connected to the plurality of data output means, iii) a plurality of data input/output means for communicating with an external data processing means for collecting data, one of the data input/output means receives identification indicia from the battery-using installation, such that the installation is identified to the battery monitoring device, iv) nonvolatile memory means for storing instructions and data, and v) programmable processor means for processing data connected to the input port means, output port means, data input/output means, and memory means, in which data about the battery pack collected through the sensors is accepted by the computer means through the input port means and is processed by the programmable processor means based upon instructions stored in the memory means and is accumulated as processed data, the processed data being stored in the memory means and the processed data and the identification indicia of the battery-using installation is communicated to the external data processing means through the data input/output means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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10. The method of monitoring the condition of a replaceable battery pack in which the battery pack is a replaceable pack in a battery-using installation, such that when the battery pack in the installation is exhausted, the entire battery pack may be replaced with a new pack having a battery pack monitoring device, and the replaceable pack is recharged external of the battery-using installation, comprising a plurality of batteries, each battery comprising a plurality of cells, comprising the steps of:
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a) accumulating information about the pack through a plurality of sensors on at least one of the cells, each of the sensors having inputs for measuring a parameter of the cell, b) processing the information through a computer permanently attached to the battery pack and connected to the sensors, c) accumulating the processed information in nonvolatile memory means for storing programs and information, d) interrogating the battery-using installation and receiving identification indicia which identifies the battery-using installation to the battery monitoring device, e) communicating the accumulated information to an external data processing means for collecting data, the information communicated to the external data processing means including the identification indicia of the battery-using installation using the pack. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification