Automated data storing battery tester and multimeter
First Claim
1. A data storing battery tester and multimeter for testing at least one battery in a plurality of batteries to predict whether said battery can provide a predetermined power level by determining at least the battery internal cell resistance, said battery being electrically connected in series by at least one conductive intercell link, said battery and batteries being connected to and used to supply power in electrical systems, said tester comprising:
- an adjustable direct current (DC) resistance load;
resistance loading means, in electrical communication with said adjustable load, for selectively and automatically applying and removing said adjustable load across said battery while said battery remains connected to the electrical system to facilitate a load voltage and a float voltage, respectively, and to draw current;
processor means, in electrical communication with said resistance loading means, for reading said load voltage, said float voltage and said current draw and for calculating resistance of the intercell link and said internal cell resistance using said voltages and said current draw;
wherein said load voltage, float voltage, current draw, intercell link resistance and internal cell resistance comprise data, said processor means including a prediction means for determining whether the battery can provide the predetermined power level based on said data;
memory means, in electrical communication with said processor means, for storing an algorithm used by said processor means to read and calculate said data and for storing said datacomputer interface means, in electrical communication with said processor means, for communicating and interfacing with at least one computer peripheral to facilitate transferring said data to said computer; and
signal control means, in electrical communication with said resistance loading means and said processor means, for receiving input command signals and electrically providing output control signals to said processor means to facilitate the applying and removing of said adjustable load from said battery and processing of said data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An intelligent automated battery multimeter system having data storing and multi-cell reading capabilities in a self-contained unit for automatically performing in-service DC load testing on battery cells without requiring the removal of battery chargers wherein the tester measures, records and displays load voltages, float voltages, internal cell resistance, intercell connection resistance and other cell integrity measurements. The battery tester is also computer compatible wherein it provides PC links for extracting data from the system and downloading it into computer networks.
155 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A data storing battery tester and multimeter for testing at least one battery in a plurality of batteries to predict whether said battery can provide a predetermined power level by determining at least the battery internal cell resistance, said battery being electrically connected in series by at least one conductive intercell link, said battery and batteries being connected to and used to supply power in electrical systems, said tester comprising:
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an adjustable direct current (DC) resistance load; resistance loading means, in electrical communication with said adjustable load, for selectively and automatically applying and removing said adjustable load across said battery while said battery remains connected to the electrical system to facilitate a load voltage and a float voltage, respectively, and to draw current; processor means, in electrical communication with said resistance loading means, for reading said load voltage, said float voltage and said current draw and for calculating resistance of the intercell link and said internal cell resistance using said voltages and said current draw;
wherein said load voltage, float voltage, current draw, intercell link resistance and internal cell resistance comprise data, said processor means including a prediction means for determining whether the battery can provide the predetermined power level based on said data;memory means, in electrical communication with said processor means, for storing an algorithm used by said processor means to read and calculate said data and for storing said data computer interface means, in electrical communication with said processor means, for communicating and interfacing with at least one computer peripheral to facilitate transferring said data to said computer; and signal control means, in electrical communication with said resistance loading means and said processor means, for receiving input command signals and electrically providing output control signals to said processor means to facilitate the applying and removing of said adjustable load from said battery and processing of said data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A battery tester for predicting whether a battery in a plurality of batteries will be able to provide required power to a known load based on at least internal cell resistance in said battery and intercell resistance of a conductive link electrically joining said battery to said plurality of batteries, said battery and batteries being connected to used to supply power to an electrical system, said tester comprising:
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an adjustable direct current (DC) resistance load; resistance loading means, in electrical communication with said adjustable load, for selectively and automatically applying and removing said adjustable load across said battery while said battery remains connected to the electrical system to facilitate a load voltage and a float voltage, respectively and to a current draw; a programmable processor means, in electrical communication with said resistance loading means, for reading said load and float voltages and said current draw and for calculating said internal cell resistance and intercell resistance using said voltages and said current draw, wherein said load voltage, float voltage, current draw, intercell resistance and internal cell resistance comprise data, said processor means including a prediction means for determining whether the battery can provide the predetermined power level based on said data; memory means, in electrical communication with said processor means, for storing an algorithm used by said processor means to read and calculate said data and for storing said data; parallel input-output (I/O) controller, in electrical communication with said resistance loading means and said processor means, for receiving input command signals and electrically providing output control signals to said processor means to facilitate the applying and removing of said adjustable load from said battery and processing of said data; and user interface means, in electrical communication with said parallel I/O controller and said processor, for initiating said processor means and said resistance loading means to control the applying and removing of said adjustable load and to determine whether said battery can provide said required power. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A battery tester for predicting whether a battery in a plurality of batteries will be able to provide required power to a known load based on at least internal cell resistance in said battery and intercell resistance of a conductive link electrically joining said battery to said plurality of batteries, said battery and batteries being connected to used to supply power to an electrical system, said tester comprising:
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an adjustable direct current (DC) resistance load; resistance loading means, in electrical communication with said adjustable load, for selectively and automatically applying and removing said adjustable load across said battery while said battery remains connected to the electrical system to facilitate a load voltage and a float voltage, respectively and to a current draw; a programmable processor means, in electrical communication with said resistance loading means, for reading said load and float voltages and said current draw and for calculating said internal cell resistance and intercell resistance using said voltages and said current draw, wherein said load voltage, float voltage, current draw, intercell resistance and internal cell resistance comprise data, said processor means including a prediction means for determining whether the battery can provide the predetermined power level based on said data; memory means, in electrical communication with said processor means, for storing an algorithm used by said processor means to read and calculate said data and for storing said data; parallel input-output (I/O) controller, in electrical communication with said resistance loading means and said processor means, for receiving input command signals and electrically providing output control signals to said processor means to facilitate the applying and removing of said adjustable load from said battery and processing of said data; computer interface means, in electrical communication with said processor means, for communicating and interfacing with at least one computer peripheral to facilitate transferring said data to said computer; and user interface means, in electrical communication with said parallel I/O controller and said processor, for initiating said processor means and said resistance loading means to control the applying and removing of said adjustable load and to determine whether said battery can provide said required power. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification