Electronic battery testing device and method for testing batteries
First Claim
1. A method for evaluating the condition of a direct current energy storage unit, said method comprising:
- (a) applying a first load to said unit for a first time period,(b) measuring a first voltage of said unit at the end of said first time period,(c) applying a second load to said unit for a second time period, said second load being greater than said first load,(d) measuring a second voltage of said unit at the end of said second time period,(e) analyzing the condition of said unit based on the voltage drop between said first voltage and said second voltage, and(f) monitoring a recovery voltage of the unit for a predetermined time period after removing the second load.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic battery testing device and a method for testing batteries are provided. Device applies a small first fixed load and measures the voltage at the end of the first fixed load and then applies a medium second fixed load and measures the voltage at the end of the second fixed load. The device then analyzes the condition of the battery based on these voltage values. A method is also provided involving: (a) applying a first small fixed load to a battery, (b) measuring the voltage at the end of the first small fixed load, (c) applying a second medium fixed load to the battery, (d) measuring the voltage of the battery at the end of the second medium fixed load, and (e) analyzing the condition of the battery based on the voltage values. Preferably the method also involves evaluating the recovery voltage wave form after the second medium load. The device and method allowed for evaluation of deeply discharged batteries without the need to charge the batteries and also allows for the test equipment to be in hand held form.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for evaluating the condition of a direct current energy storage unit, said method comprising:
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(a) applying a first load to said unit for a first time period, (b) measuring a first voltage of said unit at the end of said first time period, (c) applying a second load to said unit for a second time period, said second load being greater than said first load, (d) measuring a second voltage of said unit at the end of said second time period, (e) analyzing the condition of said unit based on the voltage drop between said first voltage and said second voltage, and (f) monitoring a recovery voltage of the unit for a predetermined time period after removing the second load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for evaluating the condition of a battery having a state of charge, said method comprising:
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applying a first load to the battery for a first time period; measuring a first voltage of the battery at the end of said first time period; applying a second load to the battery for a second time period, said second load being greater than said first load; measuring a second voltage of the battery at the end of the second time period; monitoring a recovery voltage of the battery for a predetermined time period after removing the second load, including measuring a first recovery voltage after a first recovery time period, measuring a second recovery voltage after a second recovery time period; and determining the condition of the battery using the first voltage or the second voltage, and monitoring the recovery voltage, including determining whether the battery is defective irrespective of the battery state of charge including the steps of determining a capacitive recovery factor, defining a capacitive recovery factor threshold, and comparing the capacitive recovery factor to the capacitive recovery factor threshold. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An electronic device for determining whether a battery is defective, the device comprising:
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means for applying a first load to the battery for a first time period; means for measuring a first voltage of the battery at the end of said first time period; means for applying a second load to the battery for a second time period, said second load being greater than said first load; means for measuring a second voltage of the battery for a second time period; means for monitoring a recovery voltage of the battery for a predetermined time period after removing the second load, including means for measuring a first recovery voltage after a first recovery time period, means for measuring a second recovery voltage after a second recovery time period, wherein the second recovery time period is greater than the first recovery time period; and means for determining the condition of the battery using the first voltage or the second voltage, and means for monitoring the recovery voltage, including means for determining whether the battery is defective irrespective of the battery state of charge including means for determining a capacitive recovery factor, means for defining a capacitive recovery factor threshold, and means for comparing the capacitive recovery factor to the capacitive recovery factor threshold. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification