System and method for assessing a capacity of a battery and power plant incorporating the same

• US 6,255,801 B1
• Filed: 05/10/2000
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Logistics AG (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Chalasani, Subhas Chandra
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US09/567,735
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 320/132, 320/134, 320/162, 702/63, 324/433, 324/432, 324/427
• US Class Current: 320/132
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/005 Detection of state of health [SOH]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for, and method of, assessing a capacity and/or age of a battery. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a voltage sensor, coupled to the battery, that develops a signal indicative of a parameter of a coup de fouet effect experienced by the battery as the battery is discharged and (2) a controller, coupled to the voltage sensor, that receives the signal and determines the capacity and/or age as a function thereof.

Claims

1. A system for assessing a capacity and/or age of a battery, comprising:

a voltage sensor, coupled to said battery, that develops a signal indicative of a parameter of a coup de fouet effect experienced by said battery as said battery is discharged; and

a controller, coupled to said voltage sensor, that receives said signal and determines said capacity and/or age as a function thereof.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said parameter is a trough voltage of said battery, said controller determining said capacity and/or age as a function of said trough voltage.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said parameter is a peak voltage of said battery, said controller determining said capacity and/or age as a function of said peak voltage.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said controller receives said signal for a period of time while said battery is experiencing said coup de fouet effect and determines said capacity and/or age as a function of a change in said signal during said period.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said system discharges said battery at a substantially constant discharge current.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said system discharges said battery at a substantially constant power level.

7. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said system discharges said battery by a predetermined discharge amount.

8. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said system discharges said battery for a predetermined discharge interval.

9. A method of assessing a capacity and/or age of a battery, comprising:

developing a signal indicative of a parameter of a coup de fouet effect experienced by said battery as said battery is discharged; and

determining said capacity and/or age as a function of said signal.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said parameter is a trough voltage of said battery, said determining comprising determining said capacity and/or age as a function of said trough voltage.

11. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said parameter is a peak voltage of said battery, said determining comprising determining said capacity and/or age as a function of said peak voltage.

12. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising:

receiving said signal for a period of time while said battery is experiencing said coup de fouet effect; and

determining said capacity and/or age as a function of a change in said signal during said period.

13. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising discharging said battery at a substantially constant discharge current.

14. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising discharging said battery at a substantially constant power level.

15. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising discharging said battery by a predetermined discharge amount.

16. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising discharging said battery for a predetermined discharge interval.

17. A power plant, comprising:

a rectifier coupled to a load;

a battery coupled to said rectifier and said load; and

a system for assessing a capacity and/or age of said battery, including;

a voltage sensor, coupled to said battery, that develops a signal indicative of a parameter of a coup de fouet effect experienced by said battery as said battery is discharged; and

a controller, coupled to said voltage sensor, that receives said signal and determines said capacity and/or age as a function thereof.

18. The power plant as recited in claim 17 wherein said parameter is a trough voltage of said battery, said controller determining said capacity and/or age as a function of said trough voltage.

19. The power plant as recited in claim 17 wherein said parameter is a peak voltage of said battery, said controller determining said capacity and/or age as a function of said peak voltage.

20. The power plant as recited in claim 17 wherein said controller receives said signal for a period of time while said battery is experiencing said coup de fouet effect and determines said capacity and/or age as a function of a change in said signal during said period.

21. The power plant as recited in claim 17 wherein said system discharges said battery at a substantially constant discharge current.

22. The power plant as recited in claim 17 wherein said system discharges said battery at a substantially constant power level.

23. The power plant as recited in claim 17 wherein said system discharges said battery by a predetermined discharge amount.

24. The power plant as recited in claim 17 wherein said system discharges said battery for a predetermined discharge interval.