Apparatus and method for carrying out diagnostic tests on batteries and for rapidly charging batteries
First Claim
1. In a battery diagnostic system, a method for performing a diagnostic test on a battery to determine if the battery is in a condition acceptable for recharging the battery, the method comprising:
- automatically determining an instantaneous cranking value for the battery; and
if the instantaneous cranking value for the battery is determined to be above a predetermined level, automatically performing the further steps of;
performing a sustained discharge of the battery to generally tax the capacity of the battery;
determining a loaded cranking value for the battery that generally simulates battery power after multiple cranking attempts; and
if the loaded cranking value for the battery is above a desired percentage of a rated cranking value for the battery, deeming the battery to be in good condition for charging.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for performing automatic and rapid diagnostic testing and charging of a battery. The diagnostic test unit utilizes a charger combined with a rapidly variable load. After inputting battery characteristics including the cranking rating (CCA or CA) and the temperature of the battery, a diagnostic ramp procedure is utilized to provide an instantaneous current versus voltage analysis to determine the instantaneous cranking value (i.e., the single crank capability at full charge) of the battery being tested. If the instantaneous cranking value of the battery is above a level determined acceptable, a sustained discharge is carried out to tax the capacity of the battery.
At the end of the constant current discharge, the current is again to determine a loaded cranking value which simulates the battery power after multiple cranking attempts. If the loaded cranking value is below a desired percentage of the cranking rating, then the battery is put into charge. If a battery cannot be acceptably charged within the time of a given number of diagnostic probes, the battery is deemed to be a bad battery. The charging steps utilized during the diagnostic testing, as well as any charging of batteries determined to be good, utilizes a novel interactive stepping procedure which allows batteries determined to be good to be recharged in a minimum period of time without overheating the battery.
175 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. In a battery diagnostic system, a method for performing a diagnostic test on a battery to determine if the battery is in a condition acceptable for recharging the battery, the method comprising:
-
automatically determining an instantaneous cranking value for the battery; and
if the instantaneous cranking value for the battery is determined to be above a predetermined level, automatically performing the further steps of;
performing a sustained discharge of the battery to generally tax the capacity of the battery;
determining a loaded cranking value for the battery that generally simulates battery power after multiple cranking attempts; and
if the loaded cranking value for the battery is above a desired percentage of a rated cranking value for the battery, deeming the battery to be in good condition for charging. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A readable-medium having processor executable instructions for use in performing a diagnostic test on a battery to determine if the battery is in a condition acceptable for recharging the battery, the instructions performing the steps comprising:
-
automatically determining an instantaneous cranking value for the battery; and
if the instantaneous cranking value for the battery is determined to be above a predetermined level, automatically performing the further steps of;
performing a sustained discharge of the battery to generally tax the capacity of the battery;
determining a loaded cranking value for the battery that generally simulates battery power after multiple cranking attempts; and
if the loaded cranking value is above a desired percentage of a rated cranking value for the battery, deeming the battery to be in good condition for charging.
-
-
12. In a battery diagnostic and charging system, a method for performing a diagnostic test on a battery to determine if the battery is in a condition acceptable for recharging the battery, the method comprising:
-
automatically determining the instantaneous cranking value for the battery; and
if the instantaneous cranking value for the battery is determined to be above a predetermined level, automatically performing the further steps of;
performing a sustained discharge of the battery to generally tax the capacity of the battery;
determining a characteristic of the battery under load; and
if the determined battery characteristic is within a desired percentage of a rated characteristic for the battery, recharging the battery. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
-
-
15. In a battery diagnostic and charging system, a method for operating the system comprising:
-
accepting from a user input device a characteristic of a battery; and
in response to the input of the characteristic, automatically performing the further steps of;
determining if the battery is in a condition to be recharged; and
if the battery is in a condition to be recharged, recharging the battery. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for performing a diagnostic test on a battery, the method comprising:
-
discharging the battery from a first predetermined amperage down to a base level amperage to determine a single crank capability of the battery;
discharging the battery from a second predetermined amperage down to the base level amperage to determine a multiple crank capability of the battery; and
determining a state of the battery using the single crank capability and the multiple crank capability. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification