Electronic battery tester

• US 6,323,650 B1
• Filed: 04/07/2000
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I., Butteris, Jamey
• Primary Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US09/544,696
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 320/426, 702/63
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/374 with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/379 for lead-acid batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/386 using test-loads
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 35/005 Calibrating; Standards or reference devices, e.g. voltage or resistance standards, "golden" references G01R33/0035, G01R35/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5044 Cells or batteries structurally combined with cell condition indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electronic battery tester includes a calibration interface. A microprocessor is configured to calibrate the battery tester by coupling to a calibrator through the calibration interface.

Claims

1. An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery, comprising:

a first pair of connectors configured to couple to a positive terminal of the battery;

a second pair of connectors configured to couple to a negative terminal of the battery, the first and second pairs of connectors forming a Kelvin connection with the battery;

a memory;

a calibration interface configured to provide a calibrator control output to a calibrator;

a microprocessor configured to test the battery through the Kelvin connection based upon a calibration value stored in the memory, the microprocessor further configured to communicate with the calibrator through the calibration interface to initiate a self calibration, measure a calibrated value of the calibrator through the Kelvin connection and store the measured calibrator value in memory as the calibration value.

2. The electronic battery tester of claim 1 wherein the calibration interface is configured to provide a first calibrator control output to initiate a resistance calibration and a second calibrator control output to initiate a voltage calibration.

3. The electronic battery tester of claim 1 including a visual output configured to display a result of the battery test, the visual output including a LED and wherein a first test result is indicated with the LED on and a second test result is indicated with the LED off.

4. The electronic battery tester of claim 1 wherein the battery test is further a function of a fixed reference value stored in the memory.

5. The electronic battery tester of claim 1 wherein the battery test is further a function of a selectable reference value.

6. The electronic battery tester of claim 5 wherein the reference value is selected by scrolling through a plurality of reference values.

7. The electronic battery tester of claim 5 wherein the reference value is selected in accordance with an increment value stored in the memory.

8. The electronic battery tester of claim 7 wherein the memory comprises a non-volatile memory.

9. The electronic battery tester of claim 8 wherein the increment value is selectively stored in the non-volatile memory.

10. The electronic battery tester of claim 9 wherein the increment value is stored by placing the microprocessor in a programming mode.

12. The electronic battery tester of claim 5 wherein the reference value is in accordance with a selectable standard.

13. The electronic battery tester of claim 12 wherein the standard is stored in memory.

14. The electronic battery tester of claim 13 wherein the memory comprises a non-volatile memory.

15. The electronic battery tester of claim 13 wherein the standard is stored by placing the microprocessor in a programming mode.

16. The electronic battery tester of claim 15 wherein the programming mode is entered during power-up of the microprocessor.

17. The electronic battery tester of claim 1 wherein the calibration output is configured to drive a switch in the calibrator.

18. The electronic battery tester of claim 2 wherein the microprocessor calibration values from resistance and voltage measurements are stored in the memory.

28. The electronic battery tester of claim 14 wherein the programming mode is entered during power-up of the microprocessor.

11. The electronic battery tester of claim 11 wherein a programming mode is entered during power-up of the microprocessor.

19. An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery, comprising:

a first pair of connectors configured to couple to a positive terminal of the battery;

a second pair of connectors configured to couple to a negative terminal of the battery, the first and second pairs of connectors forming a Kelvin connection with the battery;

a memory;

a microprocessor configured to test the battery through the Kelvin connection based upon an industry standard battery rating; and

a user input configured to select an industry standard rating system for the battery rating and store the selected rating system in the memory.

20. The electronic battery tester of claim 19 including a calibration interface configured to couple to a calibrator to initiate measurement of a calibrated value of the calibrator through the Kelvin connection.

21. The electronic battery tester of claim 19 including a visual output configured to display a result of the battery test, the visual output including a LED and wherein a first test result is indicated with the LED on and a second test result is indicated with the LED off.

22. The electronic battery tester of claim 19 wherein the battery test is a function of a fixed reference value stored in the memory.

23. The electronic battery tester of claim 19 wherein the battery test is further a function of a selectable reference value.

24. The electronic battery tester of claim 23 wherein the reference value is selected by scrolling through a plurality of reference values.

25. The electronic battery tester of claim 24 wherein the reference value is selected in accordance with an increment value stored in a non-volatile memory.

26. The electronic battery tester of claim 19 wherein the memory comprises a non-volatile memory.

27. The electronic battery tester of claim 26 wherein the standard rating system is stored by placing the microprocessor in a programming mode.

29. An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery, comprising:

a first pair of connectors configured to couple to a positive terminal of the battery;

a second pair of connectors configured to couple to a negative terminal of the battery, the first and second pairs of connectors forming a Kelvin connection with the battery;

a memory;

a microprocessor configured to test the battery through the Kelvin connection based upon a battery rating; and

a user input configured to select an increment or decrement value for use in entering the battery rating and store the value in the memory.

30. The electronic battery tester of claim 29 includes a calibration interface to couple to a calibrator.

31. The electronic battery tester of claim 29 including a visual output configured to display a result of the battery test, the visual output including a LED and wherein a first test result is indicated with the LED on and a second test result is indicated with the LED off.

32. The electronic battery tester of claim 29 wherein the battery rating is selected by scrolling through a plurality of reference values.

33. The electronic battery tester of claim 29 wherein the reference value is selected in accordance with an increment value stored in the memory.

34. The electronic battery tester of claim 29 wherein the memory comprises a non-volatile memory.

35. The electronic battery tester of claim 29 wherein the increment or decrement value is stored in memory by placing the microprocessor in a programming mode.

36. The electronic battery tester of claim 35 wherein the programming mode is entered during power-up of the microprocessor.

37. The electronic battery tester of claim 29 wherein the battery rating is in accordance with a selectable standard.

38. The electronic battery tester of claim 37 wherein the standard is stored in memory.

39. The electronic battery tester of claim 38 wherein the standard is stored by placing the microprocessor in a programming mode.

40. A battery tester calibrator, comprising:

a control input configured to receive a control input from an electronic battery tester;

a Kelvin connection coupling configured to couple to a Kelvin connection of the battery tester;

a voltage reference;

a resistance reference;

at least one switch configured to selectively couple the voltage and resistance references to the Kelvin connection coupling in respective first and second relay positions in response to the control input.