Method and apparatus for monitoring and maintaining a plurality of batteries
First Claim
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1. A method for maintaining a plurality of batteries, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring battery conditions of each of said batteries;
performing a normal analysis on each of said batteries using the monitored battery conditions;
selecting a marginal battery from said plurality of batteries based on results of the normal analysis;
replacing the marginal battery with an auxiliary battery;
measuring battery parameters of the marginal battery;
performing offline a detailed state-of-health analysis on the marginal battery using the measured battery parameters; and
flagging for service the marginal battery according to results of the detailed analysis.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for monitoring and maintaining a plurality of batteries by performing a normal analysis on all of the batteries, selecting a marginal battery, replacing the marginal battery with an auxiliary battery, and offline performing a detailed analysis on the marginal battery. The marginal battery is then serviced/discarded according to the results of the detailed analysis.
60 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for maintaining a plurality of batteries, comprising the steps of:
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monitoring battery conditions of each of said batteries;
performing a normal analysis on each of said batteries using the monitored battery conditions;
selecting a marginal battery from said plurality of batteries based on results of the normal analysis;
replacing the marginal battery with an auxiliary battery;
measuring battery parameters of the marginal battery;
performing offline a detailed state-of-health analysis on the marginal battery using the measured battery parameters; and
flagging for service the marginal battery according to results of the detailed analysis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
selectively supplying a voltage charge to each of the plurality of batteries;
monitoring a state of charge (SOC) of each of the plurality of batteries; and
adjusting the voltage charge to each of the plurality of batteries according to the state of charge (SOC) monitored for that battery.
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4. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitored battery conditions comprises conditions from the group consisting of terminal voltage, battery ambient temperature, charge current, and discharge current.
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5. The method of claim 1, wherein the measured battery parameters comprises parameters from the group consisting of terminal resistance, electrolyte level, battery capacity, and state of charge.
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6. The method of claim 5, wherein the measured battery parameters are used in the detailed analysis to determine parameters from the group consisting of mismatched cells, soft-shorted cells, reverse connections, high terminal resistance, low electrolyte level, corroded terminals, battery status, and time to maintain/replace battery.
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7. The method of claim 1, wherein both the normal analysis and the detailed analysis are implemented in software performed by a controller.
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8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of applying a load to the marginal battery.
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9. The method of claim 1, comprising additional steps performed whenever a self test is invoked, self test results are uploaded, battery voltage, current or temperature data are uploaded, a current or voltage ramp test is performed, individual batteries are disabled, or software algorithms are upgraded, said additional steps comprising:
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measuring battery parameters of each of the plurality of batteries;
performing a detailed analysis on each of the plurality of batteries using the measured battery parameters for that battery; and
flagging for service each of the plurality of batteries according to results of the detailed analysis for that battery.
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10. A system for maintaining a plurality of batteries, comprising:
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a normal analysis controller monitoring battery conditions of each of the plurality of batteries, performing a normal analysis on each of the plurality of batteries based on the conditions monitored for that battery, and selecting at least one marginal battery from the plurality of batteries based on the normal analysis; and
a detailed analysis controller measuring battery parameters of the marginal battery and performing offline a detailed state-of-health analysis on the marginal battery;
wherein the marginal battery is serviced according to results of the detailed analysis. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification