Electronic battery tester with normal/cold test modes and terminal connection detection

• US 6,388,448 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2001
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Development Corporation
• Original Assignee: Actron Manufacturing Incorporated (SPX Corporation)
• Inventors: Cervas, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/805,298
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 324/426, 324/427, 324/428, 324/429, 324/430, 324/431, 324/432, 324/433, 320/132, 320/149, 320/150, 320/DIG.19, 320/DIG.21, 429/61, 429/90
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/389 Measuring internal impedance, internal conductance or related variables

Abstract

An electronic battery tester is disclosed with normal test and cold test modes comprising: a first circuit for applying an AC current load to a battery under test to induce an AC signal across the terminals of the battery; a second circuit for measuring the induced AC signal and converting it to a first voltage potential signal which is a measure of the battery'"'"'s internal resistance; a circuit for adjusting the first voltage potential signal to a second voltage potential signal; third circuit for generating a threshold voltage potential signal at a first value when the battery tester is in a normal test mode and at a second value when the battery tester is in a cold test mode; and a comparison circuit for comparing said second voltage potential signal to said threshold voltage potential signal to determine a condition of the battery. The battery tester also includes terminal connection detection capability comprising: an indicator driven by an electronic tester unit for indicating a connection when first and second supply leads and first and second return leads are properly connected to the battery under test through corresponding first and second connectors; the electronic tester unit including a circuit governed by the first and second return leads for inhibiting the indicator from indicating a connection when one of the first and second return leads are not properly connected to the negative terminal of the battery under test through the second connector.

Claims

1. An electronic battery tester with normal test and cold test modes comprising:

a first circuit for applying an AC current load to a battery under test to induce an AC signal across the terminals of the battery;

a second circuit for measuring the induced AC signal and converting it to a first voltage potential signal which is a measure of the battery'"'"'s internal resistance;

means for adjusting said first voltage potential signal to a second voltage potential signal;

third circuit for generating a threshold voltage potential signal at a first value when the battery tester is in a normal test mode and at a second value when the battery tester is in a cold test mode;

a comparison circuit for comparing said second voltage potential signal to said threshold voltage potential signal to determine a condition of said battery.

2. The battery tester of claim 1 wherein the third circuit includes:

a resistance divider network coupled across a reference voltage potential wherein the threshold voltage potential signal is generated from a tap of said resistance divider network;

at least one switch operative to indicate a selected mode of the normal test mode and cold test mode; and

a fourth circuit coupled to said resistance divider network and governed by said at least one switch to change the value of the threshold voltage potential signal.

3. The battery tester of claim 2 wherein the at least one switch is a mechanical switch operative manually to provide an electrical signal to govern the fourth circuit.

4. The battery tester of claim 2 wherein the fourth circuit includes an electronic switch coupled to the resistance divider network and governed by said at least one switch to change the value of the threshold voltage potential signal.

5. The battery tester of claim 4 wherein the electronic switch includes a field effect transistor.

6. The battery tester of claim 4 wherein the at least one switch includes a first switch for indicating a normal test mode and a second switch for indicating a cold test mode.

7. The battery tester of claim 6 wherein the electronic switch is controlled by the second switch to alter the resistance of the resistance divider network to cause a change in the value of the threshold voltage potential signal.

8. The battery tester of claim 2 wherein the at least one switch is coupled to the first circuit to enable the first circuit to apply the AC current load to the battery under test when a mode is selected.

9. The battery tester of claim 1 wherein the second value of the threshold voltage potential signal is greater than the first value thereof.

10. An electronic battery tester with terminal connection detection capability comprising:

first and second connectors for coupling to positive and negative terminals, respectively, of a battery under test;

an electronic tester unit;

first and second supply leads coupling the first connector to the electronic tester unit;

first and second return leads coupling the second connector to the electronic tester unit;

an indicator driven by said electronic tester unit for indicating a connection when the first and second supply leads and first and second return leads are properly connected to the battery under test through the first and second connectors;

said electronic tester unit including a circuit governed by said first and second return leads for inhibiting the indicator from indicating a connection when one of said first and second return leads are not properly connected to the negative terminal of the battery under test through the second connector.

11. The battery tester of claim 10 wherein the first connector comprises a clamp connector with the first and second supply leads being coupled respectively to one and another sides of said clamp connector which are electrically isolated from each other;

and wherein the second connector comprises another clamp connector with the first and second return leads being coupled respectively to one and another sides of said other clamp connector which are electrically isolated from each other.

12. The battery tester of claim 10 wherein the circuit comprises an electronic switch coupled across the indicator.

13. The battery tester of claim 12 wherein the electronic tester unit comprises a first return bus coupled to the first return lead;

and a second return bus coupled to the second return lead; and

wherein the first and second return buses being coupled to said electronic switch.

14. The battery tester of claim 13 wherein the electronic switch comprises a bipolar transistor with the first and second return buses being coupled respectively to the base and emitter thereof;

and wherein said bipolar transistor is rendered on when said first return lead is not properly connected to the negative battery terminal through the second connector.

15. The battery tester of claim 10 wherein the electronic tester unit includes a circuit for applying an AC current load to a battery under test to induce an AC signal across the terminals of the battery;

wherein the first and second supply leads and the first and second return leads are coupled to said applying circuit; and

wherein said applying circuit being disabled when either one of said first and second connectors are not properly connected to the terminals of the battery under test.

16. The battery tester of claim 15 wherein the electronic tester unit includes a circuit for measuring the induced AC signal and converting it to a first voltage potential signal which is a measure of the battery'"'"'s internal resistance;

wherein the first and second supply leads and the first return lead are coupled to said measuring and converting circuit; and

wherein said measuring and converting circuit being disabled when either one of the first and second connectors are not properly connected to the terminals of the battery under test.

17. The battery tester of claim 10 wherein the electronic tester unit includes a circuit for driving the indicator;

wherein the first and second supply leads and the first and second return leads are coupled to said driving circuit; and

wherein said driving circuit being disabled when either one of the first and second connectors are not properly connected to the