In-vehicle battery monitor

• US 6,633,165 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2001
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I.
• Primary Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US09/960,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20020153864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 324/426, 324/427, 324/433, 320/134, 320/136
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3647 for determining the ability of a battery to perform a critical function, e.g. cranking
• 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 31/3842 combining voltage and current measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00041 in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00714 in response to battery charging or discharging current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/163 with special means for initiating or limiting the excitation current

Abstract

An apparatus and a method of monitoring a battery in an automotive vehicle are provided. An output is provided which can be a relative output as a function of minimum and maximum parameters of the battery.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a battery in an automotive vehicle having an engine, comprising:

setting a stored battery parameter value to an initial value;

measuring a first parameter of the battery;

changing the stored battery parameter value as a function of the measured first parameter;

measuring a second parameter of the battery during or following a period when the battery is charging;

changing the stored battery parameter value as a function of the measured second parameter; and

providing an output related to a condition of the battery as a function of the stored battery parameter value.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the parameters is a dynamic parameter which is a function of a signal having an AC or transient component.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the steps of measuring is through Kelvin connections.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the output is related to ability of the battery to crank a starter motor of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the output is a relative indication of the ability of the battery to crank the starter motor.

6. The method of claim 1 including calculating the output as a function of a dynamic parameter.

7. The method of claim 1 including calculating the output as a function of a cold cranking amp (CCA) rating of the battery.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first parameter is a minimum measured value for the parameter.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the second parameter is a maximum measured value for the parameter.

10. The method of claim 1 including measuring a third parameter related to a present condition of the battery, and wherein the output is a function of the third parameter.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the third parameter is compensated as a function of temperature.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the third parameter is compensated as a function of a state of charge of the battery.

13. The method of claim 1 including retrieving a stored minimum acceptable parameter value from memory, and wherein the output is a further of the minimum value.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the stored minimum acceptable parameter value is updated as a function of vehicle operation.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the stored minimum acceptable parameter value is related to a minimum parameter value required to actuate the starter motor and start the engine.

16. The method of claim 14 including compensating the minimum acceptable parameter value as a function of temperature.

17. The method of claim 14 including updating the minimum acceptable parameter value as a function of measurements obtained during starting of the engine.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the first parameter is related to a minimum acceptable observed parameter of the battery and the second parameter is related to a maximum observed parameter of the battery.

19. The method of claim 1 including measuring a present battery parameter value and wherein the output is further a function of the present battery parameter.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second parameters is compensated as a function of battery state of charge.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the output is a relative indication of the ability of the battery to operate vehicle loads.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein the stored minimum acceptable parameter value is related to a minimum parameter value required to operate vehicle loads.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second parameters are related to CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) of the battery.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second parameters are related to amp hour capacity of the battery.

25. The method of claim 1 including identifying when the battery is substantially fully charged.

26. The method of claim 1 including calculating amp hour capacity as a function of a change in energy supplied to and drawn from the battery.

27. The method of claim 1 including resetting the stored battery parameter if the battery is disconnected from an electrical system of the vehicle.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein the output comprises an indication to service battery soon.

29. The method of claim 1 wherein the output is a graphical illustration of an empty/full gauge.

30. An electronic battery monitory configured to operate in accordance with the method of claim 1.

31. A storage medium containing computer software configured to implement the method of claim 1.

32. A method of monitoring a battery in an automotive vehicle, comprising:

retrieving a battery parameter minimum threshold value from a memory;

obtaining a measured battery parameter value;

retrieving a battery parameter maximum threshold value from the memory; and

determining a relative battery condition as a ratio between two quantities and as a function of the battery parameter minimum threshold value, the measured battery parameter value and the maximum threshold battery parameter value.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the maximum threshold battery parameter maximum threshold value comprises a maximum measured value of the measured battery parameter value.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the battery parameter minimum threshold value comprises a minimum measured value of the measured battery parameter.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein at least one of the parameters is a dynamic parameter which is a function of a signal having an AC or transient component.

36. The method of claim 32 wherein obtaining battery measured parameter value includes measuring through Kelvin connections.

37. The method of claim 32 wherein the ratio is related to ability of the battery to crank a starter motor of the vehicle.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the ratio is a relative indication of the ability of the battery to crank the starter motor.

39. The method of claim 37 including calculating the ratio as a function of a dynamic parameter.

40. The method of claim 37 including calculating the ratio as a function of a cold cranking amp (CCA) rating of the battery.

41. The method of claim 32 wherein the measured battery parameter value is compensated as a function of temperature.

42. The method of claim 32 wherein the measured battery parameter value is compensated as a function of a state of charge of the battery.

43. The method of claim 32 wherein the battery parameter minimum threshold value is updated as a function of vehicle operation.

44. The method of claim 32 wherein the battery parameter minimum threshold value is related to a minimum parameter value required to actuate the starter motor and start the engine of the vehicle.

45. The method of claim 32 including compensating the battery parameter minimum threshold value as a function of temperature.

46. The method of claim 43 including updating the battery parameter minimum threshold value as a function of measurements obtained during starting of the engine of the vehicle.

47. The method of claim 32 wherein at least one of the minimum and maximum threshold values are compensated as a function of battery state of charge.

48. The method of claim 32 wherein the ratio is a relative indication of the ability of the battery to operate vehicle loads.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the battery parameter minimum threshold value is related to a minimum parameter value required to operate vehicle loads.

50. The method of claim 32 wherein the threshold values and are related to CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) of the battery.

51. The method of claim 32 wherein the threshold values are related to amp hour capacity of the battery.

52. The method of claim 32 including identifying when the battery is substantially fully charged.

53. The method of claim 32 including calculating amp hour capacity as a function of a change in energy supplied to and drawn from the battery.

54. The method of claim 32 including resetting at least one of the stored threshold values if the battery is disconnected from an electrical system of the vehicle.

55. The method of claim 32 including providing an output indication to service battery soon.

56. The method of claim 32 including providing an output graphical illustration of an empty/full gauge.

57. An electronic battery monitory configured to operate in accordance with the method of claim 32.

58. A storage medium containing computer software configured to implement the method of claim 32.

59. An electronic battery monitor for use in an automotive vehicle having an engine, comprising:

means for setting a stored battery parameter value to an initial value;

means for measuring a first parameter of the battery;

means for changing the stored battery parameter value as a function of the measured first parameter;

means for measuring a second parameter of the battery during or following a period when the battery is charging;

means for changing the stored battery parameter value as a function of the measured second parameter; and

for providing an output related to a condition of the battery as a function of the stored battery parameter value.

60. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein at least one of the parameters is a dynamic parameter which is a function of a signal having an AC or transient component.

61. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein at least one of the parameters is of measured through Kelvin connections.

62. The apparatus of claim 59 including means for retrieving a stored minimum acceptable parameter value from memory, and wherein the output is a further of the minimum value.

63. The apparatus of claim 62 wherein the stored minimum acceptable parameter value is updated as a function of vehicle operation.

64. The apparatus of claim 62 wherein the stored minimum acceptable parameter value is related to a minimum parameter value required to actuate the starter motor and start the engine.

65. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the stored minimum acceptable parameter value is related to a minimum parameter value required to operate vehicle loads.

66. The apparatus of claim 59 including calculating amp hour capacity as a function of a change in energy supplied to and drawn from the battery.

67. An electronic battery monitor for use in an automotive vehicle, comprising:

means for retrieving a battery parameter minimum threshold value from a memory;

means for obtaining a measured battery parameter value;

means for retrieving a battery parameter maximum threshold value from the memory; and

means for determining a relative battery condition as a ratio between two quantities and as a function of the battery parameter minimum threshold value, the measured battery parameter value and the maximum threshold battery parameter maximum threshold value.

68. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein the battery parameter maximum threshold value comprises a maximum measured value of the measured battery parameter value.

69. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein at least one of the parameters is a dynamic parameter which is a function of a signal having an AC or transient component.

70. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein battery measured parameter value is measured through Kelvin connections.

71. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein the ratio is related to ability of the battery to crank a starter motor of the vehicle.

72. The apparatus of claim 71 wherein the ratio is a function of a dynamic parameter.

73. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein the battery parameter minimum threshold value is updated as a function of vehicle operation.

74. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein the battery parameter minimum threshold value is related to a minimum parameter value required to actuate the starter motor and start the engine of the vehicle.

75. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein the ratio is a relative indication of the ability of the battery to operate vehicle loads.

76. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein the battery parameter minimum threshold value is related to a minimum parameter value required to operate vehicle loads.

77. A battery monitor for use in monitoring a battery of an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a voltage sensor configured to measure a voltage across the battery;

a current sensor configured to measure a current through the battery;

a memory configured to store an initial value of a stored battery parameter; and

a process configured to measure a first parameter of the battery during a first period as a function of sensed voltage and sensed current, respectively, change the stored battery parameter, measure a second parameter during a second period as a function of sensed voltage and sensed current, responsively change the stored battery parameter and determine a condition of the battery as a function of the stored battery parameter.

78. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein at least one of the parameters is a dynamic parameter which is a function of a signal having an AC or transient component.

79. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein at least one of the parameters is measured through Kelvin connections.

80. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the battery condition is related to ability of the battery to crank a starter motor of the vehicle.

81. The apparatus of claim 80 wherein the battery condition is a relative indication of the ability of the battery to crank the starter motor.

82. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the first and second parameters comprise dynamic parameter.

83. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the battery condition is a function of a cold cranking amp (CCA) rating of the battery.

84. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the first parameter is a minimum measured value for the parameter.

85. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the second parameter is a maximum measured value for the parameter.

86. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the processor measures a third parameter related to a present condition of the battery, and wherein the output is a function of the third parameter.

87. The apparatus of claim 86 wherein the third parameter is compensated as a function of temperature.

88. The apparatus of claim 86 wherein the third parameter is compensated as a function of a state of charge of the battery.

89. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the process retrieves a stored minimum acceptable parameter value from memory, and wherein the output is a further of the minimum value.

90. The apparatus of claim 89 wherein the stored minimum acceptable parameter value is updated as a function of vehicle operation.

91. The apparatus of claim 89 wherein the stored minimum acceptable parameter value is related to a minimum parameter value required to actuate the starter motor and start the engine.

92. The apparatus of claim 90 wherein the minimum acceptable parameter value as a function of temperature.

93. The apparatus of claim 90 wherein the minimum acceptable parameter value is updated as a function of measurements obtained during starting of the engine.

94. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the first parameter is related to a minimum acceptable observed parameter of the battery and the second parameter is related to a maximum observed parameter of the battery.

95. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the processor measures a present battery parameter value and wherein the output is further a function of the present battery parameter.

96. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein at least one of the first and second parameters is compensated as a function of battery state of charge.

97. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the battery condition is a relative indication of the ability of the battery to operate vehicle loads.

98. The apparatus of claim 91 wherein the stored minimum acceptable parameter value is related to a minimum parameter value required to operate vehicle loads.

99. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the first and second parameters are related to CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) of the battery.

100. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the first and second parameters are related to amp hour capacity of the battery.

101. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the processor identifies when the battery is substantially fully charged.

102. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the processor calculates amp hour capacity as a function of a change in energy supplied to and drawn from the battery.

103. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the processor resets the stored battery parameter if the battery is disconnected from an electrical system of the vehicle.

104. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the battery condition is output as an indication to service battery soon.

105. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the battery condition is output as a graphical illustration of an empty/full gauge.

106. An electronic battery monitor configured to monitor a battery of an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a memory configured to contain a battery parameter minimum threshold value, a battery parameter maximum threshold value, and a measured battery parameter value;

battery parameter measurement circuitry configured to couple to the battery; and

a processor configured to determine a relative condition of the battery as a ratio between two quantities and as a function of the battery parameter minimum threshold value, the battery parameter maximum threshold value and the measured battery parameter value.

107. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein the maximum threshold battery parameter value comprises a maximum measured value of the measured battery parameter value.

108. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein the battery parameter minimum threshold value comprises a minimum measured value of the measured battery parameter.

109. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein at least one of the parameters is a dynamic parameter which is a function of a signal having an AC or transient component.

110. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein the measurement circuitry couples to the battery through Kelvin connections.

111. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein the ratio is related to ability of the battery to crank a starter motor of the vehicle.

112. The apparatus of claim 111 wherein the ratio is a relative indication of the ability of the battery to crank the starter motor.

113. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein the ratio is a function of a dynamic parameter.

114. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein the ratio is a function of a cold cranking amp (CCA) rating of the battery.

115. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein the measured battery parameter value is compensated as a function of temperature.

116. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein the measured battery parameter value is compensated as a function of a state of charge of the battery.

117. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein the battery parameter minimum threshold value is updated as a function of vehicle operation.

118. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein the battery parameter minimum threshold value is related to a minimum parameter value required to actuate the starter motor and start the engine of the vehicle.

119. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein the battery parameter minimum threshold value as a function of temperature.

120. The apparatus of claim 117 wherein the minimum threshold value is updated as a function of measurements obtained during starting of the engine of the vehicle.

121. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein at least one of the minimum and maximum threshold values are compensated as a function of battery state of charge.

122. The apparatus of claim 107 wherein the ratio is a relative indication of the ability of the battery to operate vehicle loads.

123. The apparatus of claim 122 wherein the battery parameter minimum threshold value is related to a minimum parameter value required to operate vehicle loads.

124. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein the threshold values and are related to CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) of the battery.

125. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein the threshold values are related to amp hour capacity of the battery.

126. The apparatus of claim 106 including identifying when the battery is substantially fully charged.

127. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein the relative condition of the battery is a function of battery amp hour capacity determined as a change in energy supplied to and drawn from the battery.

128. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein the processor resets at least one of the stored threshold values if the battery is disconnected from an electrical system of the vehicle.

129. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein the processor provides an output indication to service battery soon.

130. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein the processor provides an output graphical illustration of an empty/full gauge.