Battery monitoring system

• US 6,727,708 B1
• Filed: 12/06/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Dougherty, Thomas J., Thompson, Michael L., Wruck, William J., Chen, Deeyu C., Miles, Ronald C.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US10/313,983
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 324/426-428, 320/132, 320/134, 320/136
• US Class Current: 324/427
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/16 responding to battery ageing, e.g. to the number of charging cycles or the state of health [SoH]
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/36 Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/005 Detection of state of health [SOH]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

A battery monitoring system is disclosed. The system comprises a means for acquiring a value representative of a first period of time during which the battery will deliver a sufficient amount of power. The system also comprises a means for measuring a set of parameters comprising a voltage of the battery and a temperature of the battery during a second period of time. The system also comprises a means for predicting whether the battery will deliver the sufficient amount of power during a third period of time less than the first period of time. An output signal is provided if the means for predicting determines that the battery will deliver the sufficient amount of power during the third period of time. A system for determining whether a battery for a vehicle will deliver a sufficient amount of power for a sufficient amount of time is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a battery for a vehicle comprising:

means for acquiring a value representative of a first period of time during which the battery will deliver a sufficient amount of power;

means for measuring a set of parameters comprising a voltage of the battery and a temperature of the battery during a second period of time;

means for predicting whether the battery will deliver the sufficient amount of power during a third period of time less than the first period of time;

wherein an output signal is provided if the means for predicting determines that the battery will deliver the sufficient amount of power during the third period of time.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the output signal is representative of an amount of life remaining in the battery.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the output signal is representative of at least one of an amount of a cold cranking capability, a reserve capacity and a cycling capability remaining in the battery.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising means for continuously recording the set of parameters.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the second period of time is adjusted corresponding to at least one of the voltage, the temperature and a state of charge of the battery.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the second period of time is increased if the means for measuring provides a signal that the battery undergoes at least one of a high voltage, a high temperature and a low state of charge.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the value corresponds to at least one of a cold cranking rating, a reserve capacity rating and a cycling capability rating of the battery when new and fully charged.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the output signal is provided if the means for predicting determines that the first period of time less the second period of time is greater than the third period of time.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein the means for measuring comprises a sensor.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the means for predicting comprises a controller.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the value is less than about 3300 days.

12. A system for determining whether a battery for a vehicle will deliver a sufficient amount of power for a sufficient amount of time comprising:

a sensor configured to provide an input signal representative of a voltage of the battery during at least one of a first period over which the starter is disconnected from the battery, a second period over which the starter cranks the engine, and a third period over which the engine is started;

a controller configured to determine a voltage of the battery during at least one of the first period, a minimum voltage of the battery during the second period, and a maximum voltage of the battery during the second period;

wherein the controller is configured to provide an output signal if the voltage of the battery is outside a range of pre-determined values during at least one of the first period, the second period, and the third period.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the output signal comprises a warning representative of a weak crank of the engine.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the output signal is representative of an amount of life lost from the battery.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the controller is configured to provide the output signal if the voltage of the battery is outside a range of pre-determined values during the second period.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the controller is configured to provide the output signal if the difference between the voltage of the battery during the first period and the voltage of the battery during the second period is outside a range of pre-determined values.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the controller is configured to provide the output signal if a difference between the minimum voltage of the battery and the maximum voltage of the battery is outside a range of pre-determined values during the second period.

18. The battery management system of claim 15 wherein the controller is configured to provide the output signal if a difference between an average minimum voltage of the battery and an average maximum voltage of the battery is outside a range of pre-determined values during the second period.

19. The battery management system of claim 12 wherein the controller is configured to provide the output signal if a period between a first minimum voltage and a second minimum voltage of the battery is outside a range of pre-determined values during the second period.

20. The system of claim 12 wherein the controller is configured to provide the output signal if an average period between a first average minimum voltage of the battery and a second average minimum voltage of the battery is outside a range of pre-determined values during the second period.

21. The system of claim 12 wherein the controller is configured to provide the output signal if the voltage of the battery is outside a range of pre-determined values during the third period.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the controller is configured to provide the output signal if an average voltage of the battery for a pre-determined number of starts of the engine is outside a range of pre-determined values during the third period.

23. The system of claim 12 wherein the controller is configured to provide the output signal if the duration of the second period is outside a range of pre-determined values for a pre-determined number of starts of the engine.

24. A system for determining whether a battery for a vehicle will deliver a sufficient amount of power for a sufficient amount of time comprising:

means for providing a first input signal representative of a temperature of the battery during a period;

means for providing a second input signal representative of a voltage of the battery during the period;

means for providing a third input signal representative of a duration of the period;

means for determining an amount of life lost by the battery during the period corresponding to the first input signal, the second input signal, and the third input signal;

wherein the means for determining the amount of life lost by the battery during the period provides an output signal if the amount of life lost by the battery during the period is outside a range of pre-determined values.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the range of pre-determined values corresponds to an amount of power required to start the vehicle.