Apparatus and method for testing and charging a power source with ethernet

• US 6,842,707 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2002
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Raichle, Kurt, Miller, Garret, Sontheimer, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Charioui, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US10/235,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20040002836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 702 62- 65, 702/68, 702/104, 702118-122, 702183-185, 702/188, 320/106, 320/113, 320/107, 320/116, 320/125, 320/130, 320/132, 324/426
• US Class Current: 702/62
• 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: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A method and apparatus that allows a battery charger/tester to transmit and receive information from a remote location. Information, such as the result of the charge and testing of the battery, can be relayed via a wire or wirelessly to a remote device, such as a server for storage. Additionally, information such as firmware updates can be relayed to the battery charger/tester for upload.

Claims

1. A charging apparatus, comprising:

a power source charger and tester that is configured to analyze and conduct maintenance activity on a power source, the power source charger is configured to charge the power source by determining which portion of a sine wave to permit to pass to the power source; and

a communication module linked to the charger and tester, the communication module is configured to provide remote access to the charger and tester in order to provide access to data.

2. The charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication module is an Ethernet module.

3. The charger apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication module is a wireless Ethernet module.

4. The charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein remote access is accomplish with a remote device, the remote device can be selected from a group consisting of a network server, a printer, a personal computer, a workstation, a file server, a print server, a fax machine, a phone, a pager, an e-mail communication device, a personal digital assistant, a display, other communication device and combination thereof.

5. The charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication module communicates by receiving information from or by transmitting information to the remote device.

6. The charging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller in communication with the communication module.

7. The charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data is related to the power source.

8. The charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data is related to the charger and tester.

9. A charger with notification system, comprising:

a controller provided with a power source charger for monitoring at least one condition, the controller comprises an alert mechanism, which generates a technician notification in response to preselected monitoring condition the power source charger is configured to charge the power source by determining which portion of a sine wave to permit to pass to a battery; and

a communication module that remotely relays the technician notification to a designated location.

10. The charger system of claim 9, wherein the controller monitors the at least one condition of a power source charger.

11. The charger system of claim 9, wherein the controller monitors the at least one condition of a power source and notifies the user of said condition.

12. The charger system of claim 9, wherein the notification is done visually.

13. The charger system of claim 9, wherein the notification is done audibly.

14. The charger system of claim 9, wherein the notification is done tactilely.

15. The charger system of claim 9, wherein the at least one condition is the temperature of the power source during charging.

16. The charger system of claim 9, where in the at least one condition is the status of the battery during charging.

17. The charger system of claim 9, wherein the at least one condition is the status of the battery during testing.

18. A method of remotely accessing a device, comprising:

accessing a power source charger and analyzer through a remote access module with a remote device, the power source charger is configured to charge the power source by determining which portion of a sine wave to permit to pass to the battery;

requesting data through the module, wherein the data is selected from the group consisting of a power source and a power source charger and analyzer;

retrieving the data; and

remotely transmitting the data.

19. The method claim 18, wherein the remote access module is an Ethernet module.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the remote access module is a wireless Ethernet module.

21. The method of communication of claim 18, wherein the remote device can be selected from a group consisting of a network server, a printer, a personal computer, a workstation, a file server, a printer server, a fax machine, a phone, a pager, an e-mail communication device, a personal digital assistant, a display, other communication device and combination thereof.

22. The method of communication of claim 18, wherein the data is selected from a group consisting of temperature data, resulting of charging/testing, warranty information, battery type, make and mode, data from previous charging/testing, firmware, diagnostic, operating parameters, warnings, maintenance information, other data, and a combination thereof.

23. A system for remotely accessing a device, comprising:

means for accessing a power source charger and analyzer with a remote processing means wherein the power source charger is configured to charge a power source by determining which portion of a sine wave to permit to pass to the power source;

means for requesting data through the means for accessing, wherein the data is selected from the group consisting of a power source and a power source charger and analyzer;

means for retrieving the data; and

means for remotely transmitting the data.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the means for accessing is an ethernet means.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the means for accessing is a wireless Ethernet means.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the remote device can be selected from a group consisting of a network server, a printer, a personal computer, a workstation, a file server, a print server, a fax machine, a phone, a pager, an e-mail communication device, a personal digital assistant, a display, other communication device and combination thereof.