Electronic battery tester cable

• US 6,933,727 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2003
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I., Jeziorczak, Krzysztof
• Primary Examiner(s): Deb, Anjan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Teresinski, John
• Application Number:
  US10/601,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20040189309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 324/430, 324/436, 324/433, 324/429, 324/426, 324/437, 320/132, 340/455, 340/534, 340/568.2, 340/568.9, 340/636.1
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382

Abstract

A cable for use with an electronic battery tester includes first and second electrical connections configured to couple to terminals of a battery. A memory is configured to store digital data. Electrical terminals are configured to couple the cable to the electronic battery tester.

Claims

1. A cable for use with an electronic battery tester, comprising:

a first pair of electrical connections configured to electrically couple to a first terminal of a battery;

a second pair of electrical connections configured to couple to a second terminal of the battery, the first and second pair of electrical connections configured to provide Kelvin connections to the battery;

a memory, which is a part of the cable, configured to store digital data; and

electrical terminals configured to couple the first and second pairs of electrical conductors and the memory to the electronic battery tester.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory is a permanent memory.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory can be written to.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory comprises an EEPROM.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory contains a calibration parameter related to the cable.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the calibration parameter is related to cable resistance.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the calibration parameter is related to cable inductance.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory contains information related to a physical characteristic of the cable.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the physical characteristic is indicative of the type of sensor of the cable.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory contains a serial number of the cable.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory contains test count data indicative of a number of tests which have been performed with the cable.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory contains information related to a serial number of a tester which has been coupled to the cable.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory contains information related to a date it was placed into service.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory contains information related to a type of battery which has been tested.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory contains information related to a number of failed electrical connections.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory contains information related to errors which have occurred during measurement.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory contains encrypted data.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory contains a digital key.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the connection to the memory provides bi-directional data communication.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory is powered with power received from the battery tester.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory is powered with power received from the battery.

22. An electronic battery tester configured to couple to the cable of claim 1.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the battery tester includes memory circuitry configured to couple to the memory of the cable.