Query based electronic battery tester

• US 6,941,234 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I., McShane, Stephen J., Koster, Wilhelmus H. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Carol S. W.
• Application Number:
  US10/675,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20040145371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 702/63, 702/65, 320/134, 320/136, 320/106, 340/636.1, 324/426, 324/427, 324/429, 324/434
• US Class Current: 702/63
• 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: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/378 specially adapted for the type of battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/379 for lead-acid batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• 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]

Abstract

An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery provides a test output indicative of a condition of the battery. Electronic measurement circuitry provides a measurement output related to a condition of the battery. The battery condition is determined based upon one or more responses to one or more queries provided to an operator. The responses are used to determine battery type.

Claims

1. A method of testing a storage battery, comprising:

querying an operator with a query regarding an observable physical characteristic of the battery;

receiving a query response from the operator related to the observable physical characteristic;

determining battery type based upon at least one query response received from the operator; and

testing the battery based upon a measurement of a parameter of the battery and the at least one query response received from the operator.

2. The method of claim 1 including retrieving the query from a memory.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the memory contains a relationship between a query response and a battery type.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the parameter comprises a dynamic parameter.

5. The method of claim 1 including coupling to the battery with Kelvin connection.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the parameter is a function of an applied forcing function having a time varying signal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the testing is based upon a plurality of query responses.

8. The method of claim 1 including displaying queries.

9. The method of claim 1 selecting a type of battery test based upon the query response.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the query relates to observable physical construction of the battery.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the query relates to a shape of the battery.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the query relates to a color of the battery.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the query relates to caps on the battery.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the query relates to a tube connected to the battery.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the query relates to a visible liquid level of the battery.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the query relates to a “

magic eye”

on the battery.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the query relates to the brand label on the battery.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery type comprises sealed lead acid.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery type comprises vented lead acid.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery type comprises spiral.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery type comprises deep cycle.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery type comprises an electrolyte gelatin.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery type comprises an absorbed glass matt.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery type comprises starting, lighting, ignition battery.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery type comprises sealed flooded.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery type comprises antimony.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery type comprises hybrid.