Arrangement for testing battery while under load and charging
First Claim
1. An arrangement for testing a battery connected to a battery charger and a work load, said arrangement comprising:
- first conductor means for connecting the battery to the battery charger and work load under normal operating conditions allowing the battery to drive the work load and the battery charger to charge the battery;
second conductor means coupled in parallel across said first conductor means, wherein said second conductor means is nonconductive under normal operating conditions;
user selectable means responsive to an input for initiating testing of the battery; and
control/detection means coupled to said first and second conductor means and to said selectable means for conducting a battery test, wherein said control/detection means renders said first conductor means nonconductive and said second conductor means conductive during a battery test for isolating the battery from the battery charger while permitting the battery to continue to energize the work load during testing, and wherein said control/detection means applies a test load across the battery for measuring battery voltage during testing.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A live circuit battery tester allows for determining the condition of batteries under load without disconnecting the batteries and a battery charger from the load or in any way disrupting system operation during the test. Battery testing is prevented when the batteries are being used in an emergency or if they are recharging from a recent discharge. The battery tester is under microcomputer control and incorporates automatic-self diagnostics and provides a visual indication if the batteries are good or if a specific problem is detected such as if the batteries are missing, have open cells, are sulfated or are in imminent danger of failure. The battery tester determines if the charger is operating properly and tests for an open cell, bad battery connection, sulfated battery, and a weak battery and provides a visual indication of any of these problems as well as an indication of a properly operating battery.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An arrangement for testing a battery connected to a battery charger and a work load, said arrangement comprising:
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first conductor means for connecting the battery to the battery charger and work load under normal operating conditions allowing the battery to drive the work load and the battery charger to charge the battery; second conductor means coupled in parallel across said first conductor means, wherein said second conductor means is nonconductive under normal operating conditions; user selectable means responsive to an input for initiating testing of the battery; and control/detection means coupled to said first and second conductor means and to said selectable means for conducting a battery test, wherein said control/detection means renders said first conductor means nonconductive and said second conductor means conductive during a battery test for isolating the battery from the battery charger while permitting the battery to continue to energize the work load during testing, and wherein said control/detection means applies a test load across the battery for measuring battery voltage during testing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for testing the condition of a battery connected to a battery charger and a work load comprising the steps of:
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measuring a first output voltage Vo of the battery; comparing the first output voltage Vo with a float voltage VF and providing a first indication that the battery is being charged if V0>
VF;applying a test load to the battery and measuring a second output voltage under load V1 and providing a second indication of an open cell in the battery if V1<
0.75 Volts per cell; andcomparing the second output voltage under load V1 to a reference voltage VR, where VR<
VF, and providing a third indication of a good battery if V1>
VR or a fourth indication of a weak battery if V1<
VR. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification