Battery cover assembly having integrated battery condition monitoring
First Claim
1. A terminal assembly for measuring electrical current passing to and from a battery post, comprising:
- an electrically conductive collar having an inner surface for contacting a battery post;
an electrically conductive terminal for receiving a load connector;
an electrically conductive resistor having a resistance from about 50 microOhm to about 200 microOhm extending between outer surfaces of the collar and the terminal, wherein current flow from the battery post travels through the resistor from the collar to the terminal and current flow to the post travels through the resistor from the terminal to the collar;
a first lead electrically connected to the outer surface of the collar, and a second lead electrically connected to the outer surface of the terminal;
a volt meter connected between the first and the second leads for measuring the voltage drop across the resistor; and
a computer, said computer including;
memory storing the resistance of the resistor; and
a processor programmed to, receive the measured voltage drop from the volt meter, retrieve the resistance from the memory, and calculate current flow through the resistor based on the measured voltage drop and the resistance.
14 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A terminal assembly for measuring electrical current passing to and from a battery post, including an electrically conductive collar for connecting to a post of a battery, and an electrically conductive terminal for receiving a connector of a load. An electrically conductive resistor having a known resistance extends between outer surfaces of the collar and the terminal. The terminal assembly is incorporated into a battery, which also includes a volt meter connected between the outer surfaces of the collar and the terminal for measuring the voltage drop across the resistor, memory for storing the known resistance of the resistor, and a processor programmed to receive the measured voltage drop from the volt meter, retrieve the known resistance from the memory, and calculate current flow through the resistor based on the measured voltage drop and the known resistance, whereby current flow to and from the battery can be measured.
80 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A terminal assembly for measuring electrical current passing to and from a battery post, comprising:
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an electrically conductive collar having an inner surface for contacting a battery post;
an electrically conductive terminal for receiving a load connector;
an electrically conductive resistor having a resistance from about 50 microOhm to about 200 microOhm extending between outer surfaces of the collar and the terminal, wherein current flow from the battery post travels through the resistor from the collar to the terminal and current flow to the post travels through the resistor from the terminal to the collar;
a first lead electrically connected to the outer surface of the collar, and a second lead electrically connected to the outer surface of the terminal;
a volt meter connected between the first and the second leads for measuring the voltage drop across the resistor; and
a computer, said computer including;
memory storing the resistance of the resistor; and
a processor programmed to, receive the measured voltage drop from the volt meter, retrieve the resistance from the memory, and calculate current flow through the resistor based on the measured voltage drop and the resistance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A battery post cover for receipt on a battery having at least one battery post extending therefrom, comprising:
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a terminal assembly for measuring electrical current passing to and from a battery post, said terminal assembly comprising an electrically conductive collar having an inner surface for contacting a battery post, an electrically conductive terminal for receiving a load connector, and an electrically conductive resistor having a known resistance extending between outer surfaces of the collar and the terminal, wherein current flow from the battery post travels through the resistor from the collar to the terminal and current flow to the post travels through the resistor from the terminal to the collar;
a first surface having a post port;
a second surface having a terminal port, and wherein the cover defines a substantially closed chamber; and
a circuit board received in the closed chamber;
wherein the collar of the terminal assembly is positioned in the post port of the inner cover for receiving a battery post, the terminal extends through the terminal port of the outer cover, and leads extend from the outer surface of the collar and the outer surface of the terminal into the closed chamber of the covers and connect to the circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification