Battery tester capable of predicting a discharge voltage/discharge current of a battery
First Claim
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1. A method of testing a storage battery, comprising:
- (a) measuring a dynamic parameter of the battery;
(b) obtaining an open circuit voltage of the battery;
(c) measuring a temperature of the battery;
(d) obtaining a fixed current value at which the battery is to be discharged;
(e) calculating an activation voltage based on the measured and obtained conditions of the battery in steps (b) and (c) ;
nd(f) predicting a discharge voltage of the battery as a function of the measured battery dynamic parameter, the calculated activation voltage of the battery and the fixed current value, the discharge voltage indicative of a vehicle starting capability of the battery.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus is provided for determining how a vehicle battery would perform when used to start a vehicle. A discharge voltage/current of the battery is predicted as a function of a battery dynamic parameter, an open circuit voltage of the battery, a battery temperature and a fixed current/voltage value at which the battery is to be discharged. This discharge voltage/current value is compared to a minimum starting voltage/current required to start the vehicle in which the battery is employed and an output indicative of a starting capability of the battery is provided.
385 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of testing a storage battery, comprising:
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(a) measuring a dynamic parameter of the battery; (b) obtaining an open circuit voltage of the battery; (c) measuring a temperature of the battery; (d) obtaining a fixed current value at which the battery is to be discharged; (e) calculating an activation voltage based on the measured and obtained conditions of the battery in steps (b) and (c) ;
nd(f) predicting a discharge voltage of the battery as a function of the measured battery dynamic parameter, the calculated activation voltage of the battery and the fixed current value, the discharge voltage indicative of a vehicle starting capability of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An electronic battery tester comprising:
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a positive connector coupled to a positive terminal of the battery; a negative connector coupled to a negative terminal of the battery; a voltage sensor configured to measure an open circuit voltage of the battery; a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the battery; an input configured to receive a fixed current value at which the battery is to be discharged; and battery test circuitry configured to measure a dynamic parameter of the battery using the first and second connectors, and to predict a discharge voltage of the battery as a function of the measured battery dynamic parameter, a calculated activation voltage and the fixed current value. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of testing a storage battery, comprising:
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(a) measuring a dynamic parameter of the battery; (b) obtaining an open circuit voltage of the battery; and (c) measuring a temperature of the battery; (d) obtaining a fixed voltage value at which the battery is to be discharged; (e) calculating an activation voltage based on the measured and obtained conditions of the battery in steps (b) and (c); and (f) predicting a discharge current of the battery as a function of the measured battery dynamic parameter, the calculated activation voltage of the battery and the fixed voltage value, the discharge current indicative of a vehicle starting capability of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for monitoring the condition of a storage battery while the storage battery is coupled in parallel to an electrical system of an operating vehicle, comprising:
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a first electrical connection directly coupled to a positive terminal of the battery; a second electrical connection directly coupled to a negative terminal of the battery, the first and second electrical connections coupled to a voltage sensor to measure an open circuit voltage across the battery; a third electrical connection directly coupled to the positive terminal of the battery; a fourth electrical connection directly coupled to a negative terminal of the battery, the third and fourth electrical connections coupled to a forcing function having a time varying component; a current sensor electrically in series with the battery; a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the battery; and a microprocessor configured to determine a dynamic parameter of the battery based upon the measured voltage, the forcing function and the current sensed by the current sensor, and further configured to predict a discharge voltage of the battery as a function of the measured battery dynamic parameter, a calculated activation voltage of the battery and fixed current value at which the battery is to be discharged. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method of determining the starting capability of a vehicle, comprising:
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(a) measuring a dynamic parameter of a vehicle battery; (b) obtaining an open circuit voltage of the battery; (c) measuring a temperature of the battery; (d) obtaining a fixed current value at which the battery is to be discharged during the start; (e) calculating an activation voltage based on the measured and obtained conditions of the battery in steps (b) and (c); and (f) predicting a discharge voltage of the battery as a function of the measured battery dynamic parameter, the calculated activation voltage of the battery and the fixed current value, the discharge voltage indicative of the starting capability of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification