Automotive vehicle electrical system diagnostic device

• US 7,126,341 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2002
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I., Sampson, William G.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US10/200,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20030038637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 324/426, 324/503, 324/433, 324/434, 324/437, 320/134, 320/161, 343/715, 429/65, 206/705
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3647 for determining the ability of a battery to perform a critical function, e.g. cranking
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/374 with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3842 combining voltage and current measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00041 in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/163 with special means for initiating or limiting the excitation current
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An automotive vehicle electrical system diagnostic apparatus includes first and second electrical connections configured to electrically couple to an electrical system of an automotive vehicle which includes a battery. Digital samples are obtained during operation of the vehicle which are related to the system. The digital samples are stored in memory.

Claims

1. An automotive vehicle electrical system diagnostic apparatus, comprising:

an inline series connection between the automotive vehicle electrical system diagnostic apparatus, an electrical system of, an automotive vehicle and a battery of the vehicle, comprising;

a first electrical terminal configured to electrically couple to a first terminal of the battery coupled to the electrical system of the automotive vehicle; and

a second electrical terminal configured to electrically couple to electrical wiring of the automotive vehicle, the first and second electrical terminals configured to connect in series between the battery of the automotive vehicle and the electrical system of the automotive vehicle;

a low resistance electrical path connected in series between the first and second electrical terminals, the electrical system of the automotive vehicle and the battery of the vehicle configured to carry an electrical current to operate the vehicle therethrough;

digital sample circuitry coupled to the low resistance electrical path configured to provide a plurality of digital samples during operation of the vehicle which are related to the electrical current flowing through the low resistance electrical path; and

a memory configured to store the plurality of digital samples.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including an electrical connection configured to measure a voltage across the battery.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the electrical connection used to measure voltage across the battery comprises Kelvin connections.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 including a databus connection configured to couple to a databus of the vehicle and wherein the memory is further configured to store data received from the databus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 including an output configured to provide an output to an operator related to battery condition.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the stored digital samples are a function of a forcing function applied to the battery.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 including an output configured to output the stored digital samples.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 including a mount configured to mount the apparatus to the vehicle.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the mount comprises a magnetic mount.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first electrical connection comprises a battery clamp.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the digital samples are stored during operation of the vehicle.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein operation of the vehicle is sensed based upon a voltage applied to the battery.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein operation of the vehicle is sensed based upon monitoring of a databus of the vehicle.

14. A method of diagnosing an automotive vehicle electrical system, comprising;

coupling an inline series connection to an electrical system and battery of an automotive vehicle, comprising the steps of;

coupling to a first terminal of a battery of an automotive vehicle, the battery coupled to the electrical system of the vehicle;

electrically coupling first and second electrical connections to electrical wiring of the automotive vehicle, the first and second electrical connections configured to connect in series between the battery of the automotive vehicle and the electrical system of the automotive vehicle;

providing a low resistance electrical path in series between the first and second electrical connections, the electrical system of the automotive vehicle and the battery of the vehicle, the low resistance electrical path configured to carry an electrical current to operate the vehicle therethrough;

digitally sampling a voltage drop across the electrical resistance; and

storing in a memory digital samples of the voltage drop across the electrical resistance.

15. The method of claim 14 including measuring a voltage across the battery.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein measuring the voltage across the battery is through a Kelvin connection to the battery.

17. The method of claim 14 includes connecting to a databus of the vehicle and storing data received from the databus in the memory.

18. The method of claim 14 including providing an output to an operator related to battery condition.

19. The method of claim 14 including applying a forcing function to the battery and wherein the stored digital samples are a function of a forcing function applied to the battery.

20. The method of claim 19 including outputting the stored digital samples.

21. The method of claim 14 including mounting a diagnostic apparatus to the vehicle.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the mounting comprises a magnetic mounting.

23. The method of claim 14 wherein the first electrical connection comprises a battery clamp.

24. The method of claim 14 including storing the digital samples during operation of the vehicle.

25. The method of claim 24 including sensing operation of the vehicle based upon a voltage applied to the battery.

26. The method of claim 24 including sensing operation of the vehicle based upon monitoring of a databus of the vehicle.