Electronic battery tester with relative test output

• US 7,295,936 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I., Vonderhaar, J. David
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai; Carol S. W.
• Application Number:
  US11/356,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20060282226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 702/63, 320/134, 320/136, 320/106
• US Class Current: 702/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery determines a condition of the battery. The condition is a relative condition and is a function of a dynamic parameter of the battery and an empirical input variable.

Claims

1. An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery, comprising:

Kelvin connections configured to couple to terminals of the battery;

measurement circuitry coupled to the Kelvin connections configured to measure a dynamic parameter of the battery and a voltage across terminals of the battery;

an empirical variable input configured to receive an empirical input variable; and

computation circuitry configured to provide a relative test output related to a geographical areas as a function of the dynamic parameter and the empirical input variable, the relative test output indicative of a condition of the battery.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computation circuitry is further configured to provide an output related to a load size.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computation circuitry is further configured to provide an output related to a number of starts.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computation circuitry is further configured to provide an output related to vehicle size.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein computation circuitry is further configured to provide an output related to vehicle type.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computation circuitry is further configured to provide an output related to engine size.

7. An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery, comprising:

Kelvin connections configured to couple to terminals of the battery;

measurement circuitry coupled to the Kelvin connections configured to measure a dynamic parameter of the battery and a voltage across terminals of the battery;

an empirical variable input configured to receive an empirical input variable; and

computation circuitry configured to provide a relative test output related to vehicle size as a function of the dynamic parameter and the empirical input variable, the relative test output indicative of a condition of the battery.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the computation circuitry is further configured to provide an output related to a load size.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the computation circuitry is further configured to provide an output related to a number of starts.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein computation circuitry is further configured to provide an output related to vehicle type.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the computation circuitry is further configured to provide an output related to engine size.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the computation circuitry is further configured to provide an output related to geographic area.

13. A method for testing a storage battery comprising:

coupling Kelvin connectors to positive and negative terminals of the battery;

measuring a dynamic parameter of the battery using the Kelvin connectors;

receiving an empirical input variable; and

determining a relative test output related to a condition of the battery and indicative of

a geographic area based upon the dynamic parameter and the empirical input variable.

14. The method of claim 13 including determining a relative test output related to a load size.

15. The method of claim 13 including determining a relative test output related to a number of starts.

16. The method of claim 13 including determining a relative test output related to vehicle size.

17. The method of claim 13 including determining a relative test output related to vehicle type.

18. The method of claim 13 including determining a relative test output related to engine size.

19. A method for testing a storage battery comprising:

coupling Kelvin connectors to positive and negative terminals of the battery;

measuring a dynamic parameter of the battery using the Kelvin connectors;

receiving an empirical input variable; and

determining a relative test output related to a condition of the battery and indicative of a vehicle size based upon the dynamic parameter and the empirical input variable.

20. The method of claim 19 including determining a relative test output related to a load size.

21. The method of claim 19 including determining a relative test output related to a number of starts.

22. The method of claim 19 including determining a relative test output related to vehicle type.

23. The method of claim 19 including determining a relative test output related to engine size.

24. The method of claim 19 including determining a relative test output related to geographic area.