Bar code reading method and apparatus for a battery tester charger

• US 7,364,078 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2002
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Patterson, Jeff, Rassel, Richard, Raichle, Kurt, Miller, Garret, Krampitz, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US10/235,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20040000590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,062 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 235/375, 235/380, 235/381, 235/383, 235/462.01, 235/438, 320/48, 320/106, 320/110, 320/116, 324/426, 324/433, 324/429, 324/430
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00043 using switches, contacts or markings, e.g. optical, magnetic or barcode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An apparatus for entering information into a battery test/charger that includes a bar code reader, a controller that is used to receive information from the bar code reader wherein the controller controls a battery tester/charger. In addition, a method for entering information into a battery tester/charger that includes reading a bar code and inputting information into a controller for the battery tester charger based on the bar code. An additional method of recording information about a battery that includes printing information on a bar code reflecting information about the battery and associating the bar code with the battery.

Claims

1. An apparatus for entering information into a battery tester charger comprising:

a bar code reader;

a field programmable gate array controller configured to receive information from the bar code reader, wherein the controller controls the battery tester charger and the controller varies at least a test parameter and at least a charging parameter as a result of the information obtained by the controller, wherein the charging parameter is a portion of a sine wave that passes to a battery.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bar code reader reads information that results in the controller obtaining information regarding at least one of battery type, battery rating, service information, summary of work done to battery, maintenance information, serial number, lot number, warranty information, a manufacturer date code and a combination thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a printer operatively connected to the controller for printing a bar code reflecting updated information.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the updated information comprises at least one of battery type, battery rating, service information, summary of work done to battery, maintenance information, serial number, lot number, warranty information, a manufacturer date code and a combination thereof.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bar code reader obtains information from a bar code to access a database.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the database is at least one of contained within the controller, memory storage device and located remotely.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the field programmable gate array controller permits a selected range of voltage to pass to a battery, and the range is arrived at by determining what portion of a sine wave to pass to the battery based upon the voltage.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the field programmable gate array controller permits a selected range of current to pass to a battery, and the range is arrived at by determining what portion of a sine wave to pass to the battery based upon the current.

9. An apparatus for entering information into a battery tester charger comprising:

means for reading a bar code;

means for controlling the battery tester charger comprising a field programmable gate array controller and configured to receive information from the means for reading the bar code; and

wherein the means for controlling the battery tester charger varies at least a test parameter and at least a charging parameter as a result of the information obtained by the means for controlling the battery tester charger, wherein the charging parameter is a portion of a sine wave that passes to a battery.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for reading the bar code reads information that results in the means for controlling the battery tester charger obtaining information regarding at least one of battery type, battery rating, service information, summary of work done to battery, maintenance information, serial number, lot number, warranty information, and a manufacturer date code.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a means for printing operatively connected to the means for controlling the battery tester charger for printing the bar code reflecting updated information.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the updated information comprises at least one of battery type, battery rating, service information, summary of work done to battery, maintenance information, serial number, lot number, warranty information, a manufacturer date code and a combination thereof.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for reading the bar code obtains information from a bar code to access a database.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the database is at least one of contained within the means for controlling the battery tester charger and located remotely.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the field programmable gate array controller permits a selected range of voltage to pass to a battery, and the range is arrived at by determining what portion of a sine wave to pass to the battery based upon the voltage.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the field programmable gate array controller permits a selected range of current to pass to a battery, and the range is arrived at by determining what portion of a sine wave to pass to the battery based upon the current.

17. A method for entering information into a battery tester charger comprising:

reading a bar code; and

inputting information into a controller for the battery tester charger based on the bar code; and

varying at least a test parameter and at least a charging parameter based on the information,

wherein the controller is a field programmable gate array controller and the charging parameter is a portion of a sine wave that passes to a battery.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the information comprises at least one of battery type, battery rating, service information, summary of work done to battery, maintenance information, serial number, lot number, warranty information, a manufacturer date code and a combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising accessing a database based on the bar code.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising accessing at least one of a database associated with the battery tester charger a memory storage device, and accessing a remote database.

21. The method as recited in claim 17 further comprising:

printing information on a bar code reflecting information about the battery and associating the bar code with the battery.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the information comprises at least one of battery type, batter y rating, service information, summary of work done to battery, maintenance information, serial number, lot number, warranty information, a manufacturer date code and a combination thereof.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the field programmable gate array controller permits a selected range of voltage to pass to a battery, and the range is arrived at by determining what portion of a sine wave to pass to the battery based upon the voltage.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the field programmable gate array controller permits a selected range of current to pass to a battery, and the range is arrived at by determining what portion of a sine wave to pass to the battery based upon the current.