Scan tool for electronic battery tester

• US 7,446,536 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2004
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US10/958,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20050057256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 320/132, 320/149, 324/426, 324/430, 324/433
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/417 using cells , i.e. more than one cell and probes with solid electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/06 Measuring leads; Measuring probes G01R19/145, G01R19/165 take precedence
• 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 31/36 Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382

Abstract

A cable for connecting to an electronic battery tester, includes a first end configured to couple to a databus of a vehicle and a second end configured to couple to the electronic battery tester. An electrical connection extends between the first end and the second end and is configured to couple the electronic battery tester to the databus of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A scan tool for connecting to a databus of vehicle and to an electronic battery tester, comprising:

a first connector configured to couple to the databus of a vehicle;

a second connector configured to couple to the electronic battery tester, the electronic battery tester including a battery connector configured to couple to couple to a battery of the vehicle; and

scan tool circuitry configured to couple the first connector to the second connector, the scan tool including a microprocessor configured to perform diagnostics on the vehicle through the first electrical connector to the vehicle, the scan tool circuitry further configured to communicate with the battery tester through the second connector.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the scan tool circuitry includes an On-board Diagnostic (OBD) interface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the scan tool circuitry includes a battery tester I/O circuit.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the scan tool circuitry includes a memory.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the memory is configured to store information received from the battery tester.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the scan tool circuitry includes a user input.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the scan tool circuitry includes a display.

8. An electronic battery tester configured to couple to the second connector of the scan tool of claim 1.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 including a Kelvin connection configured to couple to the battery.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the battery tester is configured to measure a dynamic parameter of the battery as a function of an applied forcing function.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the battery tester is configured to transmit instructions to the scan tool.

12. A method for connecting an electronic battery tester to a data bus of a vehicle, comprising:

coupling a first connector of a scan tool to the data bus of the vehicle, the scan tool including scan tool circuitry configured to perform diagnostics on the vehicle through the connection to the databus;

coupling a second end of the cable to the electronic battery tester;

coupling the battery tester to a battery of the vehicle using a battery connector of the battery tester;

diagnosing operation of the vehicle using the scan tool circuitry;

performing a battery test on the battery of the vehicle using the scan tool circuitry; and

communicating between the scan tool and the electronic battery tester through the second end of the cable.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the scan tool circuitry includes an On-board Diagnostic (OBD) interface.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the scan tool circuitry includes a microprocessor.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the scan tool circuitry includes a battery tester I/O circuit.

16. The method of claim 12 including storing information in a memory of the scan tool circuitry.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the memory is configured to store information received from the battery tester.

18. The method of claim 14 including receiving a user input.

19. The method of claim 14 including displaying information on a display of the scan tool circuitry.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein performing the battery test includes measuring a parameter of the battery through Kelvin connections coupled to the battery.

21. The method of claim 20 including measuring a dynamic parameter of the battery as a function of an applied forcing function.

22. The method of claim 14 including transmitting instructions to the scan tool from the battery tester.

23. A scan tool for connecting an electronic battery tester to a data bus of a vehicle, comprising:

means for electrically coupling to the databus of the vehicle;

means for electrically coupling to the electronic battery tester; and

scan tool circuitry means coupled between the means for electrically coupling to the data bus of the vehicle and the means for electrically coupling to the electronic battery tester for communication with the data bus of the vehicle, for interfacing with electronic circuitry in the electronic battery tester and performing a battery test on a battery of the vehicle using the means for electrically coupling to the electronic battery tester, and for performing diagnostics on the vehicle.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 includes a memory means for storing information.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the memory means is for storing information received from the battery tester.

26. The apparatus of claim 23 including means for receiving a user input.

27. The apparatus of claim 23 including means for displaying information.