Automotive battery state monitor apparatus
First Claim
1. An automotive battery state monitor apparatus comprising:
- an automotive generator driven by an engine;
a controlling device that controls the generator;
an automotive battery to store electricity generated by the generator;
means for measuring a period of time, which elapses from a completion of starting of an engine;
means for comparing the period of time measured by the measuring means with a predetermined period of time;
means for stopping the automotive generator temporarily during running of the engine to put polarization of the battery in a discharge condition, when the means for comparing indicates that the measured period of time reaches the predetermined period of time;
means for increasing an output of the generator gradually after stopping the generator and after the polarization of the battery is put in the discharge condition; and
means for picking up a battery voltage value as an open circuit voltage of the battery when a battery charge/discharge current reaches within a predetermined small range near zero.
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Abstract
A voltage control apparatus checks a battery voltage when an automotive generator gradually increases its output to be within a predetermined range after temporarily stopping the generator. Then, the battery voltage is picked up to calculate the charge rate. Further, a first charge rate and a first residual capacity of the battery is memorized when the engine is stopped. Periodically, a pseudo-open circuit voltage is checked when a charge/discharge current fits within a predetermined small range while the engine is not running, and a second charge rate calculated based on the checked pseudo-open circuit voltage. A second residual capacity is calculated using the first charge rate, the first residual capacity and the second charge rate.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An automotive battery state monitor apparatus comprising:
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an automotive generator driven by an engine; a controlling device that controls the generator; an automotive battery to store electricity generated by the generator; means for measuring a period of time, which elapses from a completion of starting of an engine; means for comparing the period of time measured by the measuring means with a predetermined period of time; means for stopping the automotive generator temporarily during running of the engine to put polarization of the battery in a discharge condition, when the means for comparing indicates that the measured period of time reaches the predetermined period of time; means for increasing an output of the generator gradually after stopping the generator and after the polarization of the battery is put in the discharge condition; and means for picking up a battery voltage value as an open circuit voltage of the battery when a battery charge/discharge current reaches within a predetermined small range near zero. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An automotive battery state monitor method, comprising:
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measuring a period of time elapsing from a completion of starting an engine by a starter; stopping an automotive generator, which is driven by the engine to charge a battery, after the measured period of time reaches a predetermined period of time, to put polarization of the battery in a discharge condition while maintaining operation of the engine; determining whether polarization of the battery is within a predetermined polarization range; driving the automotive generator again by the engine to gradually increase an output voltage of the automotive generator after the polarization of the battery is put in the discharge condition, when the polarization of the battery is determined to be within the predetermined polarization range; determining whether a charge/discharge current of the battery is within a predetermined current range near zero corresponding to a battery open circuit; detecting a terminal voltage of the battery as an open circuit voltage when the charge/discharge current of the battery is determined to be within the predetermined current range; and calculating a state of charge of the battery based on the open circuit voltage.
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Specification