Electronic battery tester

• US 7,557,586 B1
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I., Vonderhaar, J. David
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhane; Adolf
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fantu; Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US10/441,271
• Time in Patent Office: 2,241 Days
• Field of Search: 324/437, 324/435, 324/436, 320/124, 320/119, 320/128, 320/112, 320/132, 320/1, 307/125, 307/130, 307/137, 307/139
• US Class Current: 324/437
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/005 Testing of electric installations on transport means
• 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 31/367 Software therefor, e.g. for battery testing using modelling or look-up tables
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/374 with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/378 specially adapted for the type of battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/379 for lead-acid batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/386 using test-loads
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3865 related to manufacture, e.g. testing after manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/389 Measuring internal impedance, internal conductance or related variables
• 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

Abstract

An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery includes test circuitry configured to provide an output based upon a selected test criteria. Additionally, circuitry is provided to assist in balancing batteries used in a string of multiple batteries.

Claims

1. An electronic battery tester for use in testing a battery pack formed by a plurality of storage batteries, comprising:

battery test circuitry configured to measure a dynamic parameter of the battery pack formed by the plurality of batteries using Kelvin connectors coupled to the battery pack and provide a battery test result;

a memory configured to store a plurality of known configurations (series, parallel and series-parallel) of batteries in a battery pack;

a microprocessor configured to automatically identify the configuration (series, parallel and series-parallel) of the plurality of batteries in the battery pack based upon a measured voltage of the battery pack and responsively change a test criteria of the battery test circuitry; and

wherein the battery test result is based upon the identified configuration of the plurality of batteries.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor determines battery pack configuration further as a function of a user input.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 including a memory configured to store a plurality of standard known configurations of battery packs.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to identify a configuration of the plurality of batteries in the battery pack based upon a voltage of individual batteries in the battery pack.

11. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the user input is configured to select one of a plurality of standard known configurations stored in the memory.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor determines a CCA rating of the battery pack based upon the battery test result and the identified configuration of the plurality of batteries in the battery pack.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor determines a conductance of the battery pack based upon the battery test result and the identified configuration of the plurality of batteries in the battery pack.

3. An electronic battery tester for use in testing a battery pack formed by a plurality of storage batteries, comprising:

battery test circuitry configured to measure a dynamic parameter of the battery pack formed by the plurality of batteries using Kelvin connectors coupled to the battery pack and provide a battery test result;

a memory configured to store a plurality of known configurations (series, parallel and series-parallel) of batteries in a battery pack;

a microprocessor configured to identify the configuration (series, parallel and series-parallel) of the plurality of batteries in the battery pack based upon a user input and responsively change a test criteria of the battery test circuitry; and

wherein the battery test result is based upon the identified configuration of the plurality of batteries.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the microprocessor determines battery configuration further as a function of a measured voltage of the battery pack.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to identify a configuration of the plurality of batteries in the battery pack based upon a voltage of individual batteries in the battery pack.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the user input is configured to select one of the plurality of standard known configurations stored in the memory.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the microprocessor determines a CCA rating of the battery pack based upon the battery test result and the identified configuration of the plurality of batteries in the battery pack.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the microprocessor determines a conductance of the battery pack based upon the battery test result and the identified configuration of the plurality of batteries in the battery pack.