Integrated battery service system

• US 7,657,386 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2005
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Somaltus LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Technologies Incorporated (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Inventors: Thibedeau, Dennis G., Jonker, Gary, Willems, Paul A., Brott, Alejandro P., Goetzelmann, Alan D., Wisneski, Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/060,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20050156559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: 702/64, 702182-185, 702/63, 324/429
• US Class Current: 702/63
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/389 Measuring internal impedance, internal conductance or related variables
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle

Abstract

An integrated battery service system performs a plurality of services related to a battery, such as battery testing, battery charging, and the like. In addition, the integrated service system provides services to devices/components that are coupled to the battery, such as starters, alternators, etc. The integrated battery service system allows a user to abort a service and then resume the process from where the process was aborted. When conducting a service, the integrated battery service system determines a noise level caused by devices/components coupled to the battery. The integrated battery service system includes connectors configured to couple to a battery for receiving input signals, a processor coupled to the connectors, and a memory device coupled to the processor for storing control codes and operation history. The control codes, when executed by the processor, control the system to selectively abort a service in response to a user input. Since the memory stores operation histories, the processor may access the memory to retrieve data related to the aborted service and parameters obtained during the service before the process was aborted. The system reinstates the aborted service in response to another user input.

Claims

1. A battery service system comprising:

connectors configured to couple to a battery;

a signal source coupled to the connectors for generating signals with time variant components configured to apply the signals to the battery continuously during a battery test;

a processor coupled to the connectors and configured to receive signals representing a battery response to the applied signals, and to generate a battery parameter based on the battery response to the applied signals with time variant components, the processor generating a control signal to alter a charge signal by adjusting an on/off period of an AC power source to a transformer coupled to the battery; and

an output device for generating an output representing the battery parameter.

2. The battery service system of claim 1 further comprising a memory device coupled to the processor for recording the battery parameter;

wherein

the memory is configured to store a history of the battery parameter; and

the output device is configured to generate an output representing the history of the battery parameter.

3. The battery service system of claim 1, wherein the battery parameter is impedance, conductance, or resistance of the battery.

4. A method for activating a service automatically comprising, by machine-implementing:

applying a load to a battery;

detecting a first voltage drop of the battery after the load is applied;

removing the load applied to the battery;

monitoring a second voltage drop of the battery after the load is removed;

determining whether the second voltage drop is below a threshold derived from the first voltage drop;

activating the service if the second voltage drop is below the threshold.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a change in the signal received from the battery is determined to be a valid event in order to activate the service by comparing the change in the signal received from the battery with a reference threshold based on a determination rule.

6. A battery service system for conducting a service, the battery service system comprising:

connectors configured to couple to a battery;

an input device for receiving control signals;

a processor for executing control codes to carry out the service, the processor generating a control signal to alter a charge signal by adjusting an on/off period of an AC power source to a transformer coupled to the battery;

a memory device configured for storing the control codes;

a fan for dissipating heat; and

a monitor circuit coupled to the fan and the processor for generating an indication signal indicating the operation status of the fan.

7. The battery service system of claim 6, wherein the processor generates a warning signal in response to the indication signal indicating the fan is operating abnormally.

8. A method for controlling a charge signal for charging a battery comprising:

detecting a current battery output level of the battery;

accessing a target charge level;

comparing the current battery output level and the target charge level; and

altering the charge signal by adjusting an on/off period of an AC power source to a transformer coupled to the battery.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the altering step increases the level of the charge signal in response to the current battery output level being lower than the target charge level.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the altering step decreases the level of the charge signal in response to the current battery output level being higher than the target charge level.

11. A battery service system comprising:

a charger for generating a charge signal to charge a battery;

connectors configured to couple to the battery;

a processor coupled to the connectors and the charger;

an input device coupled to the processor;

a memory device coupled to the input device and the processor for storing data and control codes;

wherein the control codes, when executed by the processor, control the battery service system to perform;

detecting a current battery output level of the battery;

receiving a target charge level from the input device;

comparing the current battery output level and the target charge level; and

generating a control signal to alter the charge signal by adjusting an on/off period of an AC power source to a transformer coupled to the battery.

12. The battery service system of claim 11, wherein the control signal controls the charger to increase the level of the charge signal in response to the current battery output level being lower than the target charge level.

13. The battery service system of claim 11, wherein the control signal controls the charger to decrease the level of the charge signal in response to the current battery output level being higher than the target charge level.