Battery tester that calculates its own reference values

• US 7,710,119 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2005
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Berhanu; Samuel
• Application Number:
  US11/304,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20060125483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,602 Days
• Field of Search: 320/132, 324426-427
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3842 combining voltage and current measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4285 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery tester that is capable of calculating its own reference values is provided. The battery tester includes test circuitry that is configured to obtain dynamic parameter values for batteries, and to compute at least one reference value based on the dynamic parameter values.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining a plurality of batteries;

obtaining information related to each of the plurality of batteries;

performing at least one battery test on each of the plurality of batteries to obtain at least one test result for each of the plurality of batteries;

associating the at least one test result for each of the plurality of batteries with the corresponding obtained information related to each of the plurality of batteries;

generating a reference value based upon the test results obtained for the plurality of batteries, the reference value is for a specific battery model to which the plurality of batteries belong;

storing the reference value and a battery model code associated with the reference value in a memory;

performing a battery test on another battery, which is not one of the plurality of batteries, but of a same model as each of the plurality of batteries; and

providing a battery test output based on a comparison of measurements obtained, during the battery test on the battery that is not one of the plurality of batteries, with the reference value,

wherein the test results for the plurality of batteries comprise dynamic parameter values, and

wherein the reference value is an average of the dynamic parameter values that fall within a predetermined range of acceptable values, with the dynamic parameter values that fall outside the predetermined range of acceptable values being excluded.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of batteries is on float charge when the at least one battery test is performed on each of the plurality of batteries.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein performing at least one battery test on each of the plurality of batteries to obtain at least one test result for each of the plurality of batteries comprises performing multiple tests on each of the plurality of batteries to obtain test results for each of the plurality of batteries.

4. The method of claim 3 and further comprising determining whether the test results for each of the plurality of batteries are within a predetermined range of each other.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of batteries comprises at least 30 batteries.

6. A battery tester comprising:

battery test circuitry configured to receive information related to each of a plurality of selected batteries;

perform at least one battery test on each of the plurality of batteries to obtain at least one test result for each of the plurality of batteries;

associate the at least one test result for each of the plurality of batteries with the corresponding received information related to each of the plurality of batteries;

generate a reference value based upon the test results obtained for the plurality of batteries, the reference value is for a specific battery model to which the plurality of batteries belong;

store the reference value and a battery model code associated with the reference value in a memory;

perform a battery test on another battery, which is not one of the plurality of batteries, but of a same model as each of the plurality of batteries; and

provide a battery test output based on a comparison of measurements obtained, during the battery test on the battery that is not one of the plurality of batteries, with the reference value,

wherein the test results for the plurality of batteries comprise dynamic parameter values, and

wherein the reference value is an average of the dynamic parameter values that fall within a predetermined range of acceptable values, with the dynamic parameter values that fall outside the predetermined range of acceptable values being excluded.

7. The battery tester of claim 6 wherein the dynamic parameter values are battery conductance values.

8. The battery tester of claim 6 wherein the battery model code is input into the battery tester using one of a keyboard, a barcode scanner and a radio frequency receiver.

9. The batter tester of claim 6 wherein the plurality of batteries comprises at least 30 batteries.