Apparatus and method for testing a power source

• US 8,180,584 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2010
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Raichle, Kurt, Murphy, Jason, Sontheimer, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): WEST, JEFFREY R
• Application Number:
  US12/710,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20100153039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 702/57, 702/60, 702/62, 702/63, 702/99, 702/132, 702/134, 702/135, 702/182, 320/134, 320/136, 320/153
• US Class Current: 702/63
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 Energy storage using capacitors

Abstract

A method and apparatus for communicating battery information to a remote device or database. A battery tester and/or charger can communicate with a wired or wireless connection to the remote device. Battery identifying information, test results and warranty information can be communicated to the remote device or database.

Claims

1. A battery charger and tester, comprising:

a controller that controls a testing function of the battery charger and tester including a field programmable gate array, wherein the field programmable gate array receives a set point value;

a connection having at least one clamp to connect to a battery;

a comparator that compares a voltage upstream from the connection with a voltage at the connection to test a quality of the connection to the battery;

a memory in communication with the controller, the memory stores a battery test procedure;

an input device to input a battery identifier information of the battery; and

a wireless communication port in communication with the controller, the wireless communication port communicates a battery test result to a remote device, wherein the battery charger and tester determines at which point in a sine wave to allow a voltage or current to pass through to the battery based on the set point value, wherein the determined point is determined by observing an end-point of the sine wave and following along the sine wave in a rearward direction, the determined point defining a mean voltage or current for pass through.

2. The battery charger and tester of claim 1, wherein the battery identifier information is obtained from an information storing device coupled to the battery.

3. The battery charger and tester of claim 2, wherein the battery identifier information stored on the information storing device is updated with the battery test result.

4. The battery charger and tester of claim 1, wherein the remote device contains a database.

5. The battery charger and tester of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication port allows the remote device to access the battery charger and tester.

6. The battery charger and tester of claim 1, wherein the memory stores the battery test result.

7. The battery charger and tester of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication port allows communication to and from the remote device.

8. The battery charger and tester of claim 1, wherein the battery test result includes the battery identifier information and a condition of the battery.

9. The battery charger and tester of claim 1, wherein the remote device is a personal computer, a network server or a workstation.

10. The battery charger and tester of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication port communicates the battery identifier information and a battery warranty information.

11. A charging apparatus, comprising:

a power source charger and tester configured to charge and test a power source and provide a power source test result, comprising;

a field programmable gate array, which receives a set point value;

a connection having a clamp to connect to a battery;

a comparator that compares a voltage upstream from the connection with a voltage at the connection to test a quality of the connection to the battery; and

a wireless communication module linked to the power source charger and tester, the wireless communication module communicates information to and receives information from a remote database, wherein the power source charger and tester determines at which point in a sine wave to allow a voltage or current to pass through to the battery based on the set point value, wherein the determined point is determined by observing an end-point of the sine wave and following along the sine wave in a rearward direction, the sine value defining a mean voltage or current for pass through.

12. The charging apparatus of claim 11, wherein the information is the power source test result.

13. The charging apparatus of claim 11, wherein the information is the power source test result and a power source identifying information.

14. The charging apparatus of claim 11, wherein the information includes a power source warranty information.

15. The charging apparatus of claim 11, wherein the power source charger and tester is updated via the wireless communication module.

16. The charging apparatus of claim 11, wherein a power source identifying information is obtained from an information storing device coupled to the power source.

17. The charging apparatus of claim 16, wherein the information storing device is updated with the power source test result.

18. The charging apparatus of claim 11, wherein the remote database is stored on a personal computer, a network server or a workstation.

19. A method of testing a battery, comprising the steps of:

coupling a battery tester to the battery to be tested;

inputting a battery identifying information into the battery tester with an input device of the battery tester;

performing a test procedure on the battery with the battery tester;

determining at which point in a sine wave to allow voltage or current to pass through the battery, based on a selected sine value, wherein the determined point is determined by observing an end-point of the sine wave and following along the sine wave in a rearward direction, the determined point defining a mean voltage or mean current for pass through;

generating a battery test result from the test procedure; and

communicating the battery test result and the battery identifying information to a remote database.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the inputting step includes retrieving information from an information storing device coupled to the battery.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of updating an information storing device that is coupled to the battery with information relating to the battery test result and a battery warranty.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the communicating step includes communicating to a remote device storing the remote database.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the communicating step includes communicating a battery warranty information.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the test procedure includes a heavy load test.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the battery test result is a previous battery test result.