Automotive battery charging system tester
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for testing a charging system of an automotive vehicle, comprising:
- electrical connections configured to couple to a battery of the vehicle;
a user input configured to receive a battery rating from an operator;
a display configured to display information to the operator; and
a microprocessor configured to;
prompt the operator to input rating information for the battery using the input;
receive the rating information for the battery from the operator from the input;
perform a battery test on the battery through the electrical connections to the battery;
measure a dynamic parameter of the battery through the electrical connections to the battery;
determine a condition of the battery by comparing the measured dynamic parameter to the received rating, the battery test result indicative of a battery condition, the battery condition including a fully charged battery and a battery which is not fully charged;
detect revving of the engine by observing an increased frequency of an AC ripple of a voltage measured through the electrical connectors to the battery;
detect a diode or stator problem if the AC ripple exceeds a threshold;
instruct the operator to start an engine of the vehicle through the display;
detect starting of the engine of the automotive vehicle by the operator by a drop in a voltage measured through the electrical connections to the battery;
measure a starting voltage through the electrical connections to the battery during starting of the engine of the automotive vehicle; and
provide a charge battery output to the operator through the display if the measured starting voltage is low relative to a threshold and the battery test result is indicative of a battery which is not fully charged,provide a cranking voltage low output to the operator through the display if the measured starting voltage is low relative to a threshold and the battery test result is indicative of a fully charged battery;
provide a cranking voltage normal output to the operator through the display if the starting voltage is normal relative to a threshold and the battery test result is indicative of a fully charged battery.
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Abstract
An automotive battery charging system tester for testing the charging system of an automotive vehicle includes AC and DC voltage measurement circuits and a microprocessor controlled testing sequence. The microprocessor is used to perform a series of tests and to instruct an operator to perform steps associated with performing those tests. Through the application of various loads at various engine speeds, the tester is capable of identifying faults in the battery charging system including a bad battery, problems in the alternator or associated electronics, and problems in the starting system.
690 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus for testing a charging system of an automotive vehicle, comprising:
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electrical connections configured to couple to a battery of the vehicle; a user input configured to receive a battery rating from an operator; a display configured to display information to the operator; and a microprocessor configured to; prompt the operator to input rating information for the battery using the input; receive the rating information for the battery from the operator from the input; perform a battery test on the battery through the electrical connections to the battery; measure a dynamic parameter of the battery through the electrical connections to the battery; determine a condition of the battery by comparing the measured dynamic parameter to the received rating, the battery test result indicative of a battery condition, the battery condition including a fully charged battery and a battery which is not fully charged; detect revving of the engine by observing an increased frequency of an AC ripple of a voltage measured through the electrical connectors to the battery; detect a diode or stator problem if the AC ripple exceeds a threshold; instruct the operator to start an engine of the vehicle through the display; detect starting of the engine of the automotive vehicle by the operator by a drop in a voltage measured through the electrical connections to the battery; measure a starting voltage through the electrical connections to the battery during starting of the engine of the automotive vehicle; and
provide a charge battery output to the operator through the display if the measured starting voltage is low relative to a threshold and the battery test result is indicative of a battery which is not fully charged,provide a cranking voltage low output to the operator through the display if the measured starting voltage is low relative to a threshold and the battery test result is indicative of a fully charged battery; provide a cranking voltage normal output to the operator through the display if the starting voltage is normal relative to a threshold and the battery test result is indicative of a fully charged battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification