System for automatically gathering battery information

• US 8,344,685 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I., Philbrook, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): OMAR, AHMED H
• Application Number:
  US12/416,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20090212781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,371 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 324/426
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00043 using switches, contacts or markings, e.g. optical, magnetic or barcode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method that includes affixing a radio frequency identification tag on a storage battery at a battery manufacturing plant. The method also includes storing battery manufacturing information into the radio frequency identification tag at the battery manufacturing plant. The battery manufacturing information includes a battery algorithm suitable for use in testing the storage battery.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

affixing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag on a storage battery at a battery manufacturing plant;

storing battery manufacturing information into the RFID tag, the battery manufacturing information including a battery algorithm suitable for use in testing the battery;

reading the battery manufacturing information from the RFID tag at an automobile dealership;

conducting a battery test at the automobile dealership using the battery manufacturing information;

obtaining a battery test result at the automobile dealership; and

storing the battery test result and a corresponding timestamp into the RFID tag at the automobile dealership.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

reading the battery manufacturing information from the RFID tag at the battery manufacturing plant;

testing the battery at the battery manufacturing plant using the battery manufacturing information;

obtaining a battery test result at the battery manufacturing plant; and

storing the battery test result and a corresponding timestamp into the RFID tag at the battery manufacturing plant.

3. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

reading the battery manufacturing information from the RFID tag at a battery distribution center;

conducting a battery test at the battery distribution center using the battery manufacturing information;

obtaining a battery test result at the battery distribution center; and

storing the battery test result and a corresponding timestamp into the RFID tag at the battery distribution center.

4. The method of claim 1 and further comprising programming a battery sale activation code into the RFID tag at the automotive dealership.

5. The method of claim 4 and further comprising storing the battery sale activation code in a database and indicating, in the database, that the battery is currently for sale at the automotive dealership.

6. The method of claim 5 and further comprising selling the battery to a customer, wherein selling the battery to a customer comprises:

reading the battery sale activation code from the RFID tag;

utilizing the battery sale activation code to update the database to reflect that the battery has been sold.

7. The method of claim 6 and wherein selling the battery to the customer further comprises storing battery warranty information and a date of sale of the battery into the RFID tag.

8. The method of claim 1 and further comprising installing the battery in a vehicle and testing the battery upon installation in the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8 and wherein testing the battery upon installation in the vehicle comprises:

reading the battery manufacturing information from the RFID tag when the battery is first installed in the vehicle;

conducting a battery test using the battery manufacturing information when the battery is first installed in the vehicle;

obtaining a battery test result when the battery is first installed in the vehicle; and

storing the battery test result and a corresponding timestamp into the RFID tag when the battery is first installed in the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9 and further comprising storing test technician information into the RFID tag.

11. The method of claim 9 and further comprising:

obtaining information related to the vehicle in which the battery is installed; and

storing the information related to the vehicle in the RFID tag.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein obtaining information related to the vehicle comprises obtaining information related to the vehicle from on-board diagnostic II (OBDII) connection of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12 and wherein the information related to the vehicle obtained from the OBDII connection comprises a vehicle identification number VIN of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 1 and further comprising utilizing the timestamp stored in the RFID tag to track stock rotation and shelf life of the battery.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the information related to the manufacture of the battery comprises manufacturing plant information and assembly line information.

16. The method of claim 15 and further comprising utilizing the manufacturing plant information and the assembly line information for quality control audit purposes.

17. A method comprising:

storing battery warranty information in an RFID tag affixed to an original battery upon sale of the original battery; and

if the original battery is returned prior to expiration of the warranty, providing a replacement battery with an affixed RFID tag, and transferring any unused warranty to the RFID tag affixed to the replacement battery.

18. The method of claim 17 and further comprising storing identification information for the original battery and the corresponding battery warranty information in a database.

19. The method of claim 18 and further comprising:

canceling the unused warranty from the RFID tag affixed to the original battery; and

updating the database to reflect the transference of the unused warranty from the original battery to the replacement battery.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a label configured to be affixed to a storage battery, the label is configured to store and wirelessly transmit information related to the battery; and

a computing device comprising;

a computing device memory;

a processor; and

a receiver, which operates under the control of the processor, configured to receive the transmitted information related to the battery,

wherein the computing device is a battery tester, and

wherein the label is configured to store information related to a plurality of tests over time carried out on the battery.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 and wherein the label is further configured to store information related to a vehicle in which the battery is used.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 and wherein the computing device is configured to obtain the information related to the vehicle in which the battery is used and to program the obtained information related to the vehicle in which the battery is used into the label.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 and wherein the information related to the vehicle in which the battery is used is obtained by the computing device from an on-board diagnostic II (OBDII) connection of the vehicle.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 and wherein the information related to the vehicle obtained from the OBDII connection comprises a vehicle identification number VIN of the vehicle.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 and wherein the label is further configured to store warranty information related to the battery, and wherein the VIN of the vehicle ties the battery warranty information to the vehicle.

26. The apparatus of claim 20 and wherein the label configured to be affixed to the battery is one of a plurality of labels configured to be affixed to a plurality of batteries, and each one of the plurality of labels is configured to store balancing information for corresponding ones of the plurality of batteries.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 and wherein the computing device is configured to obtain the balancing information for individual ones of the plurality batteries and to sort the individual ones of the plurality of batteries based on the balancing information.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 and wherein the battery balancing information comprises a cranking capacity of each battery of the plurality of batteries, a time in service of each battery of the plurality of the batteries, miles in service of each battery of the plurality of batteries and geographical location of each battery of the plurality of batteries.

29. The apparatus of claim 20 and wherein the label is further configured to store warranty information related to the battery, battery purchase location identification information and a data of purchase of the battery, wherein the date of purchase of the battery starts a warranty clock.

30. The apparatus of claim 20 and wherein the battery tester is configured to program test technician information into the label, the technician information allows for statistical checking of technician proficiency.

31. The apparatus of claim 20 and wherein the battery tester is configured to determine a degradation of the battery based on the information related to the plurality of battery tests.

32. The apparatus of claim 20 and wherein the information related to the plurality of tests comprises battery pre-charge test results and a corresponding timestamp for the pre-charge test and post charge test results and a corresponding timestamp for the post-charge test results.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 and wherein the battery tester is configured to determine, based on the pre-charge test results and the pre-charge timestamp, and the post charge test results and the post charge time stamp, whether adequate time has elapsed to allow for proper charging of the battery.

34. The apparatus of claim 31 and wherein the battery tester is further configured to determine a slope of degradation of the battery.

35. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the battery tester is configured to carry out a load test on the battery and wherein the battery tester is further configured to store pre-load test results and post-load test results into the label, wherein the load test is one of the plurality of tests carried out on the battery, and wherein the pre-load test results and the post-load test results are a part of the information related to the plurality of tests carried out on the battery.

36. The apparatus of claim 20 and further comprising a database stored in a remote memory that is separate from the computing device memory, the remote memory comprising a copy of information related to the battery stored in the label at the time of sale of the battery.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 and wherein the computing device is configured to:

obtain information related to the battery from the label;

obtain information related to the battery from the database;

compare the information related to the battery obtained from the label with the information related to the battery obtained from the database;

output any discrepancies between the information related to the battery obtained from the label and the information related to the battery obtained from the database.

38. The apparatus of claim 20 and wherein the label is further configured to store a date of manufacture of the battery and an in-service date of the battery.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 and wherein the computing device is configured to, based the date of manufacture of the battery and the in-service date of the battery stored in the label, track stock rotation and shelf life of the battery.

40. The apparatus of claim 20 and wherein the label is further configured to store information related to manufacture of the battery, and wherein the information related to the manufacture of the battery comprises manufacturing plant information and assembly line information.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 and wherein the computing device is configured to utilize the manufacturing plant information and the assembly line information for quality control audit purposes.