Device and method for monitoring life history and controlling maintenance of industrial batteries
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring the operation of a battery, comprising:
- determining a life expectancy of said battery as measured in charging cycles;
identifying at least one threshold value for at least one battery parameter, wherein traversal of said at least one threshold indicates operation of said battery outside of at least one predetermined specification of said battery;
counting the amount of time that said at least one threshold is traversed;
assigning a penalty value, in charging cycles, wherein the number of charging cycles is proportional to a predetermined amount of said counted time;
calculating a penalty amount, in charging cycles, based on said assigned penalty value and said predetermined amount of said counted time; and
adding said penalty amount to a number of actual elapsed charging cycles of said battery, thereby reducing the estimated number of charging cycles remaining in the life of said battery by said penalty amount.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention is a method and device for monitoring and storing data regarding the “life history” of a battery with which it is associated and interpreting the data to create an accurate record of use and abuse patterns. A manufacturer'"'"'s specified life expectancy, measured in battery cycles, is established for the battery under normal use, and then the actual use of the battery is monitored and stored. Complete cycles, partial cycles, and operation of the battery outside of acceptable specifications are automatically derived into a value in units equivalent to a number of battery cycles, and this derivation is compared with the manufacturers life expectancy, and adjustments to the manufacturers life expectancy are made so that a more accurate and up-to-date estimation of battery life can be evolved over the life of the battery. The monitoring device is mounted on the battery for the lifetime of the battery, with certain information regarding the battery being displayed to all persons having access to the battery. Additional information may be made available to an authorized person or entity. This enables a lessor of the battery, for example, to identify abuse of the battery by a lessee and adjust fees, lease terms, etc. accordingly.
13 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A method of monitoring the operation of a battery, comprising:
-
determining a life expectancy of said battery as measured in charging cycles; identifying at least one threshold value for at least one battery parameter, wherein traversal of said at least one threshold indicates operation of said battery outside of at least one predetermined specification of said battery; counting the amount of time that said at least one threshold is traversed; assigning a penalty value, in charging cycles, wherein the number of charging cycles is proportional to a predetermined amount of said counted time; calculating a penalty amount, in charging cycles, based on said assigned penalty value and said predetermined amount of said counted time; and adding said penalty amount to a number of actual elapsed charging cycles of said battery, thereby reducing the estimated number of charging cycles remaining in the life of said battery by said penalty amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A device for monitoring the operation of a battery, wherein the life of said battery is counted in charging cycles, comprising:
-
means for identifying at least one threshold value for at least one battery parameter, wherein traversal of said at least one threshold indicates operation of said battery outside of at least one predetermined specification of said battery; means for counting the amount of time that said at least one threshold is traversed; means for assigning a penalty value, in charging cycles, wherein the number of charging cycles is proportional to a predetermined amount of said counted time; means for calculating a penalty amount in charging cycles based on said assigned penalty value and said predetermined amount of said counted time; and means for adding said penalty amount to a number of actual elapsed charging cycles of said battery, thereby reducing the estimated number of charging cycles remaining in the life of said battery by said penalty amount. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method of monitoring the operation of a battery, comprising:
-
a. determining a life expectancy of said battery as measured in charging cycles; b. identifying at least one threshold value for at least one battery operating parameter, wherein traversal of said at least one threshold indicates operation of said battery outside of at least one predetermined operational specification of said battery; c. calculating, as a percentage of the total operational time for said battery, the amount of time that said at least one threshold is traversed; d. calculating a number of charging cycles proportional to said calculated percentage of operational time; e. adjusting said calculated number of charging cycles by a penalty factor based on said traversed threshold and; adjusting said life expectancy of said battery by said adjusted number of charging cycles. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
Specification