Method and apparatus for measuring and monitoring a power source
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A battery sensor comprising:
- a. a voltage regulator;
b. an electronic switch;
c. a temperature sensor;
d. an amplifier;
e. an analog to digital converter; and
,f. a micro-controller;
wherein;
g. the voltage regulator is adapted to receive power from a battery to be monitored and is coupled to at least the micro-controller, the amplifier and the analog to digital converter to provide a regulated voltage thereto;
h. the microcontroller is adapted to generate switching commands, for application to the electronic switch, according to a program;
i. the electronic switch is adapted to receive the switching commands and to apply a stimulus to the battery in accordance with the switching commands;
j. the temperature sensor is adapted to measure a temperature of the battery and provide a temperature signal indicative thereof;
k. the amplifier is adapted to receive a signal from the battery in response to application of the stimulus, defining a response signal;
l. the analog to digital converter is adapted to receive the temperature signal and the response signal and provide digital indications thereof to the micro-controller;
m. there being information in the sensor that is available when the sensor has been installed in a connected string of batteries to be monitored that is useful to determine a relative position of the sensor in the connected string of batteries, defining location information, wherein each sensor is adapted to be associated with one of the batteries; and
,n. the microcontroller being further adapted to;
(i) process at least the digital indication of the response signal according to the program;
(ii) generate data indicative of at least one condition of the battery; and
, (iii) report the data indicative of the at least one battery condition and data indicative of battery temperature and the location information.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for monitoring batteries is disclosed. There is provided a plurality of sensors each adapted to communicate with one of the batteries, and to provide information concerning a characteristic of the battery in response to application of a stimulus to the battery. A controller that communicates with the sensors is also provided. In one embodiment, the sensor includes the battery.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A battery sensor comprising:
-
a. a voltage regulator; b. an electronic switch; c. a temperature sensor; d. an amplifier; e. an analog to digital converter; and
,f. a micro-controller; wherein; g. the voltage regulator is adapted to receive power from a battery to be monitored and is coupled to at least the micro-controller, the amplifier and the analog to digital converter to provide a regulated voltage thereto; h. the microcontroller is adapted to generate switching commands, for application to the electronic switch, according to a program; i. the electronic switch is adapted to receive the switching commands and to apply a stimulus to the battery in accordance with the switching commands; j. the temperature sensor is adapted to measure a temperature of the battery and provide a temperature signal indicative thereof; k. the amplifier is adapted to receive a signal from the battery in response to application of the stimulus, defining a response signal; l. the analog to digital converter is adapted to receive the temperature signal and the response signal and provide digital indications thereof to the micro-controller; m. there being information in the sensor that is available when the sensor has been installed in a connected string of batteries to be monitored that is useful to determine a relative position of the sensor in the connected string of batteries, defining location information, wherein each sensor is adapted to be associated with one of the batteries; and
,n. the microcontroller being further adapted to;
(i) process at least the digital indication of the response signal according to the program;
(ii) generate data indicative of at least one condition of the battery; and
, (iii) report the data indicative of the at least one battery condition and data indicative of battery temperature and the location information.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A battery monitoring system, comprising:
-
a. a plurality of sensors, each sensor comprising; i. a voltage regulator; ii. an electronic switch; iii. a temperature sensor; iv. an amplifier; v. an analog to digital converter; and
,vi. a micro-controller; wherein each sensor is adapted to be associated with a particular battery in a string of batteries to be monitored, and further wherein; vii. the voltage regulator of each sensor is adapted to receive power from its respective battery and is coupled to at least the micro-controller, the amplifier and the analog to digital converter to provide a regulated voltage thereto; viii. the microcontroller of each sensor is adapted to generate switching commands, for application to the electronic switch, according to a program; ix. the electronic switch of each sensor is adapted to receive the switching commands and to apply a stimulus to its respective battery in accordance with the switching commands; x. the temperature sensor of each sensor is adapted to measure a temperature of the battery and provide a temperature signal indicative thereof; xi. the amplifier of each sensor is adapted to receive a signal from its respective battery in response to application of the stimulus, defining a response signal; xii. the analog to digital converter of each sensor is adapted to receive the temperature signal and the response signal and provide digital indications thereof to the micro-controller; xiii. there being information in each sensor that is available when the sensors have been installed in the string of batteries that is useful to determine a relative position of each sensor in the string of batteries, defining location information; and
,xiv. the microcontroller of each sensor being further adapted to;
(i) process at least the digital indication of the response signal according to the program;
(ii) generate data indicative of at least one condition of the battery; and
, (iii) report the data indicative of the at least one battery condition and data indicative of battery temperature and the location information;and, b. a controller adapted to communicate with each sensor and to report information indicative of conditions of each battery to a remote monitoring location. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of monitoring the condition of each battery in a connected string of batteries comprising, for each battery:
-
a. generating a regulated voltage via a voltage regulator and the battery being monitored; b. providing the regulated voltage to an analog to digital converter, an amplifier and a micro-controller; c. generating a battery temperature signal via a temperature sensor; d. causing the micro-controller to generate switching commands according to a program; e. applying the switching commands to an electronic switch; f. applying via the electronic switch a stimulus to the battery in accordance with the switching commands; g. receiving via the amplifier a response signal from the battery; h. providing information useful to determine a relative position of the battery in the string of batteries, defining location information; i. providing the battery temperature signal, the location information and the response signal to the analog to digital converter; j. causing the analog to digital converter to provide digital indications of the battery temperature signal, the location information and the response signal; and
,k. causing the micro-controller to (i) process at least the digital indications of the response signal according to the program;
(ii) generate data indicative of at least one battery condition; and
(iii) report the data indicative of the at least one battery condition and data indicative of battery temperature and the location information. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification