Battery monitoring system
First Claim
1. A battery monitoring device for monitoring status of a vehicle battery having at least a pair of battery terminals, the battery monitoring device comprising:
- a housing having;
means for physically attaching the housing to the vehicle battery;
a pair of recesses disposed in the housing that are aligned with the pair of battery terminals for receiving the pair of battery terminals when the housing is physically attached to the vehicle battery; and
a pair of electrical contacts, each associated with a corresponding one of the recesses and making electrical connection to one of the battery terminals based on the battery terminal being received in the recess;
a pair of power lines for providing power to the battery monitoring device, the pair of power lines electrically connected to the pair of electrical contacts;
a battery voltage sensor disposed in the housing for sensing a voltage level of the vehicle battery and generating a battery voltage signal based on the voltage level;
a motion sensor disposed in the housing for sensing movement of the vehicle battery and generating a motion signal based on the movement;
a location determination module disposed in the housing for determining a location of the vehicle battery and generating location information based on the location;
a wireless modem disposed in the housing for transmitting an alert message from the battery monitoring device; and
a controller disposed in the housing for receiving the battery voltage signal, the motion signal and the location information, and for generating the alert message based on an event indicated by one or more of the battery voltage signal, the motion signal and the location information.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A battery monitoring device attached to a vehicle battery includes a battery voltage sensor, motion sensor, location determination module, memory device, wireless modem, and controller. The battery voltage sensor senses the voltage level of the vehicle battery, the motion sensor senses movement of the battery monitoring device, and the location determination module determines the location of the battery monitoring device. The memory device stores a unique identification number associated with the battery monitoring device. Upon detection of an event as indicated by the battery voltage signal or the motion signal or the location information, the wireless modem transmits an alert message that includes the unique identification number and information regarding the event. The components of the device may be encapsulated in a potting compound within a cavity on the battery housing, or they may be enclosed in a housing that is separable from the battery housing.
43 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A battery monitoring device for monitoring status of a vehicle battery having at least a pair of battery terminals, the battery monitoring device comprising:
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a housing having; means for physically attaching the housing to the vehicle battery; a pair of recesses disposed in the housing that are aligned with the pair of battery terminals for receiving the pair of battery terminals when the housing is physically attached to the vehicle battery; and a pair of electrical contacts, each associated with a corresponding one of the recesses and making electrical connection to one of the battery terminals based on the battery terminal being received in the recess; a pair of power lines for providing power to the battery monitoring device, the pair of power lines electrically connected to the pair of electrical contacts; a battery voltage sensor disposed in the housing for sensing a voltage level of the vehicle battery and generating a battery voltage signal based on the voltage level; a motion sensor disposed in the housing for sensing movement of the vehicle battery and generating a motion signal based on the movement; a location determination module disposed in the housing for determining a location of the vehicle battery and generating location information based on the location; a wireless modem disposed in the housing for transmitting an alert message from the battery monitoring device; and a controller disposed in the housing for receiving the battery voltage signal, the motion signal and the location information, and for generating the alert message based on an event indicated by one or more of the battery voltage signal, the motion signal and the location information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for monitoring a vehicle battery using a battery monitoring device comprising a housing configured to be physically attached to the vehicle battery, wherein the vehicle battery includes a pair of battery terminals and the housing includes a pair of recesses that are aligned with the pair of battery terminals, the recesses for receiving the battery terminals when the housing is physically attached to the vehicle battery, wherein the housing further includes electrical contacts associated with the recesses that make electrical connection to the battery terminals when the battery terminal are received in the recesses, wherein the battery monitoring device also includes a battery voltage sensor disposed in the housing, a motion sensor disposed in the housing, a location determination module disposed in the housing, a wireless modem disposed in the housing, and a controller disposed in the housing, the method comprising:
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(a) installing the housing of the battery monitoring device onto the vehicle battery so that the pair of battery terminals are received into the pair of recesses in the housing and the electrical contacts associated with the recesses make electrical connection to the battery terminals to provide power to the battery monitoring device; (b) activating the battery monitoring device; (c) the battery voltage sensor sensing a voltage level of the vehicle battery and generating a battery voltage signal based on the voltage level; (d) the motion sensor sensing movement of the vehicle battery and generating a motion signal based on the movement; (e) the location determination module determining a location of the vehicle battery and generating location information based on the location; (f) the controller determining that an event has occurred based on one or more of; a drop in battery voltage level below a predetermined threshold level as indicated by the battery voltage signal; movement of the battery monitoring device as indicated by the motion signal; and a change in location of the battery monitoring device as indicated by the location information; and (g) the controller generating an alert message based on the event, the alert message including at least a unique identification number associated with the battery monitoring device and information regarding the event; and (h) the wireless modem wirelessly transmitting the alert message from the battery monitoring device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A battery monitoring device for monitoring status of a vehicle battery, the battery monitoring device comprising:
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a housing having means for physically attaching the housing to the vehicle battery; a battery voltage sensor disposed in the housing for sensing a voltage level of the vehicle battery and generating a battery voltage signal based on the voltage level; a motion sensor disposed in the housing for sensing movement of the vehicle battery and generating a motion signal based on the movement; a location determination module disposed in the housing for determining a location of the vehicle battery and generating location information based on the location; a wireless modem disposed in the housing for transmitting an alert message from the battery monitoring device; an externally-accessible interface connector disposed on the housing, the interface connector having at least two pins; and a controller disposed in the housing, the controller for monitoring an electrical connection state of the at least two pins of the interface connector and for causing activation of the battery monitoring device based on the electrical connection state of the at least two pins, the controller operable to receive the battery voltage signal, the motion signal and the location information, and generate the alert message based on an event indicated by one or more of the battery voltage signal, the motion signal and the location information.
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Specification