System and method for detecting battery failure during a non-operating event
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring an energy-storing apparatus during a non-operating event of a mechanism that draws energy from the energy-storing apparatus, the apparatus including a plurality of energy-storing cells, the system comprising:
- a plurality of sensing units, each one of the sensing units being coupled to a subset of the plurality of cells, wherein each one of the sensing units is configured to monitor conditions of a corresponding subset of cells during the non-operating event, wherein the non-operating event corresponds to when electrical current is not flowing to or from the energy-storing apparatus;
a wireless communication unit coupled to each of the sensing units and configured to communicate a signal indicative of one of the monitored conditions of the corresponding subset of cells to a computing device, wherein the energy-storing apparatus is configured to provide energy to the plurality of sensing units and the wireless communication unit during an operating event;
a self-harvesting power source configured to provide energy to the plurality of sensing units and the wireless communication unit only when the non-operating event begins; and
a processor configured to switch a supply of the energy from the energy-storing apparatus to the self-harvesting power source when the non-operating event begins.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided for monitoring an energy-storing apparatus during a non-operating event of a mechanism that draws energy from the energy-storing apparatus, which includes a plurality of energy-storing cells. The system includes a plurality of sensing units, each of which is coupled to a subset of the plurality of cells and is configured to monitor conditions of the corresponding subset of cells during the non-operating event. The system further includes a wireless communication unit and a power source. The wireless communication unit is coupled to each of the sensing units and configured to communicate a signal indicative of one of the monitored conditions of the corresponding subset of cells to a computing device. The power source provides energy to the sensing units and the wireless communication unit during the non-operating event.
10 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring an energy-storing apparatus during a non-operating event of a mechanism that draws energy from the energy-storing apparatus, the apparatus including a plurality of energy-storing cells, the system comprising:
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a plurality of sensing units, each one of the sensing units being coupled to a subset of the plurality of cells, wherein each one of the sensing units is configured to monitor conditions of a corresponding subset of cells during the non-operating event, wherein the non-operating event corresponds to when electrical current is not flowing to or from the energy-storing apparatus; a wireless communication unit coupled to each of the sensing units and configured to communicate a signal indicative of one of the monitored conditions of the corresponding subset of cells to a computing device, wherein the energy-storing apparatus is configured to provide energy to the plurality of sensing units and the wireless communication unit during an operating event; a self-harvesting power source configured to provide energy to the plurality of sensing units and the wireless communication unit only when the non-operating event begins; and a processor configured to switch a supply of the energy from the energy-storing apparatus to the self-harvesting power source when the non-operating event begins. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 14)
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6. A vehicle comprising:
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a system for monitoring an energy-storing apparatus during a non-operating event of the vehicle, the apparatus including a plurality of energy-storing cells, the system comprising; a plurality of sensing units, each one of the sensing units being coupled to a subset of the plurality of cells, wherein each one of the sensing units is configured to monitor conditions of a corresponding subset of cells during the non-operating event, wherein the non-operating event corresponds to when electrical current is not flowing to or from the energy-storing apparatus; a wireless communication unit coupled to each of the sensing units and configured to communicate a signal indicative of one of the monitored conditions of the corresponding subset of cells to a computing device, wherein the energy-storing apparatus is configured to provide energy to the plurality of sensing units and the wireless communication unit during an operating event; a power source configured to provide energy to the sensing units and the wireless communication unit only when the non-operating event begins; and a processor configured to switch a supply of the energy from the energy-storing apparatus to the power source when the non-operating event begins. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 15, 16)
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9. A method for monitoring an energy-storing apparatus during a non-operating event, the apparatus including a plurality of energy-storing cells, comprising:
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monitoring conditions occurring within a subset of the plurality of cells during the non-operating event via a sensing unit associated with the subset of cells, wherein the non-operating event corresponds to when electrical current is not flowing to or from the energy-storing apparatus; generating and communicating a signal indicative of one of the monitored conditions of the corresponding subset of cells to a computing device via a wireless communication unit coupled to the sensing unit; providing energy to the sensing unit and the wireless communication unit via the energy-storing apparatus; and switching from providing energy to the sensing unit and the wireless communication unit via the energy-storing apparatus to providing energy to the sensing unit and the wireless communication unit via a self-harvesting power source only when the non-operating event begins. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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10. A non-transitory computer readable medium including a processor for performing instructions corresponding to a method for monitoring an energy-storing apparatus during an non-operating event, the apparatus including a plurality of energy-storing cells, the method comprising:
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monitoring conditions occurring within a subset of the plurality of cells during the non-operating event via a sensing unit associated with the subset of cells, wherein the non-operating event corresponds to when electrical current is not flowing to or from the energy-storing apparatus; generating and communicating a signal indicative of one of the monitored conditions of the corresponding subset of cells to a computing device via a wireless communication unit coupled to the sensing unit; and providing energy to the sensing unit and the wireless communication unit via the energy-storing apparatus; and switching from providing energy to the sensing unit and the wireless communication unit via the energy storing apparatus to providing energy to the sensing unit and the wireless communication unit via a self-harvesting power source only when the non-operating event begins. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 19, 20)
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Specification