System and method for monitoring the status of a vehicle battery system
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring a vehicle status for a vehicle having a battery and an alternator, the method comprising the steps of:
- detecting on a monitor a voltage fluctuation of the voltage output by the battery;
determining whether the voltage fluctuation has signal attributes characteristic of initiation of a starter motor, and determining therefrom that the vehicle has started;
ascertaining a vehicle minimum voltage of the voltage fluctuation;
after the vehicle has been determined to have started, measuring a vehicle running voltage;
performing a first comparison, of the vehicle running voltage to a first predefined criterion, and determining from that first comparison a vehicle alternator status representative of an operational condition of the alternator;
after the vehicle has been turned off, measuring a vehicle off voltage output at the battery; and
performing a second comparison of the vehicle minimum voltage and the vehicle off voltage according to a second predefined criterion, and determining from that second comparison a vehicle battery status representative of an operational condition of the battery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for monitoring the status of a vehicle utilizing a monitoring unit and a receiver unit. The monitoring unit is operatively connectable to the vehicle via a diagnostic port and detects the voltage output by the vehicle'"'"'s battery when the vehicle'"'"'s engine is turned on and off, and voltage output by the alternator while the engine is running. From these voltage measurements, the monitoring unit determine the operational status of the vehicle'"'"'s battery and alternator by comparison to predefined criteria, such as optimal voltage ranges or a threshold minimum voltage. When the monitoring unit detects that the vehicle'"'"'s battery or alternator may be malfunctioning, a signal indicating a malfunction is transmitted to the receiver unit, for example the driver'"'"'s cellular phone, which will generate a warning notification alerting the operator to the existence and component responsible for the malfunction.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring a vehicle status for a vehicle having a battery and an alternator, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting on a monitor a voltage fluctuation of the voltage output by the battery; determining whether the voltage fluctuation has signal attributes characteristic of initiation of a starter motor, and determining therefrom that the vehicle has started; ascertaining a vehicle minimum voltage of the voltage fluctuation; after the vehicle has been determined to have started, measuring a vehicle running voltage; performing a first comparison, of the vehicle running voltage to a first predefined criterion, and determining from that first comparison a vehicle alternator status representative of an operational condition of the alternator; after the vehicle has been turned off, measuring a vehicle off voltage output at the battery; and performing a second comparison of the vehicle minimum voltage and the vehicle off voltage according to a second predefined criterion, and determining from that second comparison a vehicle battery status representative of an operational condition of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for monitoring a vehicle status the system comprising:
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a monitoring circuit in electrical communication with a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU) for receiving from the ECU; a vehicle minimum voltage output by the battery during initiation of a starter motor; a vehicle running voltage while the vehicle is running; and a vehicle off battery voltage output by the battery after the vehicle has been subsequently turned off; and a data processor in communication with the monitoring circuit for receiving and storing the vehicle minimum voltage, the vehicle running voltage, and the vehicle off voltage, the data processor being operative to perform a first comparison of the vehicle running voltage to a predetermined running voltage range and to generate an alternator malfunction signal if the vehicle running voltage is outside the predetermined running voltage range;
the data processor further being operative to perform a second comparison of the minimum battery voltage and the vehicle off battery voltage and to generate a battery malfunction signal if the battery is not sufficiently retaining a charge. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for monitoring a vehicle status, the system comprising:
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a monitor having a monitoring circuit and a wireless communication circuit, the monitoring circuit being in electrical communication with a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU) for receiving from the ECU a vehicle minimum voltage output by the battery during initiation of a starter motor, a vehicle running voltage while the vehicle is running, and a vehicle off voltage output by the battery after the vehicle has been subsequently turned off, and the wireless communication circuit being in communication with the monitoring circuit for transmitting the vehicle minimum voltage, the vehicle running voltage, and the vehicle off voltage; and a receiver, the receiver having a wireless receiver circuit and a data processor, the wireless receiver circuit being for receiving from the wireless communication circuit the vehicle minimum voltage, the vehicle running voltage, and the vehicle off voltage, and the data processor being in communication with the wireless receiver circuit for receiving and storing the vehicle minimum voltage, the vehicle running voltage, and the vehicle off voltage; wherein the data processor is operative to perform a first comparison of the vehicle running voltage to a predetermined running voltage range and to generate an alternator malfunction signal in response to determining from that first comparison that the vehicle running voltage is outside the predetermined running voltage range;
the data processor being further operative to perform a second comparison of the vehicle minimum voltage and the subsequent vehicle off voltage and to generate a battery malfunction signal in response to determining from the second comparison that the battery is not sufficiently retaining a charge. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method for monitoring a hybrid vehicle status for a hybrid vehicle having a battery, a battery controller, and an alternator, the method comprising the steps of:
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as the vehicle is running, measuring a vehicle running voltage; comparing the vehicle running voltage to a first predefined criterion, and determining therefrom a vehicle alternator status representative of an operational condition of the alternator; after the vehicle has been turned off, measuring a battery status output at the battery controller; and comparing the battery status output to a second predefined criterion, and determining therefrom a vehicle battery status representative of an operational condition of the battery.
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Specification