Battery test report system and method

• US 9,772,383 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2016
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CPS Technology Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Carlo, Michael R., Gospodarek, Dale A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US15/013,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20160259015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 3406361
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/60 using power supplied by batteries in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A system a vehicle battery tester configured to test at least one condition of a vehicle battery and to transmit battery condition information relating to the at least one condition of the vehicle battery to a server. The system also includes the server, which is configured to receive the battery condition information from the vehicle battery tester and to transmit, to a consumer, a report generated based at least in part on the battery condition information.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first vehicle battery tester at a first service location, wherein the first vehicle battery tester is configured to test at least one condition of a vehicle battery and to transmit a first data set indicative of battery condition information relating to the at least one condition of the vehicle battery to a server;

a second vehicle battery tester at a second service location different than the first service location, wherein the second vehicle battery tester is configured to test the at least one condition of the vehicle battery and to transmit a second data set indicative of the battery condition information to the server; and

the server, wherein the server is configured to receive the first data set indicative of the battery condition information from the first vehicle battery tester and the second data set indicative of the battery condition information from the second vehicle battery tester, and to transmit, to a consumer of the vehicle battery, a report generated based at least in part on the first data set and the second data set.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising a database configured to store the first data set and the second data set therein.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the test by the first vehicle battery tester and the test by the second vehicle battery tester are administered at different times, and wherein the report includes advanced analytics based at least in part on both the first data set and the second data set.

4. The system of claim 1, comprising a geographic indicator configured to determine a geographic index of an area in which the vehicle battery is tested by the first vehicle battery tester, an environmental indicator configured to determine an environmental index of the area in which the vehicle battery is tested by the first vehicle battery tester, or a combination thereof, wherein the server contextualizes the first data set indicative of the battery condition information in view of the geographic index, the environmental index, or both to generate the report.

5. The system of claim 1, comprising a communication hub configured to enable transmission of the first data set from the first vehicle battery tester to the server.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first vehicle battery tester and the second vehicle battery tester are configured to test a voltage of the vehicle battery, an electric current of the vehicle battery, a resistance of the vehicle battery, or a combination thereof.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the communication hub comprises a Wi-Fi router or a cellular connection.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is a cloud based server.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is configured to transmit the report via an e-mail to the consumer, via a text, Short Message Service (SMS), or other phone-based message to the consumer, via a social media post or message to the consumer, or via a combination thereof.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first vehicle battery tester or a data entry device of the system is configured to receive contact information of the consumer to facilitate transmittal of the report from the server to the consumer.

11. A method of reporting vehicle battery information to an owner of a vehicle battery, comprising:

testing the vehicle battery, via a first battery tester at a first service location, for at least one condition of the vehicle battery;

transmitting a first data set indicative of battery condition information relating to the at least one condition of the vehicle battery from the first battery tester to a server;

testing the vehicle battery, via a second battery tester at a second service location, for the at least one condition of the vehicle battery;

transmitting a second data set indicative of the battery condition information relating to the at least one condition of the vehicle battery from the second battery tester to the server;

generating, at the server and based on the first data set received from the first battery tester and the second data set received from the second battery tester, a report of a condition of the vehicle battery; and

transmitting, from the server to a consumer, the report of the condition of the vehicle battery.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the server is a cloud based server.

13. The method of claim 11, comprising testing the vehicle battery with the first battery tester at a first time, testing the vehicle battery with the second battery tester at a second time different than the first time, and including in the report at least one advanced analytic reflective of a change to the condition of the vehicle battery from the first time to the second time.

14. A battery report transmission system, comprising:

a server having a processor configured to;

receive a first battery test result of a vehicle battery of a consumer from a first battery tester of a first service location;

receive a second battery test result of the vehicle battery of the consumer from a second battery tester of a second service location different than the first service location;

receive data indicative of a selection of a preferred type of communication of the consumer;

generate a battery test report based at least in part on the first battery test result of the vehicle battery and the second battery test result of the vehicle battery; and

automatically transmit the battery test report to the consumer via the preferred type of communication of the consumer.

15. The battery report transmission system of claim 14, wherein the preferred type of communication of the consumer comprises an automated computer based message.

16. The battery report transmission system of claim 14, wherein the server comprises a memory configured to store the first battery test result and the second battery test result therein.

17. The battery report transmission system of claim 16, wherein the server is configured to generate at least one advanced analytic based on the first battery test result and the second battery test result.