Apparatus and methods for evaluating CEW energy cell performance

• US 10,209,312 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2016
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ivo Foldyna
• Original Assignee: Ivo Foldyna
• Inventors: Foldyna, Ivo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoque, Farhana A
• Application Number:
  US15/255,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20170059661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 324 725, 324426, 324436
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0012 Electrical discharge weapons, e.g. for stunning
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 35/00 Testing or checking of ammunition apparatus for measuring the energy of projectiles G01L5/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3647 for determining the ability of a battery to perform a critical function, e.g. cranking
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/38 Primary cells, i.e. not rechargeable
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/386 using test-loads
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/389 Measuring internal impedance, internal conductance or related variables
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/396 Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4285 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method and apparatus for evaluating CEW performance, in particular by evaluating a battery pack condition state via direct or indirect means. A two-tier load test for a CEW battery pack and an indirect wireless spark analysis tool are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of evaluating performance of a CEW energy cell comprising:

inserting a CEW energy cell into an input port of a portable test device;

performing a two-tier DC load test on the CEW energy cell by sequentially applying at least two different loads to the CEW energy cell, including a low constant current load and a high constant current load;

evaluating a voltage signature under the two-tier load test;

determining at least one internal resistance value based on said voltage signature; and

outputting at least one indicator relating to CEW energy cell status based on said determining.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said outputting including providing a visual display to the user.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the visual display includes one or more of the following indications:

PASS, FAIL and WARNING.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the low constant current load is applied for approximately 500 milliseconds.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the high constant current load is applied for approximately 10 milliseconds.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

inserting the CEW energy cell into a CEW and performing a spark test wherein a pulse train of high energy sparks is generated by the CEW;

receiving with a wireless receiver a pulsed, spark test signal emitted from the CEW;

providing a pulse shaping circuit and modifying the spark test signal with the pulse shaping circuit;

calculating the pulse duration between each pulse based on an output from the pulse shaping circuit; and

evaluating a condition of the CEW energy cell based on calculated pulse durations.

7. A method of evaluating performance of a CEW energy cell comprising:

performing a spark test with the CEW wherein a pulse train of high energy sparks is generated by the CEW;

receiving with a wireless receiver a pulsed, a spark test signal emitted from the CEW during the spark test;

providing a pulse shaping circuit and modifying the spark test signal with the pulse shaping circuit;

calculating the pulse duration between each pulse based on an output from the pulse shaping circuit; and

evaluating a condition of the CEW energy cell based on calculated pulse durations.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the wireless receiving comprises a crystal radio receiver with a circuit tuned to resonate with the CEW pulse frequency.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the pulse shaping circuit amplifies, filters and converts the received pulse into a fixed duration or fixed amplitude pulse to be processed by a microprocessor.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the microprocessor generates statistical information about the pulse train including:

overall duration of the time train, total number of pulses contained within the pulse train, average frequency of the pulses, average time between individual pulses, maximum time between individual pulses, minimum time between individual pulses, and standard deviation.

11. An apparatus for evaluating performance of a CEW energy cell comprising, comprising:

a portable housing having an input port size to receive and electrically couple to at least a portion of a DPM;

a two-tier DC load test circuit connected to terminals of the DPM, including a low constant current load and a high constant current load, said circuit sequentially applying the two loads to the DPM terminals;

a voltage sensor which receives a signal from the two-tier DC load test circuit; and

a microprocessor which receives and evaluates a signal from the voltage sensor and outputs at least one indication of DPM condition based on said evaluated signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the output is displayed to a user via a user interface on the portable housing.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the output is transmitted from the portable housing to a remote location.