Efficient battery tester
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An object tester for evaluating intrinsic characteristics of an object that is configured to accept bi-directional power flow, comprising:
- a. at least one sensor for sensing voltage and current;
b. an energy storage unit for temporarily storing power from the object;
c. a bi-directional power converter for facilitating energy transfer between the object and the energy storage unit;
d. a controller for controlling the bi-directional power converter, the controller comprising a processor, a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, and instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable storage medium, which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform an object test method, wherein the object test method comprises transferring energy from the object to the energy storage unit and transferring energy from the energy storage unit to the object using the bi-directional power converter; and
e. a display, wherein a user interface on the display provides controls operable for selecting the object test method;
f. a power supply, whereby the power supply supplies energy to the object tester in order to test a deeply discharged object;
g. wherein the object test method is selected from a first test mode for quick evaluation of the object or a second test mode for precise evaluation of the object, wherein the first test mode comprises a high current pulse test and the second test mode comprises the high current pulse test and a switching excitation test;
h. wherein the high current pulse test comprises drawing a high current from the object to the energy storage unit over a short period of time, returning energy from the energy storage unit to the object, and measuring voltage and current changes using the at least one sensor;
i. wherein the switching excitation test comprises transferring energy from the object to the energy storage unit and transferring energy from the energy storage unit to the object at a fixed frequency, and measuring voltage and current using the at least one sensor;
j. wherein the first test mode determines object internal resistance, cold cranking ampere (“
CCA”
), and state of charge (“
SOC”
), wherein object internal resistance is determined by evaluating
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Abstract
A battery tester for efficiently extracting intrinsic characteristics of a battery. The battery tester comprises a sensing unit, a controller, a bi-directional power converter, and an energy storage unit so that energy discharged from a battery during testing is stored in the energy storage unit and recycled back to the battery. The battery tester uses a high current pulse test and a switching excitation test with a modified particle swarm optimization algorithm to analyze precise model parameters that can be used to describe the health conditions of a battery.
11 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An object tester for evaluating intrinsic characteristics of an object that is configured to accept bi-directional power flow, comprising:
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a. at least one sensor for sensing voltage and current; b. an energy storage unit for temporarily storing power from the object; c. a bi-directional power converter for facilitating energy transfer between the object and the energy storage unit; d. a controller for controlling the bi-directional power converter, the controller comprising a processor, a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, and instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable storage medium, which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform an object test method, wherein the object test method comprises transferring energy from the object to the energy storage unit and transferring energy from the energy storage unit to the object using the bi-directional power converter; and e. a display, wherein a user interface on the display provides controls operable for selecting the object test method; f. a power supply, whereby the power supply supplies energy to the object tester in order to test a deeply discharged object; g. wherein the object test method is selected from a first test mode for quick evaluation of the object or a second test mode for precise evaluation of the object, wherein the first test mode comprises a high current pulse test and the second test mode comprises the high current pulse test and a switching excitation test; h. wherein the high current pulse test comprises drawing a high current from the object to the energy storage unit over a short period of time, returning energy from the energy storage unit to the object, and measuring voltage and current changes using the at least one sensor; i. wherein the switching excitation test comprises transferring energy from the object to the energy storage unit and transferring energy from the energy storage unit to the object at a fixed frequency, and measuring voltage and current using the at least one sensor; j. wherein the first test mode determines object internal resistance, cold cranking ampere (“
CCA”
), and state of charge (“
SOC”
), wherein object internal resistance is determined by evaluating - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An object tester for evaluating intrinsic characteristics of an object that is configured to accept bi-directional power flow, comprising:
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a. at least one sensor for sensing voltage and current; b. an energy storage unit for temporarily storing power from the object, wherein the energy storage unit comprises a supercapacitor; c. a bi-directional power converter for facilitating energy transfer between the object and the energy storage unit; d. a controller for controlling the bi-directional power converter, the controller comprising; i. a processor, a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, and instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable storage medium, which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform at least one object test method, wherein the at least one object test method comprises transferring energy from the object to the energy storage unit and transferring energy from the energy storage unit to the object using the bi-directional power converter; ii. wherein the at least one object test method further comprises conducting a switching excitation test, wherein the switching excitation test comprises transferring energy from the object to the energy storage unit and transferring energy from the energy storage unit to the object at a fixed frequency, and measuring voltage and current using the at least one sensor. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An object tester for evaluating intrinsic characteristics of an object that is configured to accept bi-directional power flow, comprising:
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a. at least one sensor for sensing voltage and current; b. an energy storage unit for temporarily storing power from the object, wherein the energy storage unit comprises a supercapacitor; c. a bi-directional power converter for facilitating energy transfer between the object and the energy storage unit; d. a controller for controlling the bi-directional power converter, the controller comprising; i. a processor, a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, and instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable storage medium, which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform at least one object test method, wherein the at least one object test method comprises transferring energy from the object to the energy storage unit and transferring energy from the energy storage unit to the object using the bi-directional power converter; e. wherein the object characteristics determined are object internal resistance, cold cranking ampere (“
CCA”
), and state of charge (“
SOC”
), wherein object internal resistance is determined by evaluating
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12. A method of testing objects for intrinsic characteristics, the method comprising:
at a circuit having a controller, a bi-directional power converter, an energy storage unit, and at least one sensor, wherein the energy storage unit comprises a supercapacitor; a. performing an object test method, wherein the object test method comprises; i. recording a voltage and current of an object; ii. directing the controller to transfer energy from the object to the energy storage unit using the bi-directional power converter; iii. directing the controller to transfer energy from the energy storage unit to the object using the bi-directional power converter; and iv. measuring voltage and current of the circuit using the at least one sensor; and b. determining intrinsic characteristics of the object based on measured voltage and current of the circuit. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
Specification