Electronic battery tester

• US 20040189308A1
• Filed: 03/25/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I., Smith, Clark E., Knopf, Roger S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,891,378 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382

Abstract

An electronic battery tester connectable to a battery through any one of multiple cables. The tester includes an input that can couple to any one of the multiple cables. Also included is a memory that contains multiple calibration values, each calibration value corresponds to a different one of the multiple cables. Test circuitry, which is coupled to the input and to the memory, detects which one of the multiple cables is coupled to the input, and tests the battery as a function of one of the multiple calibration values that corresponds to the detected one of the multiple cables.

Claims

1. An electronic battery tester connectable to a battery through any one of a plurality cables, the tester comprising:

an input configured to couple to any one of the plurality of cables;

a memory configured to contain a plurality of calibration values, each calibration value of the plurality of calibration values corresponding to a different one of the plurality of cables; and

test circuitry, coupled to the input and to the memory, configured to detect which one of the plurality of cables is coupled to the input, and to test the battery as a function of one of the plurality of calibration values corresponding to the detected one of the plurality of cables.

2. The electronic battery tester of clam 1 wherein the test circuitry is configured to detect which one of the plurality of cables is coupled to the input by determining an identification characteristic of one of the plurality of cables which is coupled to the input, and wherein the determined identification characteristic is one of a plurality of identification characteristics, each one of the plurality of identification characteristics corresponding to a different one of the plurality of cables.

3. The electronic battery tester of claim 2 wherein the memory is further configured to store the plurality of identification characteristics, and wherein each calibration value of the plurality of calibration values corresponding to a different one of the plurality of identification characteristics.

4. The electronic battery tester of claim 2 wherein the tester is configured to test the battery as the function of the one of the plurality of calibration values corresponding to the determined identification characteristic.

5. The electronic battery tester of claim 2 wherein each one of the plurality of identification characteristics having a different resistance value.

6. The electronic battery tester of claim 2 wherein each one of the plurality of identification characteristics having a different capacitance value.

7. The electronic battery tester of claim 2 wherein each one of the plurality of identification characteristics having a different inductance value.

8. The electronic battery tester of claim 2 wherein the input is further configured to couple to a cable identification conductor of a plurality of cable identification conductors, each cable identification conductor included in the different one of the plurality of cables, and each cable identification characteristic included in a different one of the plurality of cable identification conductors.

9. The electronic battery tester of claim 8 wherein the test circuitry is configured to determine the cable identification characteristic included in the cable identification conductor, of the plurality of cable identification conductors, coupled to the input form a response of the cable identification conductor to an applied cable detection voltage.

10. An cable for coupling an electronic battery tester to a storage battery, the cable comprising:

a first Kelvin connector, including a first conductor and a second conductor, configured to couple a first battery terminal to the tester;

a second Kelvin connector, including a first conductor and a second conductor, configured to couple a second battery terminal to the tester; and

a cable identification conductor including an identification characteristic for detection by the battery tester.

11. The cable of claim 10 wherein the identification characteristic having a resistance value that can be determined by the tester.

12. The cable of claim 10 wherein the cable identification characteristic having a capacitance value that can be determined by the tester.

13. The cable of claim 10 wherein the cable identification characteristic having an inductance value that can be determined by the tester.

14. The cable of claim 10 wherein the cable identification characteristic is stored in a memory, included in the cable, form which the cable identification characteristic can be provided to the tester.

15. A method of testing a battery, comprising:

(a) providing an input configured to couple to terminals of the battery via any one of a plurality of cables;

(b) providing a plurality of calibration values, each calibration value of the plurality of calibration values corresponding to a different one of the plurality of cables;

(c) coupling the input to the terminals of the battery via one of the plurality of cables;

(d) detecting which one of the plurality of cables is coupled to the input; and

(e) testing the battery, via the input, as a function of one of the plurality of calibration values corresponding to the detected one of the plurality of cables.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the detecting step (d) comprising determining a resistance value of the one of the plurality of cables coupled to the input.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the detecting step (d) comprising determining a capacitance value of the one of the plurality of cables coupled to the input.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the detecting step (d) comprising determining an inductance value of the one of the plurality of cables coupled to the input.

19. An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery, comprising:

a first Kelvin connector configured to electrically couple to a first terminal of the battery;

a second Kelvin connector configured to electrically couple to a second terminal of the battery;

a plug having;

a first connector coupled to a first conductor of the first Kelvin connector,

a second connector coupled to a second conductor of the first Kelvin connector,

a third connector coupled to a first conductor of the second Kelvin connector,

a fourth connector coupled to a second conductor of the second Kelvin connector; and

a cable identification connector;

a memory configured to contain a first and a second calibration value;

test circuitry coupled to the first and second Kelvin connectors through the plug configured to test the storage battery as a function of the first calibration value if the cable identification connector has a first electrical value and as a function of the second calibration value if the cable identification connector has a second electrical value.