Part tester and method

• US 20040251907A1
• Filed: 06/11/2003
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bright Solutions Incorporated (Bright Solutions)
• Original Assignee: Bright Solutions Incorporated (Bright Solutions)
• Inventors: Kalley, Terrence D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,129,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/36 Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/386 using test-loads
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/389 Measuring internal impedance, internal conductance or related variables

Abstract

A part tester can be configured to prevent part warranty fraud by requiring the input of unique part identifying information into a part tester prior to initiation of the testing. By configuring the tester and the information input correctly, warranty fraud can be minimized.

Claims

1. A method of testing an automobile battery comprising:

acquiring battery identifying information with a battery testing device; and

testing a characteristic of the battery with the battery testing device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein testing includes exposing the battery to a very high frequency load pulse and measuring an internal resistance of the battery.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein testing includes:

applying a first load to the battery for a first time period;

measuring a first voltage at the end of the first time period;

removing the load;

measuring a first recovery voltage at the end of a first recovery time period;

applying a second load to the battery for a second time period;

measuring a second voltage at the end of the second time period;

removing the load;

measuring a second recovery voltage at the end of a second recovery time period; and

comparing the first voltage and the second voltage to determine the characteristic.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein testing includes:

creating a balance circuit between the battery and an adjustment circuit;

adjusting the adjustment circuit with an adjustment factor until the battery and the adjustment circuit are in equilibrium; and

calculating the conductance of the battery using the adjustment factor.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein acquiring battery identifying information includes reading a bar code.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising identifying the battery with the battery identifying information.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the bar code is affixed to the battery.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein acquiring battery identifying information includes receiving a signal from the battery.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein acquiring battery identifying information includes inputting at least a portion of the battery identifying information from the battery with a manual input device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein acquiring battery identifying information includes scanning the information from the battery.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein acquiring battery identifying information includes receiving light from an emission source associated with the battery.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein acquiring battery identifying information includes reading a portion of the information from a chip associated with the battery.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery identifying information is coded.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the code includes an alphanumeric code.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the code includes a pictographic code.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the code includes an electromagnetic signal.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the code includes a bar code.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery identifying information indicates a cold crank amperage of the battery.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a dealer part code of the battery in a report.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a warranty line number of the battery in a report.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery identifying information includes Japanese standard information for the battery.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery identifying information includes SAE standard information for the battery.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery identifying information includes DIN specification information for the battery.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery identifying information includes IEC standard information for the battery.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery identifying information includes EN standard information for the battery.

26. An apparatus for testing a battery comprising:

a battery tester; and

an input device associated with the battery tester.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the input device is configured to receive battery identifying information.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the input device is configured to transmit battery identifying information to the battery tester.

29. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the input device includes a scanner.

30. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the input device includes a bar code reader.

31. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the input device includes a mouse.

32. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the input device includes a keyboard.

33. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the input device includes a touchpad.

34. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the input device includes a card reader.

35. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the input device includes a touchscreen.

36. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the input device includes a signal receiver.

37. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the battery tester has a testing cable for testing the battery, the testing cable having a length and configuration that requires the input device to read battery identifying information from the battery when the testing cable is attached to the battery.

38. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the input device is integrated into the battery tester.

39. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the battery tester is a pulsed impedance battery tester.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the input device is a bar code reader.

41. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the input device is a signal receiver.

42. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the battery tester has a testing cable for testing the battery, the testing cable having a length and configuration that requires the input device to read battery identifying information from the battery when the testing cable is attached to the battery.

43. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the battery tester includes a testing cable, the testing cable including a sensor that interacts with the tester.

44. A method of preventing automotive battery warranty fraud comprising:

acquiring battery identifying information from a battery with an input device; and

testing a characteristic of the battery with the battery tester.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein testing occurs after acquiring the battery identifying information.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein testing occurs prior to acquiring the battery identifying information.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein testing occurs while acquiring the battery identifying information.

48. The method of claim 44 further comprising attaching the battery tester to the battery.

49. The method of claim 44 wherein the battery tester includes a positive cable, a negative cable, and, optionally, an amps probe.

50. The method of claim 49 further comprising attaching the positive cable to a positive electrode of the battery and the negative cable to the negative electrode of the battery.

51. The method of claim 44 further comprising attaching an amps probe to a negative battery electrode.

52. The method of claim 44 further comprising associating the battery identifying information with the battery.

53. The method of claim 44 further comprising verifying the battery identifying information.

54. The method of claim 44 further comprising activating the battery tester after the battery identifying information is received.

55. The method of claim 44 further comprising providing an error signal when the battery tester is disconnected from the battery after acquiring the battery identifying information and before testing the battery.

56. The method of claim 44 wherein acquiring includes receiving a signal from a chip associated with the battery.

57. The method of claim 44 further comprising providing a report indicating the characteristic and verifying the identity of the battery.

58. The method of 57 wherein providing the report includes indicating completion of a nonfraudulent test.

59. A system for preventing battery warranty fraud comprising:

a battery tester;

an input device associated with the battery tester; and

a battery identifying information associated with the battery.

60. The system of claim 59 wherein the input device is associated with the battery tester in a manner requiring input of battery identifying information from the battery.

61. The system of claim 59 further comprising a communication device attached to the battery tester.

62. The system of claim 61 wherein the communication device allows the battery tester to access a database stored separately from the battery tester.

63. The system of claim 60 wherein the database verifies the identifying information received through the input device.

64. The system of claim 60 wherein the battery tester includes a verification unit that refuses to report a battery test result unless the input device provides battery identifying information corresponding to the battery.

65. A method of minimizing automobile part warranty fraud comprising:

acquiring part identifying information capable of verifying the identity of a part; and

testing a characteristic of the automobile part.

66. The method of claim 65 further comprising identifying the part and reporting the characteristic.