Scan tool for electronic battery tester

• US 20050057256A1
• Filed: 10/05/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I.
• Granted Patent: US 7,446,536 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/417 using cells , i.e. more than one cell and probes with solid electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/06 Measuring leads; Measuring probes G01R19/145, G01R19/165 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00
• 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 31/3648 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

A cable for connecting to an electronic battery tester, includes a first end configured to couple to a databus of a vehicle and a second end configured to couple to the electronic battery tester. An electrical connection extends between the first end and the second end and is configured to couple the electronic battery tester to the databus of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A cable for connecting to an electronic battery tester, comprising:

a first end configured to couple to a databus of a vehicle;

a second end configured to couple to the electronic battery tester; and

an electrical connection extending between the first end and the second end configured to couple the electronic battery tester to the databus of the vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including scan tool circuitry configured to couple the first end to the second end.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the scan tool circuitry includes an On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) interface.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the scan tool circuitry includes a microprocessor.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the scan tool circuitry includes a battery tester I/O circuit.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the scan tool circuitry includes a memory.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the memory is configured to store information received from the battery tester.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the scan tool circuitry includes a user input.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the scan tool circuitry includes a display.

10. An electronic battery tester configured to couple to the second end of the cable of claim 1.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 including a Kelvin connection configured to couple to the battery.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the battery tester is configured to measure a dynamic parameter of the battery as a function of an applied forcing function.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the battery tester is configured to transmit instructions to the scan tool.

14. A method for connecting an electronic battery tester to a data bus of a vehicle, comprising:

coupling a first end of a cable to the data bus of a vehicle;

coupling a second end of the cable to the electronic battery tester; and

electrically connecting the first end and the second end and coupling the electronic battery tester to the data bus of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the cable scan tool circuitry configured to couple the first end to the second end.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the scan tool circuitry includes an On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) interface.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the scan tool circuitry includes a microprocessor.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the scan tool circuitry includes a battery tester I/O circuit.

19. The method of claim 15 including storing information in a memory of the scan tool circuitry.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the memory is configured to store information received from the battery tester.

21. The method of claim 17 including receiving a user input.

22. The method of claim 17 including displaying information on a display of the scan tool circuitry.

23. The method of claim 17 including performing a battery test with the battery tester.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein performing the battery test includes measuring a parameter of the battery through Kelvin connections coupled to the battery.

25. The method of claim 24 including measuring a dynamic parameter of the battery as a function of an applied forcing function.

26. The method of claim 23 including transmitting instructions to the scan tool from the battery tester.

27. An apparatus for connecting an electronic battery tester to a data bus of a vehicle, comprising:

means for electrically coupling to the data bus of the vehicle;

means for electrically coupling to the electronic battery tester; and

scan tool means for communication with the data bus of the vehicle and for interfacing with electronic circuitry in the electronic battery tester.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 includes a memory means for storing information.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the memory means is for storing information received from the battery tester.

30. The apparatus of claim 27 including means for receiving a user input.

31. The apparatus of claim 27 including means for displaying information.