Battery sensor and method for the operation of a battery sensor
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Abstract
A battery sensor has a current meter, an analytical unit, and a microprocessor. During an idle phase, in which the electrical main user, provided with a battery, is switched off, the following steps are carried out. The microprocessor is switched off. At given intervals the measured signal from the current meter is recorded for a given first duration by the analytical unit and allocated first current values which are monitored in the analytical unit for exceeding a first current threshold or dropping below a second current threshold. On exceeding or dropping below the current thresholds, the microprocessor is switched on and, for a given second duration, the measured signal from the current meter is recorded by the analytical unit and allocated second current values which are then analysed in the microprocessor. Procedures for obtaining the electrical charge of the battery by the microprocessor are initiated when a given condition is met, which is dependent on the second current values. The first duration is set smaller than the second duration.
36 Citations
28 Claims
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1-14. -14. (canceled)
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15. A method for operating a battery sensor, the method which comprises:
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providing the battery sensor with an ammeter for determining a battery current, an evaluation unit, and a microprocessor, and performing the following method steps during an idle phase in which main electrical consumers assigned to a battery are switched off;
directing the microprocessor into a switched-off state;
at given first time intervals, acquiring a test signal from the ammeter for a given first time duration with the evaluation unit and assigning thereto first current values, monitoring the values in the evaluation unit to check whether a first threshold current has been exceeded and/or whether a second threshold current has been undershot;
when the first threshold current value is exceeded or the second threshold current is undershot, moving the microprocessor into a switched-on state and acquiring, for a given second time duration, the test signal from the ammeter with the evaluation unit and assigning thereto second current values, and evaluating the values in the microprocessor; and
if certain conditions depending on the second current values are met, initiating given procedures for maintaining an electric charge in the battery by the microprocessor; and
wherein the first time duration is shorter than the second time duration. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A battery sensor, comprising:
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an ammeter for determining a battery current, an evaluation unit, and a microprocessor, configured such that, during an idle phase in which main electrical consumers assigned to a battery are switched off;
said microprocessor is switched off;
said evaluation unit is configured to determine, at given first time intervals, a test signal from said ammeter for a given first time duration, and to assign thereto first current values, said evaluation unit monitoring the values to check whether a first threshold current value has been exceeded and/or whether the current has dropped below a second threshold current value;
when the current has exceeded the first current value or has dropped below the second threshold current value, said microprocessor is placed in a switched-on state and for a given second time duration, the test signal from said ammeter is determined by said evaluation unit and second current values are assigned thereto, the values then being evaluated in said microprocessor;
said microprocessor initiating given procedures for maintaining the electric charge in the battery if a given condition depending on the second current values is met; and
wherein the first time duration is shorter than the second time duration. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification