METHOD FOR MONITORING THE STATE OF CHARGE, OR REMAINING CAPACITY, OF A DISPOSABLE OR RECHARGEABLE BATTERY

• US 20100261044A1
• Filed: 08/03/2009
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endress+Hauser Process Solutions AG
• Original Assignee: Endress+Hauser Process Solutions AG
• Inventors: Laible, Ingo, Thoren, Werner, Probst, Stefan, Seiler, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 9,438,047 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/92
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method for monitoring charge level or remaining capacity of a battery pack, a disposable battery or a rechargeable battery, which is used to supply energy for an automation technology, field device having a data storage unit associated with the battery pack, disposable battery or rechargeable battery. Specific information about the battery pack, disposable battery or rechargeable battery is stored in the data storage unit and process-specific and operation-specific information about energy consumption is written to the data storage unit. In the case of the battery pack, disposable battery or rechargeable battery being used in a second automation technology field device, remaining service life of the battery pack, the disposable battery or the rechargeable battery is calculated and output on the basis of the process- and operation-specific information.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A method for monitoring the charge level or remaining capacity of a battery pack, a disposable battery or a rechargeable battery, which is used to supply energy for an automation technology, field device having a data storage unit associated with the battery pack, disposable battery or rechargeable battery, comprising the steps of:

storing specific information about the battery pack, disposable battery or rechargeable battery in the data storage unit;

writing process-specific and operation-specific information about energy consumption to the data storage unit; and

in the case of the battery pack, disposable battery or rechargeable battery being used in a second automation technology, field device, the remaining service life of the battery pack, the disposable battery or the rechargeable battery is calculated and output on the basis of the process- and operation-specific information.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

storage of the process- and/or operation-specific information is manually initiated.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

the storage of the process- and/or operation-specific information occurs automatically.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

the process-specific and operation-specific information concerning energy consumption is written to the data storage unit in an event-controlled manner.

15. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

the process-specific and operation-specific information concerning energy consumption is written to the data storage unit (24) as a function of time.

16. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

the stored information is taken into consideration for diagnosis of the battery pack, the disposable battery or the rechargeable battery.

17. An apparatus for monitoring the charge level or remaining capacity of a battery pack, a disposable battery or a rechargeable battery, which is used to supply energy for an automation technology, field device, comprising

a data storage unit for the field device;

wherein;

said battery pack is provided with a plurality of disposable batteries;

said data storage unit, especially an EEPROM, is associated with the battery pack;

specific information about the battery pack, disposable battery or rechargeable battery is stored in said data storage unit;

process-specific and operation-specific information about energy consumption is written to said data storage unit; and

in the case of the battery pack;

disposable battery or rechargeable battery being used in a second automation technology, field device, the remaining service life of the battery pack, the disposable battery or the rechargeable battery is calculated and output on the basis of the process-and operation-specific information.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

the specific information concerning the battery pack, the disposable battery or the rechargeable battery involves information that allows the battery pack, the disposable battery or the rechargeable battery to be uniquely identified.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

the process-specific and operation-specific information concerning energy consumption is written to said data storage unit in an event-controlled manner; and

event involves a process with high energy consumption, e.g. configuring or parametering the field device.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

the battery pack, the disposable battery or the rechargeable battery is integrated into the field device or into an adapter on the field device for radio transmission of data between the field device and a superordinated control unit.