VERFAHREN ZUR UBERWACHUNG DER RESTSTANDZEIT EINER BATTERIE

• US 20100283472A1
• Filed: 08/06/2009
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endress+Hauser Process Solutions AG
• Original Assignee: Endress+Hauser Process Solutions AG
• Inventors: Thoren, Werner, Probst, Stefan, Seiler, Christian, Laible, Ingo
• Granted Patent: US 8,766,643 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/433
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3832 without measurement of battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health
• 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

Abstract

A method for monitoring the remaining service life of a battery used for operating a field device in automation technology. The present power consumption of the battery is ascertained. Then, during a first phase of life, power consumption of the battery ascertained during operation of the field device is compared with a predetermined threshold value. In the case of exceeding the predetermined threshold value, during a second phase of life, the battery is exposed to defined load spikes at predetermined time intervals. Voltage collapses corresponding to the defined load spikes are detected, and a warning report is generated when the voltage collapses reach a predetermined maximum limit value.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. A method for monitoring the remaining service life of a battery used for operating a field device in automation technology, comprising the steps of:

ascertaining the present power consumption of the battery;

during a first phase of life, power consumption of the battery during the operation of the field device is compared with a predetermined threshold value;

in the case of exceeding the predetermined threshold value, during a second phase of life, the battery is exposed at predetermined time intervals to defined load spikes;

voltage collapses corresponding to the defined load spikes are detected; and

a warning report is generated when the voltage collapses reach a predetermined maximum limit value.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

operating the field device intermittently between operating phases and resting phases.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

ascertaining during operating of the field device, electrical current provided by the battery and integrated over time; and

ascertaining by means of the ascertained values, power consumption of the field device or remaining power capacity of the battery.

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

during operating phases, the field device is operated in various operating states; and

a defined power consumption of the battery or a battery type is associated with each operating state of the field device.

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

power consumptions of the various operating states of the battery or battery type are empirically ascertained or calculated.

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

power consumption of the battery or the respective battery type is stored as a function of the arising operating states or ascertained during the operating phase; and

reaching of the predetermined threshold value is signaled when the sum of the power consumptions of arising operating states reaches or exceeds the upper threshold value.

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

the upper threshold value is signaled when the power capacity of the battery falls to at least half of the power capacity available to the battery in its unused state.

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

total consumption of the battery or battery type over its lifespan is stored as a function of process conditions reigning at the location of use of the battery.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein:

an optimized threshold value is ascertained as a function of ascertained lifespan of the battery under process conditions reigning at the location of use.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein:

total power consumption at the end of the life of the battery is used for calculating and optimizing the threshold value for use of a following battery of the same type.

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

time intervals, in which the battery is exposed to defined overload spikes, are varied.

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

from the difference between present power consumption and the capacity of the battery, a remaining run time for operation of the field device is determined taking into consideration each of the operating states of the field device.