Tester for equipment, apparatus, or component with distributed processing function

• US 20140107976A1
• Filed: 10/15/2012
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Battery Technology Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Battery Technology Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Kallfelz, Andrew F., Rumsey, Gary T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,619,612 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4285 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A tester for equipment, apparatuses, or components with distributed measurement and analytical functions comprises a simplified test circuit for obtaining key data representative of the operational characteristics of said equipment, apparatus, or component and transmitting these to a sophisticated device capable of other uses, such as a smart phone or tablet computer. The latter analyzes the raw data with reference to values for nominal characteristics or operation of the equipment, apparatus, or component and provides a result indicative of the condition thereof.

Claims

1. A tester for equipment, apparatus, or component, having distributed measurement and analytical functions, comprising:

A) a testing device adapted to be connected to a piece of equipment, an apparatus, or a component to be tested and to obtain data indicative of the condition of said equipment, apparatus, or component, and to communicate values representative of said data to a smart device; and

B) a smart device independent from the testing device, capable of other uses, and adapted by software stored therein to

     1) receive said values communicated by said testing device;

     2) analyze the received values to determine the condition of the equipment, apparatus, or component to be tested; and

     3) provide an indication of the condition of said equipment, apparatus, or component to be tested.

2. The tester of claim 1, wherein said smart device is further adapted by software stored therein to receive nominal data in respect of said predetermined equipment, apparatus, or component to be tested, and compare the determined condition of the equipment, apparatus or component to be tested to the nominal data corresponding thereto.

3. The tester of claim 1, wherein said values representative of said data obtained by said testing device are transferred from said testing device to said smart device by displaying an optical code readable by said smart device on a screen comprised by said testing device, and wherein said smart device is further adapted by software to read said optical code using an image sensor device comprised thereby and derive said values representative of said data obtained by said tester therefrom.

4. The tester of claim 3, wherein said optical code is a bar code.

5. The tester of claim 3, wherein said optical code is a two-dimensional code.

6. The tester of claim 5, wherein said two-dimensional code is a QR code.

7. The tester of claim 1, wherein said smart device capable of other uses is a smart phone.

8. The tester of claim 1, wherein said smart device capable of other uses is a tablet computer.

9. The tester of claim 1, wherein said smart device is further adapted by software to transmit said determined indication of the condition of said equipment, apparatus, or component to be tested to a remote computer device.

10. The tester of claim 3, wherein said smart device is further adapted by software to employ an image sensor device comprised thereby to read an identification of said equipment, apparatus, or components to be tested.

11. The tester of claim 1, wherein said equipment, apparatus, or component is a battery.

12. The tester of claim 11, wherein said smart device is further adapted by software to employ an image sensor device comprised thereby to read an identification of a vehicle with which said battery is associated.

13. The tester of claim 1, wherein said equipment, apparatus, or components is a vehicle, and said testing device is adapted to be connected to an on-board diagnostic (OBD) port of said vehicle and download data indicative of the condition of said vehicle therefrom.

14. The tester of claim 1, wherein said smart device is further adapted by software to receive nominal data in respect of said predetermined equipment, apparatus, or component to be tested by receiving an indication of the identification of said equipment, apparatus, or component and downloading said nominal data from the internet.

15. The tester of claim 14, wherein said smart device receives an indication of the identification of said equipment, apparatus, or component by user input.

16. The tester of claim 14, wherein said smart device receives an indication of the identification of said equipment, apparatus, or component by employing an image sensor device comprised by the smart device to read the identification of said equipment, apparatus, or component directly therefrom.

17. The tester of claim 1, wherein said equipment, apparatus, or component to be tested is a battery, and said data indicative of battery condition obtained by said testing device include at least an open-circuit voltage and an ohmic value.

18. The tester of claim 17, wherein said testing device measures further parameters during an engine starting sequence, during which said battery provides power to a starter motor to start an engine.

19. The tester of claim 18, wherein said further parameters include at least the minimum battery voltage experienced during said starting sequence.

20. The tester of claim 18, wherein said testing device first communicates values representative of said open-circuit voltage and an ohmic value to said smart device and subsequently communicates values representative of said further parameters to said smart device.

21. The tester of claim 18, wherein said testing device communicates said values representative of said open-circuit voltage and an ohmic value and said values representative of said further parameters by successive display of one or more machine-readable codes readable by said smart device.

22. The tester of claim 1, wherein said equipment, apparatus, or component to be tested is a battery, and said data indicative of battery condition measured by said testing device includes at least a minimum battery voltage experienced during an engine starting sequence, during which said battery provides power to a starter motor to start an engine.

23. The tester of claim 17, wherein said battery testing device is connected to a battery to be tested by Kelvin clamps and cables carrying plural conductors.

24. A method of determining the condition of a piece of equipment, an apparatus, or a component, comprising the steps of:

1) connecting a simplified testing device to said apparatus;

2) employing said simplified testing device to obtain data indicative of the condition of the equipment, apparatus or component;

3) displaying on a display screen comprised by said testing device a machine-readable optical code readable by a smart device, said code including said data obtained indicative of the condition of said equipment, apparatus, or component;

4) employing a smart device capable of other uses to read said code from said display screen; and

5) employing said smart device to evaluate the determined condition of the equipment, apparatus, or component from said data included in said code.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said machine-readable optical code displayed on the display screen comprised by said testing device and read therefrom by said smart device is a bit mapped code.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said bit mapped code displayed on the display screen comprised by said testing device and read therefrom by said smart device is a QR code.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein said machine-readable optical code displayed on the display screen comprised by said testing device and read therefrom by said smart device is a bar code.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein said smart device capable of other uses is a smart phone.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein said smart device capable of other uses is a tablet computer.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein said smart device is further adapted by software to transmit said determined indication of the condition of said equipment, apparatus, or component to be tested to a remote computer device.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein said smart device is further adapted by software to employ an image sensor device comprised thereby to read an identification of said equipment, apparatus, or component to be tested.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said equipment, apparatus, or component is a battery.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said identification of said equipment, apparatus, or component is an identifying characteristic of a vehicle with which said battery is associated.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said equipment, apparatus, or component is a battery, and said identification of said equipment, apparatus, or component is the license plate number or vehicle identification number (VIN) of a vehicle with which said battery is associated.

35. The method of claim 24, wherein said smart device is further adapted by software to receive nominal data in respect of said predetermined equipment, apparatus, or component to be tested.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said smart device is further adapted by software to compare said nominal data to the determined condition of said equipment, apparatus, or component.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said smart device is further adapted by software to output a qualitative result indicative of the condition of said equipment, apparatus, or component responsive to said comparison step.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein said smart device is further adapted by software to receive nominal data in respect of said predetermined equipment, apparatus, or component to be tested by receiving an indication of an identification of said equipment, apparatus, or component and downloading said nominal data from the internet

39. The method of claim 24, wherein said equipment, apparatus, or component to be tested is a battery, and said data indicative of said determined condition of said battery obtained by said testing device include at least an open-circuit voltage and an ohmic value.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said testing device measures further parameters of said battery during an engine starting sequence, during which said battery provides power to a starter motor to start an engine.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said further parameters include at least the minimum battery voltage experienced during said starting sequence.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein said testing device first communicates values representative of said open-circuit voltage and an ohmic value to said smart device and subsequently communicates values representative of said further parameters to said smart device.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said testing device communicates said values representative of said open-circuit voltage and an ohmic value and said values representative of said further parameters by successive display of more than one machine-readable optical codes readable by said smart device.

44. The method of claim 24, wherein said equipment, apparatus, or component to be tested is a battery, and said data indicative of said determined condition of said battery obtained by said testing device includes at least the minimum voltage reached by said battery during starting of an engine.

45. The method of claim 39, wherein said testing device is connected to a battery to be tested by Kelvin clamps and cables having plural conductors.