SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING THE STATUS OF A VEHICLE BATTERY SYSTEM

• US 20150154816A1
• Filed: 12/04/2013
• Published: 06/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Original Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Inventors: Chen, Ieon C., Pham, Phuong
• Granted Patent: US 9,761,066 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/343 in operation
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/371 with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means

Abstract

A system for monitoring the status of a vehicle utilizing a monitoring unit and a receiver unit. The monitoring unit is operatively connectable to the vehicle via a diagnostic port and detects the voltage output by the vehicle'"'"'s battery when the vehicle'"'"'s engine is turned on and off, and voltage output by the alternator while the engine is running. From these voltage measurements, the monitoring unit determine the operational status of the vehicle'"'"'s battery and alternator by comparison to predefined criteria, such as optimal voltage ranges or a threshold minimum voltage. When the monitoring unit detects that the vehicle'"'"'s battery or alternator may be malfunctioning, a signal indicating a malfunction is transmitted to the receiver unit, for example the driver'"'"'s cellular phone, which will generate a warning notification alerting the operator to the existence and component responsible for the malfunction.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a vehicle status for a vehicle having a battery and an alternator, the method comprising the steps of:

as the vehicle is being started, detecting on a monitoring unit a voltage fluctuation of the voltage output by the battery, the voltage fluctuation having signal attributes characteristic of initiation of a starter motor;

measuring on the monitoring unit a vehicle minimum voltage of the voltage fluctuation;

after the vehicle has started, measuring on the monitoring unit a vehicle running voltage output by the alternator;

comparing on the monitoring unit the vehicle running voltage to a first predefined criteria to determine a vehicle alternator status representative of an operational condition of the alternator;

after the vehicle has been turned off, measuring on the monitoring unit a vehicle off voltage output at the battery; and

comparing on the monitoring unit the vehicle minimum voltage and the vehicle off voltage according to a second predefined criteria to determine a vehicle battery status representative of an operational condition of the battery.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating on the monitoring unit an alternator status signal representative of the determined operation condition of the alternator;

communicating the alternator status signal from the monitoring unit to a receiver unit; and

generating a warning notification on the receiver unit when the received alternator status signal is representative of a malfunctioning operational condition.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating on the monitoring unit a battery status signal representative of the determined operational condition of the battery;

communicating the battery status signal from the monitoring unit to a receiver unit; and

generating a warning notification on the receiver unit when the received battery status signal is representative of a malfunctioning operational condition.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first predefined criteria comprises a voltage range representative of a voltage output of a properly functioning alternator, and wherein the vehicle alternator status is determined to be in a malfunctioning operational condition when the vehicle running voltage is determined to be outside of the voltage range.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the voltage range is from 13.2 volts to 15.1 volts.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second predefined criteria comprises a set of conditions representative of a properly functioning battery.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the set of conditions are set forth in the decision matrix of Table 1.

8. A system for monitoring a vehicle status with a monitoring unit, the monitoring unit comprising:

a monitoring circuit in electrical communication with a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU) for receiving from the ECU;

a vehicle minimum voltage output by the battery during initiation of a starter motor;

a vehicle running voltage output by the alternator while the vehicle is running; and

a vehicle off battery voltage output by the battery after the vehicle has been subsequently turned off; and

a data processor in communication with the monitoring circuit for receiving and storing the vehicle minimum voltage, the vehicle running voltage, and the vehicle off voltage, the voltage data processor being operative to compare the vehicle running voltage to a predetermined running voltage range and to generate an alternator malfunction signal in response to a determination that the vehicle running voltage is outside a predetermined running voltage range;

the data processor further being operative to compare the minimum battery voltage and the subsequent vehicle off voltage and to generate a battery malfunction signal in response to a determination that the battery is not sufficiently retaining a charge.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the predetermined running voltage range is from 13.2 to 15.1 volts.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein a battery malfunction signal is also generated in response to a determination that the vehicle minimum voltage is below a predetermined minimum battery output level.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the monitoring unit is operatively connectable to the vehicle ECU via a vehicle diagnostic port.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the system further includes a receiver unit, and monitoring unit further comprises a wireless communication circuit in communication with the data processor for wirelessly communicating the alternator malfunction signal or the battery malfunction signal to the receiver unit.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the receiver unit is a cellular telephone.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the receiver unit comprises a wireless receiver for receiving the alternator malfunction signal or the battery malfunction signal from the monitoring unit.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the monitoring unit is further operative to retrieve vehicle identification information from the vehicle ECU, and is operative to wirelessly communicate the vehicle identification information to the receiver unit.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the vehicle identifying information comprises a vehicle identification number (VIN).

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the receiver unit is operable to receive alternator malfunction signals or battery malfunction signals from multiple monitoring units.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the receiver unit is operative to generate an alternator malfunction warning notification in response to receipt on the receiver unit of the alternator malfunction signal.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the receiver unit is further operative to generate a battery malfunction warning notification in response to receipt on the receiver unit of the battery malfunction signal.

20. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium readable by a data processing apparatus including an output device, the medium tangibly embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by the data processing apparatus to perform a method for monitoring a vehicle alternator and battery status, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving on the data processing apparatus an alternator status signal or a battery status signal; and

generating a warning notification on the output device in response to receipt of an alternator status signal corresponding to a vehicle alternator status representative of a malfunctioning alternator or a battery status signal corresponding to a vehicle battery status representative of a malfunctioning battery.

21. A system for monitoring a vehicle status, the system comprising:

a monitoring unit comprising;

a monitoring circuit in electrical communication with a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU) for receiving from the ECU;

a vehicle minimum voltage output by the battery during initiation of a starter motor;

a vehicle running voltage output by the alternator while the vehicle is running;

a vehicle off voltage output by the battery after the vehicle has been subsequently turned off;

a wireless communication circuit in communication with the monitoring circuit for transmitting the vehicle minimum voltage, the vehicle running voltage, and the vehicle off voltage;

a receiver unit comprising;

a wireless receiver for receiving the vehicle minimum voltage, the vehicle running voltage, and the vehicle off voltage; and

a data processor in communication with the wireless receiver for receiving and storing the vehicle minimum voltage, the vehicle running voltage, and the vehicle off voltage, the voltage data processor being operative to compare the vehicle running voltage to a predetermined running voltage range and to generate an alternator malfunction signal in response to a determination that the vehicle running voltage is outside the predetermined running voltage range;

the data processor further being operative to compare the vehicle minimum voltage and the subsequent vehicle off voltage and to generate a battery malfunction signal in response to a determination that the battery is not sufficiently retaining a charge.

22. The system of claim 22, wherein a battery malfunction signal is also generated in response to a determination that the vehicle minimum voltage is below a predetermined minimum battery output level.

23. A method for monitoring a hybrid vehicle status for a hybrid vehicle having a battery and an alternator, the method comprising the steps of:

As the vehicle is running, measuring on the monitoring unit a vehicle running voltage output by the alternator;

comparing on the monitoring unit the vehicle running voltage to a first predefined criteria to determine a vehicle alternator status representative of an operational condition of the alternator;

after the vehicle has been turned off, receiving on the monitoring unit a battery status output at the battery control module; and

comparing on the monitoring unit the battery status output to a second predefined criteria to determine a vehicle battery status representative of an operational condition of the battery.