Method for monitoring automotive battery status
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring a vehicle storage battery, which comprises the steps of:
- (a) measuring continuously the ambient temperature, the battery voltage, the alternator/regulator output voltage, and the current to and from said battery;
(b) analyzing said current-voltage (I-V) data to determine the internal resistance and polarization of said battery said, internal resistance of said battery being determined from the instantaneous change in voltage at the beginning or at the end of a current input to or output from the battery which instantaneous change in voltage is caused by switching on or switching off charge pulse current to or discharge pulse current from said battery and said polarization of said battery being determined from a change in voltage during a predetermined time interval immediately following said instantaneous change;
(c) determining the state of charge, and fault conditions, including fault conditions produced by corroded terminals, and low electrolyte level;
(d) determining the low temperature starting limit by comparing the battery'"'"'s power output capability with starting power requirements of said vehicle; and
(e) indicating data produced by said comparison.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle storage battery is monitored to determine battery capacity, state of charge and certain fault conditions. The ambient temperature, battery voltage alternator/regulator output voltage and current to and from the battery are continuously measured. Current voltage (I-V) data is analyzed to determine the internal resistance and polarization of the battery. A determination is made regarding state of charge and fault conditions produced by corroded terminals and low electrolyte level. The low temperature starting limit is determined by comparing the battery'"'"'s power output capability with starting power requirements of the vehicle. Data produced by the comparison are indicated on the dashboard of the vehicle.
327 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring a vehicle storage battery, which comprises the steps of:
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(a) measuring continuously the ambient temperature, the battery voltage, the alternator/regulator output voltage, and the current to and from said battery; (b) analyzing said current-voltage (I-V) data to determine the internal resistance and polarization of said battery said, internal resistance of said battery being determined from the instantaneous change in voltage at the beginning or at the end of a current input to or output from the battery which instantaneous change in voltage is caused by switching on or switching off charge pulse current to or discharge pulse current from said battery and said polarization of said battery being determined from a change in voltage during a predetermined time interval immediately following said instantaneous change; (c) determining the state of charge, and fault conditions, including fault conditions produced by corroded terminals, and low electrolyte level; (d) determining the low temperature starting limit by comparing the battery'"'"'s power output capability with starting power requirements of said vehicle; and (e) indicating data produced by said comparison. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for monitoring a vehicle storage battery, which comprises the steps of:
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(a) measuring continuously the ambient temperature, the battery voltage, the alternator/regulator output voltage, and the current to and from said battery; (b) analysing said current-voltage (I-V) data to determine the internal resistance and polarization of said battery, and to determine therefrom battery life and fault conditions produced from corroded terminals and low electrolyte level; (c) determining the state of charge, and fault conditions by; (i) subjecting said battery to a special test cycle wherein a predetermined profile of current or voltage having increasing applied current or voltage (ramp up) and decreasing applied current or voltage (ramp down) directions is imposed onto the battery by the charging system and the battery response voltage or current is measured, the state of charge being determined from the current at which gas inside said battery stops evolving in the ramp down direction; (ii) evaluating the data in the forms, dV/dI versus I, or dI/dV versus V; (iii) determining the battery characteristics, including the capacity, and the voltage; (iv) determining the battery defects, including mismatched cell, soft-shorted cell, and loss of capacity; and (v) indicating said data and advice; (d) determining the low temperature starting limit by comparing the battery'"'"'s power output capability with starting power requirements of said vehicle, the determination of engine starting power requirements being made at various temperatures by extrapolating the power actually used by the engine at any one temperature using a predetermined mathematical function or graphical data that relates the battery'"'"'s power output capability with various temperatures; and (e) indicating data produced by said comparison.
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18. A method for monitoring a vehicle storage battery, which comprises the steps of:
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(a) measuring continuously the ambient temperature, the battery voltage, the alternator/regulator output voltage, and the current to and from said battery; (b) analysing said current-voltage (I-V) data to determine the internal resistance and polarization of said battery and to determine therefrom battery life and fault conditions produced from corroded terminals and low electrolyte level; (c) determining the state of charge, and fault conditions by; (i) subjecting said battery to a special test cycle wherein a predetermined profile of current or voltage having increasing applied current or voltage (ramp up) and decreasing applied current or voltage (ramp down) directions is imposed onto the battery by the charging system and the battery response voltage or current is measured; (ii) evaluating the data in the forms, dV/dI versus I, or dI/dV versus V; (iii) determining the battery characteristics, including the capacity, and the voltage, said battery capacity being determined from the current at which said battery starts evolving gas in said battery in the ramp up direction; (iv) determining the battery defects, including mismatched cell, soft-shorted cell, and loss of capacity; and (v) indicating said data and advice; (d) determining the low temperature starting limit by comparing the battery'"'"'s power output capability with starting power requirements of said vehicle, the determination of engine starting power requirements being made at various temperatures by extrapolating the power actually used by the engine at any one temperature using a predetermined mathematical function or graphical data that relates the battery'"'"'s power output capability with various temperatures; and (e) indicating data produced by said comparison.
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Specification