Method of diagnosing the state of health of a battery

• US 6,456,043 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2001
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Curtis Instruments Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Curtis Instruments Incorporated
• Inventors: Finger, Eugene P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Toatley, Gregory
• Application Number:
  US09/907,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20020060555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 320/137, 320/132, 320/130, 320/134, 324/427, 324/426
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/379 for lead-acid batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/396 Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0032 disconnection of loads if battery is not under charge, e.g. in vehicle if engine is not running

Abstract

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, a method of restoring charge to a battery operating with a predetermined terminal voltage, including: determining an expected rate of degradation of a plate or plates of a battery in terms of decrease of capacity per unit time and temperature of operation of the battery to determine a degree of degradation of capacity of the battery; and providing sufficient charge to the battery to restore a predetermined degree of the capacity of the battery. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a method of diagnosing state of health of a battery, including: restoring a theoretical amount of charge to a partially depleted battery; and examining how the battery responded to the step of restoring a theoretical amount of charge to the partially depleted battery to determine the state of health of the battery.

Claims

1. A method of diagnosing state of health of a battery, comprising:

(a) restoring a theoretical amount of charge to a partially depleted battery; and

(b) examining how said battery responded to said restoring a theoretical amount of charge to said partially depleted battery to determine said state of health of said battery.

2. A method of diagnosing state of health of a battery, as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

providing additional charge to said battery if said state of health of said battery is less than a predetermined level.

3. A method of diagnosing state of health of a battery, as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

providing an indication that said state of health of said battery does not fall in a predetermined range after said theoretical amount of charge has been restored to said partially depleted battery.

4. A method of diagnosing state of health of a battery, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said battery is provided as a back-up battery in a float charging system.

5. A method of diagnosing state of health of a battery, as defined in claim 4, wherein:

said battery remains on-line during said steps of restoring and examining.