Battery clamp with embedded environment sensor

• US 6,469,511 B1
• Filed: 07/18/2001
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I., Vonderhaar, J. David
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/908,278
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 324/425, 324/426, 324/431, 324/432, 324/438, 361/619, 361/620, 320/132, 320/147, 320/150, 320/DIG.17, 320/DIG.21
• US Class Current: 324/425
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4285 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/17 Sensing of "gassing" voltage

Abstract

An apparatus configured to couple to a battery contact is provided. The apparatus includes an electrical connector for connection to a battery contact and an environment sensor integrated with the electrical connector, the environment sensor senses changes in a battery environment during battery charging or testing. In addition, a method of coupling an electrical circuit to a battery contact is provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus configured to couple to a battery, comprising:

an electrical connector adapted for electrical connection to a battery contact; and

an environment sensor coupled to the electrical connector, the environment sensor adapted to sense changes in a battery environment during battery charging or testing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is adapted to electrically couple a single ended electrical connection to the battery contact.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is adapted to electrically couple a Kelvin connection to the battery contact.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector comprises:

an arm; and

a grasping member positioned at a front end of the arm and adapted to grip the battery contact.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector includes a bolt-on clamp.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector includes a clip-on clamp.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector comprises a Plier-Type clip.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector comprises an Alligator clip.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector comprises a Kelvin clip.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector comprises a Pee-Wee clip.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the environment sensor comprises a hazardous gas sensor.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the environment sensor comprises a combustible gas sensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the environment sensor comprises a multigas sensor adapted to sense a plurality of combustible and toxic gases.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the environment sensor comprises a non-contact infrared thermoplie temperature sensor.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the environment sensor comprises a conduit adapted to suck air from the battery environment to a remote location where the air is sensed for combustible and toxic gases.

16. A battery charger employing the electrical connector with coupled environment sensor of claim 1.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the environment sensor is coupled to a microprocessor included in the battery charger, such that feedback from the environment sensor is used to control operation of the battery charger.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the electrical connector includes a grasping member adapted to grip the battery contact by operation of a bolt and a nut included in the grasping member.

19. A battery tester employing the electrical connector with coupled environment sensor of claim 1.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 employed in an automobile.

21. A method of coupling an electrical circuit to a battery contact, the method comprising:

(a) providing an electrical connector adapted for electrical connection of the electrical circuit to the battery contact; and

(b) coupling an environment sensor to the electrical connector, the environment sensor adapted to sense changes in a battery environment during battery charging or testing.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the electrical connector is capable of electrically coupling a single ended electrical connection to the battery contact.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the electrical connector is capable of electrically coupling a Kelvin connection to the battery contact.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the providing an electrical connector step (a) includes providing a bolt-on clamp.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the providing an electrical connector step (a) includes providing a clip-on clamp.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the providing an electrical connector step (a) includes providing a Plier-Type clip.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the providing an electrical connector step (a) includes providing an Alligator clip.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the providing an electrical connector step (a) includes providing a Kelvin clip.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the providing an electrical connector step (a) includes providing a Pee-Wee clip.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the coupling an environment sensor step (b) includes coupling a hazardous gas sensor.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein the coupling an environment sensor step (b) includes coupling a combustible gas sensor.

32. The method of claim 21, wherein the coupling an environment sensor step (b) includes coupling a multigas sensor capable of sensing a plurality of combustible and toxic gases.

33. The method of claim 21, wherein the coupling an environment sensor step (b) includes coupling a temperature sensor.