Electronic battery tester

• US 6,707,303 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2001
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I., Butteris, Jamey
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Rajnikant B.
• Application Number:
  US09/992,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20020130665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 324/426, 324/425, 324/398, 702/63, 702/64
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/374 with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/379 for lead-acid batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/386 using test-loads
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 35/005 Calibrating; Standards or reference devices, e.g. voltage or resistance standards, "golden" references G01R33/0035, G01R35/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 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: H01M 6/5044 Cells or batteries structurally combined with cell condition indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electronic battery tester includes a calibration interface. A microprocessor is configured to calibrate the battery tester by coupling to a calibrator through the calibration interface.

Claims

1. An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery, comprising:

a first pair of connectors configured to couple to a positive terminal of the battery;

a second pair of connectors to couple to a negative terminal of the battery, the first and second pairs of connectors forming a Kelvin connection with the battery;

a non-volatile memory storing a fixed battery rating reference value;

a microprocessor configured to test the battery through the Kelvin connection and based upon the fixed battery rating reference value stored in the memory, the microprocessor configured to provide an output based upon a measured dynamic parameter and the stored fixed battery rating reference value.

2. The electronic battery tester of claim 1 including calibration interface configured to calibrate the measured dynamic parameter.

3. The electronic battery tester of claim 1 including a visual output configured to display a result of the battery test, the visual output including an LED and wherein a first test result is indicated with the LED on and a second test result is indicated with the LED off.

4. The electronic battery tester of claim 1 wherein the fixed battery rating reference is selectable from a plurality of reference values.

5. The electronic battery tester of claim 4 wherein the fixed battery rating reference is selected from a scrolling list of a plurality of reference values.

6. The electronic battery tester of claim 4 wherein the fixed battery rating reference value is selected in accordance with an increment value stored in the memory.

7. The electronic battery tester of claim 6 wherein the increment value is stored in the non-volatile memory.

8. The electronic battery tester of claim 6 wherein the increment value is stored by placing the microprocessor in a programming mode.

9. The electronic battery tester of claim 8 wherein a programming mode is entered during power-up of the microprocessor.

10. The electronic battery tester of claim 1 wherein the fixed battery rating reference value is in accordance with a selectable standard.

11. The electronic battery tester of claim 10 wherein the standard is stored in memory.

12. The electronic battery tester of claim 10 wherein the standard is stored by placing the microprocessor in a programming mode.

13. The electronic battery tester of claim 12 wherein the programming mode is entered during power-up of the microprocessor.

14. The electronic battery tester of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor can selectively measure a battery charging voltage.

15. The electronic battery tester of claim 1 wherein measured voltage extremes are stored in the memory.

16. The electronic battery tester of claim 1 including an LED and wherein a test result is displayed by displaying a selectable color from the LED.

17. The electronic battery tester of claim 1 including an LED and wherein a test result is displayed by flashing the LED.

18. The electronic battery tester of claim 1 wherein the fixed battery rating reference value comprises a CCA (Cold Cranking Amp) rating.

19. An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery, comprising:

a first pair of connectors configured to couple to a positive terminal of the battery;

a second pair of connectors configured to couple to a negative terminal of the battery, the first and second pairs of connectors forming a Kelvin connection with the battery;

a memory;

a microprocessor configured to test the battery through the Kelvin connection based upon a reference;

a visual output configured to display a result of the battery test, the visual output including an LED and wherein a first test result is indicated with the LED on and a second test result is indicated with the LED off.

20. The electronic battery tester of claim 19 including a calibration interface configured to couple to a calibrator to initiate measurement of a calibrated value of the calibrator through the Kelvin connection.

21. The electronic battery tester of claim 19 wherein the battery test is a function of a fixed reference value stored in the memory.

22. The electronic battery tester of claim 19 wherein the battery test is further a function of a selectable reference value.

23. The electronic battery tester of claim 19 wherein the test is a function of a measured dynamic parameter.

24. An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery, comprising:

a first pair of connectors configured to couple to a positive terminal of the battery;

a second pair of connectors configured to couple to a negative terminal of the battery, the first and second pairs of connectors forming a Kelvin connection with the battery;

a memory;

a microprocessor configured to test the battery through the Kelvin connection based upon a reference;

a visual output configured to display a result of the battery test, the visual output including an LED and wherein a first test result is indicated by displaying a first color on the LED and a second test result is indicated by displaying a second color on the LED.

25. The electronic battery tester of claim 24 including a calibration interface configured to couple to a calibrator to initiate measurement of a calibrate value of the calibrator through the Kelvin connection.

26. The electronic battery tester of claim 24 wherein the battery test is a function of a fixed reference value stored in the memory.

27. The electronic battery tester of claim 24 wherein the battery test is further a function of a selectable reference value.

28. The electronic battery tester of claim 24 wherein the test is a function of a measured dynamic parameter.

29. An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery, comprising;

a first pair of connectors configured to couple to a positive terminal of the battery;

a second pair of connectors configured to couple to a negative terminal of the battery, the first and second pairs of connectors forming a Kelvin connection with the battery;

a memory;

a microprocessor configured to test the battery through the Kelvin connection based upon a battery rating and selectively test a charging voltage of a battery charger; and

a user input configured to select from a battery test and a charging voltage test.

30. The electronic battery tester of claim 29 including a visual output configured to display a result of a test, the visual output including a LED and wherein a first test result is indicated with the LED on and a second test result is indicated with the LED off.

31. An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery, comprising:

a first pair of connectors configured to couple to a positive terminal of the battery;

a second pair of connectors configured to couple to a negative terminal of the battery, the first and second pairs of connectors forming a Kelvin connection with the battery;

a memory;

a calibration interface configured to provide a calibrator control output to a calibrator;

a microprocessor configured to test the battery through the Kelvin connection in the memory, wherein the microprocessor is placed in a programming mode which can be entered during power-up of the battery tester.

32. An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery, comprising;

a first pair of connectors configured to couple to a positive terminal of the battery;

a second pair of connector configured to couple to a negative terminal of the battery, the first and second pairs of connectors forming a Kelvin connection with the battery;

a non-volatile memory;

a microprocessor configured to test the battery through the Kelvin connection based upon an industry standard battery rating; and

wherein measured voltage extremes are stored in the memory for subsequent recovery.

33. The electronic battery tester of claim 32 wherein the battery test is a function of a dynamic parameter.