Battery tester configured to receive a removable digital module

• US 6,759,849 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I., McShane, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US10/280,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20030048106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 324/426, 324/427, 324/429, 324/430, 324/431, 324/432, 324/435, 324/437
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/36 Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]

Abstract

An electronic battery tester is provided for testing storage batteries. Battery test circuitry is configured to couple to the storage battery and measure a condition of the battery. A removable module is configured to couple to the battery tester to add increased functionality.

Claims

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

first and second Kelvin connections configured to electrically couple to the battery;

a forcing function source configured to apply a forcing function signal to the battery through the Kelvin connections;

a response sensor electrically coupled to the battery through the first and second Kelvin connections configured to measure a response of the battery to the forcing function signal;

a data bus coupled to the microprocessor configured to carry data in the electronic battery tester;

a connector coupled to the data bus and configured to receive a removable digital module, the connector including electrical connections which couple the data bus to the removable module; and

a microprocessor coupled to the response sensor configured to determine a dynamic parameter of the battery as a function of the measured response of the battery to the forcing function signal, the microprocessor configured to couple to the removable digital module and send or receive digital data from the removable digital module on the data bus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data bus includes a serial connection.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data bus includes electrical connections to the first and second Kelvin connections.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data bus includes a power supply connection.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data bus includes a reset connection.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data bus includes an analog voltage connection.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data bus includes a bar code reader connection.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data bus includes an infrared driver connection.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data bus includes a frequency count connection.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data bus includes an I²C connection.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data bus includes an SPI connection.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data bus includes a load control connection.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive data from a vehicle through a connection in the removable module.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is configured to send data to a printer on the data bus.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive software from the removable module through the data bus.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive a software key from the removable module through the data bus.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is configured to calibrate measurements by coupling to a calibrated reference in the removable module.

18. A removable module configured to couple to the data bus through the connector of the battery tester of claim 1.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the module includes a memory.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the module includes test circuitry.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the module includes a printer.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the module is configured to couple to a printer.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the memory includes software.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the memory includes a software key.

25. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the module includes a calibrated reference.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the module includes a resistive load.

27. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the module includes a USB connection.

28. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the module includes a PCMCIA connection.

29. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the module includes a wireless communication from I/O.

30. The apparatus of claim 18 including a screw configured to attach the removable module to the battery tester.

31. The apparatus of claim 18 including a latch to attach the removable module to the battery tester.

32. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the removable module includes circuitry configured to scale a test measurement.