Battery maintenance device having databus connection

• US 7,598,743 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah; Akm E
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US11/063,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20050212521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,687 Days
• Field of Search: 324/426, 324/427, 324/429, 324/430, 324/431, 324/432, 324/435, 324/437, 324/537, 702/63, 702/183, 320/132, 320/149, 320/104, 320/105, 320/162
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/40 related to technical updates when adding new parts or software
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/60 using power supplied by batteries in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/06 Measuring leads; Measuring probes G01R19/145, G01R19/165 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An electronic battery tester or charger for use with a storage battery includes a first and a second electrical connector configured to electrically couple to terminals of the storage battery. Circuitry operates on the storage battery. OBD communication circuitry is configured to couple to an OBD databus of a vehicle. The operation of the circuitry is a function of communication on the OBD databus.

Claims

1. A battery maintenance device for use with a storage battery of a vehicle, comprising:

electrical connectors configured to couple to the battery;

a databus connection configured to plug into an OBD connector of the vehicle which connects to a databus of the vehicle which carries information related to the vehicle; and

battery maintenance circuitry coupled to the electrical connectors and the databus connection configured to coupled to the battery though the electrical connectors, to receive information related to the vehicle from the databus and wherein the operation of the battery maintenance circuitry is a function of the received information, the battery maintenance circuitry comprising battery test circuitry configured to measure a parameter of the battery though the electrical connectors and provide a battery test output as a function of the measured parameter, the battery test output further a function of the information related to the vehicle received from the databus, and wherein the battery test output comprises battery condition.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the battery maintenance circuitry further includes battery charge circuitry configured to charge the battery though the electrical connectors as a function of the received information.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the battery maintenance circuitry is configured to detect imbalances in voltages through the onboard databus which may occur during charging.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the charge circuitry controls charging of the battery based upon information received through the databus related to electrical voltages in the vehicle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the battery test circuitry is configured to couple to the battery through Kelvin connections and the parameter of the battery comprises the dynamic parameter.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the OBD connector comprises 16 pins.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the received information from the databus of the vehicle is related to the age of the vehicle and the battery test output is a function of the received age information.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the received information from the databus of the vehicle is related to battery specifications and the battery test output is a function of the received battery specifications.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the received information from the databus of the vehicle is related to the number of times that the engine of the vehicle has been started and the battery test output is a function of the number of times the vehicles has been started.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the received information from the databus of the vehicle is related to whether the battery has been disconnected from the vehicle and the battery test output is a function of whether the battery has been disconnected from the vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the received information from the databus of the vehicle is related to the size of an alternator of the vehicle and the battery test output is a function of the size of the alternator.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the received information from the databus of the vehicle is related to operation of the vehicle and the battery test output is a function of operation of the vehicle.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the battery maintenance circuitry controls operation of the vehicle using the connection to the databus of the vehicle through the OBD connector.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the battery maintenance circuitry controls engine speed using the connection to the databus.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the battery maintenance circuitry controls loads within the vehicle using the connection to the databus.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the battery maintenance circuitry controls an alternator setpoint using the connection to the databus.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the battery maintenance circuitry inhibits starting of the vehicle using the connection to the databus.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the battery output is a function of operation of the vehicle controlled through the connection to the databus.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vehicle comprises a hybrid vehicle.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the battery maintenance circuitry monitors voltages of the vehicle though the databus connection and the battery test output is a function of the monitored voltages.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the battery maintenance circuitry is configured to control trouble codes of the vehicle through the connection to the databus.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the battery maintenance circuitry couples to the databus through a wireless connection.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the battery maintenance circuitry is configured to write information to the vehicle through the OBD connector.

24. the apparatus of claim 23 wherein the write information comprises a trouble code.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the write information relates to trouble code reset.

26. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the write information relates to current draw.

27. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the write information relates to starter voltage.

28. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the write information relates to battery state of charge.

29. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the received information from the databus of the vehicle is related to battery type.

30. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the received information from the databus of the vehicle is related to a VIN number for the vehicle.

31. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the received information from the databus of the vehicle is related to battery start voltage.

32. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the received information from the databus of the vehicle is related to engine size.

33. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the received information from the databus of the vehicle is related to engine speed.

34. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the received information from the databus of the vehicle is related to engine hours.

35. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the received information from the databus of the vehicle is related to key off statistics.

36. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the received information from the databus of the vehicle is related to electrical options in the vehicle.

37. A method of performing maintenance on a storage battery of a vehicle comprising:

electrically connecting to the battery of the vehicle;

electrically connecting a battery maintenance circuitry to a databus of a vehicle through an OBD connector, wherein the databus of the vehicle carries information related to the vehicle;

receiving information from the databus related to the vehicle;

performing battery maintenance on the battery with the battery maintenance circuitry through the electrical connectors coupled to the battery and wherein the maintenance performed on the battery is a function of the information related to the vehicle carried on the databus of the vehicle,

wherein performing battery maintenance further comprises measuring a parameter of the battery through the electrical connectors and providing a battery test output as a function of the measured parameter and the received information which comprises a condition of the battery.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the information from the databus of the vehicle is related to the age of the vehicle and the battery test output is a function of vehicle age.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein the information from the databus of the vehicle is related to battery specifications and the battery test output is a function of battery specifications.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein the information from the databus of the vehicle is related to the number of times that the engine of the vehicle has been started and the battery test output is a function of the number of times the engine has been started.

41. The method of claim 37 wherein the information from the databus of the vehicle is related to whether the battery has been disconnected from the vehicle and the battery test output is a function of whether the battery has been disconnected from the vehicle.

42. The method of claim 37 wherein the information from the databus of the vehicle is related to the size of an alternator of the vehicle and the battery test output is a function of the size of an alternator of the vehicle.

43. The method of claim 37 wherein the information from the databus of the vehicle is related to operation of the vehicle and the battery test output is a function of the operation of the vehicle.

44. The method of claim 37 including controlling operation of the vehicle using the connection to the databus of the vehicle through the OBD connector.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein controlling operation comprises controlling engine speed.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein controlling operation comprises controlling vehicle loads.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein controlling operation comprises controlling and alternator setpoint.

48. The method of claim 44 wherein controlling operation comprises inhibiting starting of the vehicle.

49. The method of claim 44 wherein the battery test output is a function of controlling operation of the vehicle.

50. The method of claim 37 wherein the vehicle comprises a hybrid vehicle.

51. The method of claim 37 including monitoring voltages of the vehicle through the databus connection and the battery test output is a function of the monitored voltages.

52. The method of claim 37 including controlling trouble codes of the vehicle through the databus.

53. The method of claim 37 including detecting imbalances in voltages through the onboard databus which may occur during charging.

54. The method of claim 37 wherein the battery maintenance circuitry couples to the databus through a wireless connection.

55. The method of claim 37 including writing information to the vehicle through the OBD connector.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein the write information comprises a trouble code.

57. The method of claim 55 wherein the write information relates to trouble code reset.

58. The method of claim 55 wherein the write information relates to current draw.

59. The method of claim 55 wherein the write information relates to starter voltage.

60. The method of claim 55 wherein the write information relates to battery state of charge.

61. The method of claim 37 wherein information received from the databus of the vehicle is related to battery type.

62. The method of claim 37 wherein information received from the databus of the vehicle is related to a VIN number for the vehicle.

63. The method of claim 37 wherein information received from the databus of the vehicle is related to battery start voltage.

64. The method of claim 37 wherein information received from the databus of the vehicle is related to engine size.

65. The method of claim 37 wherein information received from the databus of the vehicle is related to engine speed.

66. The method of claim 37 wherein information received from the databus of the vehicle is related to engine hours.

67. The method of claim 37 wherein information received from the databus of the vehicle is related to key off statistics.

68. The method of claim 37 wherein information received from the databus of the vehicle is related to electrical options in the vehicle.

69. The method of claim 37 including controlling charging of the battery based upon information received through the databus.