Electronic battery tester with databus

• US 7,728,597 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2008
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Application Number:
  US12/263,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20090160451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 324/426, 324/430, 324/433, 320/132, 320/149
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/417 using cells , i.e. more than one cell and probes with solid electrolytes
• 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

Abstract

A cable for connecting to an electronic battery tester, includes a first end configured to couple to a databus of a vehicle and a second end configured to couple to the electronic battery tester. An electrical connection extends between the first end and the second end and is configured to couple the electronic battery tester to the databus of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery of an automotive vehicle, comprising:

Kelvin connectors configured to electrically couple to the storage battery;

forcing functional circuitry configured to apply a forcing function to the battery though the Kelvin connectors;

measurement circuitry configured to determine a condition of the storage battery based upon a dynamic parameter of the storage battery measured through the Kelvin connectors in response to the forcing function;

a databus configured to receive data; and

wherein the determined condition of the storage battery is further a function of the received data.

2. The apparatus of the claim 1 wherein the databus comprises a non-physical connection.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the non-physical connection comprises a radio frequency (RF) connection.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the non-physical connection comprises a infrared (IR) connection.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the received data comprises battery rating.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the received data comprises battery type.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the received data comprises a charged history of the storage battery.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the received data comprises information regarding storage battery tests.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the received data comprises information regarding storage battery measurement.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the databus is configured to couple to the Kelvin connectors and receive data based upon a response of the storage battery to the applied forcing function as measured using the Kelvin connectors.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the databus is configured to communicate with a personal data assistant (PDA).

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the databus includes a cradle configured to couple to the personal data assistant.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the databus is configured to control operation of the vehicle.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the databus is configured to couple to the vehicle and retrieve information regarding operation of the vehicle.