Automotive vehicle battery test system

• US 7,924,015 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2010
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• 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): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US12/774,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20100295549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 324/426, 324/427, 324/430, 324/431, 324/433, 320/132, 320/149, 320/DIG.21
• US Class Current: 324/427
• 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. A battery test system for testing a battery of an automotive vehicle, comprising:

an electronic battery tester configured to couple to the battery of the electronic vehicle, comprising;

battery test circuitry configured to perform a battery test on the battery; and

tester I/O circuitry configured to couple to a portable device over a databus;

the portable device comprising;

device I/O circuitry configured to communicate with the tester I/O circuitry of the electronic battery tester over the databus; and

communication I/O circuitry configured to communicate with a computer system.

2. The battery test system of claim 1 wherein the databus comprises a non-physical connection between the electronic battery tester I/O circuitry and the portable device I/O circuitry.

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

4. The battery test system of claim 2 wherein the non-physical connection comprises an infrared frequency (IR) connection.

5. The battery test system of claim 1 wherein the portable device includes a microprocessor which is configured to process battery test results received from the electronic battery tester over the databus.

6. The battery test system of claim 1 wherein the battery tester includes a memory configured to logged battery test results and the portable device is configured to receive the logged battery test results over the databus.

7. The battery test system of claim 1 wherein the portable device controls operation of the electronic battery tester through the databus.

8. The battery test system of claim 1 wherein the portable device includes a microprocessor configured to follow trends in values measured by the electronic battery test circuitry.

9. The battery test system of claim 1 wherein the portable device includes a microprocessor configured to use a charge and discharge history of the battery of the automotive vehicle.

10. The battery test system of claim 1 wherein the battery test circuitry couples to the battery to Kelvin connections.

11. The battery test system of claim 1 wherein the battery test circuitry measures a dynamic parameter of the battery of the automotive vehicle.

12. The battery test system of claim 1 wherein the battery test circuitry applies a load to the battery of the automotive vehicle.

13. The battery test system of claim 1 wherein the databus comprises a physical connection between the electronic battery tester I/O circuitry and the portable device I/O circuitry.