Battery tester with promotion feature

• US 7,940,053 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2010
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interstate Battery Systems Of America Incorporated (Interstate Battery System of America, Inc.), Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Interstate Battery Systems Of America Incorporated (Interstate Battery System of America, Inc.), Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Troy, Michael E., Brown, Dennis V., Sampson, William G., McShane, Stephen J., Bertness, Kevin I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): OMAR, AHMED H
• Application Number:
  US12/786,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20100289498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 324/426, 705/14
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives

Abstract

Battery maintenance equipment is provided for use in maintaining storage batteries. The battery maintenance equipment includes battery maintenance circuitry. A redemption code output is provided and configured to provide an output having a redeemable value in response to the battery maintenance circuitry. A method includes outputting a redemption code in response to usage of battery maintenance equipment.

Claims

1. Battery maintenance equipment for use with storage batteries of the type used in an automotive vehicle, comprising:

battery maintenance circuitry configured to couple to a storage battery in the automotive vehicle through Kelvin connections to terminals of the storage battery and responsively measure a parameter of the storage battery based upon a current flowing through the terminals of the storage battery and a voltage measured across the terminals of the storage battery;

an input configured to receive maintenance condition information related to a maintenance condition under which maintenance is performed on the battery and verifying use of the battery maintenance equipment with the storage battery; and

a redemption code output configured to provide a redemption code output having a redeemable value in response to the battery test performed by the battery maintenance circuitry and which includes maintenance condition information received by the input wherein the redeemable value is selected to promote use of the battery maintenance circuitry.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code output comprises a printed output.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the printed output comprises a coupon.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code output is a function of a number of tests.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code output is a function of time.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code output is transmitted over a network.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code output is a wireless output.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code is based upon a number of times the battery maintenance circuitry is utilized.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code is based upon a period of time.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code includes information related to a serial number of the battery maintenance equipment.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code includes information related to a location of the battery maintenance equipment.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code includes information related to a date of use of the battery maintenance circuitry.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code identifies the operator.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code is for use in a lottery.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code is displayed on a display.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the redemption code output comprises a bar code.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 including a memory configured to store a plurality of redemption codes.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the battery maintenance circuitry comprises battery test circuitry.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the battery maintenance circuitry comprises battery charger circuitry.