Battery maintenance tool with probe light

• US 7,977,914 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US11/931,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20080106267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/114, 320/115, 324/426, 324/430, 324/433, 362/157, 362/183, 362/190
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/389 Measuring internal impedance, internal conductance or related variables

Abstract

A battery maintenance tool, which electrically couples to a battery, includes a maintenance tool housing and electronic circuitry within the maintenance tool housing. A cable, substantially external to the maintenance tool housing includes a plurality of conductors. At least some conductors of the plurality conductors are configured to electrically couple to the electronic circuitry within the maintenance tool housing. At least one probe light that is configured to electrically couple to at least two of the plurality of conductors in the cable is also included. The probe light, which is separate from the maintenance tool housing, receives power via the at least two of the plurality of conductors to which it is electrically coupled.

Claims

1. A battery maintenance tool comprising:

a maintenance tool housing;

electronic circuitry within the maintenance tool housing;

a cable, substantially external to the maintenance tool housing, comprising a plurality of conductors, wherein at least some conductors of the plurality conductors are configured to electrically couple to the electronic circuitry within the maintenance tool housing;

at least one probe light, separate from, and independent of, the maintenance tool housing, the at least one probe light configured to electrically couple to at least two of the plurality of conductors in the cable,

wherein the at least one probe light is configured to receive power via the at least two of the plurality of conductors to which it is electrically coupled.

2. The battery maintenance tool of claim 1 wherein the cable comprises:

a first Kelvin connection, which includes a first set of two conductors of the plurality conductors in the cable, configured to electrically couple to a first terminal of a battery; and

a second Kelvin connection, which includes a second set of two conductors of the plurality of conductors in the cable, configured to electrically couple to a second terminal of the battery.

3. The battery maintenance tool of claim 2 wherein the at least two conductors of the plurality of conductors to which the probe light is electrically coupled are separate from, and additional to, the first Kelvin connection and the second Kelvin connection.

4. The battery maintenance tool of claim 2 wherein at least one of the at least two conductors of the plurality of conductors to which the probe light is electrically coupled is a conductor included in one of the first Kelvin connection and the second Kelvin connection.

5. The battery maintenance tool of claim 2 wherein the at least two conductors of the plurality of conductors to which the probe light is electrically coupled are conductors included in at least one of the first Kelvin connection and the second Kelvin connection.

6. The battery maintenance tool of claim 2 wherein the at least two conductors of the plurality of conductors to which the probe light is electrically coupled are one of the first set of two conductors included in the first Kelvin connection and the second set of two conductors included in the second Kelvin connection and wherein the at least one probe light turns off when proper contact is made between the respective one of the first Kelvin connection and the first battery terminal and the second Kelvin connection and the second battery terminal to which the probe light is connected.

7. The battery maintenance tool of claim 2 wherein the at least one probe light turns off when proper contact is made between at least one of the first Kelvin connection and the first battery terminal and the second Kelvin connection and the second battery terminal.

8. The battery maintenance tool of claim 2 wherein the at least one probe light changes color when proper contact is made between at least one of one of the first Kelvin connection and the first battery terminal and the second Kelvin connection and the second battery terminal.

9. The battery maintenance tool of claim 1 wherein the at least one probe light comprises a light-emitting diode.

10. The battery maintenance tool of claim 1 wherein the at least one probe light comprises an incandescent lamp.

11. The battery maintenance tool of claim 1 wherein the electronic circuitry comprises battery testing circuitry.

12. The battery maintenance tool of claim 1 wherein the electronic circuitry comprises battery charging circuitry.

13. A method comprising:

coupling at least one probe light to at least two of a plurality of conductors of a battery maintenance tool cable; and

powering the probe light through the at least two of the plurality of conductors of the battery maintenance tool cable.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least two of the plurality of conductors of the battery maintenance tool cable are part of at least one of a first Kelvin connection and a second Kelvin connection of the battery maintenance tool cable.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least two of the plurality of conductors of the battery maintenance tool cable are separate from, and additional to, a first Kelvin connection and a second Kelvin connection of the battery maintenance tool cable.

16. The method of claim 14 and further comprising turning off the al least one probe light when proper contact is made between one of the first Kelvin connection and a first battery terminal and the second Kelvin connection and a second battery terminal.

17. The method of claim 14 and further comprising turning off the al least one probe light when proper contact is made between the first Kelvin connection and a first battery terminal and the second Kelvin connection and a second battery terminal.

18. The method of claim 14 and further comprising changing a color of the al least one probe light when proper contact is made between one of the first Kelvin connection and a first battery terminal and the second Kelvin connection and a second battery terminal.

19. The method of claim 14 and further comprising changing a color of the al least one probe light when proper contact is made between the first Kelvin connection and a first battery terminal and the second Kelvin connection and a second battery terminal.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein coupling at least one probe light to at least two of a plurality of conductors of a battery maintenance tool cable comprises coupling one of a light-emitting diode and an incandescent lamp to the at least two of the plurality of conductors of the battery maintenance tool cable.