Battery testers with secondary functionality

• US 8,237,448 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2008
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bertness, Kevin I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Koval, Melissa
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOATENG, ALEXIS ASIEDUA
• Application Number:
  US12/168,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20090085571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 324/426, 324/430, 324/425, 324/427, 324/428, 324/429, 324/431, 324/432, 324/433, 324/434, 320/104, 320/106, 320/134, 320/135, 320/136, 320/137, 320/138
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• 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: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electronic vehicle tester includes a battery tester configured to measure a parameter of a battery of a vehicle. A tire tester is configured to receive a parameter of a tire of the vehicle. A wireless receiver can be configured to receive pressure information from a transmitter associated with a tire of a vehicle.

Claims

1. An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery comprising:

a Kelvin connection configured to electrically couple to the storage battery;

a microprocessor configured to determine a dynamic parameter of the storage battery;

a data bus coupled to the microprocessor configured to carry data in the electronic battery tester;

a connector coupled to the data bus and configured to communicate with a spaced apart digital module, the connector including electrical connections which couple to the data bus;

a forcing function source configured to apply a forcing function signal to the storage battery through the Kelvin connection;

a sensor electrically coupled to the storage battery and configured to sense an electrical response of the storage battery to the applied forcing function signal; and

wherein the microprocessor is configured to couple to the spaced apart digital module and send or receive data from the spaced apart digital module on the data bus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data bus includes a serial connection.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data bus includes electrical connections to first and second Kelvin connections.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data bus includes a power supply connection.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data bus includes a reset connection.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data bus includes an analog voltage connection.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data bus includes a bar code reader connection.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data bus includes an infrared driver connection.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data bus includes a frequency count connection.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data bus includes an I²C connection.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data bus includes an SPI connection.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data bus includes a load control connection.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive data from a vehicle through a connection to the spaced apart digital module.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is configured to send data to a printer on the data bus.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive software from the spaced apart digital module through the data bus.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive a software key from the spaced apart digital module through the data bus.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is configured to calibrate measurements by coupling to a calibrated reference to the spaced apart digital module.

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

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the non-physical connection comprises an RF connection.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the non-physical connection comprises an IR connection.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the connector comprises a wireless connector.

22. A spaced apart digital module configured to couple to the data bus through the connector of the battery tester of claim 1.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the spaced apart digital module includes a memory.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the spaced apart digital module includes test circuitry.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the spaced apart digital module includes a printer.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the spaced apart digital module is configured to couple to a printer.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the spaced apart digital memory includes software.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the spaced apart digital memory includes a software key.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the spaced apart digital module includes a calibrated reference.

30. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the spaced apart digital module includes a resistive load.

31. The apparatus of claim 22 including a screw configured to attach the spaced apart digital module to the battery tester.

32. The apparatus of claim 22 including a latch configured to attach the spaced apart digital module to the battery tester.

33. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the spaced apart digital module includes circuitry configured to scale a test measurement.

34. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the spaced apart digital module is configured to couple to a 48 volt battery.

35. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the spaced apart digital module includes a tire pressure sensor.

36. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the spaced apart digital module includes a tire tread depth sensor.

37. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the spaced apart digital module includes a brake pad wear sensor.

38. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the spaced apart digital module includes a brake rotor wear sensor.

39. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the spaced apart digital module includes an exhaust emission sensor.

40. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the spaced apart digital module includes a bar code reader.

41. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the spaced apart digital module includes an OBDII connector.