Method and apparatus for measuring and monitoring a power source
First Claim
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1. A power source monitoring system comprising:
- a plurality of addressable sensors each adapted to communicate with a respective one of a plurality of power sources, each sensor being adapted to determine an exponential discharge characteristic of its respective power source in response to application of an event thereto; and
a controller for addressably communicating with the sensors, and being adapted to determine performance characteristics of the power sources as a function of the exponential discharge characteristics thereof.
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Abstract
A system and method for monitoring power sources, such as the batteries making up a bank of batteries, is disclosed. There is provided a plurality of addressable sensors each adapted to communicate with one of the power sources, and to provide information concerning a characteristic of the power source in response to application of an event to the power source by the sensor. A controller that addressably communicates with the sensors, and that determines additional information, is also provided. In one embodiment, the sensor includes the power source, such as the battery.
25 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A power source monitoring system comprising:
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a plurality of addressable sensors each adapted to communicate with a respective one of a plurality of power sources, each sensor being adapted to determine an exponential discharge characteristic of its respective power source in response to application of an event thereto; and a controller for addressably communicating with the sensors, and being adapted to determine performance characteristics of the power sources as a function of the exponential discharge characteristics thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, 23)
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16. A battery monitoring system comprising:
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a plurality of batteries each having an addressable sensor associated therewith, each sensor being adapted to determine an exponential discharge characteristic of its respective battery; and a controller adapted to addressably communicate with the sensors, and determine a performance characteristic of each battery as a function of the exponential discharge characteristic thereof. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 24)
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21. A method of monitoring a power source comprising:
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providing a plurality of addressable sensors each having a microcontroller, each sensor being adapted to communicate with a respective one of a plurality of power sources; determining at each sensor, via its respective microcontroller, an exponential discharge characteristic of its respective power source in response to application of an event to its respective power source; and determining, via a controller adapted to addressably communicate with the sensors, a performance characteristic of each power source as a function of the exponential discharge characteristic thereof. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification