Calibration and programming of in-vehicle battery sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016238667-A1
Application number	US-201615140820-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 28, 2016
Priority date	Dec 12, 2013
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An in-vehicle battery sensor includes a sensor configured to couple to a storage battery. A memory is configured to store calibration information. An input receives calibration information which is saved in the memory. A controller performs a battery test on the storage battery using the sensor output and the stored calibration information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An in-vehicle battery sensor, comprising:
a sensor configured to couple to the storage battery and provide a sensor output; a memory configured to store calibration information; an input configured to receive calibration information and save the calibration in the memory; and a controller configured to perform a battery test on the storage battery using the sensor output and the stored calibration information.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the calibration information is correlated to cold cranking amps (CCA) of the battery.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller measures a resistance of the battery and the stored calibration information correlates the measured resistance to cold cranking amps (CCA) of the battery.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory is further configured to store a battery testing algorithm.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the battery testing algorithm is received through the input and stored into the memory.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to determine state of charge of the battery.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the controller identifies a bad battery based upon a measured CCA and a state of charge of the battery.

8 . A tool configured to program the battery sensor of claim 1 .

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the tool further includes an electronic battery tester configured to perform a battery test on the battery and wherein a result from the electronic battery tester is used to provide the calibration information.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor measures voltage.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor measures current.

12 . A tool for programming electronic battery monitors, comprising:
a sensor configured to couple to a storage battery and sense an electrical parameter of the storage battery; I/O circuitry configured to couple to an electronic battery monitor and communicate with the electronic battery monitor; and a microprocessor configured to perform a battery test on the storage battery using the sensor and further configured to store data in a memory in the electronic battery monitor through the I/O circuitry as a function of a result of the battery test.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the microprocessor performs a test based upon a dynamic parameter.

14 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the microprocessor measures a conductance of the battery.

15 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the programming is related to amp hour capacity of the battery.

16 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the stored data is related to CCA of the battery.

17 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the stored data is related to the Peukert number of the battery.

18 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein, the stored data is related to the battery chemistry.

19 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the I/O directly communicates with a databus of the vehicle.

20 . The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the databus is in accordance with the OBDII standard.

21 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the stored data is related to a full charge open circuit voltage of the storage battery.

22 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the stored data is related to a full discharge open circuit voltage of the storage battery.

23 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the I/O circuitry is configured to communicate with a databus of the electronic battery monitor.

24 . The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the databus is in accordance with the CAN standard.

25 . The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the databus is in accordance with the LIN standard.

26 . The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the stored data is a function of the battery test of the storage battery.

27 . The apparatus of claim 12 including a forcing function source configured to couple to the storage battery and apply a forcing function to the storage battery.

28 . The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the sensor is configured to sense a response of the storage battery to the applied forcing function.

29 . The apparatus of claim 12 including a local operator interface.

30 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the stored data comprises calibration information.

31 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the stored data comprises programming instructions related to an algorithm used by the electronic battery monitor to test the storage battery.

32 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the I/O circuitry comprises wireless communication circuitry.

33 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the I/O circuitry comprises wired communication circuitry.

34 . The apparatus of claim 12 including a battery charger configured to apply a charge to the storage battery.

35 . The apparatus of claim 12 including an electrical load configured to apply a load to the storage battery.

Assignees

• Midtronics Inc

Inventors

• Palmisano Andrew J
• Mcmahan Nicholas G
• Losinski Lance Michael

Classifications

• B60R16/023

  for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems · CPC title

• G01R31/371

  with remote indication, e.g. on external chargers · CPC title

• G01R31/3648

  comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm · CPC title

• G01R31/3842

  combining voltage and current measurements · CPC title

• G01R31/3835

  involving only voltage measurements · CPC title