Electricity: measuring and testing – Electrolyte properties – Using a battery testing device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-02
2001-04-03
Tso, Edward H. (Department: 2838)
Electricity: measuring and testing
Electrolyte properties
Using a battery testing device
C320S104000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06211681
ABSTRACT:
This application is based on Japanese Patent Application Nos. 11-143416 and 11-237118 filed May 24, 1999 and Aug. 24, 1999, respectively, the contents of which are incorporated hereinto by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to techniques for monitoring at least one of a plurality of electric power sources in an electric system wherein a load device consisting at least one electrically operated device is electrically connected to the plurality of electric power sources.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
JP-A-10-336915 discloses an electric system wherein a load device is electrically connected to a plurality of electric power sources. In this electric system, the load device can be operated unless all of the plurality of electric power sources are abnormal or defective. Thus, the provision of a plurality of electric power sources in an electric system increases the operating reliability of the electric system.
However, all of the plurality of electric power sources may be defective or abnormal. If it is possible to detect that at least one but not all of the plurality of power sources is defective, it is possible to inform or warn the user of the load device of that fact, that is, that there is a certain possibility that all of the plurality of power sources will be defective. This information or warning help the user of the load device take an appropriate measure or action for the load device, making it possible to avoid undesirable situations which would result from the abnormality of the power source or sources.
The electric current or voltage applied to the load device to which a plurality of electric power sources at least one of which is monitored as a subject power source are connected does not reflect the present capacity or state of each subject subject power source, that is, the ability of the subject power source to energize or activate the load load. To correctly monitor each subject power source, it is necessary to avoid an influence of the other power source or sources on the state of the subject power source.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for correctly monitoring at least one of a plurality of electric power sources connected to a load device, without an influence of the other power source or sources on the state of the subject electric power source or sources.
The above object may be achieved according to any one of the following modes of the present invention, each of which is numbered like the appended claims and depends from the other mode or modes, when appropriate, for easier understanding of technical features disclosed in the present application, and possible combinations of those technical features. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those technical features or combinations thereof, and that any one of a plurality of technical features described with respect to any one mode of the invention may be a subject of the present invention, without the other technical feature or features being combined with that one feature.
(1) A power source monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of each of at least one subject power source which consists of at least one of a plurality of power sources in an electric system wherein a load device having at least one electrically operated load is electrically connected to the plurality of electric power sources, the power source monitoring apparatus comprising:
a detecting portion which detects at least one of a voltage and a current of at least one of the load device, the above-indicated at least one subject power source and at least one non-subject power source which consists of the plurality of electric power sources except the at least one subject power source; and
a first diagnosing device which diagnoses each subject power source for an abnormality on the basis of an output of the detecting portion, while the electric system is placed in a power supply state wherein an electric power is permitted to be supplied from only the subject power source to the load device.
While the electric system is placed in the above-indicated power supply state, the detecting portion detects at least one of the voltage and the current of at least one of the load device, the above-indicated at least one subject power source and the above-indicated non-subject power source. The use of the output of the detecting portion permits detection of the state of each subject power source (for example, an internal electrical resistance of the subject power source), without an influence of the non-subject power source or sources.
Based on the above finding, the power source monitoring apparatus according to the above mode (
1
) of this invention is adapted to determine whether each of the at least one subject power source is normal or not, on the basis of the output of the detecting portion representative of at least one of the voltage and current of at least one of the load device and the plurality of electric power sources (at least one subject power source and at least one non-subject power source), while the electric system is in the power supply state in which the electric power can be supplied from only the subject power source to the load device. The present power source monitoring apparatus is capable of diagnosing or monitoring the at least one subject power source without an influence of the at least one non-subject power source.
The present power source monitoring apparatus can detect the presence or absence of a phenomenon that the function of the at least one subject power source has been unexpectedly lowered below a predetermined lower limit, namely, a problem of any subject power source, or the presence or absence of a phenomenon that the function of the at least one subject power source has been expectedly lowered below the lower limit, namely, deterioration of any subject power source. For example, the function of the at least one subject power source is to supply the load device with the required electric power. One example of a cause for the deterioration of the subject power source is a chronological reduction of the internal electrical resistance of the subject power source.
The present power source monitoring apparatus may be utilized for an automotive vehicle that can be run on a road surface, an electric car or rail car that can be run on rails, ships, aircraft, and other mobile bodies. Automotive vehicles are a typical example of the mobile bodies for which the present power source monitoring apparatus is utilized. Where the power source monitoring apparatus is utilized for an automotive vehicle, the load device may include, as at least one electrically operated load, an electrically operated power steering device, an electrically operated pump, an electrically operated air conditioner, head lights, power window motors, wiper motors, an electrically operated braking system utilizing an electric energy (including an electric motor or motors for operating a pump or pumps, an electric motor or motors for driving a friction member or members of a wheel brake or brakes, and solenoid-operated valves for controlling the pressures of a fluid or the direction of flows of the fluid), audio devices or instruments, and a computer or computers for controlling the operations of those electrically operated components or devices.
The above-indicated “power supply state” in which the electric power is permitted to be supplied from only the at least one subject power source to the load device and in which each subject power source is diagnosed may be established for a purpose other than the diagnosis of each subject power source and may be utilized for the diagnostic purpose according to the present invention. Alternatively, the above power supply state may be established for the sole purpose of diagnosing each subject power source.
The detecting portion provided in the present power source monitoring apparatus is preferably adapted to detect the voltage or electric current of the a
Kagawa Kazunori
Kominami Yoshiaki
Nakamura Eiji
Otomo Akihiro
Sumiyoshi Masayuki
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Toyota Jidosha & Kabushiki Kaisha
Tso Edward H.
LandOfFree
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