Electricity: measuring and testing – Electrolyte properties – Using a battery testing device
Reexamination Certificate
2004-01-29
2004-10-19
Tibbits, Pia (Department: 2838)
Electricity: measuring and testing
Electrolyte properties
Using a battery testing device
Reexamination Certificate
active
06806716
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to testing of storage batteries. More specifically, the present invention relates to electronic battery testers of the type used to test the condition of storage batteries.
Storage batteries, such as lead acid storage batteries of the type used in the automotive industry, have existed for many years. However, understanding the nature of such storage batteries, how such storage, batteries operate and how to accurately test such batteries has been an ongoing endeavor and has proved quite difficult. Storage batteries consist of a plurality of individual storage cells electrically connected in series. Typically each cell has a voltage potential of about 2.1 volts. By connecting the cells in series, the voltages of the individual cells are added in a cumulative manner. For example, in a typical automotive storage battery, six storage cells are used to provide a total voltage when the battery is fully charged of 12.6 volts.
There has been a long history of attempts to accurately test the condition of storage batteries. A simple test is to measure the voltage of the battery. If the voltage is below a certain threshold, the battery is determined to be bad. However, this test is inconvenient because it requires the battery to be charged prior to performing the test. If the battery is discharged, the voltage will be low and a good battery may be incorrectly tested as bad. Furthermore, such a test does not give any indication of how much energy is stored in the battery. Another technique for testing a battery is referred as a load test. In a load test, the battery is discharged using a known load. As the battery is discharged, the voltage across the battery is monitored and used to determine the condition of the battery. This technique requires that the battery be sufficiently charged in order that it can supply current to the load.
More recently, a technique has been pioneered by Dr. Keith S. Champlin and Midtronics, Inc. of Burr Ridge, Ill. for testing storage batteries by measuring the conductance of the batteries. This technique is described in a number of United States patents obtained by Dr. Champlin and Midtronics, Inc, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,873,911, issued Mar. 25, 1975, to Champlin, entitled ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTING DEVICE; U.S. Pat. No. 3,909,708, issued Sep. 30, 1975, to Champlin, entitled ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTING DEVICE; U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,768, issued Mar. 28, 1989, to Champlin, entitled ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTING DEVICE; U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,170, issued Apr. 25, 1989, to Champlin, entitled ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTING DEVICE WITH AUTOMATIC VOLTAGE SCALING; U.S. Pat. No. 4,881,038, issued Nov. 14, 1989, to Champlin, entitled ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTING DEVICE WITH AUTOMATIC VOLTAGE SCALING TO DETERMINE DYNAMIC CONDUCTANCE; U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,416, issued Mar. 27, 1990, to Champlin, entitled ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTING DEVICE WITH STATE-OF-CHARGE COMPENSATION; U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,269, issued Aug. 18, 1992, to Champlin, entitled ELECTRONIC TESTER FOR ASSESSING BATTERY/CELL CAPACITY; U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,380, issued Aug. 30, 1994, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPRESSING TIME VARYING SIGNALS IN BATTERIES UNDERGOING CHARGING OR DISCHARGING; U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,136, issued Nov. 5, 1996, entitled ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER WITH AUTOMATIC COMPENSATION FOR LOW STATE-OF-CHARGE; U.S. Pat. No. 5,574,355, issued Nov. 12, 1996, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTION AND CONTROL OF THERMAL RUNAWAY IN A BATTERY UNDER CHARGE; U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,728, issued Dec. 17, 1996, entitled ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER WITH AUTOMATIC COMPENSATION FOR LOW STATE-OF-CAGE; U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,093, issued Jan. 7, 1997, entitled ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTING DEVICE LOOSE TERMINAL CONNECTION DETECTION VIA A COMPARISON CIRCUIT; U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,098, issued Jan. 28, 1997, entitled ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER WITH VERY HIGH NOISE IMMUNITY; U.S. Pat. No. 5,757,192, issued May 26, 1998, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING A BAD CELL IN A STORAGE BATTERY; U.S. Pat. No. 5,821,756, issued Oct. 13, 1998, entitled ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER WITH TAILORED COMPENSATION FOR LOW STATE-OF-CHARGE; U.S. Pat. No. 5,831,435, issued Nov. 3, 1998, entitled BATTERY TESTER FOR JIS STANDARD; U.S. Pat. No. 5,914,605, issued Jun. 22, 1999, entitled ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER; U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,829, issued Aug. 31, 1999, entitled MIDPOINT BATTERY MONITORING; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,238, issued Dec. 4, 1999, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING COMPLEX IMPEDANCE OF CELLS AND BATTERIES.
Most accurate electronic battery testers have required very accurate and relatively expensive test and interface circuitry. The circuitry must be able to be accurately calibrated to a standard, and maintain that calibration in the harsh environment often associate with automotive battery testing. The user interface associated with such devices has also been relatively complex and expensive. Such devices have required a significant capital investment and, because of this investment, have often not been attractive to individual consumers. Further, the expense associated with such battery testers has reduced the number of testers which are typically available in commercial settings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An electronic battery tester includes a calibration interface. A microprocessor is configured to calibrate the battery tester by coupling to a calibrator through the calibration interface.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2000665 (1935-05-01), Neal
patent: 2514745 (1950-07-01), Dalzell
patent: 3356936 (1967-12-01), Smith
patent: 3562634 (1971-02-01), Latner
patent: 3593099 (1971-07-01), Scholl
patent: 3607673 (1971-09-01), Seyl
patent: 3652341 (1972-03-01), Halsall et al.
patent: 3676770 (1972-07-01), Sharaf et al.
patent: 3729989 (1973-05-01), Little
patent: 3750011 (1973-07-01), Kreps
patent: 3753094 (1973-08-01), Furuishi et al.
patent: 3796124 (1974-03-01), Crosa
patent: 3808522 (1974-04-01), Sharaf
patent: 3811089 (1974-05-01), Strezelewicz
patent: 3873911 (1975-03-01), Champlin
patent: 3876931 (1975-04-01), Godshalk
patent: 3886443 (1975-05-01), Miyakawa et al.
patent: 3889248 (1975-06-01), Ritter
patent: 3906329 (1975-09-01), Bader
patent: 3909708 (1975-09-01), Champlin
patent: 3936744 (1976-02-01), Perlmutter
patent: 3946299 (1976-03-01), Christianson et al.
patent: 3947757 (1976-03-01), Grube et al.
patent: 3969667 (1976-07-01), McWilliams
patent: 3979664 (1976-09-01), Harris
patent: 3984762 (1976-10-01), Dowgiallo, Jr.
patent: 3984768 (1976-10-01), Staples
patent: 3989544 (1976-11-01), Santo
patent: 4008619 (1977-02-01), Alcaide et al.
patent: 4023882 (1977-05-01), Pettersson
patent: 4024953 (1977-05-01), Nailor, III
patent: 4047091 (1977-09-01), Hutchines et al.
patent: 4053824 (1977-10-01), Dupuis et al.
patent: 4056764 (1977-11-01), Endo et al.
patent: 4070624 (1978-01-01), Taylor
patent: 4086531 (1978-04-01), Bernier
patent: 4112351 (1978-09-01), Back et al.
patent: 4114083 (1978-09-01), Benham et al.
patent: 4126874 (1978-11-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 4160916 (1979-07-01), Papasideris
patent: 4178546 (1979-12-01), Hulls et al.
patent: 4193025 (1980-03-01), Frailing et al.
patent: 4207611 (1980-06-01), Gordon
patent: 4217645 (1980-08-01), Barry et al.
patent: 4280457 (1981-07-01), Bloxham
patent: 4297639 (1981-10-01), Branham
patent: 4315204 (1982-02-01), Sievers et al.
patent: 4316185 (1982-02-01), Watrous et al.
patent: 4322685 (1982-03-01), Frailing et al.
patent: 4351405 (1982-09-01), Fields et al.
patent: 4361809 (1982-11-01), Bil et al.
patent: 4363407 (1982-12-01), Buckler et al.
patent: 4369407 (1983-01-01), Korbell
patent: 4379989 (1983-04-01), Kurz et al.
patent: 4379990 (1983-04-01), Sievers et al.
patent: 4385269 (1983-05-01), Aspinwall et al.
patent: 4390828 (1983-06-01), Converse et al.
patent: 4392101 (1983-07-01), Saar et al.
patent: 4396880 (1983-08-01), Windebank
patent: 4408157 (1983-10-01), Beaubien
patent: 4412169 (1983-10-01), Dell'Orto
patent: 4423378 (1983-12-01), Marino et al.
patent: 4423379 (1983-12-01), Jacobs et al.
patent: 4424491 (19
Bertness Kevin I.
Butteris Jamey
Tibbits Pia
Westman Champlin & Kelly P.A.
LandOfFree
Electronic battery tester does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Electronic battery tester, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electronic battery tester will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3266066