Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging – Battery or cell discharging – With charging
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-04
2001-12-18
Toatley, Jr., Gregory J. (Department: 2838)
Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging
Battery or cell discharging
With charging
C320S139000, C324S430000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06331762
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to automotive vehicles. More specifically, the present invention relates to an energy management and monitor system for a battery of an automotive vehicle.
Automotive vehicles powered by combustion engines typically include a battery. The battery is used to power the electrical system when the engine is not running. Additionally, the engine is used to charge the battery. The engine is also used to power electrical components of the vehicle when the engine is running.
Vehicles contain charging systems, simply referred to as an “alternator,” which are powered by the engine and used to charge the battery. Typical prior art charging systems have been a simple voltage regulator connected to the output of an alternator. The voltage regulator is used to set a voltage generated by the alternator which is applied to the battery. However, this simple technique does not take into account the actual condition of the battery as the voltage across the battery is not an accurate representation of the battery's condition. Additionally, such systems do not provide any information about the use of the battery, or the battery's current state of charge or state of health.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Various aspects of the present invention provide a method and/or an apparatus for monitoring or controlling charging of a battery in a vehicle. In one aspect, a method is provided for charging a battery in a vehicle having an internal combustion engine configured to drive an alternator electrically coupled to the battery and adapted to charge the battery with a charge signal applied to the battery. The method includes coupling to the battery through a four point Kelvin connection, measuring a dynamic parameter of the battery using the Kelvin connection, where the dynamic parameter measurement a function of a time varying signal. A condition of the battery as a function of the measured dynamic parameter. The charge signal from the alternator is controlled in response to the determined condition of the battery.
In another aspect, an apparatus for monitoring the condition of a storage battery while the storage battery is coupled in parallel to an electrical system of an operating vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a first electrical connection directly coupled to a positive terminal of the battery, a second electrical connection directly coupled to a negative terminal of the battery, and the first and second electrical connections are coupled to a voltage sensor to measure a time varying voltage across the battery. A third electrical connection is directly coupled to the positive terminal of the battery and a fourth electrical connection directly is coupled to a negative terminal of the battery, the third and fourth electrical connections are coupled to a forcing function having a time varying component. In one aspect, a current sensor is provided which is electrically in series with the battery. A microprocessor is configured to determine the condition of the battery as a function of a dynamic parameter of the battery based upon the measured voltage and the forcing function.
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Midtronics Inc.
Toatley , Jr. Gregory J.
Westman Champlin & Kelly P.A.
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