Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-17
2001-08-14
Lefkowitz, Edward (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S660000, C340S661000, C320S104000, C320S163000, C320S165000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06275161
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of automotive battery condition indicator system using ripple voltage present in the DC voltage in the automotive battery supply line.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the automotive industry, the location of battery is usually concealed from direct access by applicants, such as next to engine covered by bonnet, underneath the seat or hidden in a casing. Some effort is needed to regularly access the said battery for visual inspection and physical testing. If the said battery deteriorates without any form of inspection or monitoring, the only time the applicant finds out about the deterioration is when the automotive vehicle fails to function. For example, the battery in a car has deteriorated through time and one day the condition of the said battery is so bad that the car fails to start. This can have serious financial, safety and time consequences to the applicants, depending on when and where the incident happens.
The aspect leading to the present invention is to ease applicants in monitoring the condition of battery in an automotive vehicle. The said automotive battery is typically concealed from direct applicant access. Due to the limited level of technical understanding and knowledge, it is very inconvenient, annoying and troublesome to most applicants that they would have to regularly remove the casing to reveal the said battery and visually inspect liquid electrolyte level and plate condition of the battery. Maintenance free automotive batteries cannot be visually inspected to know the condition of liquid electrolyte level and plate condition. In most cases, the applicants have no technical knowledge and equipment to even check the condition of maintenance free automotive batteries. A known method is to isolate the maintenance free automotive battery from the vehicle and use a special charge level test instrument that applies a load to the said battery. Such an instrument is expensive and usually found only in automotive workshops. By applying load to the said battery, the condition of the said battery can be known quite accurately but with the expense of further degrading the condition of the said battery.
Because of constrains imposed by inspecting method, unit cost and installation processes, it has not been commercially acceptable to attempt to provide automotive battery condition indication using conventional battery loading test method while eliminating the need to physically inspect the battery. The present invention provides an apparatus to monitor and indicate automotive battery conditions, such as liquid electrolyte level, stored charge level and plate condition, using ripple voltage present in battery supply line, therefore does not degrade the automotive battery in the process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the prime objective of the present invention to monitor and indicate the condition of automotive battery, such as liquid electrolyte level and level of battery plate deterioration, while eliminating the inconveniences and annoyance of visually inspecting the battery or isolating the battery for loading test.
Automotive battery, once installed, is securely fastened to battery supply line. When electrical current is supplied into the said battery from battery charging system, namely alternator, a ripple voltage component is generated onto the existing direct current, herein abbreviated as DC, voltage of said battery. Conversely, when electrical current is drawn from the said battery by electrical or electronic applications in the vehicle, ripple voltage is also induced onto the existing DC voltage of said battery. The characteristics, namely shape and amplitude, of the ripple voltage may vary from one vehicle to another. The amplitude of ripple voltage is further dependent upon the condition of said battery, namely liquid electrolyte level, level of battery plate deterioration and battery terminal contact condition. As condition of the said battery deteriorates, the amplitude and/or the shape of the ripple voltage change. By measuring these parameters, the condition of said battery could be monitored. The automotive battery condition indication circuit can either use the positive side, negative side or both sides of ripple voltage to deduce the condition of said battery.
By monitoring the ripple voltage in the battery supply line, the applicant may obtain vital information about the condition of said battery without having to physically gain access to and inspect the said battery.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4308492 (1981-12-01), Mori et al.
patent: 5173652 (1992-12-01), Henkel
patent: 5200877 (1993-04-01), Betton et al.
patent: 5250904 (1993-10-01), Salander et al.
patent: 5949219 (1999-09-01), Weiss
Hong Kok Chee
Lim Chok Meo
Wan Yeoh Boon
C.K. Electronics SDN. BHD.
Groms Davetta
Lefkowitz Edward
Lowe Hauptman & Gilman & Berner LLP
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