Electricity: measuring and testing – Electrolyte properties – Using a battery testing device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-12
2001-06-26
Wong, Peter S. (Department: 2838)
Electricity: measuring and testing
Electrolyte properties
Using a battery testing device
C320S136000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06252406
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a controller circuit to automatically shut down and reactivate a computer that monitors a battery that powers an electrical system, as well as the computer, in order to conserve battery power.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Systems using a computer are known to monitor the state of a battery supplying power to an electrical system, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,528, Method For Monitoring Aircraft Battery Status” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,919, “Automotive Battery Status Monitor”, which are owned by the assignee of the subject application. In those patents, the battery being monitored supplies power to the electrical system of various types of vehicles, as well as to the computer that performs the monitoring. The computer receives input data such as the battery voltage and current being drawn by the electrical system and monitors, analyzes and computes battery status factors, such as battery internal resistance, polarization resistance, state of charge and remaining capacity.
It is sometimes desired to prevent excessive power drain of the battery. One way to accomplish this would be to power on the computer only periodically to perform its necessary computations and analysis. At other times, the computer would be deactivated and not supplied with electrical power.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a system that controls the power supplied to a computer monitoring a battery which supplies power to an electrical system and also supplies power to the computer.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a controller to automatically deactivate and reactivate a computer system which monitors a battery that powers an electrical system and also provides power to the computer.
Another object is to provide a controller system that periodically activates a computer monitoring a battery upon one of the voltage or current drawn from the battery exceeding a predetermined high or low limit.
A further object is to provide a controller that periodically powers on a computer that monitors a battery to perform its computation function during times when the battery voltage or current drawn by an electrical system powered by the battery is not exceeding a predetermined limit.
A further object is to provide a controller to automatically deactivate and reactivate a computer system monitoring a battery that powers the computer and also powers an electrical system at times when the battery is not normally supplying power to the electrical system.
In an illustrative embodiment, the controller operates to power on the computer for a period of time sufficient to allow the computer to perform its computations and analysis based on events, such as elapsed time, the battery voltage and the battery current drawn by the electrical system being supplied by the battery. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the computer is activated from a sleep mode during which it is not being supplied with power in order to perform its computation function in response to one of the battery voltage and/or current drawn exceeding a high or low limit. After the computer performs its computation function, the power is turned off and the computer is returned to the sleep mode. If the electrical system powered by the battery is operating in a normal state, such as when the vehicle is running, the battery is being charged, or the battery is being discharged at a rate greater than 0.5 Amp, the computer continuously monitors the battery. In another aspect of the invention, if the electrical system is normally inactive, such as when the vehicle is parked, and one of the voltage and current limits have not been exceeded, the computer is periodically powered on by the controller to perform its computational function.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5032825 (1991-07-01), Kuznicki
patent: 5633537 (1997-05-01), Kurata et al.
patent: 5973497 (1999-10-01), Bergk et al.
Chapman John
Tegge Rainer
Honeywell International , Inc.
Luk Lawrence
Wong Peter S.
Yeadon Loria B.
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