Abstract: A method of battery monitoring including the steps of: acquiring a battery voltage measurement from the battery; and acquiring a time measurement associated with the battery voltage measurement. A scaled voltage value is determined by scaling the battery voltage measurement with respect to a start voltage and/or predetermined end voltage. A scaled time value is determined from the scaled voltage value in accordance with a predetermined battery characteristic. An absolute reserve time value is then obtained from the scaled time value, the reserve time being indicative of the difference between the time measurement and an end time associated with the predetermined end voltage.

Abstract: A model of battery reserve life that a function of a SOH indicator is adaptively modified responsive to intermittent capacity tests of a battery, e.g., based on reserve life estimates generated responsive to the capacity tests. The SOH indicator for the battery is monitored to generate SOH indicator values, and estimates of reserve life are generated from the generated SOH indicator values according to the adaptively modified model of reserve life. For example, a capacity test may be performed responsive to detection of a change in reserve life as estimated by the model of reserve life, and the model of reserve life may be modified responsive to the capacity test. The battery reserve life model may, for example, express reserve life as a function of a float voltage, a float current, a temperature, a charge/discharge cycling, an impedance, a conductance, a resistance, and/or a coup de fouet parameter. The invention may be embodied as methods, apparatus and computer program products.

Abstract: A method of obtaining information relating to the charge capacity of one or more cells utilizing information from the initial discharge period of the cell or cells. The method involves measuring a variable cell parameter for at least a part of an initial period of discharge during which the cell voltage initially decreases to a through voltage and then increases to a plateau voltage (the Coup De Fouet period), and relating the variable cell parameter to reference information to obtain the absolute or relative charge capacity of the cell or cells. An estimation model for predicting the absolute or relative capacity of a battery includes input for a variable battery parameter and one or more battery operating conditions and/or battery condition, reference information, compensation means determining a correction factor for the variable battery parameter, and calculation means relating corrected variable battery parameter to absolute or relative battery capacity.

Abstract: A method of testing one or more cells and parameterising the results in order to obtain a characteristic curve/function from which cell discharge reserve time can be predicted from cell voltage. The test involves obtaining a plurality of data points representing the voltage of a cell as a function of charge remaining, and parameterising the data points to obtain a function representing cell voltage and charge remaining. The function allows charge remaining to be calculated from cell voltage. The invention also provides for a device for measuring capacity and predicting discharge reserve time of a cell, the device including a voltage and current measuring means adapted to measure the voltage and load current of a cell. The device also includes a timing means so that a number of voltage and current data points can be obtained with respect of time.