Patents by Inventor Kevin I. Bertness

Kevin I. Bertness has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6788025
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for supplying energy to a vehicle battery is provided. The apparatus includes a positive connector that couples to a positive terminal of the vehicle battery and a negative connector that couples to a negative terminal of the vehicle battery. A battery charger applies a charge signal to the vehicle battery through the positive and negative connectors to thereby charge the vehicle battery. A jump-start booster pack, coupled to the battery charger, can optionally provide starting energy to the vehicle battery through the positive and negative connectors. The booster pack can be charged by the charge signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin I. Bertness, J. David Vonderhaar
  • Publication number: 20040145371
    Abstract: An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery provides a test output indicative of a condition of the battery. Electronic measurement circuitry provides a measurement output related to a condition of the battery. The battery condition is determined based upon one or more responses to one or more queries provided to an operator. The responses are used to determine battery type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Kevin I. Bertness, Stephen J. McShane, Wilhelmus H. J. Koster
  • Publication number: 20040140904
    Abstract: A battery discharge indicator for protecting a storage battery is provided. The battery discharge indicator includes a positive connector that can couple to a positive terminal of the battery and a negative connector that can couple to a negative terminal of the battery. Also included, is a voltage sensor that couples to the battery via the positive connector and the negative connector and senses a battery terminal voltage. A microprocessor, coupled to the voltage sensor, provides a first alarm signal if a magnitude of the battery terminal voltage is below a first threshold for a first interval of time and if the magnitude of the battery terminal voltage is below a second threshold for a second interval of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Patent number: 6759849
    Abstract: An electronic battery tester is provided for testing storage batteries. Battery test circuitry is configured to couple to the storage battery and measure a condition of the battery. A removable module is configured to couple to the battery tester to add increased functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Inventors: Kevin I. Bertness, Stephen J. McShane
  • Publication number: 20040104728
    Abstract: An alternator tester includes an alternator output measurement circuit configured to measure an electrical output of an alternator. A microprocessor determines a alternator condition as a function of the electrical output. The microprocessor encrypts information and provides an encrypted output which is related to the alternator electrical output. A method includes outputting such encrypted data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventors: Kevin I. Bertness, Michael E. Troy
  • Publication number: 20040051532
    Abstract: An electronic battery tester, comprising first and second connectors configured to electrically couple to terminals of the battery, a microprocessor configured to test the battery using the first and second connectors, a memory containing a set of locked instructions for the microprocessor, an input configured to receive a software unlocking key, and the microprocessor configured to execute the set of locked instructions in response to the software unlocking key corresponding a predetermined software unlocking key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Clark E. Smith, Kevin I. Bertness, Stephen J. McShane
  • Patent number: 6707303
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin I. Bertness, Jamey Butteris
  • Publication number: 20040036443
    Abstract: An electronic battery tester includes battery test circuitry configured to couple to a battery. A databus is configured to exchange data with external circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Patent number: 6696819
    Abstract: A charge control device for providing a constant charge voltage with temperature compensation to a battery being charged by a constant current charger is provided. The device includes a first electrical connector that couples to a positive terminal of the battery and a second electrical connector that couples to a negative terminal of the battery. A current bypass circuit electrically couples to the positive and negative terminals of the battery through respective first and second electrical connectors. The current bypass circuit includes a bypass path for a portion of a charge current from the constant current charger to flow, thereby maintaining a substantially constant voltage across the battery terminals at a particular temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Patent number: 6633165
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method of monitoring a battery in an automotive vehicle are provided. An output is provided which can be a relative output as a function of minimum and maximum parameters of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Publication number: 20030184264
    Abstract: A system for counteracting self-discharge in a storage battery is provided. The system includes a charge supply battery that provides a supply voltage. The system also includes a DC-DC converter circuit that has an input that electrically couples to the charge supply battery and an output that electrically couples to terminals of the storage battery. The DC-DC converter circuit provides a charging voltage at the output that has a magnitude greater than a magnitude of the supply voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Publication number: 20030183191
    Abstract: A system for controlling charging of a battery of a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine. The system includes an input that receives an engine shutdown signal indicative that the engine will be shut down during an idle period to thereby conserve fuel. An engine shutdown delay delays shutdown of the engine for a shutdown delay period in response to the engine shutdown signal. Charge boost circuitry increases a charge signal applied to the battery of the vehicle during the engine shutdown delay period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Kevin I. Bertness, James K. Klang, Michael Cox
  • Publication number: 20030184306
    Abstract: An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery. The battery tester provides a replacement battery output as a function of battery environment information and battery replacement information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Kevin I. Bertness, William G. Sampson
  • Patent number: 6623314
    Abstract: A Kelvin clamp for coupling a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor to a battery contact to provide a Kelvin connection to the battery contact. The Kelvin clamp includes a first electrically conductive arm having a first grasping portion that can couple to the battery contact and to the first electrical conductor. Also included is a second arm that has a first electrically conductive piece and a second electrically conductive piece, which are mechanically coupled together and electrically isolated from each other. The first electrically conductive piece has a second grasping portion that can couple to the battery contact. The first electrically conductive piece can also couple to the second electrical conductor. The first electrically conductive arm and the second electrically conductive piece are electrically and mechanically coupled together by a spring mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel C. Cox, Kevin I. Bertness, Jamey L. Butteris
  • Publication number: 20030173971
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a storage battery is provided that generates a temperature at which the battery will fail to meet performance criteria. The use of a temperature-based system to rate battery performance provides a clearer understanding to those not skilled in the art of battery testing. The critical failure temperature is obtained using the battery parameters of open circuit voltage, temperature and a dynamic parameter such as conductance or resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Kevin I. Bertness, J. David Vonderhaar, Dennis V. Brown, James K. Klang
  • Patent number: 6597150
    Abstract: A method of distributing jump-start booster packs. The method includes furnishing a jump-start booster pack without an internal booster battery at an origin location and packaging the jump-start booster pack at the origin location. The jump-start booster pack is then shipped to a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin I. Bertness, Ronald J. Ortiz
  • Publication number: 20030128011
    Abstract: A charge control device for providing a constant charge voltage with temperature compensation to a battery being charged by a constant current charger is provided. The device includes a first electrical connector that couples to a positive terminal of the battery and a second electrical connector that couples to a negative terminal of the battery. A current bypass circuit electrically couples to the positive and negative terminals of the battery through respective first and second electrical connectors. The current bypass circuit includes a bypass path for a portion of a charge current from the constant current charger to flow, thereby maintaining a substantially constant voltage across the battery terminals at a particular temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Publication number: 20030124417
    Abstract: A storage battery includes a battery housing and a plurality of electrochemical cells in the battery housing electrically connected to terminals of the battery. A battery test module is mounted to the battery housing and electrically coupled to the terminals through Kelvin connections. A display or other output is configured to output battery condition information from the battery test module. Battery post extensions couple the battery test module to terminals of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Kevin I. Bertness, Jamey L. Butteris, Michael J. Fritsch
  • Patent number: 6586941
    Abstract: An electronic battery tester includes battery test circuitry configured to couple to a battery. A memory is configured to log data from the battery test circuitry and a databus configured to exchange logged data with external circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin I. Bertness, Stephen J. McShane
  • Patent number: 6566883
    Abstract: An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery includes test circuitry configured to provide an output based upon a selected test criteria. Additionally, circuitry is provided to assist in balancing batteries used in a string of multiple batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: J. David Vonderhaar, Kevin I. Bertness