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).

  • Electronic battery tester
    Patent number: 7557586
    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: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: J. David Vonderhaar, Kevin I. Bertness
  • SCAN TOOL FOR ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER
    Publication number: 20090160451
    Abstract: A cable for connecting to an electronic battery tester, includes a first end configured to couple to a databus of a vehicle and a second end configured to couple to the electronic battery tester. An electrical connection extends between the first end and the second end and is configured to couple the electronic battery tester to the databus of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • BATTERY TESTERS WITH SECONDARY FUNCTIONALITY
    Publication number: 20090085571
    Abstract: An electronic vehicle tester includes a battery tester configured to measure a parameter of a battery of a vehicle. A tire tester is configured to receive a parameter of a tire of the vehicle. A wireless receiver can be configured to receive pressure information from a transmitter associated with a tire of a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Battery charger with booster pack
    Patent number: 7501795
    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. In one aspect, the battery charger is a switch-mode charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Midtronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin I. Bertness, J. David VonderHaar
  • Centralized data storage of condition of a storage battery at its point of sale
    Patent number: 7498767
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring replacing of a previously purchased storage battery with a replacement storage battery. A battery tester is coupled to the replacement storage battery. A replacement storage battery identifier is entered into the battery tester that identifies the replacement storage battery. The battery tester performs a battery test on the replacement storage battery. A replacement battery test code is generated using the battery test and the replacement storage battery identifier. The replacement battery test code is communicated to a centralized database. The replacement battery test code is associated with a battery test code related to the previously purchased storage battery in the centralized database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis V. Brown, Stephen J. McShane, Kevin I. Bertness
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING A PARAMETER OF A VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20090051365
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle electrical system tester is provided for testing an electrical system having wiring which couple a load to a battery. The automotive vehicle electrical system tester is configured to measure an electrical parameter of the wiring and includes a first battery terminal connection configured to couple to a first terminal of the battery. A test connection is configured to couple to a wire of the electrical system which extends between the first terminal of the battery and the load. Test circuitry coupled to the first battery terminal connection and the test connection is configured to draw current from the battery along a path through the wire and to the test connection. The test circuitry measures an electrical parameter of the wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • BATTERY TESTER FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20090024266
    Abstract: Testing or diagnostics are performed on an electric vehicle. The vehicle is operated and current flow through a system of the vehicle is monitored. A voltage related to the system is also monitored. Diagnostics are provided based upon the monitored voltage and the monitored current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Kevin I. Bertness, Stephen J. McShane
  • Apparatus and method for counteracting self discharge in a storage battery
    Patent number: 7479763
    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. The storage battery is a carbon battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER OR CHARGER WITH DATABUS CONNECTION
    Publication number: 20080315830
    Abstract: Vehicle maintenance circuitry for use with a storage battery, and/or electrical system of a vehicle includes an electrical connector configured to electrically couple to the vehicle. OBD communication circuitry is configured to couple to an OBD databus of a vehicle. The operation of the vehicle maintenance circuitry is a function of communication on the OBD databus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Scan tool for electronic battery tester
    Patent number: 7446536
    Abstract: A cable for connecting to an electronic battery tester, includes a first end configured to couple to a databus of a vehicle and a second end configured to couple to the electronic battery tester. An electrical connection extends between the first end and the second end and is configured to couple the electronic battery tester to the databus of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • BATTERY RUN DOWN INDICATOR
    Publication number: 20080252437
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle battery monitor includes an electrical connection configured to electrically couple to an electrical system of the vehicle. An output provides a visual indication related to a condition of the battery. A mount mounts the output at a location at which the output is visible from outside of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin I. Bertness, Nick McMahan
  • Broad-band low-inductance cables for making Kelvin connections to electrochemical cells and batteries
    Patent number: 7425833
    Abstract: A broad-band technique for reducing the distributed inductance of a four-conductor Kelvin cable is disclosed. A special inductance-canceling cable section is connected in tandem with the cable section contacting the cell/battery. Connections between the two cable sections are transposed such that conductors in each conductor pair of the canceling section connect to current-carrying and voltage-sensing conductors from different conductor pairs in the contacting section. The canceling section thereby exhibits a distributed negative mutual inductance between its current-carrying and voltage-sensing conductors that can effectively cancel the distributed positive mutual inductance introduced by the contacting section. In one embodiment, conductor pairs comprise pairs of insulated wires which may be twisted together. In other disclosed embodiments, conductor pairs comprise shielded coaxial cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin I. Bertness, Keith S. Champlin
  • Battery tester with promotion feature
    Publication number: 20080204030
    Abstract: Battery maintenance equipment is provided for use in maintaining storage batteries. The battery maintenance equipment includes battery maintenance circuitry. A redemption code output is provided and configured to provide an output having a redeemable value in response to the battery maintenance circuitry. A method includes outputting a redemption code in response to usage of battery maintenance equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis V. Brown, Kevin I. Bertness, Stephen J. McShane, Michael E. Troy, William G. Sampson
  • Battery testers with secondary functionality
    Patent number: 7398176
    Abstract: An electronic vehicle tester includes a battery tester configured to measure a parameter of a battery of a vehicle. A tire tester is configured to receive a parameter of a tire of the vehicle. A wireless receiver can be configured to receive pressure information from a transmitter associated with a tire of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Query based electronic battery tester
    Patent number: 7363175
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin I. Bertness, Stephen J. McShane, Wilhelmus H. J. Koster
  • Shunt connection to a PCB of an energy management system employed in an automotive vehicle
    Patent number: 7319304
    Abstract: A method of coupling a shunt to a printed circuit board (PCB) of an energy management system is provided. The method includes coupling flexible electrical connectors to the shunt and soldering the flexible electrical connectors to connection points on the PCB of the energy management system. An energy management system that includes a shunt coupled to a printed circuit board using the above method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Balaguru K. Veloo, Kevin I. Bertness
  • Electronic battery tester with relative test output
    Patent number: 7295936
    Abstract: An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery determines a condition of the battery. The condition is a relative condition and is a function of a dynamic parameter of the battery and an empirical input variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin I. Bertness, J. David Vonderhaar
  • Alternator tester
    Patent number: 7246015
    Abstract: An alternator tester is provided for testing an alternator of a vehicle while the alternator is coupled to the vehicle. A sensor is configured to couple to the vehicle and sense a signal related to operation of the alternator. A memory contains data related to operator instructions for performing an alternator tester of a function of vehicle type. A processor configured to provide an output indication of alternator condition based upon the sensed signal. An extra load or connection can be provided for coupling to the electrical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin I. Bertness, Alan Keith Melton
  • Kelvin connector for a battery post
    Patent number: 7198510
    Abstract: A Kelvin connector for coupling to a post of a battery includes a first contact having a surface which at least partially conforms to and is adapted to engage and electrically connect to a surface of the post. The connector also includes a second contact having a surface which at least partially conforms to and is adapted to engage and electrically connect to the surface of the post. An electrical insulator between the first contact and the second contact urges the surface of the first contact and the surface of the second contact against the surface of the post and thereby forms a Kelvin connection to the post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Method and apparatus for measuring a parameter of a vehicle electrical system
    Patent number: 7154276
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring electrical parameters for an electrical system measures a first and second parameters of the electrical system between connections to the electrical system. A processor determines a third electrical parameter of the electrical system as a function of the first parameter and the second parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness