Using A Battery Testing Device Patents (Class 324/426)
  • Publication number: 20140368205
    Abstract: A battery cell is configured to operate in within an electronic device. Determining the status of the battery cell includes using a strain gauge attached to the battery cell. A value of the dimension of the battery cell is established by use of the strain gauge. The status of the battery cell is determined based on the established dimension value compared to a reference value and a threshold related to the dimension of the battery cell. Related methods, devices and/or computer program products are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Jan-Olof Svensson, Mats Wolf
  • Patent number: 8912761
    Abstract: A PM-ECU executes a program including: a step (S104) of estimating pre-charge SOC(1) when a plug-in charge is started (YES in S100), a step (S108) of calculating an integrated value of charging current when integration permitting conditions are satisfied (YES in S104, YES in S106), a step (S112) of setting a final integrated value when the charge is completed, a step (S116) of estimating post-charge SOC(2) when an ignition switch is turned on (YES in S114), a step (S122) of calculating a full-charge capacity of this cycle when calculation conditions are satisfied (YES in S120), a step (S128) of calculating a new full-charge capacity when the full-charge capacity of this cycle is within a specified range (YES in S124), and a step (S130) of updating the full-charge capacity by setting the new full-charge capacity as the current full-charge capacity when the new full-charge capacity is within a specified range (YES in S128).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junta Izumi
  • Publication number: 20140363751
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a method and a system for monitoring the performance of an electrochemical cell stack. Monitoring can be performed remotely by measuring the voltage across the stack, and comparing the measured values to predetermined reference values to determine the condition of the stack. Monitoring of the stack voltage enables detection of performance decay, which in turn enables preemptive repair of the stack prior to catastrophic failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Scott BLANCHET, Ed DOMIT
  • Publication number: 20140354233
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a device for testing a battery may be provided. The device for testing a battery may include: a determination circuit configured to determine at least one of a differential enthalpy of the battery and a differential entropy of the battery; and an evaluation circuit configured to evaluate a health state of the battery based on the determined at least one of the differential enthalpy and the differential entropy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Rachid Yazami, Kenza Maher
  • Publication number: 20140358459
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for monitoring a battery are described herein. One method includes receiving a plurality of values, each value associated with a respective battery characteristic, and determining an internal state associated with the battery based, at least in part, on the plurality of values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Pavel Trnka, Vladimir Havlena
  • Publication number: 20140354289
    Abstract: A method for predicting charging time of a battery for an electric vehicle is provided. The method includes differentiating a rapid charging and a slow charging. A necessary charging amount of the battery is calculated, and a reference current value that is stored in advance is detected for slow charging. A time required for slowly charging a battery is calculated using the necessary charging amount and the reference current value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicants: KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Dong Il KIM, Woo Sung KIM, Dong Gil HA
  • Publication number: 20140347057
    Abstract: A battery information providing apparatus includes a short-range communication module for performing short-range communication; an information detector for detecting battery information; and a microprocessor for controlling the battery information to be transmitted by the short-range communication module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Taeg OH, Soon-Sang Park
  • Publication number: 20140347058
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a state of a rechargeable battery based on a state value which characterizes the respective state of the rechargeable battery, characterized in that, during at least one time interval, an electrical energy which is output by the rechargeable battery and an electrical energy which is received by the rechargeable battery are detected, and in that an instantaneous state of charge or an instantaneous no-load voltage of the rechargeable battery is detected, wherein the detected electrical energy which is output by the rechargeable battery, the detected electrical energy which is received by the rechargeable battery and the respectively detected instantaneous state of charge or the respectively detected instantaneous no-load voltage of the rechargeable battery are evaluated in order to generate the state value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Andreas Walter, Patrick Weiss, Markus Waibler
  • Publication number: 20140340042
    Abstract: A multi-series battery control system comprises a plurality of unit battery cell of which unit consists of multiple battery cells connected in series; a plurality of control IC comprising a control circuit for controlling the unit battery cell; a main controller that sends and receives signal to/from the control ICs via an insulation; means for sending an abnormality signal, which represents the existence or the absence of abnormality of the control ICs or the battery cells, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the first signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation; and means for searching contents of the abnormality in the control ICs or the battery cells and sending the abnormality contents signal based on the search, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the second signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko EMORI, Shigeyuki YOSHIHARA, Kazuyoshi SASAZAWA, Tatsuo HORIBA, Akihiko KUDO
  • Publication number: 20140340091
    Abstract: A method for measuring electric charge of a battery is provided. The method includes the following steps. A lookup table is provided that stores a plurality of preset measurement confirmation voltages and a plurality of set electric charge. A first voltage of the battery is measured as a start point. An end point is calculated according to the lookup table and the start point. A voltage and a current of the battery are measured until a measured voltage reaches a preset measurement confirmation voltage corresponding to the end point. A set electric charge is calculated according to the lookup table from the start point to the end point. An actual electric charge is calculated from the start point to the end point. The set electric charge is corrected according to a difference between the actual electric charge and the set electric charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: uPI Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Sei-Ching Yang
  • Publication number: 20140343831
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting low vehicle battery charge and responding appropriately to prevent complete vehicle battery drainage. One method includes: monitoring the charge of the vehicle battery; determining, by a telematics unit, that the charge of the vehicle battery has reached a low battery charge threshold while the vehicle engine is off; and providing, by the telematics unit, a notification to a telematics subscriber that the vehicle battery has low charge. Another method includes: monitoring the charge of the vehicle battery; determining, by a telematics unit, that the charge of the vehicle battery has reached a low battery charge threshold while the vehicle engine is off; and in response to determining that the low battery charge threshold has been reached, disabling at least one load draining the vehicle battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Eric T. Hosey, Kevin W. Owens, Joshua M. Sine, Daniel C. McGarry
  • Publication number: 20140339920
    Abstract: A system and method to monitor and control a battery string in an uninterruptible power supply unit is provided. The present system and method aids in the prevention of thermal runaway conditions which may lead to battery damage and fire. Battery parameters are measured and compared to a given standard to determine if the measured parameter deviates from a range of acceptable standard range. A time delay is initiated if the measured parameter is outside the acceptable standard range and the battery parameter is remeasured. If the measured parameter is still outside the acceptable standard range, than an alarm is activated, which may include disconnecting the battery string from the charger and producing a perceptible alarm. False alarms are reduced and true runaway scenarios can be prevented at an early stage with the present system and method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Robert E. Ingalls, JR., Douglas E. Frazier, Michael Xavier
  • Patent number: 8890536
    Abstract: A secondary battery capable of ensuring operator safety by checking whether a service plug is opened or closed. The secondary battery includes a battery pack having a plurality of battery cells, a service plug coupled between each of the plurality of battery cells through a pair of plug terminals for controlling interconnection of the plurality of battery cells according to whether the pair of plug terminals contact the battery cells, and a battery management system connected to the battery pack and the service plug for determining whether the service plug is opened or closed by measuring at least one selected from the group consisting of a voltage and a current of the battery pack and voltages of the plurality of battery cells connected to the service plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Jongdoo Park
  • Patent number: 8890480
    Abstract: Systems and methods for health management of rechargeable batteries are disclosed. In one embodiment, a rechargeable battery system includes a rechargeable battery, and a battery health management unit operatively coupled to the rechargeable battery and including a state of health module configured to estimate a battery health by receiving battery-related data and predicting one or more failure modes. The state of health module may further include a prognostic failure mode component configured to combine at least one flight data variable with at least one model-based prognostic. In alternate embodiments, the battery health management unit may further include a state of life module and a state of charge module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John L. Vian, Ali R. Mansouri, Rangasamy Elangovan, Mori M. Borumand, Khaled Abdel-Motagaly
  • Publication number: 20140333312
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a state-of-charge (SOC) of a battery, where the system includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor provides a measurement signal that can track changes of a nominal volume of the battery by either measuring a size or pressure of the battery, where the nominal volume is the volume that the electrolyte, anode, cathode and current collectors would occupy if unconstrained. The controller is programmed to use a function to estimate the SOC from the measurement signal. The function can be established after constructing and finding a repeatable charging and discharging curve of the battery that graphs the measurement signal compared to the SOC of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Harald Schlag, Christoph Klunker, Matthias Hampel
  • Publication number: 20140333314
    Abstract: A current measuring circuit for redundantly measuring electrical current includes a measuring resistor, a magnetic field sensor, and an evaluation circuit on an evaluation circuit board. The evaluation circuit is used to determine electrical current using the measuring resistor. The magnetic field sensor on the evaluation circuit board and the evaluation circuit board are arranged in direct proximity to the measuring resistor such that the magnetic field sensor is configured to detect the magnetic field from the current-carrying resistor. A battery includes the current measuring circuit and a motor vehicle includes the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventor: Patrick Kaupp
  • Publication number: 20140333313
    Abstract: A method and system for application independent map-based cycle life testing of battery cells is provided. A target depth of discharge (DOD) and a charge/discharge current level is selected for the battery test. The battery is discharged to the target DOD. The battery is cycled within the DOD range one or more times, wherein the cycling comprises a charge pulse and a discharge pulse at the selected current levels. A reference performance test (RPT) is performed on the battery, wherein the RPT comprises a static capacity test and a dynamic power test. The cycling and RPT testing are repeated until an end of test condition is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Bapiraju SURAMPUDI, Joe STEIBER, Jeff Qiang XU
  • Publication number: 20140333316
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises: a fuel cell formed of a plurality of cells stacked therein, each cell generating electric power through an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas; a cell monitor capable of detecting a group voltage for each group wherein each group is composed of two or more cells; and an estimation device that estimates a minimum cell voltage. The estimation device comprises a maximum cell voltage estimation part that estimates a maximum cell voltage, and the estimation device estimates the minimum cell voltage by using an estimated value of the maximum cell voltage and a minimum group-average voltage, where an average voltage of a group having the lowest voltage value among the group voltages is defined as the minimum group-average voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masashi Toida, Yoshiaki Naganuma
  • Publication number: 20140335432
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems for estimating hydrogen concentration and/or pressure in an anode compartment of a fuel cell stack in a fuel cell vehicle. In some implementations, the estimates are based on a correlation between a transient dip in voltage in response to an anode to cathode bleed event and a concentration of hydrogen in the anode compartment of a fuel cell stack. Some implementations may comprise initiating a bleed event, sensing a transient dip in voltage in response to the bleed event, and using the correlation to calculate an estimate of a concentration and/or pressure of the gas in the anode compartment. The sensitivity of the correlation and hence the accuracy of estimation may change with the power level and may be accounted for in the correlation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: MANISH SINHA, MATTHEW A. LANG, DANIEL C. DI FIORE, STEVEN R. FALTA
  • Publication number: 20140333315
    Abstract: An object is to provide, at low costs, a function for determining whether a monitoring section should execute a self-diagnosis. A monitoring system has a monitoring section for acquiring information on the charge and discharge state of an electric storage device and a determination section for determining the charge and discharge state of the electric storage device on the basis of information acquired by the monitoring section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyoshi Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20140327444
    Abstract: A vehicle battery monitoring assembly includes a terminal connectable to a battery post, a shunt formed of a first metallic material, and a cable formed of a different second metallic material. The shunt is connected at one end to the terminal. The assembly further includes a sheet formed of the second metallic material. The sheet is attached on a portion of another end of the shunt. The cable is connected at one end to the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Enric Aparicio Rollan, Josep Maria Roset Rubio
  • Patent number: 8878539
    Abstract: A battery control module for a battery system comprises a voltage measuring module that measures battery voltage and a current measuring module that measures battery current. A state of charge (SOC) module that communicates with said current and voltage measuring modules and that estimates SOC based on a power limit ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Melichar
  • Patent number: 8878541
    Abstract: A battery voltage monitoring circuit includes a first power supply terminal to be connected to the positive terminal of a battery pack having rechargeable cells connected in series; a first supply voltage sensing terminal to be connected to the positive terminal of the battery pack; a first resistor connected between the first power supply terminal and the first supply voltage sensing terminal; a second supply voltage sensing terminal to be connected to the negative terminal of a first rechargeable cell of the rechargeable cells, the first rechargeable cell being on the positive terminal side of the battery pack and connected to the positive terminal of the battery pack; a second resistor connected between the second supply voltage sensing terminal and the first power supply terminal; and a first comparator configured to compare a voltage at the first power supply terminal and a voltage at the first supply voltage sensing terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Nishizawa, Takashi Takeda
  • Patent number: 8877025
    Abstract: An electrochemical test cell, containing an anode comprising a metal as an active component; a cathode comprising a porous chemically inert tube containing an active material compatible with the metal of the anode; and an electrolyte; wherein the only metal in contact with the electrolyte is the metal of the anode, is provided. This test cell is useful in a method to evaluate various combinations of materials for suitability as a combination for preparation of a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Hee Soo Kim, John Muldoon
  • Publication number: 20140320140
    Abstract: Provided is an efficient method for determining the completion of discharging waste batteries, the method being capable of accurately identifying the discharging states of the charge remaining in the waste batteries and appropriately determining the completion of discharging without measuring the residual voltage of each of the waste batteries. The method for determining the completion of discharging waste batteries according to the present invention is characterized in that after immersing the waste batteries in a conductive liquid, the concentration of hydrogen gas produced from the liquid is measured, thereby determining the completion of discharging the charge remaining in the waste batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Kazunari MAEBA, Ryozo USHIO
  • Publication number: 20140320141
    Abstract: A control device of a secondary battery uses, as material of a positive electrode, positive electrode active material that shows a difference of an open circuit voltage curve between charging and discharging. A storing unit stores, as discharge open circuit voltage information, a relationship between an SOC in a discharge process and an open circuit voltage for each changeover SOC that is an SOC when changing a state of the secondary battery from the charge to the discharge. An SOC calculating unit calculates the SOC of the secondary battery in the discharge process on the basis of a changeover SOC when actually performing the change from the charge to the discharge and the discharge open circuit voltage information stored in the storing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kaburagi, Yasuhiko Ohsawa, Atsushi Itou, Takuya Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20140320071
    Abstract: An electrical storage device monitoring circuit includes a 3-state buffer configured to switch between a high output state and a low output state based on a flag output delivered from a previous electrical storage device monitoring circuit at a front stage, and also configured to detect a disconnection between the current electrical storage device monitoring circuit and the previous electrical storage device monitoring circuit at the front stage; a detection circuit configured to monitor an electrical storage device to detect whether the electrical storage device is normal or abnormal; and an output circuit configured to deliver the flag output to a subsequent electrical storage device monitoring circuit at a next stage based on an input of the 3-state buffer and a detection result of the detection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi MIYANAGA, Jun MAEDE
  • Publication number: 20140322573
    Abstract: A battery monitor apparatus includes: a first control unit disposed outside a plurality of battery stacks each including battery cells; a plurality of second control units disposed respectively in the plurality of battery stacks, the second control units determining an output voltage of the battery cells and outputting voltage data representing the determined voltage; and a signal line connecting the plurality of second control units and the first control unit in a daisy chain system, wherein the second control units receive a data signal transmitted from the first control unit and transmit a response signal responding to the data signal, via the signal line, and the first control unit determines that the signal line is disconnected, when the response signal is not received via the signal line within a prescribed time period after transmitting the data signal to the plurality of second control units via the signal line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Norio Nishiwaki, Yuki Tomita
  • Publication number: 20140320142
    Abstract: A system for measuring electric current supplied by an electric battery, for example a battery in a motor vehicle, including: a Hall effect current sensor; a device for compensating for measurement errors made by the sensor, including a mechanism applying an operation close to the inverse of an operator characterizing magnetic hysteresis of the sensor to the measured current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventor: Pietro Dolcini
  • Patent number: 8872477
    Abstract: A battery pack and a method of operating the battery pack are disclosed. The battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells and is configured to open a terminal of the battery if an open circuit is detected in a line connecting battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jongwoon Yang, Euijeong Hwang, Susumu Segawa, Jinwan Kim, Hanseok Yun, Beomgyu Kim
  • Patent number: 8872516
    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: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Patent number: 8872517
    Abstract: An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery, includes connections configured to couple to terminals of the battery. Measurement circuitry is coupled to the connections and configured to measure a parameter of the battery. An input is configured to receive a battery age input variable. Computation circuitry is configured to provide a test output related to a condition of the battery based upon the measured parameter and the battery age input variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Philbrook, Kevin I. Bertness
  • Publication number: 20140312911
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a battery. The battery includes: a detecting apparatus, located inside the battery and on an anode or cathode end of the battery, and configured to detect an electric potential inside the battery; and a conducting wire, electrically connected to the detecting apparatus and insulated from the anode and cathode of the battery, and configured to export a value of the electric potential measured by the detecting apparatus. The battery according to embodiments of the present invention is provided with a built-in detecting apparatus, which is led out together with the anode and cathode of the battery by using the conducting wire electrically connected to the detecting apparatus. This design achieves accurate and reliable measurement of a potential at a single electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventor: Jie Ding
  • Publication number: 20140312913
    Abstract: A battery monitoring apparatus comprises a reception section to receive a radio signal and to output power and a demodulated signal according to the radio signal; a first power source circuit to perform power supply based on the power; a decode circuit to operate upon receiving the power supply from the first power source circuit and to output an activation signal and a command based on the demodulated signal; a second power source circuit to be activated according to the activation signal and to perform power supply; a battery monitoring circuit to operate upon receiving the power supply from the second power source circuit and to output a monitoring result of a state of the battery according to the command; and a transmission section to operate upon receiving the power supply from the second power source circuit and to wirelessly transmit the monitoring result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mutsumi Kikuchi, Akihiko Kudo, Tomonori Kanai, Hikaru Miura, Akihiko Emori
  • Publication number: 20140312910
    Abstract: A battery management system includes a sensing unit and a main controller unit (MCU) is disclosed. In one aspect, the sensing unit is configured to measure a current value and a voltage value of a battery under a discharge condition of the battery. In addition, the MCU is configured to receive the current and voltage values and further configured to manage capacities of the battery based at least in part on the current and voltage values. In addition, the MCU includes a an unusable capacity calculating unit configured to calculate an unusable capacity corresponding to a portion of a theoretical maximum capacity of the battery that is unusable under the discharge condition, where the unusable capacity is calculated based at least in part on the current value and an internal resistance value of the battery under the discharge condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Shin Cho, Soo-Jin Lee, Young-Woo Shim
  • Publication number: 20140312912
    Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adapt the charging of a battery using data which is representative of an overpotential or relaxation time (full or partial) of the battery. In another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to calculate data which is representative of an overpotential or relaxation time (full or partial) of the battery. In yet another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to calculate data which is representative of a state of charge of the battery using an overpotential or relaxation time (full or partial) of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Fred Berkowitz, Nadim Maluf, Dania Ghantous
  • Publication number: 20140306712
    Abstract: Methods and systems for tracking aging effect on battery impedance are provided. A first voltage associated with a first state of a battery, a second voltage associated with a second state of the battery, and an impedance of the battery are determined. A battery impedance table that is used for calculating a state of charge of the battery is updated using the determined impedance. Methods and systems for tracking state of health of a battery are also provided. Partial charge cycles of a received battery are counted between a first charge event and a second charge event of the battery. State of health data of the batter is tracked, and a new state of health estimation is calculated based on the state of health data if the counted partial charge cycles of the battery has a count value that has a predetermined relationship with a predetermined count threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Domitille Esnard-Domerego
  • Publication number: 20140306667
    Abstract: A battery-state monitoring system capable of precisely and efficiently estimating the state and service life of a plurality of storage batteries charged with power generated by utilizing natural energy and constantly connected to an equipment is provided. The system includes a power supply control device that detects a current in each battery, an end device that measures temperature, voltage, and internal resistance of each battery, the internal resistance being measured by using two or more kinds of frequencies, and a prime monitoring device that acquires measurement data from the end device corresponding to each battery and issues an instruction related to an operation to the power supply control device and the end device. The prime monitoring device estimates degradation of each battery based on at least one of temperature, voltage, and internal resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Mukaitani, Takashi Kofuse, Mitsuyoshi Kanoh, Shinya Mizusugi, Yasuhiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 8860420
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a power management module measures an electromagnetic radiation spectrum or a voltage response of a battery module. The measured electromagnetic radiation spectrum or voltage response of the battery is compared to a plurality of reference electromagnetic radiation spectrums or voltage responses, respectively, which may be determined for authentic batteries, for example. A relative condition of the battery, such as an age or state of health, may be estimated based on the measured electromagnetic radiation spectrum or voltage response of the battery module, and stored in a memory store. The rate of change of the relative condition of the battery over a period of time may be determined to identify potential defects in the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: David Gerard Rich, Taha Shabbir Husain Sutarwala, Surajit Sengupta
  • Publication number: 20140300364
    Abstract: Provided is a battery pack, which can prevent a plurality of battery modules from being abnormally assembled. The battery pack may include n battery modules; n slave battery management systems (BMSs) corresponding to the n battery modules, the n slave BMSs respectively and sequentially coupled to each other; and a master BMS coupled to the n slave BMSs. Here, the master BMS is configured to apply a trigger signal to a first slave BMS, the first to (n?1)th slave BMSs are configured to transmit the trigger signal and first to (n?1)th signals, which are different from each other, to a next slave BMS, an nth slave BMS is configured to transmit an nth signal to the master BMS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Youngoh Choi
  • Publication number: 20140300363
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system, method, and apparatus for battery monitoring. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves injecting at least one test signal into a battery, and receiving at least one response signal from the battery. In one or more embodiments, the response signal(s) comprises at least one reflected signal. The method further involves comparing, with at least one processor, the response signal(s) with at least one baseline signal to produce at least one comparison signal. Also, the method involves detecting, with at least one processor, at least one anomaly within the battery by using the comparison signal(s). Further, the method involves determining, with at least one processor, a location at least one anomaly within the battery by using the comparison signal(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Terrance L. Thomas, Lowell W. Schaffner, Mori M. Borumand
  • Publication number: 20140302355
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for ascertaining permissible operating parameters of a battery. For this purpose, operating parameters of the battery are measured, and further relevant operating parameters of the battery are determined from the measured operating parameters. Furthermore, at least one of the determined operating parameters is compared with a predefined comparison range. If the at least one operating parameter lies within the predefined comparison range, the permissible operating range of the at least one operating parameter is determined using a mathematical model of the battery. However, if the at least one battery parameter lies outside the predefined comparison range, the permissible operating range of the at least one operating parameter is determined using previously stored battery data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicants: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andre Boehm, Christoph Brochhaus
  • Publication number: 20140292344
    Abstract: A device is provided for monitoring the total current discharged from a battery. The device includes a bridge circuit of resistors in which one of the resistors has a resistance which varies according to the current which has passed through it. Whenever the battery passes a current to a load, a small portion of the current is passed through the bridge circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics Pte Ltd.
    Inventors: Olivier Le Neel, Calvin Leung
  • Publication number: 20140292072
    Abstract: Provided is a battery monitoring system including a plurality of batteries connected in series, a current/voltage measuring unit configured to measure an electric current and a voltage of a first battery in response to a measurement instruction, and a plurality of voltage measuring units configured to measure a voltage of a second battery other than the first battery in response to a measurement instruction. The voltage measuring units are connected to the current/voltage measuring unit with a daisy-chain connection by a communication interface, and the current/voltage measuring unit and the voltage measuring unit transfer the measurement instruction to another voltage measuring unit through the daisy-chain connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicants: TRANSTRON INC, FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Masanori Nakanishi, Kazuyoshi Tsukada, Jun Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8849598
    Abstract: A method of estimating the internal state of a first electrochemical system for power storage is disclosed. The SoC and the electrochemical impedance are determined for different internal states of a second electrochemical system of a same type as the first electrochemical system being studied. An electrochemical impedance model is then defined as a function of the SoC and of parameters. The electrochemical impedance Z of the system studied is determined and its SoC is estimated using the model applied to electrochemical impedance Z.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Remy Mingant, Julien Bernard, Valérie Sauvant-Moynot
  • Publication number: 20140285207
    Abstract: This application relates a method and a control circuit for determining a charge current of a battery connected to a modulated load, wherein a current limited power source is connected in parallel to the modulated load and the battery for supplying a load dependent current up to a predetermined current limit to the modulated load and the battery. The control circuit comprises means for measuring a current flowing through the battery; means for indicating an overload condition of the current limited power source; and means for determining the charge current of the battery. The means for indicating an overload condition are configured to indicate an overload condition when a sum of a current drawn by the modulated load and a current flowing into the battery exceeds the predetermined current limit of the current limited power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: DIALOG SEMICONDUCTOR GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Strohmayer, Stephan Dobretsberger
  • Patent number: 8841915
    Abstract: The battery voltage monitoring apparatus has a structure in which, for each adjacent two of battery cells, the positive electrode of the battery cell on the higher voltage side and the negative electrode of the battery cell on the lower voltage side are connected to a corresponding one of common terminals provided in an RC filter circuit. The common terminal is branched into first and second branches respectively connected with a first resistor and a second resistor. The first and second resistors are connected to a corresponding one of positive side detection terminals and a corresponding one of negative side detection terminals, respectively. A capacitor is connected across a corresponding one of pairs of the positive side and negative side detection terminals. Switches for making short circuits respectively between the positive side detection terminals and between the negative side detection terminals corresponding to each adjacent two battery cells are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Tomomichi Mizoguchi
  • Publication number: 20140266225
    Abstract: A current clamp has a pair of jaws that are placed around an electrical conductor to measure a parameter (a measurable quantity or distinguishing or notable characteristic) corresponding to the electrical conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Ryan C. Coleman, Kevin I. Bertness
  • Publication number: 20140276487
    Abstract: New and useful systems, methods, and apparatuses for automatically identifying alternative cell chemistries of batteries that power portable electric devices and adjusting the characteristics of such devices in response to the identification of such cells in a reduced-pressure therapy environment are set forth in the appended claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Richard Daniel John Coulthard, David Robson Blandford
  • Publication number: 20140266221
    Abstract: A method for estimating the voltage of a battery element of a vehicle battery system is provided. The method comprises providing a balancing/sensing circuit having a series combination of a balancing switch and a balancing resistive element electrically connected in parallel with the battery element, and measuring the voltage across the combination of the balancing switch and balancing resistive element when the balancing switch is presumed to be in a “closed” state. The method further comprises deriving a compensated value for the measured voltage using empirically-derived data, wherein the compensated value compensates for a voltage drop occurring in the balancing/sensing circuit when the balancing switch is in the “closed” state and represents an estimate of the voltage of the battery element. A battery system is also provided that includes a battery element, a balancing/sensing circuit, a sensor, and a control module configured to perform the method described above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Andrew C. Baughman, James C. Gibbs