A battery monitor is provided for use with a battery of an automotive vehicle. The battery monitor can provide real time battery condition measurements and can selectively control the charging of the battery through an alternator of the vehicle based upon the measured battery condition.

Energy management system for automotive vehicle

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.

Electronic battery tester

An automotive vehicle electrical system diagnostic apparatus includes first and second electrical connections configured to electrically couple to an electrical system of an automotive vehicle which includes a battery. Digital samples are obtained during operation of the vehicle which are related to the system. The digital samples are stored in memory.

Automotive vehicle electrical system diagnostic device

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. The battery test module is configured to automatically carry out a battery test when a voltage across the battery falls below a predetermined threshold.

Battery test module

A method and system (10) for performing automatic and rapid diagnostic testing and charging of a battery (16). The diagnostic test unit (10) utilizes a charger (14) combined with a rapidly variable load (54). After inputting battery characteristics including the cranking rating (CCA or CA) and the temperature of the battery, a diagnostic ramp procedure is utilized to provide an instantaneous current versus voltage analysis to determine the instantaneous cranking value (i.e., the single crank capability at full charge) of the battery being tested. If the instantaneous cranking value of the battery is above a level determined acceptable, a sustained discharge is carried out to tax the capacity of the batteryn (16). At the end of the constant current discharge, the current is again to determine a loaded cranking value, which simulates the battery power after multiple cranking attempts. If the loaded cranking value is below a desired percentage of the cranking rating, then the battery (16) is put into charge. If a battery (16) cannot be acceptably charged within the time of a given number of diagnostic probes, the battery (16) is deemed to be a bad battery (16). The charging steps utilized during the diagnostic testing, as well as any charging of batteries determined to be good, utilizes a novel interactive stepping procedure which allows batteries determined to be good to be recharged in a minimum period of time without overheating the battery (16).

Apparatus and method for carrying out diagnostic tests on batteries and for rapidly charging batteries

The electrical system of a motor vehicle is protected against damage due to voltage sources, either the own battery or an external source, connected with wrong polarity by the combination of a diode and relay switches. In one embodiment, the diode is connected to the battery so that current flows only when the battery is connected with the correct polarity. The relay coil connected in series with the diode controls contacts which connect the battery to the rest of the circuit only when current flows through the diode. Alternatively, or in conjunction with this type of circuit, a shunting diode can be provided through which current flows only when the battery is connected with incorrect polarity. When current flows through this shunting diode, it also flows through the contacts of excess current cutout which then open to disconnect the battery from the remainder of the circuit.

System for preventing damage to a battery charger due to application of a battery with wrong polarity

Verpolschutzanordnung fuer ein batterieladesystem

A conventional on-off voltage regulator operates a set of power MOSFET switches interposed between the grounded terminal of the battery and each of the diodes of a bridge rectifier leading to that terminal. Each such switch is controlled through an individual circuit responsive to the regulator output and including an opto-electronic device controlling a thryistor which, in addition to being connected to control the MOSFET switch, also has a connection through a resistor and a diode to the other side of the rectifier diode switched by the MOSFET. The circuit greatly simplifies voltage regulation of a battery charging system using an alternator with a permanent magnet rotor.

Series regulated rectifier circuit for a battery charging system

To provide a positive indication that a battery has been reversely connected to a self-contained electrical network, for example a vehicular or boat network, a diode (24) of low current carrying capacity is connected across the terminals (25, 26) of the network, poled in blocking direction. Upon erroneous or reverse connection of the battery (13) with reverse terminals, the diode will immediately burn out, thus providing positive identification of such a reverse connection, even if only of such short time duration that the main rectifier diodes were not yet damaged. To prevent spurious replacement of the diode and thus elimination of the indication, the diode (24) can be molded into or cemented into a depression or groove formed in the insulating support plate (28) supporting the rectifier element.

Automotive electrical power supply system with reverse polarity indication

A conventional on-off voltage regulator responsive to the output voltage of the rectifier of a vehicular battery charging system, operates three circuits each containing a pulse transformer and its driving transistor and other components for controlling the three SCRs that provide the negative side of the rectifier bridge, so that they will either pass entire halfwaves or block completely. The other three rectifier elements of the bridge are ordinary diodes. With this arrangement the SCRs may have the same rating as the other diodes of the bridge, and the thermal load is evenly distributed, while an alternator having a permanent magnet field can be used.

Wolfgang Kurz

Papers

System for preventing damage to a battery charger due to application of a battery with wrong polarity

Verpolschutzanordnung fuer ein batterieladesystem

Series regulated rectifier circuit for a battery charging system

Automotive electrical power supply system with reverse polarity indication

Controlled rectifier motor vehicle battery charger