GB2494611A - Battery monitoring and recording - Google Patents
Battery monitoring and recording Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2494611A GB2494611A GB1109244.2A GB201109244A GB2494611A GB 2494611 A GB2494611 A GB 2494611A GB 201109244 A GB201109244 A GB 201109244A GB 2494611 A GB2494611 A GB 2494611A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- battery
- monitoring device
- disconnected
- text
- charger
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 13
- 238000012806 monitoring device Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 65
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000006731 degradation reaction Methods 0.000 description 6
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000011065 in-situ storage Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000001143 conditioned effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007850 degeneration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003203 everyday effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
- H02J7/0029—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries with safety or protection devices or circuits
- H02J7/0036—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries with safety or protection devices or circuits using connection detecting circuits
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
- H02J7/0047—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
- H02J7/0048—Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
- H02J7/0047—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
- H02J7/005—Detection of state of health [SOH]
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
- G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
- G01R31/36—Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
- G01R31/392—Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Power Engineering (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Medical Informatics (AREA)
- Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)
Abstract
A monitoring device 10 has first 20 and second 30 electrical connections for connection to a battery 90 and a power supply 110 respectively, and a monitoring circuit connected between the first 20 and second 30 electrical connections in which the monitoring circuit includes means for detecting a predetermined set of characteristics of the current flow between the first 20 and second 30 electrical connections. The characteristics may be voltage, current, or on and off times. The monitoring device 10 may also detect when a battery 90 is connected to a charger 120, and may record the number of times a battery 90 is connected to or disconnected from the monitoring device 10, and may detect when the recommended practice is not conformed to.
Description
MONITORING DEVICE
The present invention relates to the monitoring of the charging operation occurring when a battery is recharged. lii particular, the present invention relates to detection and recordal of the conditions surrounding the charging operation.
8ackground to the invention Many electrIcal devices today use rechargeable battery technology. This has the advantage that power, can be restored to the device by simply connecting the battery to a suitable charger, recharging the battery and reconnecting the battery to the electrical device. This allows the device to be used repeatedly without the user having to incur the additional expense of repeatedly buying replacement batteries.
Where batteries are used to power products such as wheelchairs, mobility scooters, golf carts, hospital hoists and the like, a battery charger is supplied with the device by the manufacturer to allow recharging of the batteries after use.
However, the life of a rechargeable battery will depend on how it is charged and discharged and, for example, the temperature at which the battery is kept.
Therefore, when an electrical device is supplied to a consumer together with a rechargeable battery, the manufacturer typically provides instructions on how the battery should be used and correctly charged/discharged in order to maximise the life of the battery. If these instructions are followed, the battery will perform to the best of its capacity and the rate of degradation of the battery will be minimised.
However, unless the correct charging procedure is used each time, the battery will suffer degradation and may become unserviceable in a short time span that may be within the warranty period of the product with which it has been supplied.
For example, before first use, a battery should be properly conditioned. This typically involves fully charging and discharging the battery for the first few cycles of use. In addition, during everyday use, a battery should generally not be left charging for longer than recommended by a manufacturer, unless the charging unit is designed to detect when the battery is fully charged and switch off the charging process. If batteries are left charging for longer than recommended in the absence of such a charging unit which can operate a switch off of the charging operation, the power capacity of the battery can be significantly affected.
When purchasing and operating an electrical device employing rechargeable batteries, it is the resonsibiIity of the user to ensure that a battery is fully charged before disconnecting the battery from the battery charger, and in this respect, most battery chargeis have an indicator light to assist a user in knowing when the charging operation has been completed and the battery is fully charged.
Unfortunately, consumers often neglect to follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding the charging process, and often fail to fully charge or discharge the battery during the first few cycles. It is very common thr users to disconnect a battery from a charger before the indicator light has signalled that the charging operation is complete. This failure to follow the recommended charging practice often results in significant degeneration of the power capacity of the battery and subsequent reduction in the life of the battery between charging operations.
This accelerated degradation of the battery is often significant and leads to dissatisfaction on the part of the consumer. As mentioned above, in many instances, the battery degradation occurs within the guarantee period of the rechargeable battery itself or the device with which the battery has been supplied.
Thus, many consumers choose to contact the manufacturer and request a replacement device and/or battery or full refund in respect of the device or battery.
When this occurs, it may be suspected by the manufacturer that the degradation of the hattery is due to failure on the part of the consumer to carry out the charging operation as instructed, If the supplier can prove negligence by the consumer, that second electrical connections, wherein the monitoring circuit includes means for detecting a predetermined set of characteristics of the current flow between the first and second electrical connections.
In one embodiment, the characteStics of the current flow include voltage.
Alternatively, the characteristics of the current flow may include on/off time and/or current The monitoring devidé, may comprise detecting means for detecting when a battery is connected to the monitoring device.
In one embodiment, the detecting means comprises a memory for recordal in real time each time a battery is connected to or disconnected from the monitoring device.
The memory means may record the stabilised battery voltage of a battery each time a battery is connected to or disconnected from the monitoring device.
By detecting characteristics of the current flow between the first and second electrical connections, the monitoring device can detect actions being carried out during the charging operation. For example) the monitoring device will be able to detect when the charging operation has commenced, how long the charging operation lasts and when the charging operation has been completed. In addition, the monitoring device will be able to detect if the battery has been fully charged during the charging operation or whether the battery has been disconnected from the charger before (UI! charging of the battery has taken place.
Thus, the monitoring device will be able to provide a record of whether the battery has been charged in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation that, for example, the battery is fully charged during each charging evenL The recordal means may record the total number of times the battery is connected to or disconnected from the monitoring device. In this way, it is possible to record how many charging events have taken place over a defined period of time. 5.
In one embodiment, the recordal means further records the number of times the battery is connected to or disconnected from a charger which do not take place in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended practice. For example, recommended practide. may require that the battery is fully charged before being removed from the charger. If a battery i.s disconnected from a charger before being fully charged, the monitoring device will detect and record this and the information may be assimilated to provide a record of the number of times a charging event has been carried out not in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended practice over a defined period of time.
Alternatively, the recordal means may record only the number of times a battery is connected to or disconnected from a charger which do not take place in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended practice. In this way, rather than presenting the number of charging events not conforming to recommended practice as a subset of the total number of charging operations which take place over a defined time period, those events not conforming to recommended practice are presented in isolation.
A monitoring device in accordance with the present invention may further comprise indicator means which is operable to indicate when a battery is disconnected from the charger in an uncharged or partially charged state.
The indicator means may comprise a light which is operable to come on or an audio alarm which is operable to sound should the battery be disconnected from the charger before it is fully charged. It will be appreciated that any other suitable indicator means known to the skilled person and appropriate for the purpose may be used as an alternative.
In this way, should a battery be erroneously removed from the charger before becoming fully charged, a user will be alerted that the battery has not yet been fully charged and can then take appropriate action to reconnect the battery to the charger to allow the charging operation to be carried out to completely charge the battery.
This offers the further advantage that a user cannot later claim they were unaware that they were removing the battery from the charger before the battery had become fully charged, as an indication will be provided should the battery not be hilly charged when disconnected from the charger.
In one embodiment, the monitoring device further comprises an output port for connection to a diagnostic unit.
The diagnostic unit may comprise, for example, a computer such as a lap-top computer, or palm-top computer, or any other suitable device operable to allow access to the data relating to the detected characteristics of the current flow recorded by the monitoring device over time. The recorded information may be presented in any suitable format, for exampLe as a visual display on the screen of a diagnostic unit, and/or as a print-out, for the convenience of subsequent analysis.
The display may also include information relating to the date and time of each connection andJor disconnection of the battery from the charger, and/or the voitage at the time of connection and disconnection, and/or any other suitable information which may be relevant to the charging operation.
In this way, it is possible to determine if the battery has been charged in accordance with the mar,ufacturers recommendations during each charging event over a defined period of time.
A second aspect of the present invention provides a battery charger incorporating a monitoring device according to a first aspect of the present invention, In this way, monitoring can be carried out using a single battery charger wilt in which all the functions of the monitoring device are contained.
A further aspect of the present invention provides an electrical device comprising a monitoring device according to a first aspect of the present invention. In this way, the monitoring device may he integrated into the electrical device itself. This may be particularly usefUl where the battery is recharged in situ, rather than being removed from the electrical device before being connected to a charger unit. For example, such an arrangement may exist in lap-top computers, mobile telephones, and the like.
A further aspect of the present invention provides an electrical device comprising a battery charger according to a previous aspect of the invention, in which the monitoring device is incorporated into the battery charger, which in turn forms part of the electrical device. In this way, the electrical device, battery, and battery charger including the monitoring device. are provided as a single unit, with all functions of the monitoring device being carried out in situ within the electrical device itself.
Where this is the case, the electrical device may be further provided with a control system which can provide, on request, the data detected and recorded by the monitoring device, for analysis and assessment with respect to the charging operations and whether they were carried out in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations. In the case of, for example, a lap-top computer or a mobile telephone, the recorded data may be displayed on the display screen present in the device itself.
S
In one embodiment, the electrical device further comprises a control system in electrical communication with the monitoring device.
Description of the Drawin
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the following figures in whicht Figure 1 iS a block diagram illustrating a monitoring device embodying one aspect of the present inventiOn; and Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a battery charging system incorporating a monitoring device embodying a further aspect of the present invention.
Figure 1 shows a monitoring device 10, the monitoring device 10 having a housing within which are located first and second electrical connection means 20, 30, for connection to a battery and a power supply, respectively% A monitoring circuit 41) is provided between the first and second electrical connection means 20, 30, to detect the characteristics of the current flow between the first and second electrical connections 20, 30. Monitoring device 10 further comprises detecting means 50 in electrical connection with first electrIcal connection 20, to detect when a battery is connected to monitoring device 10. Recordal means 71) is provided in electrical connection with monitoring circuit 40 and detecting means 50 to receive and record information relating to the characteristics of the current flow between the first and second electrical connections 20, 30 and information relating to connection and disconnection of a battery at first electrical connection 20.
Figure 2 shows a monitoring device 10 located between a battery 90 and charger 120. Battery 90 is connected to monitoring device 10 by connection to first electrical connection 20. Charger 120 is connection to monitoring device 10 at second electrical connection 30. Charger 120 is further connected to power supply 110. Monitoring device 10 is (urther provided with an output port 80 for connection to a diagnostic unit 100, which is shown as a lap-top computer in figure 2.
In use, battery 90 is connected to monitoring device 10 and monitoring circuit 40 within monitoring device 10 detects a predetermined set of characteristics of the current flow between the first and second electrical connections 20, 30, including battery voltage. In addition, detecting means 50 detects when the battery is connected to monitoring device 10 and'when the battery is disconnected from monitoring device 10 in real time. This information is then recorded by recordal means 70 of monitoring device 10.
When it is required to access the information recorded by recordal means 70, diagnostic unit 100 may be connected to monitoring device 10 via output port 80 and the information viewed at diagnostic unit 100, on request.
Thus, in practice, a record can be obtained of the charging operations carried out over a selected time period to determine if the charging operations have been canted out in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations.
It can therefore be determined conclusively whether any failure or degradation in battery 90 is due to failure to charge the battery 90 correctly in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, or whether the battery 90 contains a fault which is contributing to the reduced capacity or life of battery 90. In this way, it can be determined if the negligence lies on the part of the user responsible for carrying out the battery charging operations or whether the negligence lies with the manufacturer. Thus, it can be determined whether the supplier should be required to replace the battery without additional charge to the user, or whether the user, if shown to be negligent, must pay for a replacement battery at their own expense. U)
Although aspects of the invention have been described with reference to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiment shown and that various changes and modifications may be effected without further inventive skill and effort. For example, in the embodiment shown in figure 1, the monitoring circuit and the detecting means are shown as two separate entities. However, it will be undeistood that both functions may be carried out by a single unit located within the monitoring device. /
Claims (1)
- <claim-text>CLAIMS1. A monitoring device for connection between a battery and a power supply, the device comprising first and second electrical connections for connection to a battery and a power supply respectively, and a monitoring circuit connected between the first and second electrical connections and operable to detect flow of electric current between the first and second electrical connections, wherein the monitoring circuit includes means for detecting a predetermined set of characteristics of the current flow between the first and second electrical connections.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A monitoring device according to Claim 1, wherein the characteristics of the current flow include battery voltage.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A monitoring device according to Claim I or Claim 2, wherein the characteristics of the current flow include on/off time.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A monitoring device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the characteristics of the current flow include current, 5. A monitoring device according to any preceding Claim further comprising detecting means for detecting when a battery is connected to a charger.6. A monitoring device according to Claim 5, further comprising recordal means for recording in real time each time a battery is connected to or disconnected from a charger.7. A monitoring device according to Claim 6, wherein the recordal means records the stabilised battery voltage of a battery. each time a batter is connected to or disconnected from the monitoring device.8. A monitoring device according to any one of Claims 5 to 7, wherein the recordal means records the total number of times a battery is connected to or disconnected from the monitoring device.9. A monitoring device according to Claim 8, wherein the recordal means further records the number of times a battery is connected to or disconnected from the monitoring device which do not conform to recommended practice.10. A monitoring device according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein the recordal means records only the number of times a battery is connected to or disconnected from the monitoring device which do not confonn to recommended practice.11. A monitoring device according to any preceding Claim further comprising indicator means which is operable to indicate when a battery is disconnected from the device in an uncharged or partially charged state.12. A monitoring device according to Claim 11, wherein the indicator means comprises a light which is operable to switch on when a battery is disconnected front the device in an uncharged or partially charged state.13. A monitoring device according to Claim 11, wherein the indicator means comprises an alarm which is operable to sound when a battery is disconnected from the device in an uncharged or partially charged state.14. A monitoring device according to any preceding Claim, further comprising an output port for connection to a diagnostic unit.15-A monitoring device according to any one of Claims I to 7, further comprising display means to display the detected and recorded characteristics.16. A battery charger incoqxxating a monitoring device according to any preceding Claim.17. An electrical device comprising a monitoring device according to any preceding Claim.18. An electrical device comprising a battery charger according to Claim 16.19. An electrical device accordingto Claim 18, further comprising a control system in electrical communication with the monitoring device.-20. A monitoring device substantially as hcreinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying figures.21. A battery charger substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying figures.22. An electrical device substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying figures.</claim-text>
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1109244.2A GB2494611A (en) | 2011-06-02 | 2011-06-02 | Battery monitoring and recording |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1109244.2A GB2494611A (en) | 2011-06-02 | 2011-06-02 | Battery monitoring and recording |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201109244D0 GB201109244D0 (en) | 2011-07-20 |
| GB2494611A true GB2494611A (en) | 2013-03-20 |
Family
ID=44343284
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1109244.2A Withdrawn GB2494611A (en) | 2011-06-02 | 2011-06-02 | Battery monitoring and recording |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2494611A (en) |
Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5349535A (en) * | 1992-10-20 | 1994-09-20 | Digicomp Research Corporation | Battery condition monitoring and recording system for electric vehicles |
| US6133709A (en) * | 1997-01-21 | 2000-10-17 | Metrixx Limited | Signalling system |
| US20070035274A1 (en) * | 1999-04-15 | 2007-02-15 | Daniele Brotto | Method and apparatus for obtaining product use information |
| US20090184586A1 (en) * | 2008-01-18 | 2009-07-23 | Fredrik Bagenholm | Power adapter |
| US20100112417A1 (en) * | 2008-10-24 | 2010-05-06 | Schaefer Tim | Accumulator comprising a plurality of galvanic cells |
| US20100201327A1 (en) * | 2007-06-25 | 2010-08-12 | Mitsumi Electric Co, Ltd | Battery pack |
| EP2421116A2 (en) * | 2010-08-18 | 2012-02-22 | Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. | Device housing a battery and charging apparatus for contactless charging |
-
2011
- 2011-06-02 GB GB1109244.2A patent/GB2494611A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5349535A (en) * | 1992-10-20 | 1994-09-20 | Digicomp Research Corporation | Battery condition monitoring and recording system for electric vehicles |
| US6133709A (en) * | 1997-01-21 | 2000-10-17 | Metrixx Limited | Signalling system |
| US20070035274A1 (en) * | 1999-04-15 | 2007-02-15 | Daniele Brotto | Method and apparatus for obtaining product use information |
| US20100201327A1 (en) * | 2007-06-25 | 2010-08-12 | Mitsumi Electric Co, Ltd | Battery pack |
| US20090184586A1 (en) * | 2008-01-18 | 2009-07-23 | Fredrik Bagenholm | Power adapter |
| US20100112417A1 (en) * | 2008-10-24 | 2010-05-06 | Schaefer Tim | Accumulator comprising a plurality of galvanic cells |
| EP2421116A2 (en) * | 2010-08-18 | 2012-02-22 | Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. | Device housing a battery and charging apparatus for contactless charging |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB201109244D0 (en) | 2011-07-20 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |