Battery monitor with wireless remote communication

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/465,755 filed Jun. 19, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,885,307 and entitled “Battery Monitor”, which claims the benefit of the filing date of now abandoned provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/390,016, filed Jun. 19, 2002, the contents of both of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.

[0002] The present invention relates, in general, to battery monitors and, more particularly, to apparatus for monitoring the status of one battery or a battery string under load.

[0003] Telephone systems are required by regulatory agencies to provide telephone service in the event of an electrical utility power outage for a predetermined period of time, such as eight hours, for example. Thus, while the telephone system is normally powered by the electric utility power, a backup battery system must be employed to provide the necessary emergency power.

[0004] The typical telephone system includes a large number of distributed telephone or cabinets or huts usually at widely spaced locations in metropolitan and rural areas. It is common to have a plurality of DC batteries connected in various serial and parallel arrangements or in so-called “strings”. Such battery strings are charged by a trickle charger for the electric utility power. However, the battery strings provide the necessary backup power during an electric utility power outage which switched on via a suitable power outage detection and switching circuit.

[0005] As such, while the batteries may sit idle under a state of trickle charge for a considerable amount of time, it is important that each battery be operative in the event of a random power outage.

[0006] Monitoring the status of each of a plurality of batteries in each widely spaced telephone cabinets or huts is a time consuming and expensive task. One problem is simply the widespread nature of the telephone cabinet. Particularly in rural areas, such cabinets can be spaced many miles apart thereby making frequent and easy battery condition tests difficult.

[0007] The battery strings contain a number of batteries to provide a typical forty-eight volt supply. Depending on the telephone network, two volt, four volt, six volt and twelve volt batteries may be connected in series or series/parallel arrangements to provide the necessary forty-eight voltage DC backup power supply. Such batteries must be tested on a periodic basis and while being charged so as not to render the backup power supply inoperative during the battery test.

[0008] It would be desirable to provide an improved battery monitoring apparatus and method which monitors the condition of each one or more batteries which may be under load.

[0009] An apparatus and method for monitoring one or more batteries for battery operating conditions is disclosed.

[0010] In one aspect, the method of monitoring an operating condition of a battery comprises the steps of:

[0011] injecting an ac signal across one pair of battery terminals;

[0012] detecting an analog ac signal output from the battery, the ac signal output being proportional to the injected ac signal;

[0013] determining the battery internal resistance based on the analog ac signal output and the injected ac signal; and

[0014] comparing the battery internal resistance with a threshold resistance to determine an operative condition of the battery.

[0015] The method further comprises the step of wirelessly communicating the determined operative condition of the battery to a remote controller.

[0016] In another aspect, the method comprises the step of providing a visual indication of the determined operative condition of the battery.

[0017] In another aspect, an apparatus is provided for monitoring the operative condition of a battery, the apparatus includes:

[0018] means for injecting an ac signal across a pair of battery terminals;

[0019] means for detecting an analog ac signal output from the battery, the ac signal output being proportional to the injected ac signal;

[0020] means for determining the battery internal resistance based on the analog ac signal output and the injected ac signal; and

[0021] means for comparing the battery internal resistance with a threshold resistance to determine an operative condition of the battery.

[0022] In another aspect, the apparatus includes means, coupled to a control means, for wirelessly communicating the determined operative condition of the battery to a remote controller.

[0023] In another aspect, the apparatus includes means, activated by the control means, for providing a visual indication of the determined operative condition of the battery.

[0024] The present battery monitoring apparatus provides an easily installed and reliable battery monitoring capability through the use of wireless communication between each of the battery monitoring means or pods mounted on each battery and a remotely located controller. All testing and battery condition determinations are made by the control means or pod mounted on each battery.

[0053] Although the following description of a battery monitor and apparatus 10 is described as monitoring the condition of a plurality of batteries arranged in a serial or serial/parallel connected string, it will be understood that the battery monitoring apparatus 10 and accompanying method of operation as described herein is equally applicable to other battery monitoring applications, including the monitoring of a single battery which may or may not be under load, in various applications, such as automobiles, etc.

[0054] Referring now to FIGS. 1-6 of the drawing, there is depicted one aspect of a battery monitoring apparatus 10 which automatically monitors the operative status of each battery of a plurality of batteries arranged in a serial and/or serial/parallel connected string and detects when one of more batteries are below operative performance or condition.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 is includes a housing 14 which is mountable within a conventional telephone cabinet or hut, not shown. By way of example only, the housing 14 is provided with two lockable doors, with only one door 16 being shown. The lockable doors 16 may be provided with different keyed locks thereby providing distinct access to the interior of each section of the housing 14, if necessary.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of terminals 18 and 20 are mounted in one section of the housing 14. The operative circuits, described hereafter, are mounted in the other closable section of the housing 14.

[0057] The terminals 18 provide power connections to the apparatus 10 from the electric utility power terminals normally found in the overall telephone hut. The terminals 18 also provide connections to each battery 11 in a battery string 12 shown in FIG. 2. Two connections 22 and 24 extend from two terminals 18 to the positive and negative terminal on each battery 11. This provides independent selection of each battery 11 for a battery monitoring test as described hereafter. The connections 22 and 24 are in addition to the normal battery cables which interconnect the various batteries 11 together in the string 12 as well as to an external power input trickle charger and power output connections, not shown, to the other operative elements in the telephone cabinet.

[0058] The terminals 20 which are arranged in one strip, by example only, below the terminals 18 and provide connection to environmental sensors located in the overall telephone cabinet, such as an interior cabinet temperature sensor, a water level sensor, a smoke detector sensor and an intrusion sensor. These sensor outputs are provided as inputs to the battery monitoring apparatus 10 as described hereafter.

[0059] A communication port, preferably an RS232 serial interface, is provided to enable the central processing unit 30 to be connected to a portable or laptop computer carried by the service person for programming of the CPU 30, responding to a battery failure signal from the CPU 30, etc.

[0060] A dialer modem 32 provides external signals via a telephone connection to a remote server to interconnect the CPU 30 with a global communication network, such as the Internet. This communication link allows the CPU 30 to report an inoperative battery 11 to a remote data collection site, such as the telephone company office.

[0061] A keypad 52 mounted on the exterior of the telephone cabinet or hut 14 allows a pass code to be entered to the CPU 30. The proper pass code allows a service technician to gain access to the interior of the telephone cabinet. After receiving a pass code, the CPU 30 checks for authorization and disables the intrusion alarm for the amount of time set by the end user. The CPU 30, upon receiving the proper authorization and pass code, also allows access to the CPU 30. The CPU 30 also sends data to the modem 32 for input in a remote database which contains the time, date of entry and pass code used to gain access to the telephone cabinet. Upon leaving the hut or cabinet, the service technician will reset the CPU 30 by entering the pass code followed by the star key.

[0062] The environmental sensor signals, which are typically electrical contact signals from the temperature, water level, intrusion and smoke detectors or sensors are connected across the terminals 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The terminals 20 are connected through a gate logic array 54 and combined to form an interrupt signal in a 16F84 circuit 56. The circuit 56 also receives the outputs from the keypad 52. The output of the circuit 56 is input by a connector 58 to the CPU 30 as shown in FIG. 3. In this manner, the existence of any alarm signal will generate an interrupt to the CPU 30 which will identify the particular alarm signal and transmit a signal through the modem 32 to the remote data collection site.

[0063] A test signal generator is preferably in the form of a DC ramp generator 80 shown in FIG. 8. Two transistors 82 and 84 form a current mirror. Transistor 86 receives a pulse on line 88 from the CPU 30 to generate a reference pulse. This pulse is then fed into capacitors 90 and 92 and sent to the battery 11 under test.

[0064] The pulse is also sent to transistor 82. The transistor 84 receives the pulse from transistor 82, amplifies it and then sends it to the CPU 30. Transistor 94 is used as a ground reference through resistor 96. Transistor 94 is pulled high by the signal from the CPU 30 to calibrate the DC ramp generator 80 to zero Ohms. The reset to zero function of transistor 94 can be accomplished by firmware in the CPU 30 rather than by the transistor 94.

[0065] In this manner, the CPU 30 receives two signals: one, the pulse which is the reference ramp signal with respect to ground, and the other being the ramp output signal after passing through the battery 11 under test. This is shown more clearly in FIG. 7 where the DC ramp signal input from the capacitors 90 and 92 and identified by reference number 100 is input through the positive terminal or post of the battery 11 under test. This pulse is transmitted through the cells of the battery to the negative post wherein it is output on lead 102 to the CPU 30.

[0066] The CPU 30 then compares the ramp amplitude and, possibly, the ram signal length with the reference ramp amplitude and length to get the internal electrical series resistance of the battery 11 under test. The controller 30 can also sample battery voltage from the reference ramp signal level.

[0067] The electric serial resistance of the battery 11 can be used as a predictor of battery failure. The peak or maximum voltage of the reference ramp signal and the output ramp signal is compared by the CPU 30 to each other. A lookup table stored in memory is accessed by the CPU 30 to convert the ramp peak voltage to a resistance measurement, typically in milliohms. A threshold difference is preset or programmed into the CPU 30. The threshold difference is selected by a particular telephone company and can vary from 10% high to 20% low with respect to the reference peak voltage. The present battery monitoring apparatus and method, by using the DC ramp voltage as an input signal to create a reference signal and an output signal from the battery 11 under test, eliminates fluctuations in voltage measurements due to ambient temperature. As both the reference and output ramp signals will be equally affected, the battery monitoring test is immune to temperature effects. The threshold differences, either one or both of the high or low readings, can be varied.

[0068] The present apparatus 10 can be programmed to conduct a battery monitoring test on each battery 11 in a string 12 on a fairly quick periodic basis, such as once every hour of each twenty-four hour day. In this manner, an incipient battery failure can be promptly detected.

[0069] To eliminate false readings, the CPU 30 can set a flag when the threshold, such as either of the high or low thresholds are exceeded during one battery test. The CPU 30 can repeat the test at the preset periodic interval with a maximum number of flags equating to a battery failure which is reported by the CPU 30 to the remote data collection site. For example, three consecutive tests in which a battery ramp peak voltage is detected outside of one of the battery thresholds can be utilized by a telephone company as an indication of battery failure thereby prompting corrective action.

[0070] Referring now to FIGS. 6-9, there is depicted another aspect 110 of the present invention. In this aspect, the functions of the CPU 30 are replaced by a distributed network formed of a main controller 112 and a plurality of battery monitors or controllers 114, 116, 118, 120, etc., each of which is connected to a single battery 11, etc.

[0071] The main controller 112, shown in FIG. 7, includes essentially the same elements as the controller 30 described above. Thus, only the different or new features will be described for this aspect of the present invention.

[0072] A four wire cable 120 connects the main controller 112 to the first battery monitor 114.

[0073] Two of the wires in the cable, VCC+5 and ground extend between the power supply in a data/power bus controller 130 in the main controller 112 to the first battery monitor 114. As shown in FIG. 7, the power connections from the power supply in the main controller 112 are connected to a mini controller 132 in the battery monitor 114. The two cables of the data cable 128 extending from the data/power bus controller 130 to a similar data/power bus controller 134 in the first battery monitor 114 are transmit and receive lines, respectively.

[0074] A/D converters 136 and 138 are respectively provided in the main controller 112 and in each battery monitor 114, 116, etc., for any analog/digital conversion that may be required, such as the use of the keypad in the main controller 112 to set the resistance threshold values in the respective battery monitors 114, 116, etc.

[0075] A second data power bus 128′ containing +5V and ground power lines and receive and transmit lines extends from the mini controller 132 and the data/power bus controller 134 in the first battery monitor 114 to a similar mini controller 132 and data/power bus controller 134 in the next serially connected battery monitor 116. A similar third data cable 128′ connects similar circuits in the second battery monitor 116 to the third battery monitor 118 and so on through the plurality of battery monitors connected to a single controller 112. This arrangement connects the battery monitors 114, 116, etc., in a “daisy chain” arrangement.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 8, address or position select means 140 are provided on each battery monitor 114, 116, etc. The address or position select means 140 is, by way of example only, in the form of a pair of dial switches containing selectable positions, each providing an output representing addresses from zero to nine. Adjusting the two dials 142 and 144 in the input address select means 140 to zero one, respectively, sets the ID or address of the first battery monitor 114 to zero one. Turning the dials 142 and 144 of the address select means 140 in the second battery monitor to zero and two, respectively, will make the ID address of the second battery monitor 116 zero two.

[0077] Each battery monitor 114, 116, etc., includes a DC ramp generator 150 substantially the same as the DC ramp generator 80 described above and shown in the first aspect of the present invention.

[0078] In operation, as shown in FIG. 9, step 160 starts the battery polling process. The main controller 112 will generate a battery monitor address and transmit the address or ID in step 162 to the first battery monitor 114. The battery monitor 114 will decode the address and determine whether or not the transmitted address matches its address or ID. If the transmitted ID comparison in step 164 does not yield a match, the ID from the main controller 112 is transmitted from the first battery monitor 114 in step 166 to the next battery monitor 116 and the process continued through the succeeding battery monitors 118, 120, etc., in the daisy chain until an ID match is made.

[0079] When the ID match is determined, the mini controller 132, in the first battery monitor, assumed to have an ID match, will activate the DC ramp generator 150 in step 168. The mini controller 132 reads the DC ramp output voltage in step 170 and then transmits the output battery serial resistance in step 172 over the data cable 128 to the main controller 112 by the receive or Rx line in the data cable 128.

[0080] In step 174, the main controller 112 stores the measured battery resistance and compares it to a threshold or threshold range set by the end user as depicted in step 176 and as described above.

[0081] A measured battery resistance out of the threshold range is a possible failure. The main controller 112 tags this event as a failure in step 178.

[0082] As described above in the first aspect of the present invention, the main controller 112 maintains the error reading during the next battery polling cycle in step 179. If the second reading for the same battery 11 is also out of the threshold range, the second reading is also tagged as a failure. If the third reading from the same battery monitor 114, etc., is out of the threshold range, step 180, the main controller 112 in step 190 takes all three battery resistance readings, forms an average in step 190, and then compares the average with the threshold range in step 192. If the threshold range is not exceeded, the main controller 112 checks to see if the maximum number of battery monitors have been checked in step 194 and, if not, returns to the beginning of the polling sequence and generates the next battery monitor ID in step 164.

[0083] However, if the average battery monitor readings for a particular battery 11 have been exceeded in step 192, the main controller 112 generates a battery failure signal and transmits the battery failure signal, along with a battery ID and the location of the battery enclosure 10 in step 196 to the server for transmission to the central office or facility for action.

[0084] Alternately, the main controller 112 can poll each battery 11 in one string or many strings, (four batteries in one string or eight batteries in two strings of four, for example) to obtain test results of each battery 11 in the same manner as described above. The main controller 112 can calculate a running average of all the battery tests in the string(s) as each battery test is completed and then compare the average with the individual data from one battery 11. Individual battery readings that are significantly different from the average could indicate a potentially bad battery.

[0085] The average battery reading for each battery in a string or strings at a particular location, or all of the batteries in many different locations can be averaged together to provide a baseline average which could be used for comparison with individual battery test results. The baseline average would be a dynamic average which can change as battery test results are continually added to the average poll. This baseline could also have a programmable threshold rather than a preset, hardware implemented threshold.

[0086] Refer now to FIGS. 10-16, there is depicted yet another aspect of a battery monitor apparatus 200 according to the present invention. The apparatus 200 shown generally in FIG. 13 functions in the same manner as the previously described battery monitor apparatus in that it is capable of monitoring of at least one and, preferably, a plurality of a series connected batteries or battery strings in one or more locations and transmitting the battery condition signals, as well as other environmental alarm signals, to a remote server or processing unit for comparison, responsive action and data storage.

[0087] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the apparatus 200 includes a host controller 202 which includes a central processor 204 executing the control program stored in a memory. The processor 204 of the controller 202 receives power from a power supply 206 and inputs from a user input device, such as a keypad or portable computer 208, as well as inputs from environmental detectors, such as cabinet temperature, cabinet door open switch, etc., via sensors, all denoted by reference number 210. The processor 204 has output connections to a computer modem 212, a serial RS232 databus connector 214 and a real time clock (RTC) 216. The processor 204 is also connected through an RS485 bus interface 220 to at least one or more battery module controllers each denoted by reference number 230.

[0088] Primarily through the modem 212, the processor 204 is capable of connection through hardline, cable and/or wireless communication through the Internet 232 to a remote processor, such as a server 234, for reporting battery conditions, cabinet monitoring alarms, as well as to archive data on battery conditions at a particular battery location.

[0089] The actual circuits and connections for the host controller 202 are shown in FIGS. 12A, 12B, 13, 14 and 15.

[0090] As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, suitable connections are provided between the central processor 204, which may be a micro-controller, MicroChip model number PIC 16F877, and the real time clock 216, the RS232 driver 214, the modem 212, a cabinet temperature sensor 211, a serial data programmer input 209, and, at least one and, preferably, a pair of RS485 line drivers 220, each connected to a separate RJ45 jack 236.

[0091] The inputs from the alarms and other I/O 210 are supplied through a terminal block 240 to a signal conditioning circuit formed of opto-couplers 242, the outputs of which are connected to inputs of the micro-controller 204.

[0092] The operation of the battery monitor 230 is similar to that described above for the previously described and illustrated battery monitors of the present invention. In operation, a square wave pulse from the controller 202 is provided to begin DC ramp voltage flow to the one battery monitor 230 selected by the host controller 202. As the DC ramp signal is sent across the battery 298, the battery resistance is read back into the microcontroller 282 through the voltage divider 302. This value is transmitted by the microcontroller 282 of the server 234.

[0093] Each battery module 230 has a built in serial bus port to allow a plurality of like battery modules to be connected in a daisy-chain type connection as shown in FIGS. 6 and 10. Each battery module 230 has setable switches or inputs to provide an individual unit ID, as described above. This allows the host controller 202 to identify the battery condition data received by the host controller 202 for a particular battery.

[0094] The bus from the host controller 202 to the first battery monitor 230 and from the battery monitor to battery monitor in each string may be an eight-wire bus, such as an Ethernet-type RD-45 patch cable. The cable includes two +5 VCC signals which provide power to each battery monitor 230 to run the internal circuitry, two +5 VCC wires, two ground wires, two half duplex RS-485 data signal wires operating at 9600 band, and two high voltage test signal carriers (one plus and one minus or return). The host controller 202 polls the known IDs of each battery monitor 230 starting with ID 01 and continuing through all of the remainder of the battery monitors 230 connected in the battery string. As each battery monitor 230 receives request from the host controller 202, the DC ramp signal is supplied to the associated battery. The monitor 230 then sends the battery resistance reading data back through the host controller 202 to the server 234.

[0095] Each time the server 234 receives condition data from one battery monitor 230 or host controller 202, the data is stored and then compared to a threshold. If the data value is out of range of the set threshold, the data is tagged as a possible failure. The server 234 keeps track of this status and the indication of out-of-range threshold value as the polling cycle starts over. The second reading from the same battery monitor 230 is then received and compared to the last tagged or stored reading. If the reading is still out of the threshold range, the second reading is tagged. If the third reading from the same battery monitor 230 is still out of the threshold range, the server 234 averages all three readings. If the average is still out of the threshold range, the server 234 generates an indication of a failing battery.

[0096] Once each polling cycle of all the batteries in a particular string or strings in a location has been completed either once for each battery or multiple times as described above to obtain an average reading for each battery, the battery data is sent by the controller 202 to the server 234. In addition to the battery test data, the ambient cabinet temperature and individual battery temperature of each of the batteries, other alarm status and other data are also transmitted to the server 234. These additional data values enable the server 234 to determine an out of limit voltage or current to any particular battery, an out of range cabinet or battery temperature, etc.

[0097] The server 234 can also calculate a running average of all the batteries with which it communicates, thereby providing an average battery condition over large numbers of batteries as a comparison threshold. The battery data average is also a dynamic average, as new test data is continually added to the average.

[0098] Alternately, the out of threshold limit can be a programmable value rather than a preset, hardwired value entered by the end user. The user can simply program in a dynamic threshold against which the difference between each battery test data and the average battery test data is compared to determine in or out of threshold data.

[0099] The server 234 can also be programmed to determine the root-mean-square average or use a standard deviation analysis on the battery test data from all the batteries with which it communicates to provide a dynamic battery test data average which continually changes during the life of the batteries.

[0100] Referring back to FIG. 10, the data base manager or server 234 is formed of at least one or more processors which collect data from the remotely located controllers 202. An exemplary implementation, one server receives and scans the data for battery alarm conditions and the other server archives the data for later retrieval. The stored data is easily accessible and displayable via internet web pages enabling a customer to obtain a complete picture of current battery conditions or across an entire region in one glance.

[0101] For example, FIG. 17 depicts a screen display 300 for a user connected via a web interface to the server/database manager 234. The illustrated screen 300 is one of many alert methods which can additionally or alternately include e-mail, paging, facsimile and/or voice messaging.

[0102] The red dots 302, 304 and 306 show alarms generated from remote host controllers 202 indicating that the status of one or more batteries at each indicated location is out of parameter. The red dots 302, 304 and 306 may flash on and off to draw attention to the alarm condition.

[0103] Clicking on each of the dots, such as dot 302 brings up the details of the alarm condition as shown in FIG. 18. The screen display shown in FIG. 18 includes information concerning the location of the specific battery equipment, including its street address, as well as battery specifications and indication of the alarm condition. Various actions are selectable including the displayed map as shown in FIG. 18 and directions to the battery location, a location history of the equipment and prior alarm conditions, printing up a work order, and for the notification of a technician for immediate service.

[0104] For example, alarm condition, noted by dot 302 in FIG. 18, indicates that one of the batteries at the specified location has an impedance out of a specified range.

[0105] Clicking on the dot 304 brings up the screen shown in FIG. 19. Similar information is displayed. By example, the alarm condition shown in FIG. 19 is a battery thermal overload or breakdown.

[0106] Finally, clicking on the dot 306 brings up a similar screen for a different battery location. In this example, the battery alarm condition is a battery voltage below a set threshold voltage.

[0107] Instead of web pages alerts, as shown in FIGS. 18-20, the occurrence of any alarm condition as sent to the data base manager 234 can cause an immediate telephone call, facsimile, e-mail or voice message to a technician, with verbal instructions relating to the information shown in FIGS. 18-20 to enable the technician to facilitate a response and repair of the alarm condition.

[0108] When the database server 234 receives an alarm signal in step 340 from one of the post controllers 202, the server 234 generates a battery alarm alert as shown in one of FIGS. 18-20 and displays in step 234 on a suitable monitor battery parameters including battery type, battery location, manufacturer, battery application, number of battery in battery string, and the total number of battery strings at the same location. The display alarm alert also includes a statement of the battery condition alarm.

[0109] If the user which can be the customer or a monitoring company desire further detail, the user in step 344 clicks on one of the icons labeled map/directions, location history, print work order, notify technician, and override.

[0110] If map/directions icon is chosen in step 346, a detailed map, shown for convenience in FIGS. 18-20, is displayed along with road directions to the location of the battery. If location history is selected in step 348, an archived history of all of the prior battery alerts for the location in which the present battery alarm alert is associated with is displayed on the monitor.

[0111] If a print work order is desired, the print work order icon is selected in step 350 which generates a work order for service of the battery alarm alert. The work order is prepared in step 351 and sent in step 353 to the appropriate organization or person by any suitable transmission means, including Internet, e-mail, telephone, pager, etc. A technician or service person can be notified in step 352, by e-mail, pager, fax, telephone, to address the battery alarm alert.

[0112] The override icon can be selected in step 354 to delete the alarm alert.

[0113] Refer now to FIGS. 22-31, there is depicted another aspect of a battery monitor apparatus 400 for monitoring the condition of a battery 402. The conductor or lead connections to the battery posts or terminals 404 and 406 for the supply of power from the battery 402 to an external load are not shown in FIG. 25 for clarity.

[0114] It will also be understood that the depiction of a single battery 402 in FIG. 22 is representative of a plurality of batteries typically located at a single location, which are independent of each other, connected in a series, connected in parallel, or connected in series and parallel, to supply power to loads.

[0115] The battery monitor apparatus 400 includes a battery monitoring means hereafter referred to as a pod 408. The pod 408 including an outer housing is physically mounted on the battery 402 and has leads or conductors 410 and 412 respectively connected to the plus and minus terminals or posts 404 and 406 of the battery 402.

[0116] The components of the battery monitoring apparatus 408 mounted within the housing of the pod 408 are shown in FIGS. 23-27. Referring first to FIG. 23, a control means is the form of a microcontroller or processor 420, which is similar to the processor 282 described above and shown in FIG. 11, is mounted in the pod 408.

[0117] A power supply 440, shown in FIG. 24, supplies power to the micro controller or processor 420 as well as the other operative elements contained within the pod 408. The power supply 440 uses the battery output J1, typically 12 volt, to power the pod 408. The 12 volt output of the battery 402 is regulated to a five volt primary power source by voltage regulator 442. The five volt primary output from the voltage regulator 442 is fed to a DC to DC charge pump 444 which triples the five volt input to a 15 volt secondary power source. The 15 volt secondary power is split as a railed power supply providing a +15 and −15 volt source at terminals or connectors J2 and J4. The 15 volt rail is fed to a signal amplifier/peak detector circuit, the signal injector and the signal generator circuits described hereafter. The five volt primary is fed to a wireless node, as described hereafter.

[0118] A signal generator circuit 450 is shown in FIG. 25 for generating an ac signal waveform applied to the battery 402 undergoing test. The signal generator means 450 uses a resistor/capacitor circuit R1,C6, C7, and R2 to create the ac signal waveform. The waveform is passed through a digital potentiometer 452 which sets the amplitude of the signal waveform. The digital potentiometer 452 is connected to the microcontroller 420 by signals POTDAT and POTCLK.

[0119] The output of the signal generator 450 through amplifier 456 is fed as a signal input to a signal injector circuit described hereafter and shown in FIG. 26.

[0120] Q50 is a test on/test off switch for the signal generator 450. The microcontroller 420 controls the Q50 switch.

[0121] The digital potentiometer 452 allows on the fly change in the signal injection amplitude. Typically, the signal injection amplitude range is selectable from 10 millivolt to 1 volt.

[0122] A voltage reference circuit 458, is also shown in FIG. 25, supplies a voltage reference to the A/D converter 462.

[0123] A signal injector means or circuit 470 is shown in FIG. 26.

[0124] By applying an ac voltage superimposed on a 10-times larger negative-dc voltage, the signal generator 450 connected to J102 determines the battery current drawn by transistor Q101 shown in FIG. 29. The generator voltage causes the op amp 456 to go high and turn transistor Q101 on, which allows battery current to flow through a high-side, current sensing amplifier U101, such as a Maxim 471 sensing amplifier. The output current of the sensing amplifier U101 equals 1/2000 of this battery current. Inputs to the sensing amplifier U101 are taken from the leads 410 and 412 connected to the battery terminals or lugs 404 and 406, respectively.

[0125] C101, U102, and Q101 form a loop in which the op amp forces a virtual ground on the left end of R103. This virtual ground condition enables the voltage divider formed of resistors R103 and RI05 in parallel with resistor R104 and the signal generator 450 to determine the voltage across resistor R103.

[0126] A signal amplifier/peak detector means or circuit 460 is shown in FIG. 27. The signal amplifier circuit is connected in parallel with the signal injector circuit 470 at the +load an d-load inputs to the sensing amplifier U101. The peak detector takes the amplified signal and converts it to a dc voltage output (peakout). This dc output is fed into an analog/digital (A/D) converter that converts the analog dc voltage to a digital signal which is then fed to the microcontroller 420.

[0127] When the transistor Q101, which can be a FET, conducts, it shorts the battery 402 for a short time. This enables the sensing amplifier U101 to measure the waveform. The control means or microcontroller 420 executes a stored program which determines at least one or more operative conditions of the batter, such as the internal resistance, nominal battery voltage, and/or negative battery host temperature. Any one or any combination of these three measurements can be used to determine the health of the battery under tests. Each of these three threshold or nominal values can be entered by the battery manufacturer or during installation of the pod 408 on a battery 402. The control means 420 and the pod 408 begins the test shortly after the pod 408 is connected to the battery 402 or on a predetermined time schedule internally set within the pod 408. A bi-colored LED 409 visible externally of the case of the pod 408 will flash green when indicating that a test is about to begin. During testing, no light is emitted by the LED 409. After a test is complete, the pod 408 will flash the LED yellow to indicate the end of the test. Once the test is complete, the new values gathered during the test are compared to the threshold values. If any of the newly gathered values are outside the respective threshold, the bi-color LED will emit red.

[0128] The use of the LED 409 enables a single pod 408 mounted on a single battery 402 to provide a visual indication of the condition of the battery 402 as the operative condition of the battery. This can be used on a stand alone, single battery basis without any wireless communication to aid the remote control.

[0129] It will be understood that the LED 409 forms an illuminatable means which provides a visual indication of an operative condition or state of the battery 402. Broadly, the illuminatable means 409 may comprise bi-color LEDs, individual, different color LEDs, or other forms of illuminatable devices which provide an indication, when illuminated or not illuminated, of a state or condition of the battery 402.

[0130] The microcontroller 420 executes a control program stored in an associated memory which calculates a first value of a calculated ac current of the injected ac signal current x 136/499.

[0131] A milliohm of battery internal resistance equals peak to peak millivolt input signal/calculated ac current.

[0132] The ac current equals (R103 in parallel with R104)/(R103 in parallel with R104+R105)/peak to peak millivolt/R103, where the signal generator output is in the range of 0-500 millivolts.

[0133] Since the measured output current from the battery 402 is proportional to the calculated current times the milliohms of battery resistance, the control means 420 can calculate the milliohms of internal battery resistance once it measures the output current from the battery 402 and calculates the calculated ac current as described above.

[0134] This determined battery internal resistance, in milliohms, is compared with a threshold, which can be set by the battery manufacturer or can be set or changed by the user. For example, the manufacturer's threshold indicative of a properly operating or good battery is 6 milliohms of internal battery resistance. Such a battery manufacturer has determined that a bad or inoperative battery can be determined if the battery internal resistance is 50% larger or approximately 9 milliohms. Thus, 9 milliohms can be used as threshold indicative of a bad or inoperative battery. Other thresholds between 6 and 9 milliohms may also be employed. Even though the pod 408 may be factory set or subsequently programed by the user to have a battery internal resistance threshold of 9 milliohms, the user can reprogram the threshold to other values, such as to any value between 6 and 8 to suit the user's preference, or to accommodate changes in battery standards. The threshold reprogramming can be done through the setup utility program shown in FIG. 28.

[0135] The microcontroller 420 output is connected to a transceiver 421, FIG. 23. The transceiver 421, which can be a transceiver manufactured by eDevice, model Egate200, acts a wireless node. The microcontroller 420 uses the node to transfer data from the pod 408 to the transceiver. The transceiver 421 then sends the data wirelessly out to a remotely located host controller 480 shown in FIGS. 28 and 32, by a variety of communication formats or protocols, including Ethernet, GSM, or RS232, as well as serially. The microcontroller 420 can also be connected to the wireless node by an RS232 connection.

[0136] The host controller 480 can be similar to any of the raq controllers 202 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. Thus, the host controller 480 is mounted in the same telephone cabinet or hut 14 shown in FIG. 1 with the one or more pods 408 and associated batteries 402. The transceiver allows wireless communication between the one or more pods 408 and the controller 480. In an example of one inventive configuration, 1-16 pods 408 may be used with a single controller 480. The host controller 480 can, by example only, be a standard rack mounted housing mountable or affixed to any flat surface in the cabinet 14. The controller 480 may include a front view LCD and a communication port to access software menus. The communication port allows a connection of a lap top or pocket PC type device to the controller 480. With appropriate set up utility software stored in a memory accessed by the controller 480, a user has access to variables in the control program of the host controller 480, which gives the user the ability to change time and date, set threshold values, set test times, log user data, set server communication, set the number of tests to be logged before sending data to the network server.

[0137] Referring now to FIGS. 28-31, there are depicted flow diagrams depicting the sequence of operation of the host controller 480 in initiating and receiving a battery condition test for one or more batteries, such as battery 402.

[0138] As shown in FIG. 28, the host controller 480 goes through an initialization or set-up procedure in which the host controller 480 establishes the host ID in set 482 sets the current time and date in step 484 and then gathers all of the pod 408 Ids in step 486. The host controller 480 then assigns a location to each pod an associated battery, such as POD 1=BAT1 in step 488.

[0139] With POD 1 connected to BAT 1 in step 490, the host controller 480 calibrates pod 1 in step 492. The host controller 480 then uses POD 1 to obtain values for BAT1 in step 494 and sets a threshold value on POD 1 in step 496 indicative of an acceptable or normal battery condition. This threshold is stored in POD 1 in step 498. This same process is completed through a loop using steps 500 and 502 until all of the pods 408 on all of the batteries 402 in a serially connected battery string or separately connected batteries are set.

[0140] The host controller 480 then enters user data allowing the running of tests in step 504. A test time is set in 506. This could represent a periodic automatic test, such as at 12 o'clock am everyday. The file data dump time is to the host controller 480 as set in step 508. The output communication format is set in step 510 and then stored in the host controller 512.

[0141] The host controller 480 is connected by wireless communications, hardline, cable, modem, or other data communication connections to a network server, such as an Internet coupled server, to receive data communications from the pods 408. As shown in FIG. 29, the server receives a TCP-IP command in step 520 and then loads the incoming file data in step 522. The file data is then parsed in step 524 before it is loaded into a database in step 526. The data is checked in step 528 by the server for flagged data. If flagged data is present, an alarm is sent to the host controller 480 in step 530.

[0142] If there is no flagged data from step 528, the battery output data is stored in the database in step 530 and posted to a website 532 for display, downloading, etc.

[0143] The server watches for daily communications in step 534.

[0144] As shown in FIG. 30, the host controller 480, in executing a battery test at the test time established in 506 on one battery, such as battery 402, checks the number of the tests in step 540. The test number equals 24 as checked in step 542, the host controller 480 opens the modem port in step 544, dials the connect phone number in step 546 and makes the TCP-IP connection in step 548.

[0145] The host controller 480 then opens the stored datafile in step 550, checks for file complete in step 552, and if the file is incomplete, resends the datafile instep 554.

[0146] However, if the file is complete as checked in step 552, the host controller 480 closes the TCP-IP connection in step 556, disconnects the modem in step 558 and enters and continues with execution of its controlled program in “resume” step 560.

[0147] FIG. 31 depicts the battery test of flow sequence for executing a test of one battery, such as battery 402. The host controller 480 sends a test command in step 570 to one pod 408. The pod 408 acknowledges the receipt of a test command by flashing a green LED 572 which is mounted on the exterior of the pod 408. The microcontroller 420 in the pod 408 then turns the green LED off in step 574, turns the wireless node off in step 576, and turns on the test circuit in step 578. The microcontroller 420 then gathers test data in step 580 as described above. At the completion of the test, the microcontroller 420 ends the test in step 582, flashes the yellow LED 584 on the exterior of the pod 408 and then turns the yellow LED off in step 586. The microcontroller 420 compares in step 588 the test data gathered in step 580 with the set threshold value for the particular pod set in step 496. If the test data is within the threshold as checked in step 590, the microcontroller 420 turns on the wireless node in step 592 and sends the data in step 594 to the host controller 480.

[0148] However, if the test data is not within or below the threshold as checked in step 590, the microcontroller 420 turns on a red LED 596 on the pod 408, flags the data, and couples it with the pod ID in step 598. The microcontroller 420 then turns on the wireless node in step 592 and sends the data to the host controller in step 594.

[0149] This sequence is repeated by each of the pods established in the pod ID collection step 486 shown in FIG. 31 until all of the battery tests are completed.

[0150] After data from all of the pods 408 is stored in the controller 480, the modem coupled to the controller 480 will dial out to a preset telephone number associated with the network server. Once the connection is made to the server, the controller 480 will send the daily log file over a TCP-IP datastream to the server. After the data has been received in the server software, the data is parsed into a searchable database structure which the user can use to search for information regarding information entered during field setup, battery conditions, etc. Any of the geographic indications described above and shown in FIGS. 17-20 to identify the location of the defective battery or batteries.

[0151] The battery monitoring apparatus of the present invention is also capable of executing other battery tests. A nominal battery voltage test uses a resistor divider that divides the nominal voltage of the battery by four and supplies the scaled voltage to the microcontroller 420. A programmable nominal battery voltage threshold equal to a 50% rise or a 50% drop in the nominal battery voltage, for example, can be factory set or programmed by the user to indicate a bad battery.

[0152] The internal battery resistance is proportional to the voltage rise, that is, if the voltage goes up, so does the internal resistance. However, internal resistance is only affected on a rising voltage and not a dropping voltage. Thus, a drop in nominal battery voltage below the threshold (for example, 12.5 volt nominal voltage to 6.25 volts) does not have a drop in internal battery resistance.

[0153] The battery monitoring means can also monitor or conduct a negative battery post temperature test. A temperature sensor, such a temperature sensor model number Dallas DS 1824 is imbedded into or coupled to the negative battery conductor or lead which is tied directly to the microcontroller 420.

[0154] The microcontroller 420 can display the negative battery post temperature in either Fahrenheit or Celsius. A threshold is programmed into the microcontroller 420 to detect a temperature rise above a predetermined amount. For example, the negative battery temperature threshold can be set at 50% above the ambient temperature. For example, is the ambient temperature is 77° F., as measured by a temperature sensor in the cabinet or hub 14, and the negative battery post temperature is 115.5° F., the battery is failing due to thermal runaway. The negative battery post temperature threshold can be factory set or programmed by the user using the Setup Utility Program shown in FIG. 28.