Battery diagnostic method and apparatus

Claim 1

A method for testing a battery comprising the steps of: varying the voltage across the battery during a testing cycle by: (a) applying a first discharging cycle to the battery; (b) terminating said first discharging cycle; (c) applying a first charging cycle to the battery, said first charging cycle including five charging pulses; (d) terminating said first charging cycle; (e) applying a second discharging cycle to the battery; (f) terminating said second discharging cycle; said first and second discharging cycles applying a constant current discharge rate through an active load to the battery; and measuring the voltage across the battery at selected times during said testing cycle, and comparing the magnitude of the voltage measurements to one predetermined reference value for each voltage measurement and to each other thereby determining the ability of the battery to retain a charge for a desired period of time, said step of measuring the voltage including the following: measuring a first voltage, V 1 , before step (a); measuring a second voltage, V 2 , during step (a); measuring a third voltage, V 3 , between steps (b) and (c); measuring a fourth voltage, V 4 , during step (c); measuring a fifth voltage, V 5 , during step (c); measuring a sixth voltage, V 6 , between steps (d) and (e); measuring a seventh voltage, V 7 , between steps (d) and (e); measuring an eighth voltage, V 8 , during step (e); measuring a ninth voltage, V 9 , during step (e); and measuring a tenth voltage, V 10 , after step (f).

Claim 2

A method for testing a battery comprising the steps of: varying the voltage across the battery during a testing cycle by: (a) applying a first discharging cycle to the battery; (b) terminating said first discharging cycle; (c) applying a first charging cycle to the battery, said first charging cycle including five charging pulses; (d) terminating said first charging cycle; (e) applying a second discharging cycle to the battery; (f) terminating said second discharging cycle; said first and second discharging cycles applying a constant current discharge rate through an active load to the battery; and measuring the voltage across the battery at selected times during said testing cycle, and comparing the magnitude of the voltage measurements to one predetermined reference value for each voltage measurement and to each other thereby determining the ability of the battery to retain a charge for a desired period of time, said step of measuring the voltage including the following: measuring a first voltage, V 1 , before step (a); measuring a second voltage, V 2 , during step (a); measuring a third voltage, V 3 , between steps (b) and (c); measuring a fourth voltage, V 4 , during step (c); measuring a fifth voltage, V 5 , during step (c); measuring a sixth voltage, V 6 , between steps (d) and (e); measuring a seventh voltage, V 7 , between steps (d) and (e); measuring an eighth voltage, V 8 , during step (e); measuring a ninth voltage, V 9 , during step (e); and measuring a tenth voltage, V 10 , after step (f).

Claim 4

A method for testing a lead acid battery comprising the steps of: applying one charge cycle to the battery, said charge cycle including five, separated charging pulses; applying two discharge cycles to the battery, each of said discharge cycles including maintaining a constant current discharge rate until battery voltage falls below a predetermined level, applying said two discharge cycles including applying a first discharge cycle for a period of one second and a second discharge cycle for a period of twenty seconds; applying said charge and discharge cycles in a sequence wherein said one second first discharge cycle takes place, said first charge cycle takes place, and said twenty second second discharge cycle takes place; and measuring the voltage across the battery at selected times during and after said charge cycle and said two discharge cycles and comparing the magnitude of the voltage measurements to one predetermined reference value for each voltage measurement and to each other thereby determining the ability of the battery to retain a charge for a desired length of time; said step of measuring the voltage across the battery including: measuring two voltages during said second discharge cycle; and measuring a voltage following completion of the second discharge cycle.

Claim 5

A method for testing a lead acid battery comprising the steps of: applying one charge cycle to the battery, said charge cycle including five, separated charging pulses; applying two discharge cycles to the battery, each of said discharge cycles including maintaining a constant current discharge rate until battery voltage falls below a predetermined level, applying said two discharge cycles including applying a first discharge cycle for a period of one second and a second discharge cycle for a period of twenty seconds; applying said charge and discharge cycles in a sequence wherein said one second first discharge cycle takes place, said first charge cycle takes place, and said twenty second second discharge cycle takes place; and measuring the voltage across the battery at selected times during and after said charge cycle and said two discharge cycles and comparing the magnitude of the voltage measurements to one predetermined reference value for each voltage measurement and to each other thereby determining the ability of the battery to retain a charge for a desired length of time; said step of measuring the voltage across the battery including: measuring two voltages during said second discharge cycle; and measuring a voltage following completion of the second discharge cycle.