Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
The method of determining the state-of-charge of batteries, comprising the steps: (a) measuring the temperature of the battery; (b) loading the battery with a predetermined load to produce a high discharge for a short predetermined time; (c) after a short recovery time, measuring the recovered open-circuit-voltage and the corresponding recovery time of the battery; and (d) determining the state-of-charge of the battery from the measured temperature and measured recovery open-circuit-voltage for the predetermined load and loading time and the recovery time of the particular type battery.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
86 words
The method of determining the state-of-charge of batteries, comprising the steps: (a) measuring the temperature of the battery; (b) loading the battery with a predetermined load to produce a high discharge for a short predetermined time; (c) after a short recovery time, measuring the recovered open-circuit-voltage and the corresponding recovery time of the battery; and (d) determining the state-of-charge of the battery from the measured temperature and measured recovery open-circuit-voltage for the predetermined load and loading time and the recovery time of the particular type battery.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined load in step (b) is such as would produce a discharge of full nominal capacity in 1-10 hours.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined load in step (b) is such as would produce a discharge of full nominal capacity in about 2-3 hours.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined loading time in step (b) is 1-300 seconds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined loading time in step (b) is 10-60 seconds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said recovery time before measuring the open-circuit-voltage in step (c) is 1-1000 seconds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 6, wherein said recovery time is 10-60 seconds.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the state-of-charge of the battery is determined by comparing the measured temperature and recovery open circuit-voltage with reference tables showing the state-of-charge at different temperatures and recovery open-circuit-voltages for the respective battery, load, loading time and recovery time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the battery is an Li/SO 2 or an Li/SOCl 2 battery.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
99 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the battery is a 9 Ah Li/SO 2 battery, the load is 0.5 ohm, the loading period is 60 seconds, the recovery time is 30 seconds, and the state-of-charge of the battery is determined by computing it from the measured temperature and recovery open-circuit-voltage according to the following equation: ln Q=28.05[OCV.sub.R +(T-25)·0.4·10.sup.-3 ]-79.325 wherein: Q is the residual charge in amp-hours; ln Q is the natural log of Q; OCV R is the measured-recovery open-circuit voltage divided by the number of cells in series, at temperature T; T is the measured temperature.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus for determining the state-of-charge of betteries, comprising: (a) means for measuring the temperature of the battery; (b) means for loading the battery to produce a high predetermined discharge for a short predetermined time; (c) means effective, after a short recovery time, for measuring the recovered open-circuit-voltage and the corresponding recovery time of the battery; and (d) means for determining the state-of-charge of the battery from the measured temperature and the measured recovery open-circuit-voltage for the predetermined load and loading time and the recovery time of the particular type battery.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus for determining the state-of-charge of betteries, comprising: (a) means for measuring the temperature of the battery; (b) means for loading the battery to produce a high predetermined discharge for a short predetermined time; (c) means effective, after a short recovery time, for measuring the recovered open-circuit-voltage and the corresponding recovery time of the battery; and (d) means for determining the state-of-charge of the battery from the measured temperature and the measured recovery open-circuit-voltage for the predetermined load and loading time and the recovery time of the particular type battery.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means (b) is effective to load the battery with a predetermined load such as would produce a discharge of full nominal capacity in 1-10 hours.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means (b) is effective to produce said predetermined high discharge for a recovery time of 1-300 seconds.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means (c) is effective to produce a predetermined recovery time of 1-1,000 seconds before measuring the recovery open-circuit-voltage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means (d) includes means for storing reference tables showing the state-of-charge at different temperatures and recovery open-circuit-voltages for the respective battery, load, loading time and recovery time, and means for comparing same with the battery under test.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the battery is an Li/SO 2 battery.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
102 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the battery is a 9 AhLi/SO 2 battery, and said means (d) includes means for computing the state-of-charge of the battery from the measured temperature and recovery open-circuit-voltage according to the following equation: ln Q=28.05[OVC.sub.R +(T-25)·0.4·10.sup.-3 ]-79.325 wherein: Q is the residual charge in amp-hours; ln Q is the natural log of Q; OVC R is the measured recovery open-circuit-voltage divided by the number of cells in series; T is the measured temperature; and wherein: the load is 0.5 ohm per cell, the loading period is 60 seconds, and the recovery time is 30 seconds.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus for determining the state-of-charge of a bettery, comprising: a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the battery; a load resistor for connection across the terminals of the battery for loading same with a predetermined load; measuring circuit means for measuring the temperature and also the battery voltage; a timer circuit; a display; and a control system effective: (a) to connect said temperature sensor to said measuring circuit for measuring the temperature of the battery; (b) to thereafter connect said load resistor across the terminals of the battery for loading same for a short time interval as predetermined by said timer circuit; (c) after a short recovery time as determined by said timer circuit, to connect the battery to said measuring means to measure the battery recovery open-circuit-voltage; and (d) to display a value corresponding to said measured recovery voltage on said display.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus for determining the state-of-charge of a bettery, comprising: a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the battery; a load resistor for connection across the terminals of the battery for loading same with a predetermined load; measuring circuit means for measuring the temperature and also the battery voltage; a timer circuit; a display; and a control system effective: (a) to connect said temperature sensor to said measuring circuit for measuring the temperature of the battery; (b) to thereafter connect said load resistor across the terminals of the battery for loading same for a short time interval as predetermined by said timer circuit; (c) after a short recovery time as determined by said timer circuit, to connect the battery to said measuring means to measure the battery recovery open-circuit-voltage; and (d) to display a value corresponding to said measured recovery voltage on said display.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said control system includes a microprocessor programmed to perform functions (a)-(d).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said microprocessor further includes a storage device having stored therein reference tables of the residual state-of-charge at different temperatures and recovery open-circuit-voltages for the respective battery, and the predetermined load, loading time and recovery time.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
103 words
Apparatus according to claim 19, particularly for use with 9 Ah Li/SO 2 batteries, wherein said microprocessor further includes means for computing the state-of-charge of the battery from the measured temperature and recovery open-circuit-voltage according to the following equation: ln Q=28.05[OCV.sub.R +(T-25)·0.4·10.sup.-3 ]-79.325 wherein: Q is the residual charge in amp-hours; ln Q is the natural log of Q; OCV R is the measured recovery open-circuit voltage divided by the number of cells in series at; T is the measured temperature; and wherein: the load is 0.5 ohm per cell, the leading period is 60 seconds, and the recovery time is 30 seconds.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said load resistor has a value such as it would produce a discharge of full nominal capacity in 1-10 hours.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said load resistor has a value such as it would produce a discharge of full nominal capacity in about 2-3 hours.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said microprocessor connects said load resistor across the battery terminals for a period of 1-300 seconds.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said microprocessor connects said load resistor across the battery terminals for a period of 10-60 seconds.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said microprocessor causes the battery recovery open-circuit-voltage to be measured after a recovery time of 1-1000 seconds following the loading thereof by the load resistor.