US5488300A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for monitoring the state of charge of a battery
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1994-10-21
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Granted: 1996-01-30
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Expires: 2014-10-21
Abstract
Abstract A method of monitoring ion mobility in an electro-conductive fluid, such as an electrolyte in a lead-acid battery to determine the state of charge of the battery, includes the steps of immersing a pair of test electrodes in the electro-conductive fluid, and generating a test signal having a pulsed waveform. The pulsed waveform of the test signal has a voltage which remains constant over a predetermined portion of the signal's period, that portion being selected to ensure that ion mobility in the electro-conductive fluid has reached a steady state velocity. The method further includes the steps of applying the test signal to the pair of test electrodes to cause a current to flow through the test electrodes and the electro-conductive fluid, and sensing the current flow through the test electrodes and fluid. The sensed current is indicative of ion mobility in the electro-conductive fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert S. Jamieson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:26
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/42; H01M10/48; H01M10/484; G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/36; G01R31/378; G01R31/379; G01R31/385; H01M50/00; H01M50/50; H01M50/569; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S204/00; Y10S204/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of monitoring ion mobility in an electro-conductive fluid, which comprises the steps of: immersing at least one pair of test electrodes at least partially in the electro-conductive fluid; generating a test signal having a pulsed waveform, the pulsed waveform of the test signal having an amplitude which remains constant for a predetermined time sufficient to ensure that ion mobility in the electro-conductive fluid has reached a steady state velocity; applying the test signal to the at least one pair of test electrodes to cause a current to flow through the test electrodes and the electro-conductive fluid; and sensing the current flow through the test electrodes and the electro-conductive fluid caused by the test signal, the sensed current being indicative of ion mobility in the electro-conductive fluid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of monitoring ion mobility in an electro-conductive fluid, which comprises the steps of: immersing at least one pair of test electrodes at least partially in the electro-conductive fluid; generating a test signal having a pulsed waveform, the pulsed waveform of the test signal having an amplitude which remains constant for a predetermined time sufficient to ensure that ion mobility in the electro-conductive fluid has reached a steady state velocity; applying the test signal to the at least one pair of test electrodes to cause a current to flow through the test electrodes and the electro-conductive fluid; and sensing the current flow through the test electrodes and the electro-conductive fluid caused by the test signal, the sensed current being indicative of ion mobility in the electro-conductive fluid.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of monitoring the state of charge of a battery containing an electrolyte, which comprises: immersing at least one pair of test electrodes in the electrolyte; generating a test signal having a pulsed waveform, the pulsed waveform having a voltage which remains constant for a predetermined time sufficient to ensure that ion mobility in the electrolyte has reached a steady state velocity; applying the test signal to the at least one pair of test electrodes to thereby impress across the at least one pair of test electrodes an electromotive force of sufficient magnitude to cause ion movement in the electrolyte and a current to flow through the at least one pair of test electrodes and the electrolyte; and sensing the current flow through the at least one pair of test electrodes and the electrolyte caused by the electromotive force, the sensed current flow being indicative of the state of charge of the battery.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of monitoring the state of charge of a battery containing an electrolyte, which comprises: immersing at least one pair of test electrodes in the electrolyte; generating a test signal having a pulsed waveform, the pulsed waveform having a voltage which remains constant for a predetermined time sufficient to ensure that ion mobility in the electrolyte has reached a steady state velocity; applying the test signal to the at least one pair of test electrodes to thereby impress across the at least one pair of test electrodes an electromotive force of sufficient magnitude to cause ion movement in the electrolyte and a current to flow through the at least one pair of test electrodes and the electrolyte; and sensing the current flow through the at least one pair of test electrodes and the electrolyte caused by the electromotive force, the sensed current flow being indicative of the state of charge of the battery.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method of monitoring ion mobility as defined by claim 1, wherein the step of sensing the current flow through the at least one pair of test electrodes further comprises sensing the current flow through the at least one pair of test electrodes during the predetermined time that the amplitude of the test signal is constant.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of monitoring ion mobility as defined by claim 1, wherein the step of generating a test signal having a pulsed waveform further comprises generating the test signal with a square wave waveform.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for monitoring ion mobility in an electro-conductive fluid which comprises: at least one pair of test electrodes, the at least one pair of test electrodes being at least partially immersed in the electro-conductive fluid; a signal generator, the signal generator generating a test signal having a pulsed waveform, the pulsed waveform of the test signal having a voltage which remains constant for a predetermined time sufficient to ensure that ion mobility in the electro-conductive fluid has reached a steady state velocity, the at least one pair of test electrodes being responsive to the test signal, the test signal causing a current to flow through the at least one pair of test electrodes and the electro-conductive fluid; and means for sensing the current flow through the at least one pair of test electrodes and the electro-conductive fluid caused by the test signal, the sensed current being indicative of ion mobility in the electro-conductive fluid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for monitoring ion mobility in an electro-conductive fluid which comprises: at least one pair of test electrodes, the at least one pair of test electrodes being at least partially immersed in the electro-conductive fluid; a signal generator, the signal generator generating a test signal having a pulsed waveform, the pulsed waveform of the test signal having a voltage which remains constant for a predetermined time sufficient to ensure that ion mobility in the electro-conductive fluid has reached a steady state velocity, the at least one pair of test electrodes being responsive to the test signal, the test signal causing a current to flow through the at least one pair of test electrodes and the electro-conductive fluid; and means for sensing the current flow through the at least one pair of test electrodes and the electro-conductive fluid caused by the test signal, the sensed current being indicative of ion mobility in the electro-conductive fluid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus for monitoring ion mobility as defined by claim 5, wherein the signal generator is a square wave generator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus for monitoring ion mobility as defined by claim 5, wherein the signal generator is a bistable multivibrator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus for monitoring ion mobility as defined by claim 5, wherein the signal generator is an astable multivibrator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-01-29 | 1999-07-31 | 2000-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-29 | 2003-07-31 | 2004-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-29 | 2007-07-31 | 2008-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |