초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for diagnosing the status of a battery having high and low voltage plateau states corresponding to its state of charge in which the battery open circuit voltage is measured (S106) to determine its voltage state and its internal resistance also is measured (S114). A battery hav

A method and apparatus for diagnosing the status of a battery having high and low voltage plateau states corresponding to its state of charge in which the battery open circuit voltage is measured (S106) to determine its voltage state and its internal resistance also is measured (S114). A battery having a low voltage state (S116) is tested to determine if its internal resistance is greater than a predetermined maximum resistance (S118) and if it does the battery is considered as possibly having a low electrolyte level, and if it does not the battery is subjected to a current ramp test to determine from the voltage response a point of current transition (S130) due to a battery chemical gassing reaction. The battery state of charge (S132) is determined from curves or algorithms of state of charge versus current transition. Each of a battery of high voltage state (S116) whose internal resistance is less than the maximum internal resistance and one whose internal resistance is greater than the maximum internal resistance and has been subjected to reconditioning by applying successive current pulses (S124, S126) to reduce its internal resistance is subjected to a current ramp test (S134) to determine the point of current transition and the state of charge of such battery is determined (S136) from a different set of curves or algorithms of state of charge versus current transition. Capacity of a battery of the two voltage state types is determined by charging it to its capacity (S144), applying a current ramp (S144) to determine the point of current transition and determining capacity from curves or algorithms of battery capacity versus current transition (S150).

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A method for diagnosing a battery having high and low open circuit voltage states corresponding to state of charge conditions of the battery, comprising:measuring the internal resistance (IR) of the battery;measuring the battery open circuit voltage (OCV);comparing the battery's

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A method for diagnosing a battery having high and low open circuit voltage states corresponding to state of charge conditions of the battery, comprising:measuring the internal resistance (IR) of the battery;measuring the battery open circuit voltage (OCV);comparing the battery's measured internal resistance to a predetermined maximum internal resistance (IR.sub.MAX) for the battery; andsubjecting a battery having an internal resistance less than said predetermined maximum internal resistance to a type of state of charge (SOC) test depending on the existence of the high or low voltage state of the battery as determined by the measuring of the battery open circuit voltage.