Patent ID: 8504314
Filing Date: 2013-08-06
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. A battery sensor comprising: a. a voltage regulator; b. an electronic switch; c. a temperature sensor; d. an amplifier; e. an analog to digital converter; and, f. a micro-controller; wherein: g. the voltage regulator is adapted to receive power from a battery to be monitored and is coupled to at least the micro-controller, the amplifier and the analog to digital converter to provide a regulated voltage thereto; h. the microcontroller is adapted to generate switching commands, for application to the electronic switch, according to a program; i. the electronic switch is adapted to receive the switching commands and to apply a stimulus to the battery in accordance with the switching commands; j. the temperature sensor is adapted to measure a temperature of the battery and provide a temperature signal indicative thereof; k. the amplifier is adapted to receive a signal from the battery in response to application of the stimulus, defining a response signal; l. the analog to digital converter is adapted to receive the temperature signal and the response signal and provide digital indications thereof to the micro-controller; m. there being information in the sensor that is available when the sensor has been installed in a connected string of batteries to be monitored that is useful to determine a relative position of the sensor in the connected string of batteries, defining location information, wherein each sensor is adapted to be associated with one of the batteries; and, n. the microcontroller being further adapted to: (i) process at least the digital indication of the response signal according to the program; (ii) generate data indicative of at least one condition of the battery; and, (iii) report the data indicative of the at least one battery condition and data indicative of battery temperature and the location information.