WIRELESS BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME

A wireless battery management system manages at least one battery unit, and the system includes at least one battery tester and a wireless terminal apparatus. The at least one battery tester is electrically connected to the at least one battery unit. The wireless terminal apparatus includes a wireless communication unit, a display unit, and a user interface. The wireless communication unit provides a wireless communication protocol to be wirelessly connected to the battery tester. The user interface is displayed on the display unit and operates an application program of the wireless terminal apparatus. The application program is executed by the wireless terminal apparatus to provide a test and monitor function to control the battery tester testing and monitoring the battery unit correspondingly connected to the battery tester. Accordingly, readability of the battery test results and convenience of monitoring and sharing the battery test results are increased.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Taiwan patent application No. 105110003, filed on Mar. 30, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to a battery management system and a method of operating the same, and more particularly to a wireless battery management system and a method of operating the same.

2. Description of Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 7,772,850 discloses a wireless battery tester with information encryption means.FIG. 11shows a block diagram of a conventional wireless battery testing system. The wireless battery testing system100includes a battery tester116. The battery tester116includes a measurement circuitry140, a memory unit141and an input unit143coupled to a microprocessor156. The microprocessor156is also operably coupled to a communication circuitry142. The measurement circuitry140and the microprocessor156together form a battery test circuitry138. The microprocessor156generates a battery test result based on measurements made by the measurement circuitry140and the microprocessor156provides the battery test result to the communication circuitry142. The communication circuitry142transmits battery test results over a wireless communication signal144, such as a diffused infrared signal or a radio frequency (RF) signal to an external receiving system145.

The external receiving system145includes a receiver/transceiver146having an antenna147, an output unit148and a computing device150having a memory unit152. The computing device150is connected to the receiver/transceiver146to receive the battery test results transmitted from the communication circuitry142and store the battery test results in the memory unit152.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,774,151 discloses a wireless battery monitor.FIG. 12shows a block diagram of a conventional battery installation. The battery installation110includes a plurality of batteries102A-102N, and each battery102A-102N is electrically coupled to a respective battery tester104A-104N. Each battery tester104A-104N communicates with a data receiving station106over a wireless communication medium108A-108N, respectively. During operation, each battery tester104A-104N performs a battery test on its respective battery102A-102N to acquire battery test results. The battery test results are then transmitted along the wireless communication media108A-108N to the data receiving station106. According to the battery test results, the data receiving station106can act as appropriate by indicating which battery needs replacing, or may need replacing, prior to its ultimate failure.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,958,998 discloses an electronic battery tester with network communication.FIG. 13shows a block diagram of a conventional battery tester. A communication circuitry112communicates with a local relay120over an optionally bidirectional communication link122. In particular, the local relay120may be a cellular telephone or other cellular based communication device and the local relay120can be used to monitor or control operation of the battery tester111. The local relay120communicates with an optional intermediary remote location124′ over an optionally bidirectional communication link123′. In particular, the intermediary remote location124′ could be a cellular telephone site. The remote location124′ can then communicate with an ultimate destination remote location124over another optionally bidirectional communication link123. The bidirectional communication link122with the battery tester111can be in accordance with a local communication technology such as a hardwire connection, for example, USB or the like, or a wireless technology such as Bluetooth communication technology, Wi-Fi or others.

However, the above-mentioned U.S. Patents do not disclose an app-based user interface for realization of test and management of a battery tester, thus causing inconvenience of testing and managing the battery tester.

SUMMARY

An objective of the present disclosure is to provide a wireless battery management system to introduce an app-based user interface to solve the problem of inconvenience of testing and managing the battery tester.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, the wireless battery management system is configured for managing at least one battery unit. The wireless battery management system includes at least one battery tester and a wireless terminal apparatus. The at least one battery tester is electrically connected to the least one battery unit and configured to test and monitor the at least one battery unit. The wireless terminal apparatus includes a wireless communication unit, a display unit and a user interface. The wireless communication unit is configured to provide a wireless communication protocol to be wirelessly connected to the at least one battery tester. The user interface is displayed on the display unit and operates an application program of the wireless terminal apparatus, wherein the application program is executed by the wireless terminal apparatus to provide a test and monitor function to control the at least one battery tester to test and monitor the at least one battery unit correspondingly connected to the at least one battery tester.

Accordingly, the friendly and convenient user interface is provided to show states of the battery units under test in detail via an audible manner, lighting, texts, graphics, or animations, thus increasing readability of the battery test results and flexibility and diversification of representing the battery test results, and also increasing convenience of monitoring and sharing the battery test results.

Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide a method of operating a wireless battery management system to introduce an app-based user interface to solve the problem of inconvenience of testing and managing the battery tester.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, the wireless battery management system has at least one battery tester electrically connected to at least one battery unit and a wireless terminal apparatus having a wireless communication unit, a display unit, and a user interface, wherein the user interface is displayed on the display unit and configured to operate an application program of the wireless terminal apparatus, and the application program is executed by the wireless terminal apparatus to communicate with the at least one battery tester correspondingly connected to the at least one battery unit. The method includes steps of: establishing a connection between the wireless terminal apparatus and the at least one battery tester; controlling the at least one battery tester to execute a test and monitor function by the wireless terminal apparatus; setting a battery testing parameter, battery monitoring parameter and battery tester monitoring data on the wireless terminal apparatus; executing the test and monitor function by the wireless terminal apparatus; and outputting testing and monitoring results from the wireless terminal apparatus.

Accordingly, the friendly and convenient user interface is provided to show states of the battery units under test in detail via an audible manner, lighting, texts, graphics, or animations, thus increasing readability of the battery test results and flexibility and diversification of representing the battery test results, and also increasing convenience of monitoring and sharing the battery test results.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present disclosure in detail.

FIG. 1shows a block diagram of a wireless battery management system according to the present disclosure. The wireless battery management system includes at least one battery unit30, at least one battery tester20, a wireless terminal apparatus10and a remote terminal device40. In one example, one battery unit30and one corresponding battery tester20are exemplified for demonstration inFIG. 1. In the present disclosure, the wireless terminal apparatus10is, but not limited to, a personal computer (PC), a notebook computer, a smart phone, or a tablet computer. The remote terminal device40is a cloud server, a cloud database, a remote transceiver, or an Email server.

The wireless terminal apparatus10provides at least one wireless communication topology, and the at least one wireless communication topology is, but not limited, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, GSM, GPRS, 3G, or 4G. The wireless terminal apparatus10is wirelessly connected to the battery tester20and the remote terminal device40according to the used wireless communication topology. The battery tester20is connected to the battery unit30by battery clips or o-rings and is used to test the battery unit30.

FIG. 2shows a schematic view of a communication operation between a wireless terminal apparatus and a battery tester according to the present disclosure. The wireless terminal apparatus10includes a wireless communication unit11, a display unit12and an application program (not shown). The wireless communication unit11correspondingly provides one of the above-mentioned wireless communication topologies to make the wireless terminal apparatus10connect to the battery tester20. For example, it is assumed that the wireless terminal apparatus10is a smart phone and the wireless communication unit11is a Bluetooth communication device providing a Bluetooth communication topology. The smart phone is wirelessly connected to the battery tester20according to the Bluetooth communication topology. In addition, the battery tester20has the corresponding Bluetooth transceiver in accordance with the wireless terminal apparatus10. In the present disclosure, the wireless terminal apparatus10may have different wireless communication units11for providing different wireless communication topologies, thus increasing flexibility and convenience of the wireless connection.

For the smart phone, the application program is a mobile application also called an App. As shown inFIG. 3, the mobile application has a user interface13and the user interface13is displayed on the display unit12. The user interface13is an interface for operating the mobile application, i.e., the user can select operation functions on the user interface13of the mobile application to execute the corresponding functions by touching on the user interface13. An operation of testing the battery unit30is exemplified for demonstration, wherein the user executes a battery test function via the mobile application so as to wirelessly control the battery tester20testing the battery unit30connected to the corresponding battery tester20. More operation functions are described further hereinafter.

FIG. 4shows a block diagram of the battery tester according to the present disclosure. The battery tester20is electrically connected to an input apparatus50and an output apparatus60. The input apparatus50may be a physical apparatus or non-physical apparatus with an input function via keys, capacitive/inductive touch, or voice. In addition, the output apparatus60may be a physical apparatus or non-physical apparatus with an output function via an audible manner, lighting, texts, graphics, or animations, such as a speaker, indicator light, display, or printer. In the present disclosure, the input apparatus50and the output apparatus60are optional according to the actual requirement of the user.

The battery tester20includes a communication unit21, a processing unit22, a testing circuit23, an environment sensing unit24and a power supplying unit25. In the present disclosure, the environment sensing unit24and the power supplying unit25are optional according to the actual requirement of the user. The environment sensing unit24is used to sense external environmental parameters, such as temperature, humidity, or coordinates. The external environmental parameters sensed by the environment sensing unit24are sent to the processing unit22and processed or calculated by the processing unit22.

The battery tester20is supplied with power via an external power source. Once the external power source fails, the power supplying unit25is used to provide required power to the battery tester20. When the optional units are all used, the processing unit22is connected to the communication unit21, the testing circuit23, the environment sensing unit24, the input apparatus50and the output apparatus60. In the wireless battery management system, the processing unit22plays a role of controlling the peripheral units and apparatuses to collect and process data.

A bi-directional or single-directional communication is established between the processing unit22and the communication unit21. In particular, a communication interface, such as UART, I2C, or SPI is used for communication between the processing unit22and the communication unit21. The communication unit21transmits data to other units or receives data from other units in a wired manner or a wireless manner.

FIG. 5shows a schematic view of a communication network between one wireless terminal apparatus and plural battery testers according to the present disclosure. A mesh topology is formed by the plural battery testers20, and each battery tester20can transmit data to other battery testers20and receive data from other battery testers20via the wireless communication technology. In addition, each battery tester20can be a master role for data transmission or be a slave role for data reception.

In this embodiment, the exchanged data of the battery testers20include: check and update of firmware versions, check and update of parameters and test of battery states. For the check and update of firmware versions, each battery tester20has the capability of mutually checking and updating firmware version since each battery tester20has the wireless communication capability. The battery tester20with the latest firmware version could overwrite the latest firmware version for any other battery tester20with the older firmware version once an older firmware version of any other battery tester20is found, thus accomplishing check and update of firmware version.

For the check and update of the parameters, each battery tester20has the capability of mutually checking and updating parameters after the wireless terminal apparatus10updates parameters of any one of the battery testers20. The battery tester20with the latest parameters could overwrite the latest parameters for any other battery tester20with the older parameters once older parameters of any other battery tester20are found, thus accomplishing check and update of parameters.

For the test of battery state, the user interface13of the mobile application is operated to control at least one battery tester20to test battery states of the corresponding battery unit30. The wireless terminal apparatus10first transmits a battery test command to one of the battery testers20, and the battery tester20first receiving the battery test command is referred to as a starting battery tester. Afterward, the starting battery tester transmits the battery test command to other battery testers20, and then these battery testers20transmit battery test results thereof to the starting battery tester. Finally, the starting battery tester receives the battery test results and transmits the battery test results to the wireless terminal apparatus10.

FIG. 6shows a schematic view of acquirement of external information of the wireless terminal apparatus according to the present disclosure. By wired or wireless communication technologies, the wireless terminal apparatus10can be externally connected to download and update external information, such as position information, weather information, information of repair shops and/or information of test parameters. For one example, the wireless terminal apparatus10can provide the user with the information of the repair shop adjacent to the user, such as business hours, business items, relative distance or so on when the wireless terminal apparatus10simultaneously obtains the position information, such as the GPS information and the information of a repair shop. For another example, the wireless terminal apparatus10can automatically correct or update test parameters according to the weather information when the wireless terminal apparatus10obtains the weather information, such as temperature or humidity.

FIG. 7is a flowchart of a method of operating the wireless battery management system according to the present disclosure. The method of operating the wireless battery management system is executed on a wireless terminal apparatus10, such as a smart phone or a tablet computer. A user interface13with a mobile application is operated on a display panel of the smart phone or the tablet computer to execute different functions provided by the wireless battery management system. See more detailed description below.

First, the mobile application is installed in the wireless terminal apparatus10, and then the wireless battery management system is operated by executing the mobile application (S10). The user can manually execute the mobile application or the wireless terminal apparatus10automatically starts to establish a connection between the wireless terminal apparatus10and the battery tester20(S20). Afterward, a testing and monitoring function is selected (S30) to test and monitor the battery unit30or a record viewing function is selected (S40) to view historic records of the battery unit30according to the actual requirement of the user.

1. The descriptions of the testing and monitoring function. Before being tested and monitored, the battery unit under test has to be connected to the corresponding battery tester20. After the battery unit under test is connected to the battery tester20, the user can set battery testing parameters, battery monitoring parameters and battery tester monitoring data via the user interface13(S31). The operations of the user interface13can be shown in, but not limited by,FIG. 8AtoFIG. 8E.

As shown inFIG. 8A, a plurality of items of battery test can be selected through, but not limited to, pull-down menus, of a function page on the user interface13. When an option “BATTERY TEST” is selected, the battery unit under test is ready to be tested. Further, other options can be selected and the corresponding functions are executed. After the option “BATTERY TEST” is selected, a next option page is shown inFIG. 8B. In this option page, the user can select testing conditions, such as battery type, battery rating and battery capacity for the battery unit under test. After the selection is accomplished, the user submits the “START TEST” to control the battery tester20starting to test and monitor the battery unit under test (S32). After the battery unit under test is completely tested, test results are immediately displayed on the user interface13(S33) as shown inFIG. 8Cso that the user can realize information including a state of health (SOH) of the battery unit under test. In addition, the test results can be sent in text form to other related personnel via Email.

2. The descriptions of the record viewing function. The user can select an option “TEST RECORDS” in the function page on the user interface13as shown inFIG. 3and the historic test records of the battery unit under test are listed as shown inFIG. 8D(S50). For example,FIG. 8Dshows a list having a number of historic test records. The user selects any one of the historic test records on the user interface13to view the corresponding test result (S51) as shown inFIG. 8C. In addition, the historic test records can be sent in text form to other related personnel via Email.

After the step (S40), the user can select a cloud service (S60). The wireless terminal apparatus10is wirelessly connected to the remote terminal device40, such as a cloud server by logging in a cloud account as shown inFIG. 8Eto establish a cloud connection (S61). In the cloud service, the test records of the battery unit under test can be converted into a document file format, such as *.doc, *.xls, or *.csv, an image file format, such as *.bmp, *.jpg, or *.png, or a video file format, such as *.avi, *.wmv, *.mov, or *.mp4. The converted test records are transmitted (uploaded) to the remote terminal device40(S62) and are downloaded or viewed for other related personnel.

FIG. 9shows a schematic view of a connection and communication topology between the wireless terminal apparatus and the battery tester according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. In the connection and communication topology, either the wireless terminal apparatus10or the battery tester20can play a role of a host or a client, i.e., the wireless terminal apparatus10is a host when the battery tester20is a client and vice versa. In particular, both roles can be interchanged according to the actual requirements, but the wireless terminal apparatus10and the battery tester20would not play the same role.

In this embodiment, the wireless terminal apparatus10is the host and the battery tester20is the client for further demonstration as follows. When the communication connection is started up, the wireless terminal apparatus10actively searches for peripheral connectable battery tester(s) (S71). In particular, the wireless terminal apparatus10selects the eligible battery tester(s) according to device names or reading/writing conditions.

When the eligible connectable battery tester20is selected, the wireless terminal apparatus10or the battery tester20actively or the user manually submits a handshaking connection request to execute a handshaking connection procedure by existing or user-defined communication protocols (S72). In particular, an authentication and an establishment of the handshaking connection request are accomplished after confirming with identifications of characters (or strings) or procedures.

After a handshaking connection of testing battery is accomplished, the wireless terminal apparatus10(host) sends a battery testing command to the connected battery tester20(S73) so as to notify the battery tester20to get ready to test the battery unit under test. In particular, a format and content of the battery testing command is already defined by the wireless terminal apparatus10and the battery tester20.

After the battery tester20receives the battery testing command sent from the wireless terminal apparatus10, the battery tester20replies an acknowledgment command with the same content as the battery testing command to the wireless terminal apparatus10(S74) so as to notify the wireless terminal apparatus10that the battery tester20has received an indication of testing the battery unit under test. Afterward, the battery tester20tests the battery unit under test (S75) and transmits test results to the wireless terminal apparatus10(S76).

After the step (S74), the wireless terminal apparatus10receives the acknowledgment command and compares the acknowledgment command with the battery testing command (S77). If the acknowledgment command is not identical to the battery testing command, the wireless terminal apparatus10does not receive the test results transmitted from the battery tester20and resends the battery testing command to the connected battery tester20(S73). On the contrary, if the acknowledgment command is identical to the battery testing command, the wireless terminal apparatus10receives the test results transmitted from the battery tester20and outputs the test results. Also, the test results are viewed or processed for warning abnormal state of the battery unit under test (S78). The above-mentioned connection manner between the wireless terminal apparatus10and the battery tester20is referred to as a three-way handshaking protocol, i.e., the connection request, the acknowledgment of the connection request and the acknowledgment of the connection establishment are sequentially performed.

FIG. 10shows a schematic view of a connection and communication topology between the wireless terminal apparatus and the battery tester according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. In the connection and communication topology, either the wireless terminal apparatus10or the battery tester20can play a role of a host or a client, i.e., the wireless terminal apparatus10is a host when the battery tester20is a client and vice versa. In particular, both roles can be interchanged according to the actual requirements, but the wireless terminal apparatus10and the battery tester20would not play the same role.

In this embodiment, the battery tester20is the host and the wireless terminal apparatus10is the client for further demonstration as follows. When the communication connection is started up, both the battery tester20and the wireless terminal apparatus10can actively search for peripheral connectable wireless terminal apparatus10or battery tester(s) (S81),(S81′). In particular, the wireless terminal apparatus10selects the eligible wireless terminal apparatus or battery tester(s) according to device names or reading/writing conditions.

When the eligible connectable battery tester10or battery tester20is selected, the battery tester20or the wireless terminal apparatus10actively or the user manually submits a handshaking connection request to execute a handshaking connection procedure by existing or user-defined communication protocols (S82). In particular, an authentication and an establishment of the handshaking connection request are accomplished after confirming with identifications of characters (or strings) or procedures.

After a handshaking connection of testing battery is accomplished, the battery tester20(host) tests the battery unit under test (S83) and then sends a battery testing receiving command to the connected wireless terminal apparatus10(S84) so as to notify the wireless terminal apparatus10that the battery tester20has tested the battery unit under test. In particular, a format and content of the battery testing receiving command is already defined by the wireless terminal apparatus10and the battery tester20.

After the wireless terminal apparatus10receives the battery testing receiving command sent from the battery tester20, the wireless terminal apparatus10replies an acknowledgment command with the same content as the battery testing receiving command to the battery tester20(S85) so as to notify the battery tester20that the wireless terminal apparatus10has been ready to receive test results of the battery unit under test.

After the step (S85), the battery tester20receives the acknowledgment command and compares the acknowledgment command with the battery testing receiving command (S86). If the acknowledgment command is not identical to the battery testing receiving command, the battery tester20does not transmit the test results to the wireless terminal apparatus10and resends the battery testing receiving command to the wireless terminal apparatus10(S84). On the contrary, if the acknowledgment command is identical to the battery testing receiving command, the battery tester20transmits the test results to the wireless terminal apparatus10(S87) and outputs the test results. Also, the test results are viewed or processed for warning abnormal state of the battery unit under test (S88). In addition, the wireless terminal apparatus10can analyze, compute, or sort the test results transmitted from the battery tester20(S89). The above-mentioned connection manner between the wireless terminal apparatus10and the battery tester20is referred to as a three-way handshaking protocol, i.e., the connection request, the acknowledgment of the connection request and the acknowledgment of the connection establishment are sequentially performed.

In conclusion, the present disclosure has the following advantages:

1. The user interface13of the mobile application is used by the user to operate the wireless terminal apparatus10to control and set the battery tester20by a wireless communication manner so as to test and monitor the corresponding battery unit30connected to the battery tester20and also share and backup test results;

2. The friendly and convenient user interface13is provided to show states of the battery units under test in detail via an audible manner, lighting, texts, graphics, or animations, thus increasing readability of the battery test results and flexibility and diversification of representing the battery test results, and also increasing convenience of monitoring and sharing the battery test results; and

3. The wireless terminal apparatus10provides the display unit12for displaying the test results or historic records or operating the operation functions so that no extra liquid crystal display is necessary for the battery tester20, thus reducing costs of production.