Patent ID: 8080976

Claim:
A method of determining the nature of an electro-chemical battery, comprising the steps of: (a) measuring the initial voltage of said battery; (b) according to said initial voltage, determining the initial impedance of said battery by generating a current flow through said battery, and measuring the voltage change of said battery as a result of said current flow; (c) according to said initial impedance, performing the steps of: (i) applying a pre-charge current, and measuring the voltage of said battery at intervals during said application of pre-charge current; and (ii) according to the voltage of said battery during said application of pre-charge current, making at least one internal impedance determination of said battery by generating at least one increased current flow through said battery, and measuring the voltage change of said battery as a result of said at least one increased current flow; and (d) utilizing at least one of said initial measured voltage, said measured voltage of said battery during said application of pre-charge current, said initial impedance, and said internal impedance to determine the nature of said electro-chemical battery.