Battery capacity measurement

1. A method of obtaining information relating to the charge capacity of one or more cells including:

measuring a variable cell parameter, or change in the variable cell parameter, for at least part of a Coup de Fouet discharge period during which the cell(s) voltage initially decreases to a trough voltage and then increases to a plateau voltage; and

relating the variable cell parameter, or change in the variable cell parameter, to reference information to obtain the absolute or relative charge capacity of the cell or cells.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the variable cell parameter is measured with respect to a single electrode.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein measurements are made of cell or electrode voltage, or change of voltage, for at least part of the Coup de Fouet discharge period during which the cell voltage initially decreases to the trough voltage and then increases to the plateau voltage.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reference information is a relationship between one or more cell operating conditions and the level of the trough voltage or plateau voltage.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the operating conditions are one or more selected from the set consisting of time on charge depth of previous charge, float voltage, ambient temperature and discharge rate.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein prior to the initial period of discharge the one or more cells are in a substantially fully charged condition.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 further including discrimination means which compares a change of a measured or monitored parameter with a change which is compatible with that which occurs in a Coup De Fouet period of initial discharge period and responds to whether or not that compatibility is present.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of measuring the variable cell parameter occurs when the cell is subjected to a Coup de Fouet discharge period or when the battery begins to discharge when required to supply a load.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more cells is a battery.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the battery is a lead/acid type battery or other battery which is rechargeable.

11. A method of estimating the capacity of a battery including:

acquiring reference information relating a variable battery parameter, or change in a variable battery parameter, to one or more battery operating conditions or battery condition;

measuring the variable battery parameter, or change in the variable battery parameter, during at least part of a Coup de Fouet discharge period of the battery during which the voltage initially decreases to a trough voltage and then increases to a plateau voltage; and relating the variable battery parameter, or change in variable battery parameter, to reference information to obtain the absolute or relative charge capacity of the battery.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein measurements are made of voltage, or change of voltage, for at least part of the period of time during which the battery voltage initially decreases to the trough voltage and then increases to the plateau voltage.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the reference information is the relationship between one or more battery operating conditions or battery condition and the trough voltage or plateau voltage.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the operating conditions are one or more selected from the set consisting of time on charge, depth of previous charge, float voltage, ambient temperature, and discharge rate.

15. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the step of measuring the variable battery parameter occurs when the battery is subjected to an initial period of discharge or when the battery begins to discharge when required to supply a load.

16. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein prior to the initial period of discharge the battery is in a substantially fully charged condition.

17. A method as claimed in claim 11 including a further step of calculating the discharge time remaining.

18. A method as claimed in claim 11 including a further step of calculating a remaining operational life of the battery.

19. A method as claimed in claim 11 further including discrimination means which compares a change of a measured or monitored variable parameter with a change which is compatible with that which occurs in a Coup De Fouet discharge period and responds to whether or not that compatibility is present.

20. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the function of one or more of the steps is performed by a computer.

21. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the battery is a lead/acid type battery or other battery which is rechargeable.

22. An estimation model for predicting the absolute or relative capacity of a battery, including:

input for a variable battery parameter, and one or more battery operating conditions or battery condition, measured during at least part of a Coup de Fouet discharge period during which the battery output voltage initially decreases to a trough voltage and then increases to a plateau voltage;

reference information relating the variable battery parameter to one or more battery operating conditions or battery condition;

compensation means determining a correction factor for the variable battery parameter depending on the value of any one of battery operating conditions or battery condition; and

calculation means relating corrected variable battery parameter to the reference information to obtain the absolute or relative charge capacity of the battery.

23. An estimation model as claimed in claim 22 wherein the variable battery parameter is battery voltage, or change of battery voltage.

24. An estimation model as claimed in claim 22 including training or learning means adapted to determine reference information relating a variable battery parameter to one or more battery operating conditions or battery condition.

25. An estimation model as claimed in claim 22 including training or learning means adapted to determine rules relating the variable battery parameter, or change in variable battery parameter, to one or more battery operating conditions or battery condition.

26. An estimation model as claimed in claim 24 wherein said training or learning means is an Adaptive Neural Fuzzy Interface System or Adaptive Network, or other Neuro-Fuzzy or Soft Computing system.

27. An estimation model as claimed in claim 22 wherein the battery operating conditions are one or more selected from the set consisting of time on charge, depth of previous charge, float voltage, ambient temperature, and discharge rate.

28. An estimation model as claimed in claim 22 which is in the form of computer readable code.

29. An apparatus adapted to provide information relating to the charge capacity of a battery, including:

measurement means adapted to measure a variable battery parameter, or change in variable battery parameter during at least part of a Coup de Fouet discharge period during which the battery voltage initially decreases to a trough voltage and then increases to a plateau voltage; and

processing means adapted to relate the variable battery parameter, or change in variable battery parameter, to referenced information to obtain the absolute or relative charge capacity of the battery.

30. An apparatus as claimed in claim 29 further including discrimination means which compares a change of the measured variable battery parameter with a change which is compatible with that which occurs in a Coup De Fouet period of initial discharge of the battery and response to whether or not compatibility is present.

31. An apparatus as claimed in claim 29 further adapted to measure one or more battery operating conditions.

32. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31 wherein the operating conditions are one or more selected from the set of time on charge, depth of previous charge, float voltage, ambient temperature, and discharge rate.

33. An apparatus as claimed in claim 29 which includes a microprocessor adapted to manipulate a variable battery parameter, or change in variable battery parameter, and one or more battery operating conditions or battery condition and predict the absolute or relative charge capacity of the battery.

34. An apparatus as claimed in claim 33 wherein the microprocessor is adapted to output the discharge time remaining expressed in hours and fractions of an hour, or is adapted to output the remaining operational life of the battery.

35. An apparatus as claimed in claim 29 which further includes a load, the load adapted to at least partially discharge the battery.

36. An apparatus as claimed in claim 29 which further includes training or learning means adapted to determine rules relating a variable battery parameter, or change in a variable battery parameter, to one or more battery operating conditions and/or battery condition.

37. An apparatus as claimed in claim 36 wherein the training or learning means is an Adaptive Neural Fuzzy Interface System or Adaptive Network, or other Neuro-Fuzzy or Soft Computing System.

38. An apparatus as claimed in claim 29 which includes an output means adapted to graphically, numerically or otherwise indicate, in real time, the charge capacity, discharge time remaining or remaining operational life of a battery.

39. An estimation model as claimed in claim 25 wherein said training or learning means is an Adaptive Neural Fuzzy Interface System or Adaptive Network, or other Neuro-Fuzzy of Soft Computing system.

40. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the single electrode is the negative electrode.

41. A method of estimating capacity of an electrochemical energy storage cell, the method comprising:

obtaining a Coup de Fouet parameter value for the cell; and

estimating a charge capacity of the cell from the Coup de Fouet parameter value.

42. A method according to claim 41 :

wherein obtaining a Coup de Fouet parameter value comprises obtaining a voltage value for the cell for a Coup de Fouet discharge period; and

wherein estimating a charge capacity of the cell comprises estimating the charge capacity of the cell from the voltage value.

43. A method according to claim 41 :

wherein obtaining a voltage value comprises obtaining a trough voltage value for the Coup de Fouet discharge period; and

wherein estimating a charge capacity comprises estimating the charge capacity from the trough voltage value.

44. A method according to claim 43 , wherein estimating the charge capacity from the trough voltage value comprises:

correcting the trough voltage value based on an at least one of an operating condition and a cell condition of the cell; and

estimating the charge capacity from the corrected trough voltage value.

45. A method according to claim 44 , wherein the at least one of an operating condition and a cell condition comprises at least one of time on charge, depth of previous charge, float voltage, discharge rate, and temperature.

46. A method according to claim 44 , wherein correcting the trough voltage value comprises correcting the trough voltage value based on the at least one of an operating condition and a cell condition using a fuzzy logic model.

47. A method according to claim 41 , wherein estimating a charge capacity comprises:

correcting the Coup de Fouet parameter value based on an at least one of an operating condition and a cell condition of the cell; and

estimating the charge capacity from the corrected Coup de Fouet parameter value.

48. A method according to claim 47 , wherein the at least one of an operating condition and a cell condition comprises at least one of time on charge, depth of previous charge, float voltage, discharge rate, and temperature.

49. A method according to claim 47 , wherein correcting the Coup de Fouet parameter value comprises correcting the Coup de Fouet parameter value based on the at least one of an operating condition and a cell condition using a fuzzy logic model.

50. An apparatus for estimating capacity of an electrochemical energy storage cell, comprising:

a computer configured to estimate a charge capacity of the cell from a Coup de Fouet parameter value.

51. An apparatus according to claim 41 , wherein the Coup de Fouet parameter value comprises a voltage value for a Coup de Fouet discharge period.

52. An apparatus according to claim 41 , wherein the voltage value comprises a trough voltage value for the Coup de Fouet discharge period.

53. An apparatus according to claim 43 , wherein the computer is further configured to correct the trough voltage value based on an at least one of an operating condition and a cell condition of the cell and to estimate the charge capacity from the corrected trough voltage value.

54. An apparatus according to claim 53 , wherein the at least one of an operating condition and a cell condition comprises at least one of time on charge, depth of previous charge, float voltage, discharge rate, and temperature.

55. An apparatus according to claim 53 , wherein the computer is configured to implement a fuzzy logic model operative to correct the trough voltage value based on the at least one of an operating condition and a cell condition.

56. An apparatus according to claim 50 , wherein the computer is configured to correct the Coup de Fouet parameter value based on an at least one of an operating condition and a cell condition of the cell and to estimate the charge capacity from the corrected Coup de Fouet parameter value.

57. An apparatus according to claim 56 , wherein the at least one of an operating condition and a cell condition comprises at least one of time on charge, depth of previous charge, float voltage, discharge rate, and temperature.

58. An apparatus according to claim 56 , wherein the computer is configured to implement a fuzzy logic model operative to correct the Coup de Fouet parameter value based on the at least one of an operating condition and a cell condition.

59. A computer program product comprises computer readable code embodied in a computer-readable storage medium, the computer readable code comprising:

code configured to estimate a charge capacity of the cell from the Coup de Fouet parameter value.

60. A computer program product according to claim 59 , wherein the code configured to estimate a charge capacity comprises code configured to estimate the charge capacity of the cell from a voltage value for the cell for a Coup de Fouet discharge period.

61. A computer program product according to claim 59 , wherein the code configured to estimate a charge capacity comprises code configured to estimate the charge capacity of the cell from a trough voltage value for the cell for a Coup de Fouet discharge period.

62. A computer program product according to claim 59 , wherein the code configured to estimate a charge capacity comprises code configured to correct the Coup de Fouet parameter value based on an at least one of an operating condition and a cell condition of the cell and to estimate the charge capacity from the corrected Coup de Fouet parameter value.

63. A computer program product according to claim 62 , wherein the at least one of an operating condition and a cell condition comprises at least one of time on charge, depth of previous charge, float voltage, discharge rate, and temperature.

64. A computer program product according to claim 62 , wherein the code configured to correct the Coup de Fouet parameter value based on an at least one of an operating condition and a cell condition of the cell and to estimate the charge capacity from the corrected Coup de Fouet parameter value comprises code configured to implement a fuzzy logic model operative to correct the Coup de Fouet parameter value based on the at least one of an operating condition and a cell condition.