Battery management system and apparatus
View Patent ↗The invention relates to the management of large stationary batteries. The invention is a comprehensive process for the management of stationary batteries that are used for backup power and are deployed in widely dispersed locations. The OMS™ (Optimization Management System) solution is comprised of Mega-Tags (preferably serialized bar-coded identification labels), a battery testing and data acquisition device, and web-based software. These components work together to provide a platform for managing a large number of perishable, expensive, and geographically dispersed assets.
1. A battery management system comprising:
a tag associated with a battery;
said tag bearing a unique identifier;
a battery tester for performing tests on said battery;
said battery tester having an input for capturing said unique identifier;
a communication interface between said battery tester and a computer network;
a server having a database for storing battery-related data associated with said unique identifier transmitted over said computer network.
2. The battery management system of claim 1 , wherein said unique identifier is in the form of a bar code.
3. The battery management system of claim 2 , wherein said input of said battery tester is a bar code reader.
4. The battery management system of claim 1 , wherein said battery-related data comprises:
said unique identifier;
a date and a time of a battery test;
an indication of test type;
a test measurement value;
a voltage reading.
5. The battery management system of claim 4 , wherein said battery-related data further comprises an ambient temperature reading.
6. The battery management system of claim 4 , wherein said battery-related data further comprises a battery temperature reading.
7. The battery management system of claim 4 , wherein said battery-related data further comprises a strap measurement value.
8. The battery management system of claim 4 , wherein said battery-related data further comprises battery recycling information.
9. A battery management system comprising:
a tag associated with a battery;
said tag bearing a unique identifier;
a battery tester for performing tests on said battery;
said battery tester having an input for capturing said unique identifier;
a communication interface between said battery tester and a computer network;
a server having a database for storing battery-related data associated with said unique identifier transmitted over said computer network;
software for generating a report from said battery-related data;
said server having a port for outputting said report to said computer network.
10. The battery management system of claim 9 , wherein said software comprises an automatic notification feature that transmits said report automatically upon input of said battery-related data.
11. The battery management system of claim 9 , wherein said battery tester is interfaced with a server having a network communication pathway, storing said battery-related data and selectively transmitting the battery-related data across the network communication pathway and receiving data from the network communication pathway for transmission to a user.
12. The battery management system of claim 9 , wherein said server communicates over said computer network to a manufacturer website and transmits battery-related data.
13. The battery management system of claim 9 , wherein said unique identifier is in the form of a bar code.
14. The battery management system of claim 13 , wherein said input of said battery tester is a bar code reader.
15. The battery management system of claim 9 , wherein said battery-related data comprises:
a date and a time of a battery test;
an indication of test type;
a test measurement value;
a voltage reading.
16. The battery management system of claim 15 , wherein said battery-related data further comprises an ambient temperature reading.
17. The battery management system of claim 15 , wherein said battery-related data further comprises a battery temperature reading.
18. The battery management system of claim 15 , wherein said battery-related data further comprises a strap measurement value.
19. The battery management system of claim 15 , wherein said battery-related data further comprises battery recycling information.
20. A battery management process comprising the steps of:
associating a tag with a battery, said tag bearing a unique identifier;
inputting said unique identifier into said battery tester;
performing tests on said battery with a battery tester;
generating test data with said battery tester;
associating said test data with said unique identifier;
uploading said test data to a computer network;
storing said test data in a database.
21. The battery management process of claim 20 , further comprising the steps of:
generating a report from said test data;
outputting said report to said computer network.
22. The battery management system of claim 21 , further comprising the steps of:
transmitting said report automatically upon input of said test data from said computer network.