Control- and measurement device for mobile battery powered equipment.

The invention relates to a control and measuring device for mobile battery-powered devices.

A battery-powered device is for example a flashlight, as described in the ABB CEAG publication "Ex Handlamp SE5 LK EN". Control devices are in such devices among others available for controlling the charging device for the storage battery, the charge is based on a dependent accumulator-charging characteristics and function of the remaining capacity of the battery. Measuring devices are available for detecting the remaining capacity of the battery. In addition to the known hand lamp display devices are available for the remaining capacity, the display roughly differentiates between three areas of the remaining capacity. After falling below a lower limit of the battery capacity is switched from a main bulb to a bulb with a lower power to prolong the operating time. Under "battery capacity" is here not the storage capacity of the battery understood but the removable amount of energy depending on the charge status.

In some applications, more detailed and / or additional information on the foreseeable availability of battery-powered device are desired.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a control and measuring device, made possible with which detailed information on the status of a so-equipped battery-powered device, at least on the state of charge of its battery.

This object is achieved by a control and measuring device for mobile batteriebetrienene device, which is designed as a module to a microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller of the battery voltage, the battery current and the battery temperature proportional voltage signals are supplied, and in the microcontroller programs are stored for determining the respective charge state and to control a charging device according to a certain charging characteristic and function of the charging state and the microcontroller outputs signals for a loader.

The proposed module for battery-operated mobile devices has the advantage that it can be made very compact and manufactured inexpensively. By appropriate programming and parameterization, as well as complementary hardware components to adapt to different requirements can be carried out. Preferred embodiments are specified in dependent claims. A more detailed description of the invention is provided below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing.

Fig. 1 of the drawing shows a circuit schematic for a portable lamp, to give an inventive control and measurement module is used including a display device.

The lamp contains a storage battery 1, a light bulb 3 fed by operating a switch. 2 In series with the lamp 3, a controllable switch 4 is connected, by means of which the lamp 3 can be turned off at low battery voltage to prevent deep discharge of the battery. 1 The battery 1 can be charged by a charging device consisting of a power unit 5 and a charge controller 6 through a network connection. 7 Both the charge current for charging the battery and a discharge current for powering the lamp 3 to flow through a precision resistor (shunt) 8, to which picked off a voltage proportional to the current and a microcontroller is supplied to the ninth The micro-controller 9 includes a microprocessor and a plurality of A / D converter for digitizing analog input signals. The microcontroller 9 is a basic building block of a implemented as a module 10 control and measuring device. The module 10 contains the microcontroller 9 and the measuring resistor 8 is still a suppressor 11 at the battery voltage input 12 and an interface device 15 for level adjustment or signal amplification or for serial data transmission as well as a connection for a device 16 for programming or parameterization and reset the microcontroller. 9 further, the module 10 includes a temperature sensor 13 for input of a temperature sensing in the microcontroller 9. outputs of the microcontroller 9 and the interface device 15 are connected to the controllable switch 4 and the charge control 6th In addition, the module 10 includes a display device 14 having three display panels 14.1 to 14.3, which is controlled by the microcontroller. 9 The module 10 can be realized, for example, as a circuit board with the microcontroller 9 and other surface-mount components and an application running as a liquid crystal display or digital display indicator. Finally, the module 10 includes a microcontroller 9 linked to the long-term data memory contains 19. The module 10 is preferably constructed very compact, to allow a wide range of applications; and can be considered as a physical unit with the battery first

The schematically illustrated arrangement can be expanded to include additional functions such as an alarm, a connection of several consumers or self-calibration of the measurement systems, and self-check to enable the device.

With the microcontroller 9 a plurality of functions is realized as described below. The microcontroller 9 contains to the necessary programs and parameter values.

The microcontroller 9 includes means for measuring time, so a clock. By linking the charging time with the charging current designated as capacity amount of energy stored is determined. Similarly, the liquid withdrawn from the consumer energy amount is detected, so that it is possible by subtracting determine the designated residual capacity current capacity. Loading and Entladewirkungsgrade, self-discharge of the battery and power consumption of the control and measuring equipment are included in the capacity calculation. The calculated remaining capacity is displayed as a percentage of the available capacity at full charge in the first display field 14.1 of the display device 14th It is also used for controlling the controllable switch 4 in order to prevent unwanted discharge.

The charge of the battery is carried out by a specific for the accumulator charging method, the remaining capacity will be taken into account to ensure gentle charging.

A temperature detection is performed to cause, for example, a temperature-controlled parameter change or auzulösen a warning, for example when used in explosion-proof area. The temperature is also needed for the capacity calculation and included in the calculation of the service life of components.

In microcontroller 9 life-expectancy values ​​for the battery 1 and the bulb 3 is stored. By detecting the operating time of these components, linking with the temperature and optionally further influence factors and by reference to the respective expected lifetime value is an expected lifetime residual value as a percentage value for the battery 1 in the second display zone 14.2 of the display device 14 and the lamp 3 in the third display 14.3 display.

Furthermore, the microcontroller contains to save data in case of failure of the power supply 9 known power fail routines. Other programmed functions such as self-test of the device and calibration of the measuring system, and method for regenerating and forming of the battery 1 and its cells. In addition to the microcontroller are 9 special circuits implemented, such as flashing circuits and safety circuits.

In long-term data storage 19 battery-specific data is stored as 3 or 5 years, which are over a selectable detection or assessment period, eg 3 months, detected. Such data may be during the assessment period as the number of loads, overloads, deep discharge and temperature overloads. The long-term data storage 19 is thus regarded as a battery profile. The stored data can be brought with the help of the display device 14 for display and for example be accessed using the Programming and device Parametrisier 16th

FIG. 2 shows a variant in which the relatively heavy power unit 5 disposed outside of a lamp 17 and is connected to charging terminals 18.1, 18.2 with the lamp 17. The charging controller 6 is disposed within the lamp 17, so that no information transmission between the power unit 5 and the light is required. The lamp 17 or any other executed in such a manner mobile device can also be powered from a battery, such as an automotive vehicle battery via the charging terminals 18.1, 18.2.