An integrated circuit device includes a controller, an optional current source coupled to the controller, a voltage sampler coupled to the controller, a current detector coupled to the controller, and memory coupled to the controller, where memory includes code segments executable by the controller to: (a) apply a current pulse to a cell; (b) measure a voltage of the cell during the current pulse; (c) calculate an impedance of the cell from the measured voltage; and (d) determine an operational state of the cell from the impedance.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive test method, heat is externally applied to an electrochemical “trigger” test cell via a heating element that receives electrical current from a power supply that is characterized by approximately the same impedance as the trigger test cell. For instance, the power supply and the trigger cell can be same or similar cells. The trigger test cell is proximate “propagation-vulnerable” test cells in a cell pack. Because of the impedance-matching between the power supply and the trigger test cell, the ensuing propagative behavior is at least substantially attributable to the short-circuit current failure of the trigger cell as brought about by the externally applied heat. The energy and/or power characterizing the power supply's current at least approximately equates to the energy and/or power characterizing the trigger test cell's short circuit current. Exemplary inventive testing is propitiously representative of real-world propagative failure events.

A retrofit module for lithium battery passivation, detection, activation and maintenance (PDAM) may include a test circuit, a load circuit, a microcontroller and means for electrically connecting the PDAM module to a target battery in a device. Upon power-up and/or joining or rejoining a network, and additionally at periodic intervals thereafter, the state of the target battery is determined and an activation algorithm is executed, the parameters of which are dependent upon the determined target battery state.

An apparatus and method for diagnosing a battery bank having a failure in a connection state, including a state measuring unit configured to measure a state of each battery bank of a battery pack during a charging process and a discharging process of the battery pack; and a control unit configured to extract at least one battery bank by comparing states of the battery banks measured during the charging process of the battery pack with each other, extract at least one battery bank by comparing states of the battery banks measured during the discharging process of the battery pack with each other, and distinguish a battery bank having a failure in a connection state based on whether the battery banks respectively extracted during the charging process and the discharging process are identical to each other.

A monitoring system for controlling self-testing of a traction elevator includes a self-testing process module in communication with a three-phase AC back-up battery power supply. The self-testing process module includes a processor configured to initiate and control a series of steps for performing measurements of the three-phase AC back-up battery power supply, including measurements of the battery supply during a simulated emergency situation (“rescue/evacuation”). The processor is programmed to initiate testing on a defined schedule and transmit test results to a maintenance system (including remotely-located systems) on a routine basis. The monitoring system also includes a display unit providing visual information regarding the status of self-testing processes and their results and a communications unit for transmitting test results to a remote maintenance controller.

A system and method for performing a vehicle battery test includes a battery tester having a controller programed to obtain a first battery parameter and a second battery parameter of a primary battery from a vehicle controller, compare the first battery parameter to a first threshold, compare the second battery parameter to a second threshold and perform a reserve charge test on the battery using the battery tester or generating a display indicative of high corrosion or a bad cell in response to the compare the first battery parameter and compare the second battery parameter steps being performed by the controller.

A method of predicting a maximum discharge current for a battery cell includes: receiving a discharge time and a discharge limitation voltage; setting a discharge reference voltage; obtaining a proportional constant and an index parameter corresponding to the discharge reference voltage, wherein the proportional constant and the index parameter are applied to a relation between a constant current and a discharge time during a discharge; calculating a constant current for the discharge time by using the proportional constant and the index parameter; and adjusting the discharge reference voltage when a difference between a temporary discharge limitation voltage at which a voltage due to the constant current and an internal resistance of the battery cell is dropped from the discharge reference voltage and the discharge limitation voltage deviates from a predetermined error.

A method for estimating parameters of a battery impedance model that models an output impedance of a battery may include dividing the battery impedance model into a plurality of separate impedance stages, wherein each separate impedance stage approximates the battery impedance model within a particular frequency range, the respective impedance in each separate impedance stage comprises a primary impedance model with a primary set of defining impedance parameters and a secondary impedance model with a secondary set of impedance parameters, and the battery impedance model is defined by a series connection of the respective primary impedance models of the plurality of impedance stages. The method may also include monitoring operation of the battery to determine the primary set of defining impedance parameters and the secondary set of impedance parameters.

New and useful systems, methods, and apparatuses for automatically identifying alternative cell chemistries of batteries that power portable electric devices and adjusting the characteristics of such devices in response to the identification of such cells in a reduced-pressure therapy environment are set forth in the appended claims.

A battery type determination device according to an embodiment includes: an output controller configured to instruct a current application circuit to apply a specific current to a target battery; a voltage response measurer configured to measure a voltage response of the target battery with respect to the current applied using the output controller; a calculator configured to obtain an inductance value of the target battery on the basis of a current value applied using the output controller and a voltage value measured by the voltage response measurer; and a determiner configured to determine a type of the target battery on the basis of a specified value of an inductance according to the type of the target battery and an inductance value of the target battery obtained using the calculator.