MOTOR VEHICLE BATTERY WEAR MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

The invention concerns a motor vehicle battery wear monitoring system (1,1A,1B) that includes an acquisition device (11) and a processing device/system (12,12A,12B). The acquisition device (11) is: installed onboard a motor vehicle (2) that is equipped with an internal combustion engine, a battery for providing a battery voltage (V.sub.B), an alternator, and a starter motor for starting up the internal combustion engine; and configured to receive the battery voltage (V.sub.B) and to output quantities indicative of said battery voltage (V.sub.B). The processing device/system (12,12A,12B) is: configured to receive the quantities indicative of the battery voltage (V.sub.B) from the acquisition device (11); and programmed to perform a battery voltage monitoring based on the quantities indicative of the battery voltage (V.sub.B) to detect an approaching battery failure. The battery voltage monitoring includes detecting for each start-up of the internal combustion engine: a respective first voltage value (V.sub.MIN) that is a minimum value assumed by the battery voltage (VB) just after the starter motor has started operating to start up the internal combustion engine; and a respective second voltage value (V.sub.2) assumed by the battery voltage (V.sub.B) just after the internal combustion engine has been started up, the starter motor has stopped operating and the alternator has started operating. The battery voltage monitoring further includes for each start-up of the internal combustion engine: computing a respective voltage rise value (ΔV.sub.R) indicative of a difference between the respective first (V.sub.MIN) and second (V.sub.2) voltage values; and detecting an approaching battery failure if the respective voltage rise value (ΔV.sub.R) meets a predefined condition with respect to a predefined voltage rise threshold (T.sub.ΔVR).

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A motor vehicle battery wear monitoring system comprising: an acquisition device installed on board a motor vehicle that is equipped with an internal combustion engine, a battery for providing a battery voltage, an alternator, and a starter motor for starting up the internal combustion engine, wherein the acquisition device is configured to receive the battery voltage and to output quantities indicative of said battery voltage; a processing system configured to receive the quantities indicative of the battery voltage from the acquisition device, and perform a battery voltage monitoring based on the quantities indicative of the battery voltage to detect an approaching battery failure; wherein the battery voltage monitoring includes, for each start-up of the internal combustion engine: detecting a respective first voltage value that is a minimum value assumed by the battery voltage just after the starter motor has started operating to start up the internal combustion engine; detecting a respective second voltage value assumed by the battery voltage just after the internal combustion engine has been started up, the starter motor has stopped operating and the alternator has started operating; computing a respective voltage rise value indicative of a difference between the respective first and second voltage values; and detecting an approaching battery failure if the respective voltage rise value meets a predefined condition with respect to a predefined voltage rise threshold.

12. The motor vehicle battery wear monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the battery voltage monitoring further includes: detecting an anomalous current drain from the battery when the motor vehicle is at rest with the internal combustion engine being off; and detecting an approaching battery failure if, when the motor vehicle is at rest with the internal combustion engine being off, the battery voltage becomes lower than a predefined battery voltage threshold.

13. The motor vehicle battery wear monitoring system of claim 12, wherein the acquisition device is configured to produce the quantities indicative of the battery voltage by using: a first predefined sampling frequency within a time window that starts at an engine ignition command from a user associated with the motor vehicle and ends when the alternator starts operating; and a second predefined sampling frequency outside said time window, wherein the second predefined sampling frequency is lower than the first sampling frequency.

14. The motor vehicle battery wear monitoring system of claim 12, further comprising a notification device configured to: if an approaching battery failure is detected by the processing system, warn a user associated with the motor vehicle against the approaching battery failure detected; and if an anomalous current drain from the battery is detected by the processing system, warn the user against the detected anomalous current drain from the battery.

15. The motor vehicle battery wear monitoring system of claim 14, wherein: the processing system is a cloud computing system that is wirelessly and remotely connected to the acquisition device; and the notification device is an electronic communication device associated with the user and remotely connected to the cloud computing system via one or more wired and/or wireless networks.

16. The motor vehicle battery wear monitoring system of claim 14, wherein: the processing system is an electronic control unit installed on board the motor vehicle; and the notification device is a human-machine interface provided on board the motor vehicle.

17. The motor vehicle battery wear monitoring system of claim 11, further comprising a notification device configured, if an approaching battery failure is detected by the processing system, to warn a user associated with the motor vehicle against the approaching battery failure detected.

18. A method of monitoring battery wear for a motor vehicle that is equipped with an internal combustion engine, a battery for providing a battery voltage, an alternator, and a starter motor for starting up the internal combustion engine, the method comprising: acquiring, via an acquisition device installed on board the motor vehicle, quantities indicative of the battery voltage; for each start-up of the internal combustion engine: detecting a respective first voltage value that is a minimum value assumed by the battery voltage just after the starter motor has started operating to start up the internal combustion engine; detecting a respective second voltage value assumed by the battery voltage just after the internal combustion engine has been started up, the starter motor has stopped operating and the alternator has started operating; computing a respective voltage rise value indicative of a difference between the respective first and second voltage values; and detecting an approaching battery failure if the respective voltage rise value meets a predefined condition with respect to a predefined voltage rise threshold.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: detecting an anomalous current drain from the battery when the motor vehicle is at rest with the internal combustion engine being off; and detecting an approaching battery failure if, when the motor vehicle is at rest with the internal combustion engine being off, the battery voltage becomes lower than a predefined battery voltage threshold.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: if an approaching battery failure is detected, generating an output to warn a user associated with the motor vehicle against the detected approaching battery failure; and if an anomalous current drain from the battery is detected, generating an output to warn the user against the detected anomalous current drain from the battery.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the quantities indicative of the battery voltage are generated by using: a first predefined sampling frequency within a time window that starts at an engine ignition command from a user associated with the motor vehicle and ends when the alternator starts operating; and a second predefined sampling frequency outside said time window, wherein the second predefined sampling frequency is lower than the first sampling frequency.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising, if an approaching battery failure is detected, generating an output to warn a user associated with the motor vehicle against the detected approaching battery failure.

23. A cloud computing system configured to: receive quantities indicative of a battery voltage from an acquisition device installed on board a motor vehicle that is equipped with an internal combustion engine, a battery for providing the battery voltage, an alternator, and a starter motor for starting up the internal combustion engine; and perform a battery voltage monitoring based on the quantities indicative of the battery voltage to detect an approaching battery failure; wherein the battery voltage monitoring includes, for each start-up of the internal combustion engine: detecting a respective first voltage value that is a minimum value assumed by the battery voltage just after the starter motor has started operating to start up the internal combustion engine; detecting a respective second voltage value assumed by the battery voltage just after the internal combustion engine has been started up, the starter motor has stopped operating and the alternator has started operating; computing a respective voltage rise value indicative of a difference between the respective first and second voltage values; and detecting an approaching battery failure if the respective voltage rise value meets a predefined condition with respect to a predefined voltage rise threshold.

24. The cloud computing system of claim 23, wherein the battery voltage monitoring further includes: detecting an anomalous current drain from the battery when the motor vehicle is at rest with the internal combustion engine being off; and detecting an approaching battery failure if, when the motor vehicle is at rest with the internal combustion engine being off, the battery voltage becomes lower than a predefined battery voltage threshold.

25. The cloud computing system of claim 24, being further configured, if an approaching battery failure is detected by the processing system, to generate an output to warn a user associated with the motor vehicle against the detected approaching battery failure.

26. The cloud computing system of claim 24, being further configured, if an anomalous current drain from the battery is detected by the processing system, to generate an output to warn the user against the detected anomalous current drain from the battery.

27. An electronic control unit to be installed on board a motor vehicle that is equipped with an internal combustion engine, a battery for providing the battery voltage, an alternator, and a starter motor for starting up the internal combustion engine, the electronic control unit configured to: receive quantities indicative of a battery voltage from an acquisition device installed on board the motor vehicle; and perform a battery voltage monitoring based on the quantities indicative of the battery voltage to detect an approaching battery failure; wherein the battery voltage monitoring includes, for each start-up of the internal combustion engine: detecting a respective first voltage value that is a minimum value assumed by the battery voltage just after the starter motor has started operating to start up the internal combustion engine; detecting a respective second voltage value assumed by the battery voltage just after the internal combustion engine has been started up, the starter motor has stopped operating and the alternator has started operating; computing a respective voltage rise value indicative of a difference between the respective first and second voltage values; and detecting an approaching battery failure if the respective voltage rise value meets a predefined condition with respect to a predefined voltage rise threshold.

28. The electronic control unit of claim 27, wherein the battery voltage monitoring further includes: detecting an anomalous current drain from the battery when the motor vehicle is at rest with the internal combustion engine being off; and detecting an approaching battery failure if, when the motor vehicle is at rest with the internal combustion engine being off, the battery voltage becomes lower than a predefined battery voltage threshold.

29. The electronic control unit of claim 28, being further configured, if an approaching battery failure is detected by the processing system, to generate an output to warn a user associated with the motor vehicle against the detected approaching battery failure.

30. The electronic control unit of claim 28, being further configured, if an anomalous current drain from the battery is detected by the processing system, to generate an output to warn the user against the detected anomalous current drain from the battery.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] For a better understanding of the present invention, preferred embodiments, which are intended purely by way of non-limiting examples, will now be described with reference to the attached drawings (all not to scale), where:

[0045] FIG. 1 shows typical trend of motor vehicle battery voltage over time before and during vehicle engine cranking;

[0046] FIG. 2 shows an example of trend of voltage rise values related to engine cranking over years;

[0047] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a motor vehicle battery wear monitoring system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0048] FIGS. 4 and 5 schematically illustrate two specific preferred embodiments of the motor vehicle battery wear monitoring system of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0049] The following discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. Various modifications to the embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the present invention as claimed. Thence, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown and described, but is to be accorded the widest scope of protection consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein and defined in the appended claims.

[0050] The present invention stems from the observation of typical trend of motor vehicle battery voltage over time before and during vehicle engine cranking (or start-up).

[0051] In this connection, FIG. 1 shows the typical trend of a battery voltage V.sub.B during cranking of an ICE. Before the start-up, the battery voltage V.sub.B has a stable initial value V.sub.1 (typically equal to 12 V), since the battery substantially supplies no current. When the driver starts up the motor vehicle, the starter motor draws a high current so that the battery is temporarily unable to maintain the initial value V.sub.1 of the voltage V.sub.B, which drops very quickly to a minimum value V.sub.MIN (e.g., 10 V) and remains, more or less, at this minimum value V.sub.MIN for a transient period necessary for the starter motor to start up the ICE, after which the battery voltage V.sub.B rises very quickly up to a substantially steady value V.sub.2 (e.g., 14 V) that is normally higher than the initial value V.sub.1. In fact, after having started up the ICE, the starter motor stops operating and, hence, stops drawing current, while the alternator starts operating and, hence, charging the battery and powering onboard devices/systems.

[0052] Thence, the Applicant has had the smart idea of monitoring the voltage rise value ΔV.sub.R=V.sub.2−V.sub.MIN to detect an approaching failure of a motor vehicle battery. In fact, the Applicant has noticed that, with use, this voltage rise value ΔV.sub.R increases up to reach, after some years of operation of a motor vehicle battery, a maximum voltage rise value ΔV.sub.R-MAX which does not allow engine cranking any longer. An example of this behaviour of the voltage rise value ΔV.sub.R over years is shown in FIG. 2.

[0053] Therefore, it is possible to determine, based on experimental tests and/or computer simulations, the maximum voltage rise value ΔV.sub.R-MAX and, hence, a voltage rise threshold T.sub.ΔVR that is lower than said maximum voltage rise value ΔV.sub.R-MAX (conveniently, by a given safety tolerance value, such as a given safety tolerance percentage of said maximum voltage rise value ΔV.sub.R-MAX). Then, the reaching of said voltage rise threshold T.sub.ΔVR by the voltage rise value ΔV.sub.R may advantageously trigger a warning of an approaching battery failure.

[0054] Additionally, according to a further aspect of the present invention, the battery voltage V.sub.B is conveniently monitored over time also when the motor vehicle is at rest with the engine being off. In fact, in this way it is possible to: [0055] detect an anomalous current drain from the battery (e.g., due to the fact that the radio/lights has/have been left on), which fact could cause the battery to become unable to start the engine; and [0056] check whether the battery voltage V.sub.B (which, in case of engine being off, should have the aforesaid value V.sub.1) lowers over time, which fact could prevent the battery from managing to start up the engine.

[0057] In particular, by monitoring the battery voltage V.sub.B over time, it is possible to check whether, when the motor vehicle is at rest with the engine being off, the battery voltage V.sub.B becomes lower than a predefined battery voltage threshold T.sub.VB, which fact triggers an alert relating to an approaching battery failure.

[0058] For a better understanding of the present invention, FIG. 3 schematically illustrates (in particular, by means of a block diagram) a functional architecture of a motor vehicle battery wear monitoring system (denoted as a whole by 1) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] In particular, the motor vehicle battery wear monitoring system 1 includes: [0060] an acquisition device 11, which is [0061] installed on board a motor vehicle (not shown in FIG. 3—e.g., a scooter, a motorbike, a car, a van, a truck, etc.) fitted with an ICE, a battery, an alternator, and a starter motor for starting up the ICE (wherein the ICE, the battery, the alternator and the starter motor are not shown in FIG. 3), [0062] coupled to a vehicle bus 20 (e.g., based on Controller Area Network (CAN) bus standard) of said motor vehicle to receive/acquire/be supplied with a battery voltage V.sub.B (i.e., a voltage supplied by the battery of said motor vehicle), and [0063] configured to output quantities indicative of the battery voltage V.sub.B; and [0064] a processing device/system 12, which is connected, in a wired or wireless fashion, to the acquisition device 11 to receive therefrom the quantities indicative of the battery voltage V.sub.B, and which is programmed to [0065] compute, for each start-up of the ICE, based on the quantities indicative of the battery voltage V.sub.B, a voltage rise value ΔV.sub.R indicative of a difference between [0066] a minimum value V.sub.MIN of the battery voltage V.sub.B (i.e., a minimum value V.sub.MIN assumed by the battery voltage V.sub.B) just after the starter motor has started operating to start up the ICE, and [0067] a substantially steady value V.sub.2 of the battery voltage V.sub.B (i.e., a value V.sub.2 assumed by the battery voltage V.sub.B) just after the ICE has been started up, the starter motor has stopped operating and the alternator has started operating, and [0068] detect an approaching battery failure based on the computed voltage rise value ΔV.sub.R.

[0069] As far as the acquisition device 11 is concerned, it is important to note that its connection to the vehicle bus 20 to receive/acquire/be supplied with the battery voltage V.sub.B represents only an option to carry out the present invention. In fact, alternatively, the acquisition device 11 might be conveniently connected directly to the terminals of the battery of the motor vehicle, or to an electrical line directly connected to the battery, or to an onboard electrical socket (such as an onboard cigarette/cigar lighter receptacle/socket), or even to an On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) power line or connector, to be powered and to output the quantities indicative of the battery voltage V.sub.B.

[0070] Conveniently, the processing device/system 12 is configured to store a predefined voltage rise threshold T.sub.ΔVR, and is programmed to detect an approaching battery failure if the computed voltage rise value ΔV.sub.R meets a predefined condition with respect to the predefined voltage rise threshold T.sub.ΔVR.

[0071] Obviously, the voltage rise value ΔV.sub.R may be computed as V.sub.2−V.sub.MIN, or as |V.sub.MIN−V.sub.2|, or as V.sub.MIN−V.sub.2, wherein, since V.sub.2 is higher than V.sub.MIN, [0072] in the first and second cases (i.e., if ΔV.sub.R=V.sub.2−V.sub.MIN or if ΔV.sub.R=|V.sub.MIN−V.sub.2|), an approaching battery failure is detected if ΔV.sub.R=T.sub.ΔVR or if ΔV.sub.R>T.sub.ΔVR, whereas [0073] in the third case (i.e., if ΔV.sub.R=V.sub.MIN−V.sub.2), an approaching battery failure is detected if ΔV.sub.R=T.sub.ΔVR or if ΔV.sub.R<T.sub.ΔVR.

[0074] Conveniently, the acquisition device 11 is configured to produce the quantities indicative of the battery voltage V.sub.B by sampling the battery voltage V.sub.B with a predefined sampling frequency (e.g., equal to 100 Hz or higher) within a time window that starts at driver's engine ignition command and ends when the alternator starts operating. For example, the time window may have a 10-second time length. As far as the predefined sampling frequency is concerned, it is worth noting that said predefined sampling frequency is such that to enable accurately measuring rapid changes in the battery voltage V.sub.B during start-up of the ICE. Said predefined sampling frequency might depend on motor vehicle type. Anyway, generally speaking, the higher predefined sampling frequency, the better battery voltage change measuring.

[0075] Preferably, the processing device/system 12 is further programmed to monitor the battery voltage V.sub.B, based on the quantities indicative of said battery voltage V.sub.B, to detect an anomalous current drain from the battery and check whether the battery voltage V.sub.B lowers when the motor vehicle is at rest with the ICE being off.

[0076] More preferably, the processing device/system 12 is configured to store also a predefined battery voltage threshold T.sub.VB, and is programmed to detect an approaching battery failure if, when the motor vehicle is at rest with the ICE being off, the battery voltage V.sub.B becomes lower than the predefined battery voltage threshold T.sub.VB.

[0077] Conveniently, the acquisition device 11 is configured to produce the quantities indicative of the battery voltage V.sub.B by sampling the battery voltage V.sub.B with: [0078] a first predefined sampling frequency (e.g., equal to 100 Hz or higher) within a time window that starts when engine ignition is commanded by the driver and ends when the alternator starts operating; and [0079] a second predefined sampling frequency (e.g., equal to 1 Hz) outside said time window, wherein the second predefined sampling frequency is lower than the first sampling frequency.

[0080] As previously explained, the time window may have, for example, a 10-second time length.

[0081] Again with reference to FIG. 3, the motor vehicle battery wear monitoring system 1 further includes a notification device 13 configured to, if an approaching battery failure is detected by the processing device/system 12, warn a user associated with the motor vehicle (e.g., a driver and/or an owner thereof) against the approaching battery failure detected.

[0082] Preferably, the notification device 13 is further configured to, if an anomalous current drain from the battery is detected by the processing device/system 12, warn the user associated with the motor vehicle against the detected anomalous current drain from the battery.

[0083] FIGS. 4 and 5 schematically illustrate two specific preferred embodiments of the motor vehicle battery wear monitoring system 1.

[0084] In particular, with reference to FIG. 4, in a first specific preferred embodiment (denoted as a whole by 1A) of the motor vehicle battery wear monitoring system 1: [0085] the processing device/system 12 is implemented/carried out by means of a cloud computing system 12A that is wirelessly and remotely connected to the acquisition device 11 (e.g., via one or more mobile communications technologies, such as GSM, GPRS, EDGE, HSPA, UMTS, LTE, LTE Advanced and/or future 5th generation (or even beyond) wireless communications systems); and [0086] the notification device 13 is implemented/carried out by means of an electronic communication device 13A (such as a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, a desktop computer, a smart TV, a smartwatch, etc.), which is associated with (e.g., owned and/or used by) the user (in FIG. 4 denoted by 3) associated with the motor vehicle (in FIG. 4 denoted by 2), and which is remotely connected to the cloud computing system 12A via one or more wired and/or wireless networks.

[0087] Preferably, the cloud computing system 12A is programmed to, if it detects an approaching battery failure, send an approaching battery failure notification to the electronic communication device 13A that provides the user 3 with said approaching battery failure notification. For example, the notification device 13 may conveniently be a smartphone or tablet on which a software application (i.e., a so-called app) is installed, which app is configured to receive, from the cloud computing system 12A, a push notification indicating a detected approaching battery failure. Other types of approaching battery failure notification may be also used, such as SMS messages, email messages or, more in general, messages of text and/or audio and/or image and/or video and/or multimedia type(s). The same preferably applies also in case of detected anomalous current drain from the battery.

[0088] It is worth noting that the cloud computing system 12A may be advantageously used to provide many motor vehicles 2 and, hence, many users 3 with a motor vehicle battery wear monitoring service.

[0089] Instead, with reference to FIG. 5, in a second specific preferred embodiment (denoted as a whole by 1B) of the motor vehicle battery wear monitoring system 1: [0090] the processing device/system 12 is implemented/carried out by means of an (automotive) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) 12B installed on board the motor vehicle 2; and [0091] the notification device 13 is implemented/carried out by means of a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) 13B provided on board the motor vehicle 2.

[0092] In said second specific preferred embodiment 1B, the ECU 12B may conveniently warn a driver of the motor vehicle 2 against a detected approaching battery failure via a graphical and/or sound alert produced by the HMI 13B (which, thence, may conveniently comprise a screen and/or a graphical/sound warning indicator). The same preferably applies also in case of detected anomalous current drain from the battery.

[0093] The ECU 12B may conveniently be an ECU specifically dedicated to battery wear monitoring, or an ECU dedicated to several tasks including also battery wear monitoring.

[0094] Similarly, the HMI 13B may conveniently be a HMI specifically dedicated to battery wear monitoring, or a HMI dedicated to several tasks including also battery wear monitoring (e.g., a HMI of an onboard infotelematics and/or driver assistance system).

[0095] In view of the foregoing, a motor vehicle battery wear monitoring method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a battery wear monitoring step that comprises providing and operating the motor vehicle battery wear monitoring system 1 to detect approaching battery failure events (and, preferably, also anomalous current drain events from the battery).

[0096] Conveniently, the motor vehicle battery wear monitoring method further includes a preliminary step that comprises carrying out experimental tests and/or computer simulations to determine the predefined voltage rise threshold T.sub.ΔVR (and, preferably, also the predefined battery voltage threshold T.sub.VB) used by the processing device/system 12, in the battery wear monitoring step, to detect approaching battery failure events.

[0097] Conveniently, in the preliminary step, a respective voltage rise threshold T.sub.ΔVR (and, preferably, also a respective battery voltage threshold T.sub.VB) may be determined for each type/model of battery. Alternatively, a respective voltage rise threshold T.sub.ΔVR (and, preferably, also a respective battery voltage threshold T.sub.VB) may be determined for a specific type/model of battery installed on board a specific model/type of motor vehicle. Otherwise, a single voltage rise threshold T.sub.ΔVR (and, preferably, also a single battery voltage threshold T.sub.VB) may be determined for any type/model of battery installed on board any motor vehicle.

[0098] From the foregoing, the technical advantages and the innovative features of the present invention are immediately clear to those skilled in the art.

[0099] In particular, it is important to point out that the present invention allows detecting and, hence, predicting an approaching failure of a motor vehicle battery (so that appropriate servicing, such as battery replacement, may be carried out in time) in a very efficient and reliable way by means of a simple system architecture and a simple methodology. In this respect, it is worth noting that the present invention, contrary to the motor vehicle battery diagnosing method according to EP 1 396 729 B1, does not require the use of a voltage sensor connected to the terminals of the battery to sense, at each engine start-up, a plurality of battery-voltage-related parameters, nor the knowledge of the air and water temperatures, nor the use of several databases.

[0100] Additionally, the present invention preferably allows detecting also anomalous current drain events from the battery when the motor vehicle is at rest with the ICE being off.

[0101] In conclusion, it is clear that numerous modifications and variants can be made to the present invention, all falling within the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.