text:
Apparatus and method for testing and charging a power source with ethernet
1. A charging apparatus, comprising:
a power source charger having a module port; and
a communication module received in the module port, wherein the communication module communicates with a remote device.
A method and apparatus that allows a battery charger/tester to transmit and receive information from a remote location. Information, such as the result of the charge and testing of the battery, can be relayed via a wire or wirelessly to a remote device, such as a server for storage. Additionally, information such as firmware updates can be relayed to the battery charger/tester for upload.
BATTERY TESTER FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE
Midtronics Incorporated
Automotive vehicle battery test system
Battery tester with promotion feature
Interstate Battery Systems Of America Incorporated, Midtronics Incorporated
Electronic battery test based upon battery requirements
In-vehicle battery monitor
Battery maintenance tool with probe light
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING CELL DETERIORATION IN AN ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL OR BATTERY
Keith S Champlin
AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE
Kevin I. Bertness
Battery tester with promotion feature to promote use of the battery tester by providing the user with codes having redeemable value
Energy management system for automotive vehicle
Wireless battery tester with information encryption means
Electronic battery tester with vehicle type input
SCAN TOOL FOR ELECTRONIC BATTERY TESTER
Electronic battery tester with databus
Interstate Battery Systems Of America Incorporated
Kevin I. Bertness, Stephen J. Mcshane, Michael E. Troy, Dennis V. Brown, William G. Sampson
Battery tester that calculates its own reference values
Electric vehicle communication interface
Tesla Inc.
Tesla Motors Incorporated
Alternator tester
Self-Testing, Monitoring and Diagnostics in Grouped Circuitry Modules
Electro Scientific Industries Incorporated
Wireless battery monitor
Franklin Grid Solutions LLC
Theft prevention device for automotive vehicle service centers
Battery run down indicator
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING A PARAMETER OF A VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Battery charger with booster pack
Centralized data storage of condition of a storage battery at its point of sale
Interstate Battery Systems International Incorporated
Electronic battery tester
SIMPLIFICATION OF INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
INTEGRATED TAG READER AND ENVIRONMENT SENSOR
SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY GATHERING BATTERY INFORMATION
Apparatus and method for simulating a battery tester with a fixed resistance load
Replaceable clamp for electronic battery tester
Battery maintenance device having databus connection
STORAGE BATTERY AND BATTERY TESTER
Clamp for Electrically Coupling to a Battery Contact
Shunt connection to a PCB of an energy management system employed in an automotive vehicle
Query based electronic battery tester
Battery testers with secondary functionality
Electronic battery tester having a user interface to configure a printer
Broad-band low-inductance cables for making Kelvin connections to electrochemical cells and batteries
Kevin Bertness, Keith Champlin
Kevin Bertness
Alan Melton, Kevin Bertness
Electronic battery tester with relative test output
Cable for electronic battery tester
Method and apparatus for auditing a battery test
Electronic battery tester cable
Electronic battery tester with automotive scan tool communication
Alternator tester with encoded output
Electronic battery tester with data bus for removable module
Electronic battery tester with network communication
Wireless battery tester/charger
System for automatically gathering battery information for use during battery testing/charging
Centrally monitored sales of storage batteries
Wilhelmus H.J. Koster, Kevin I. Bertness, Stephen J. Mcshane
Kevin I. Bertness, Vonderhaar J. David
Electronic battery tester or charger with databus connection
Daytime running light control using an intelligent power management system
Kevin I. Bertness, Krzysztof Jeziorczak
Automotive battery charging system tester
Current measuring circuit suited for batteries
Method and apparatus for testing cells and batteries embedded in series/parallel systems
CELLULAR PHONE CHARGER WITH DATA BACK-UP CAPABILITIES
Spartak Buniatyan
Battery pack maintenance for electric vehicles
Electronic battery tester mounted in a vehicle
Electronic battery tester with battery age input
Electronic battery tester for testing storage battery
Electronic storage battery diagnostic system
Current clamp with jaw closure detection
Battery testing system and method
Battery maintenance device with thermal buffer
Monitor for front terminal batteries
Suppressing HF cable oscillations during dynamic measurements of cells and batteries
Battery clamp with endoskeleton design
Kelvin connector adapter for storage battery
Hybrid and electric vehicle battery pack maintenance device
Cable connector for electronic battery tester
Battery pack tester
Automotive maintenance system
Battery clamp
Calibration and programming of in-vehicle battery sensors
Battery tester with databus
Defibrillator with wireless communications
Koninklijke Philips N.V.
Location-based firearm discharge prevention
Automatic battery recharging station for AGVs
Advanced Micro Devices SDN Berhad
Automatic battery detection system and method for detecting a rechargeable battery with low remaining charge
On-line battery management and monitoring system and method
AIMS SYSTEMS INC.
Electronic battery testing device and method for testing batteries
STAT ENGINEERING COMPANY L.L.C.
Smart battery with maintenance and testing functions
Physio-Control Incorporated
Medtronic Physio-Control Manufacturing Corp.
Battery management apparatus for portable electronic devices
Zoll Medical Corporation
ZOLL Lifecor Corp.
Battery discriminating system for charging a battery of a mobile terminal
Symbol Technologies LLC
Telxon Corporation
Battery analyzer/conditioner system and method of using same
Intelligent Technologies Corporation
HM Electronics Incorporated
Apparatus and method for step-charging batteries to optimize charge acceptance
GNB BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Ambulatory medication delivery system
Barry W. Hultman
Method and apparatus for charging and testing batteries
Alliedsignal Inc.
Automotive battery test apparatus
SPX Development Corporation
Bear Automotive Service Equipment Company
View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
2. The charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source charger is also a tester.
3. The charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication module is an ethernet module.
4. The charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication module is a wireless ethernet module.
5. The charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remote device can be selected from a group consisting of a network server, a printer, a personal computer, a workstation, a file server, a print server, a fax machine, a phone, a pager, an email communication device, a personal digital assistant, a display, other communication device and a combination thereof.
6. The charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication module communicates by receiving information from or by transmitting information to the remote device.
7. The charging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising of a controller in communication with the communication module.
8. A method of communication for a charging apparatus, comprising:
communicating between a controller of the charging apparatus and a communication module; and
communicating between the communication module and a remote device.
View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
9. The method of communication of claim 8, wherein communicating is transmitting and receiving information between the respective devices.
10. The method of communication of claim 8, wherein the charging apparatus can further comprises a module port that receives the communication module.
11. The method of communication of claim 8, wherein the communication module is an ethernet module.
12. The method of communication of claim 8, wherein the communication module is a wireless ethernet module.
13. The method of communication of claim 8, wherein the remote device can be selected from a group consisting of a network server, a printer, a personal computer, a workstation, a file server, a print server, a fax machine, a phone, a pager, an email communication device, a personal digital assistant, a display, other communication device and a combination thereof.
14. The method of communication of claim 8, wherein the controller is a FPGA and the charging apparatus further comprises a tester.
15. The method of communication of claim 8, wherein the communication module can transmit information selected from a group consisting of temperature data, result of charging/testing, warranty information, battery type, make and mode, data from previous charging/testing, firmware, diagnostic, operating parameters, warnings, maintenance information, other data, and a combination thereof.
16. A communication system for a charging apparatus, comprising:
a power source charger means having a module receiving means; and
a first communication means received in the receiving means and can communicate with a remote second communication means.
View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
17. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the power source charger means further includes a power source testing means.
18. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the first communication means is an ethernet means.
19. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the first communication means is a wireless ethernet means.
20. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the remote second communication means can be selected from a group consisting of a network server means, a printer means, a personal computer means, a workstation means, a file server means, a print server means, a fax machine means, a phone means, a pager means, an email communication device means, a personal digital assistant means, a display means, other communication device means and a combination thereof.
21. A charger with a notification system, comprising:
a controller provided with a power source charger for monitoring at least one condition;
a communication module that relays the at least one condition; and
a display for notifying an operator, wherein the controller, the communication module, and the display are in communication with each other.
View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
22. The charger system of claim 21, wherein the controller monitors the at least one condition and notifies the user of said condition.
23. The charger system of claim 21, wherein the controller monitors the at least one condition of the power source and notifies the user of said condition.
24. The charger system of claim 21, wherein the display can be remotely located.
25. The charger system of claim 21, wherein notifying is done visually.
26. The charger system of claim 21, wherein notifying is done audibly.
27. The charger system of claim 21, wherein notifying is done tactilely.
28. The charger system of claim 21, wherein the at least one condition can be the temperature of the power source during charging.
29. The charger system of claim 21, where in the at least one condition can be the status of the battery during charging.
30. The charger system of claim 21, wherein the at least one condition can be the status of the battery during testing.
[0001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a power source charger and tester. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method to allow a battery charger/tester to communicate with a remote device through a communication device, such as an Ethernet communication port.
[0002] Rechargeable batteries are an important source of clean portable power in a wide variety of electrical applications, including automobiles, boats and electric vehicles. Lead-acid batteries are one form of rechargeable battery that are commonly used to start engines, propel electric vehicles, and to act as a source of back-up power when an external supply of electricity is interrupted. While not particularly energy efficient, due to the weight of lead in comparison to other metals, the technology of lead-acid batteries is mature. As a result, the batteries are cheap, reliable, and readily produced and thus, continue to constitute a substantial portion of the rechargeable batteries being produced today.
[0003] The ability of lead-acid batteries to deliver large amounts of electrical power is well known, particularly when associated with the starting and powering of motor vehicles. Because the lead-acid batteries can be depleted of power overtime, such as when they are not in use over a period of time, or when a light in a car is left on for an extended period of time, they need to be recharged and tested. A number of battery testers and chargers have thus been developed to charge and test the lead-acid battery.
[0004] Most conventional battery charger/tester are equipped to provide multiple charging rates for charging different size batteries. The multiple charging rates are achieved by varying the charging voltage at the battery terminals, generally by changing the transformer primary/secondary winding ratio. An operator manually selects the rate at which the battery should be charged and also the duration of the charge cycle if the charger is equipped with a timer function.
[0005] Many defects found in lead-acid batteries and other types of batteries are the result of poor recharging control in conventional chargers. For example, an operator may undercharge or overcharge the battery at a very high rate resulting in the deterioration of the battery. Overcharging a battery wastes energy, reduces the life of the battery, and may permanently damage the battery. Additionally, conventional battery chargers can also include testers with the appropriate gauges in order to determine the current state of charge in a battery, how long and at what rate a particular battery should be charged, whether it is safe to charge the battery, and whether the battery is capable of accepting a charge.
[0006] Once the battery charger/tester is in operation, the operator must return to check the status of the battery to ensure that the battery is charging properly. Because conventional battery requires actual visual inspection of the gauges, the operator can waste valuable time and money to inspect all the batteries that are currently being charged instead of generating money by working on other projects.
[0007] During the charging period of the battery, temperature of the battery is an indicator as to how successfully the battery is accepting the charge. Different batteries accept the charge in a number of different ways. For example, some batteries heat up beyond a normal range. Anything beyond this normal range is an indication that the battery is not accepting the charge in an efficient manner.
[0008] There is a need for a battery charger/tester to include a temperature sensing device, which monitors the device throughout the entire processing charging and testing process. There is a further need to provide the collected temperature data back to the charger to enable it to adjust the charge/test rate of the battery based upon this data. There is still a further need to relay information to and from the battery charger/tester so that an operator can assess the status of the battery and conduct other functions.
[0009] Embodiments of the present invention generally provide for a battery charger/tester that can communicate with another device. The device can be remotely located from the battery charger/tester.
[0010] In one embodiment of the invention, a charging apparatus can include a power source charger having a module port, and a communication module received in the module port, wherein the communication module communicates with a remote device. The power source charger can also a tester. The communication module can be an ethernet module or a wireless ethernet module. Additionally, the remote device can be a network server, a printer, a personal computer, a workstation, a file server, a print server, a fax machine, a phone, a pager, an email communication device, a personal digital assistant, a display, other communication device and a combination thereof. The communication module can communicate by receiving information from or by transmitting information to the remote device. The charging apparatus can further include a controller in communication with the communication module.
[0011] In one embodiment a method of communication for a charging apparatus can include communicating between a controller of the charging apparatus and a communication module, and communicating between the communication module and a remote device. Communicating may be transmitting and receiving information between the respective devices. The charging apparatus can further include a module port that may receive the communication module, which can be an ethernet module or a wireless ethernet module. The remote device can be a network server, a printer, a personal computer, a workstation, a file server, a print server, a fax machine, a phone, a pager, an email communication device, a personal digital assistant, a display, other communication device and a combination thereof. Additionally, the controller can be a FPGA and the charging apparatus can further include a tester. The communication module can transmit information such as temperature data, result of charging/testing, warranty information, battery type, make and mode, data from previous charging/testing, firmware, diagnostic, operating parameters, warnings, maintenance information, other data, and a combination thereof
[0012] In one embodiment, a communication system for a charging apparatus can include a power source charger means having a module receiving means, and a first communication means received in the receiving means and can communicate with a remote second communication means. The power source charger means can further include a power source testing means. The first communication means can be an ethernet means or a wireless ethernet means. Additionally, the remote second communication means can be a network server means, a printer means, a personal computer means, a workstation means, a file server means, a print server means, a fax machine means, a phone means, a pager means, an email communication device means, a personal digital assistant means, a display means, other communication device means and a combination thereof.
[0013] In another embodiment, a charger with a notification system can include a controller provided with a power source charger for monitoring at least one condition, a communication module that relays the at least one condition, and a display for notifying an operator, wherein the controller, the communication module, and the display are in communication with each other. The controller may monitor the at least one condition and may notify the user of said condition. Further, the controller may monitor the at least one condition of the power source and may notify the user of said condition. The display can be remotely located and notifying can be done visually, audibly, tactilely or a combination thereof. The at least one condition can be the temperature of the power source during charging or can be the status of the battery during charging or can be the status of the battery during testing.
[0014] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
[0015] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0016] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0017]FIG. 1 is a hardware block diagram of an embodiment of the current invention.
[0018]FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram.
[0019]FIG. 3 is a diagram of the process for applying a load to an open circuit in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0020]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the process for testing and charging partially charged batteries in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0021]FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the process for testing and charging discharged batteries in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0022]FIG. 6 is a front view of a display and keyboard of one embodiment of the current invention.
[0023] The present invention relates a battery charger/tester having an information relay device, such as an ethernet connection, that can relay information to and from the battery charger/tester. The information relay device can relay information via a wired or a wireless connection and can communicate with other devices, such as a network server, a printer, a computer or another battery charger.
[0024]FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the current invention. The battery charger/tester 100 ("charger 100") can include a power source 110 that provides a 120V (volts) AC (alternating current) to the charger 100. A circuit breaker 112 is provided to prevent damage that can be caused by a sudden power surge or a short in the system. A power switch 114 is linked to the power source 110 to enable the operator to turn the charger 100 on or off.
[0025] A power transformer 116 is provided to step down both the voltage and current to a level that enables the charger 100 to charge and/or test a battery. In a preferred embodiment, the power source 110 supplies the charger 100 with 120V AC. The power transformer 116 reduces the 120V AC to approximately 20-25V AC, which is optimal for charging the battery. Two lines 118, 120 from the power transformer 116 are inputted into a rectifier 124 and a third line 122 is directly coupled to the negative clamp 238. The lines 118, 120 pulse alternately through a full-wave rectifier 124 at a cycle of 60 Hz. The diodes of the rectifier 124 convert the positive AC voltage to DC (direct current) power supply. The third line 122 provides a return path for the negative voltage of outputs 118, 120 to return to the transformer 116.
[0026] A silicon control rectifier (SCR) 126 or thyristor is included in the preferred embodiment to regulate the output from the rectifier 124 to the battery. Exiting from the rectifier 124 is a pulsed positive sine waveform with peak voltages and current. The sine waveform results in varying voltages and current being outputted from the rectifier 124. The SCR 126 essentially operates as a switch allowing certain voltages and/or current to pass to the battery.
[0027] The operator can choose either a voltage or a current or both to charge the battery. This selection is called a set-point. This set-point is then transmitted to a FPGA 142 (field programmable gate array, discussed below), which then determines at which point in the sine wave to allow voltage to pass through to the battery. This point in the sine wave is related to the set-point as chosen by the operator. The set-point, depending on the selection of the operator, is situated on the sine wave by starting from the end of the sine wave and working in a rearward direction. Once the set-point is located on the sine wave, the voltage underneath the sine wave is allowed to pass through. Therefore, the set-point voltage is a mean value of a range of voltages.
[0028] For example, if the operator decides to charge the battery at 12V, this set-point of 12V is entered into the charger 100. The set-point is transmitted to the FPGA 142, which then determines at which point in the sine wave to allow the voltage or current to pass through to the battery. The 12V set-point in this example permits voltages larger than and less than 12V to pass through to the battery. The mean of the voltages distributed to the battery will approximately equal twelve volts.
[0029] The SCR 126 operates essentially as a switch and allows current or voltage to pass to the battery at a set-point fixed by the operator. The SCR 126 can operate based on either voltage or current or a combination thereof. The SCR 126 is normally switched off until it receives a signal from an I/O control (input/output) 134. The voltage or current exiting from the rectifier 124 is transmitted to an ADC (analog-to-digital converter) 136. The ADC 136 in turn transmits the voltage or current information to a linked CPLD (computer programmable logic device) 140, which is linked to the FPGA 142. The FPGA 142, simulating as a processor, determines the operability of the SCR 126 by comparing the previously programmed set-point value with the output value of the rectifier 124. If the output value of the rectifier 124 is equal or greater than the set-point of the SCR 126, then the FPGA 142 instructs the I/O control 134 to send a signal to the SCR 126 to allow the output voltage or current to pass to the battery. For example, if the operator desires a minimum current of 20 amps, the SCR 126 will allow a current equal to or exceeding 20 amps to pass to the battery.
[0030] A current sensor 128 is provided at the output of the SCR 126 to monitor or sense the current exiting from the rectifier 124 and the SCR 126. The current from the rectifier 124 is relayed to the ADC 136, which like the voltage is fed to the CPLD 140 and then onto the FPGA 142. The FPGA 142 verifies if the current from the rectifier 124 is equal to or exceeds the current set-point value. The output from the current sensor 128 is connected to the battery clamps 238, 240.
[0031]FIG. 2 illustrates a battery tester charger 200 according to one embodiment of the invention. A battery 202 having a positive terminal 234 and a negative terminal 236 may be attached to the battery tester charger 200 via a positive clamp 240 and a negative clamp 238 located at an end of the respective positive and negative cables 230, 232.
[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the battery tester charger 200 can determine whether the connections between the battery 202 and the clamps 238, 240 are acceptable. A connection test may be performed at either the positive 240 or the negative clamp 238 connection by applying the connection test to the positive components 230, 240 or negative components 232, 238 of the battery tester charger 200. Of course, applying the connection test to both components will test both the positive and negative connections. The connection test may be performed by comparing the voltage in the battery cables 230, 232 upstream from the connection of the clamps 238, 240, and the voltage at the connection of the clamps 238, 240. Voltage loss due to cable resistances 208, 210 may be considered and subtracted from the difference in voltage at the clamps 238, 240 and the upstream position. Additional differences in voltage between the upstream position and the connections of the clamps 238, 240 may be caused by clamp connection resistances 206, 204.
[0033] The testing of the battery connections can be applied to either the positive or negative components to test the connections individually or can be applied to both components to test both connections. The external battery cables 230, 232 are attached to the respective terminals 234, 236 of the battery 202 via the respective clamps 240, 238. Standard clamps, such as alligator clamps, may be used.
[0034] A portion 237, 239 (FIG. 1) of each clamp 238, 240 is isolated from the remainder of the clamps 238, 240 and the associated cables 232, 230. Portions 237, 239 can be isolated from the remainder of the clamps 238, 240 by a non-conductive element. The cables 232, 230 can carry a large current, either to the battery 202 when charging or from the battery when the battery is in use. The isolated portions 237, 239 may be connected to another device to determine the voltage at terminals 234, 236. For example, the isolated portions 237, 239 may be attached to high impedance wires 226, 224 to differential operational amplifiers 214, 212 (opp. amp) as shown in FIG. 2. Alternately, in some optional embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, the high impedance wires 226, 224 may be attached to the ADC 136.
[0035] The battery connections may be tested to determine the resistances 206, 204 associated with the connection when the battery 202 is charged by a current source 110 or exposed to a heavy load 144. Whether the battery 202 is charging or in use, large current will flow through the cables 230, 232 and clamps 240, 238. A sensor 220, 222 in the battery charger tester 200 senses the voltage upstream from the clamps 240, 238 and the battery terminals 234, 236 connections and inputs a signal representative of the voltage to opp amps 214, 212 or optionally to the ADC 136. For example, in some optional embodiments of the invention, the voltage may be sensed upstream from the current sense 128 in both cables 230, 232 as shown in FIG. 1. As mentioned above, voltage is sensed in the isolated portions 237, 239 and compared to the voltage sensed upstream. The cable resistances 208, 210 are known, and the portion of the voltage difference between the voltage in the isolated portions 237, 239 and the voltage at the upstream position is accounted for by the cable resistances 208, 210. The remaining voltage difference between the voltage measured at the isolated portions 237, 239 and the upstream positions is due to the resistances in the clamps 240, 238 and terminal 234, 236 connections. In optional embodiments of the invention, cable resistances 208, 210 and the associated difference in voltage due to cable resistances 208, 210, may be neglected or approximated.
[0036] The resistance of the connections 206, 204 can be analyzed using Ohm'"'"'s law, V=IR, where V stands for voltage, I stands for current, and R stands for resistance. Simple algebraic manipulation yields R=V/I. The unknown connection resistances 206, 204 associated with the connection can be expressed in terms of known parameters of current and voltage, thus the resistances 206, 204 can be determined.
[0037] Once the connection resistances 206, 204 are determined, each connection can be evaluated to determine whether the connection is acceptable or not. In one embodiment, a method is provided and compares the connection resistances 206, 204 against a pre-determined acceptable and non-acceptable range of connection resistance. Based on the comparison, the operator can determine whether the connection is acceptable or not.
[0038] In an alternative embodiment, a method is provided to compare the voltage differences between the isolated portions 237, 239 and the voltage in the cables 230, 232 at the upstream positions. If the difference in voltage between the two locations is negligible, then the connection is likely to be acceptable. Optionally, the difference in voltage due to cable resistances 208, 210 may be subtracted from the voltage difference or otherwise accounted for in determining whether the connections are acceptable or not. If the voltage difference is higher than a predetermined maximum amount, then the connection between the battery terminal 234 and the clamp 140 will likely be unacceptable.
[0039] If the connection is not acceptable, the battery tester charger 200 can alert or notify the operator. In some embodiments, the battery tester charger 200 may alert the operator as to which connection (positive or negative) is unacceptable or whether both are unacceptable. In some embodiments, the battery tester charger 200 may alert the operator that the connection(s) are acceptable. The operator may be alerted by a variety of ways such as, an indicator light, a message on a display screen, an audible signal, or other ways that are disclosed herein. Because the operator is warned that a connection is not acceptable, the operator may take corrective measures to improve the connection, such as cleaning or replacing the terminals 234, 236 or clamps 240, 238.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 1, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, a Sabre Battery Test procedure is used as a heavy load test to analyze the condition of the battery. The heavy load test is applied with a heavy load 144 that includes a solenoid switch 146. The solenoid switch 146 is operated by the FPGA 142 through the I/O control 134 via the CPLD 140. The solenoid switch 146 in the heavy load test ensures that a high load amperage test can be efficiently and safely transmitted to the battery. One detraction in incorporating the solenoid switch 146 with the heavy load test is that it is not possible to make an exact determination of when the heavy load 144 is started or ended. This results from the mechanics of the solenoid switch 146 in that when the switch is turned off or on, it does not occur immediately. Therefore, there is a delay that fluctuates due to the mechanics of the solenoid switch 146 which makes exact testing and charging more difficult. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the solenoid 146 can be replaced with electronic switching devices, such as transistors in an alternate embodiment. However, cost considerations drive the design of the preferred embodiment and a mechanical solenoid switch 146 was selected.
[0041] The preferred embodiment analyzes the charge-state of a given type of battery, determines whether the battery is defective and, if not, charges the battery at its most optimum charge rate up to its maximum allowed charging volts. Furthermore, the preferred embodiment executes its analysis, determination, and charging in the safest and most optimal time possible.
[0042] In operation, the heavy load test is shown in the Sabre Test Timing Diagram 300 in FIG. 3. The Sabre Battery Test requires a first applied load 302 to be placed on an open circuit 304. A battery voltage reading ("LVA15") 306 can be taken at the end of the first applied load 302, which is approximately fifteen seconds after the first load 302 is applied and released. A bounce back voltage measurement ("Rv") 308 is taken approximately twenty seconds after the first applied load 302 is turned off. A second applied load 310 is then placed on the open circuit 304 and maintained for approximately fifteen seconds. Another battery voltage reading ("LVB15") 312 is taken at the end of the second applied load 310.
[0043] Heavy load tests are highly accurate for testing charged batteries. If the battery to be tested is partially charged, then the test accurately determines whether the battery is defective. A person skilled in the art will recognize that any heavy load test procedure that is suitable for testing the condition of the battery may be used. Additionally, load as used herein can also be a charge.
[0044] If the condition of the battery is such that the battery can be recharged, a preferred embodiment of the invention can calculate a set time to charge the battery. If LVB15 312 is less than 4.0 V, the set time, i.e., maximum charge time, equals approximately forty-five minutes. If LVB15 312 is equal to or greater than 4.0 V, the set charge time is calculated as follows:
Set time=(12.5−Vss)*56.25 minutes
[0045] Where,
[0046] Vss=bounce back voltage ("Rv") if 11.7V<=Rv<=12.5V
[0047] Vss=12.5V if Rv>12.5 V
[0048] Vss=11.7V if Rv<11.7 V
[0049] By applying the heavy load test and monitoring the bounce back voltage, the charger 100 calculates the state of charge of the battery and the set time required to charge the battery while maintaining an optimum charge rate. The charger 100 controls the optimum charge rate by precisely controlling the charging voltage throughout the charging cycle.
[0050] If the battery condition can be charged, as determined by the heavy load test (e.g., Sabre Battery Test), further testing and charging will be performed. If the battery condition is determined to be faulty, then testing is terminated and the battery can be discarded. Therefore, the operator does not waste time and effort to charge the defective battery.
[0051] If the battery condition is determined to be functional, additional testing and charging are performed, as depicted in FIG. 4. The first step in this testing is to determine whether the bounce back voltage is greater than 12.6 volts 400. The bounce back voltage is a measure of the state of battery charge. If the bounce back voltage is determined to be greater than 12.6 volts, the battery tester/charger will perform a micro-load test 162. If the bounce back voltage is equal to or less than 12.6 volts, the charger 100 is activated 402 to charge the battery for a set time 404.
[0052] While the battery is being charged 402, the current is monitored. If the charge is greater than five amps 406, the charger 100 continues to charge for the set time. If the current is less than or equal to five amps 406, the charger 100 continues to charge the battery for a minimum of at least five minutes 408.
[0053] Once the set time or five minutes of charging 408 is reached, the charger 100 turns off 410. A heavy load test is applied to the battery for at least ten seconds followed by the heavy load 144 being removed for at least twenty seconds 410. The previous application and removal of the heavy load 144 is important to condition the battery by stabilizing the battery voltage. Another heavy load test 412 is then performed on the battery.
[0054] The charger 100 then determines from the heavy load test 412 if the battery is good 414. If the battery is determined to be faulty or bad 416, the testing is terminated and the battery is discarded. If the battery is determined to be functional 414, or if the bounce back voltage is greater than 12.6 volts, the cold cranking amps ("CCA") are measured using a micro-load test 418.
[0055] In the preferred embodiment, the micro-load test 418 is performed after the battery is determined to be functional by the heavy load test 412. This micro load test 418 is performed by applying a smaller load (approximately twenty to sixty amps) for a preset duration (approximately 250 milliseconds to one second) and measuring the CCA 420 after the micro-load 162 is removed. If the measured CCA is greater than 70% of the rated CCA 420 of the battery, then the battery is good and the charge is completed 424, then the cycle ends at 426. If the measured CCA is less than 70% of the rated CCA 420 of the battery, then it is bad battery 422 and will be discarded. It should be recognized that other micro-load tests could be substituted for the micro-load test 418 described above. For example, a dual micro-load test can also be used.
[0056] If the condition of the battery can not be determined from the heavy load test 412, the charger 100 will charge the battery and retest it in accordance with the method depicted in FIG. 5. For re-testing, the charger 100 is activated 500. The charger 100 charges the battery for approximately one-minute 502. The battery voltage is read after one-minute 504. If the battery voltage 504 is less than one volt after one minute then the battery is bad. The charger 100 is turned off and the battery will be discarded 506.
[0057] If the voltage 504 is equal to or exceeds one volt after one minute of charging, the charger 100 will continue to charge for approximately nine minutes 508. During the nine minutes of charging, the charging current is recorded or read at one-minute intervals to determine if the charging current exceeds three amps 510. If the charging current is equal to or does not exceed three amps, the battery is determined to be bad 512 and the charger 100 is turned off and the battery is discarded.
[0058] If the charger'"'"'s 100 current does exceed three amps, the charger will continue to charge for the set period of time as calculated above 514. The charger 100 will apply the heavy load 144 to the battery for a period of ten seconds to condition the battery and then removed the heavy load for a period of twenty seconds 516 for the battery voltage to stabilize. The heavy load test (e.g., Sabre Battery Test) is then performed 518.
[0059] The charger 100 then determines whether the battery is good 520. If the battery is determined to be bad 522, it is discarded. If the battery is determined to be functional 520, the CCA is then measured using the micro-load test 524. The measured CCA is then compared to the rated CCA for the battery 526. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, if the measured CCA is less than or equal to approximately seventy percent of the rated CCA for the battery 526, then the battery is determined to be bad 528 and is discarded. If the measured CCA 526 is greater than approximately seventy percent of the CCA, then the battery is determined to be good 530 and the charge is completed 532.
[0060] Referring to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment contains an infrared temperature sensor 164, which aids in monitoring both the charger 100 and the battery being charged. The infrared temperature sensor 164 ensures that both the battery and charger 100 are maintained are safe levels. In the preferred embodiment, the infrared sensor 164 is contained within a housing. The housing is placed over the charging battery for safety reasons especially in the instance that, while charging, the battery unexpectedly explodes. The housing aids in containing the surrounding areas from the contaminants of the exploded battery.
[0061] The infrared temperature sensor 164 is placed within the housing to monitor the temperature of a charging battery. While charging a battery, heat is discharged or dissipated from the battery. However, excessive heat is an indication that the battery is being charged at an excessive rate. In the preferred embodiment, the infrared temperature sensor 164 is linked to the ADC 136, essentially an input to the ADC 136, which relays the information to the CPLD 140, which then relays it to the FPGA 142. The FPGA 142, with the help of the infrared temperature sensor 164, can monitor the temperature of the battery and relay the information, including any problems to the operator. The infrared temperature sensor 164 is aimed at the battery to ensure that the temperature of the battery is being monitored throughout the charging process. For example, if the battery being charged contains a short, the battery will heat excessively in a short period of time. The feedback from the infrared temperature sensor 164 can be used to alert the operator of the problem so that the operator can take the appropriate action.
[0062] A gel battery can heat excessively during charging and therefore, the charging current is applied in relation to the heat detected. For this type of battery, a temperature is fixed after which point the charging current is reduced. By monitoring the temperature and adjusting the current in view thereof, the charging time is reduced. The temperature and charging current are proportionally related in specific types of batteries (e.g. gel). Thus, by monitoring the temperature and the charging current, the gel battery or other batteries can be charged efficiently, and explosions can be prevented during charging.
[0063] In another embodiment, the infrared temperature sensor 164 can be aimed at the charger 100 only or in combination with the battery. By monitoring the charger 100, any excessive temperature generated by the charger can be relayed to the operator, thus appropriate actions can be taken to avoid overheating and damaging the charger.
[0064] One of ordinary skill in the art recognizes that the temperature sensor 164 can be located in a number of different locations, either located in the charger 100 or linked to the charger 100. The location of the infrared temperature sensor 164 is not limited to a housing. Additionally, temperature sensors are needed most when the battery is charging. Therefore, monitoring the temperature of the battery and/or the charger can help to prevent battery explosions.
[0065] In a preferred embodiment, a conventional processor is replaced by a dynamic FPGA 142. The use of the FPGA 142 allows a designer to make changes to the charger 100 without having to replace the processor. Changes to a mounted conventional processor requires remounting and reconfiguration of the charger 100 design, which in turn requires more design hours and additional costs. With the use of the FPGA 142, the designer is allowed to make changes on the fly without remounting or tireless reconfiguration of the initial design.
[0066] The FPGA 142 is configured and arranged to operate as a conventional processor. In the preferred embodiment, the FPGA 142 controls and processes a number of different functions of the charger 100. One such function is the operation of the micro and heavy load tests 418, 412. These tests are downloaded and stored into a memory device 144. It can also be stored in a RAM device 146. Once stored in these memory devices 144, 146, the code is downloaded into the FPGA 142 and executed. Upon execution of the code, the FPGA 142 begins to operate various controls of the charger 100, such as the solenoid switch 146 on the heavy load 144 and the SCR 126 for current and voltage control. Additionally, data can be inputted into the FPGA 142 through the input device 148, such as a keypad. The FPGA 142 can transmit to and receive information from an output display 150, a serial port 154, such as a printer port, a second serial port 152, such as an infrared bar code reader, a module port 156 that can accept various communication modules, or any other device that can communicate with the FPGA.
[0067] Upon start-up or boot-up of the charger 100, an image of a soft-core microprocessor is loaded from the memory (i.e. flash 144, RAM 146, etc.) into the FPGA 142. Therefore, there is an image of the FPGA 142 resides in the memory. Additionally, upon start-up, the CPLD 140 takes control of the data and address bus and clocks the FPGA 142 image from memory into the FPGA 142. As stated previously, this allows for redesign of the processor and the board without the need for remounting a processor. All that is necessary for a design change is to upload a new FPGA image into the memory device. Additionally, any new tests or operating parameters that is required by the operator can be easily upload into the FPGA 142 and executed. The preferred embodiment uses flash memory 144 to accomplish this function.
[0068] The output display 150 can be an integrated display or a remote display that relays information, such as data gathered from the charging and testing of the battery and menu information. Additionally, the display 150 can notify the operator of any problems that have been detected. The serial port 154 in the preferred embodiment are standard RS-232 serial ports for connecting a device such as a printer. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the RS-232 can be replaced with an RS-432, an infrared serial port or a wireless radio frequency port such as BLUETOOTH TM, or any other similar device.
[0069] In some embodiments of the current invention, a bar code port 152 is provided. The bar code port 152 may serve to operably connect a bar code reader (not shown) to the FPGA 142 or a microprocessor. In some embodiments, the bar code port 152 may be a conventional component, such as an RS-232. The bar code reader may be, for example, a conventional optical bar code reader, such as a gun or wand type reader.
[0070] The operator swipes or aims the bar code reader on a bar code that is associated with the particular battery to be charged or tested and reads the bar code. The bar code itself may be affixed to the battery at the time of manufacture, purchase, or service. The bar code may contain information, or point to information stored in a database. The database may be located within the FPGA 142, the storage media 168 (below) or located remotely and accessed electronically. Examples of remotely located databases include data based accessible by the Internet, Ethernet, or other remote memory storage facility.
[0071] The bar code may provide a variety of information regarding the battery. For example, the bar code may provide information regarding the battery type (e.g. gel, flooded lead acid, deep cycle), the battery rating (cold cranking amps), maintenance information, serial number, lot number, warranty information, and a manufacture date code. This data can be used to select parameters for the test or charge cycle. The data provided by the bar code is not limited to the examples given.
[0072] In some embodiments, the printer port 154 may print bar code labels that may be attached or otherwise associated with the battery and provides updated information. The updated information may include, among other things, service dates, service procedures, and warranty information (e.g. time left on warranty, who was the original purchaser, what types of service are and are not warranted, etc.) The printed label may then be read by the bar code reader in subsequent tests or charge cycles.
[0073] The output display 150 and an input device 148 are illustrated in a preferred embodiment in FIG. 6. The display 150 and input device 148 can be located preferably on a common face of a cabinet of the charger 100, although they alternatively can be located remote from each other and/or remote from the cabinet of the charger, if desired. The display 150 can include one or more LED'"'"'s indicating states of the charger 100 or the battery during charging or testing. For example, LED 652 indicates that power is applied to the unit, LED 653 indicates a charge is being applied to the battery, LED 654 indicates a fault in the battery, and LED 655 indicates a good battery is detected. A segmented or dot matrix type, alphanumeric LCD display 656 may also be provided as part of the output display 150. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the display 656 can be a 4 by 20 backlit LCD display, having four rows each having twenty character columns. This permits display of a wide range of information relating to e.g., charging status, time, amount, etc, as well as display and selection from a menu of control functions. Thus, the display 150 can include either the alphanumeric display 656, the LED'"'"'s 652 to 655 or both. The two types of displays can be on a single panel or separate ones.
[0074] Control functions may be inputted via at least one, preferably two and more preferably three or more functional buttons, such as up down buttons 658, and a menu select button 660. A ten key alphanumeric keypad 662 may also or alternatively be provided for input of numeric data, alphabetic data, and/or command selection. Each key can provide for entry of a number, one or more letters, and/or a function. Thus, the input device 151 can include the menu button 660, the up down buttons 658, the alphanumeric keypad 662, or a combination thereof. These arrangements can be on a single panel or separate ones.
[0075] For example, the key labeled GO may generally be used in the affirmative. It usually means continue on. It is also used to initiate menu prompts leading to the test/charge sequence. The key labeled CLEAR can generally be used in the negative. It is generally used to clear a value that is to be entered. It may also be used to break out of a process or back out of a menu sequence. The key labeled MENU can be used to initiate the function menu. It is also used to back out of a menu sequence. The ARROW KEYS can be used to navigate within the menus and display screens. If an arrow is displayed on the right of the display, the corresponding arrow key can be used to "move" the view to another part of the menu or screen. The arrow keys may also be used to increment or decrement a displayed value. The NUMBER KEYS can be used to communicate with the application in a number of ways. They can be used to indicate the selection on a menu. They can also be used to provide numerical and/or alphabetical input to an application parameter.
[0076] The screen may include the ability to scroll through a set of menu items, such as for example, the following:
[0077] a) Top level menu, (GO or MENU)
[0078] b) Function Menu:
[0079] 1-Test Results
[0080] 1-View results
[0081] 1-Print results
[0082] 2-Print engineering data
[0084] 2-Setup
[0085] 1-Set Clock
[0086] 2-Set Language
[0087] 3-Set Printer Port
[0088] 4-Ethernet Setup
[0089] 5-Save setup
[0090] 3-Self Test
[0091] 1-LCD Test
[0092] 2-keypad Test
[0093] 3-LED Test
[0094] 4-Audio Test
[0095] 5-Watchdog Test
[0096] 6-Load Cycle Test
[0097] 7-RAM test
[0098] 8-Checksum application
[0099] 9-Test Barcode Reader
[0100] 4-Update S/W
[0101] 5-Utility menu
[0102] 1-print codes
[0103] 2-upload data
[0104] 6-Calibrate
[0105] 1-Set DAC0
[0107] 3-Set Amps Offset
[0108] 4-Set Amps Gain
[0109] 5-Set Volts Offset
[0110] 6-Set Volts Gain
[0111] 7-TemperatureOffset
[0112] 8-Manual Controls
[0113] 1-Test SCR
[0114] 2-Enable SCR load
[0115] 3-Enable Low Volts Charging
[0116] 4-Auto Charge Mode
[0117] 5-Heavy Load Test
[0118] 6-Micro Load test
[0119] 7-Manual Charge Mode
[0120] 8-Monitor Volts
[0121] 9-Save Calibrations
[0122] This menu is by way of example only. Other features, commands, displays or inputs, for example may also be provided.
[0123] Referring to FIG. 1 an additional smaller transformer 158 provides current and voltage to the I/O control 134 and a cooling fan 160. The smaller transformer 158 provides a step down of both the voltage and current to a level that enables the I/O control 134 and a cooling fan 160 to operate. The cooling fan 160 helps to control the operating temperature of the charger 100.
[0124] The peripheral module port 156 can be constructed and arranged to receive an information relay device, such as an Ethernet wired module 166 and/or an Ethernet wireless module 164. The Ethernet modules 164, 166 communicate at data rates of 10 Mbps (10 Base-T Ethernet), 100 Mbps (Fast Ethernet), 1000 Mbps (Gigabit Ethernet), and other data rates. The Ethernet modules 164, 166 can relay information between the charger 100 and another device connected to the modules via a wire or wirelessly. The information relayed can include data from the result of the charging/testing of the battery, data of the battery'"'"'s warranty information, data of the battery type (deep cycle, gel, etc.), data of battery make and model, data from previous charging/testing of the battery, firmware update, data from diagnostic or operating parameters of the charger 100, maintenance data of the charger 100, and any other data required by the operator.
[0125] The peripheral module port 156 is in communication with the FPGA 142. Information can be exchanged between the peripheral module port 156, the Ethernet modules 164, 166, and the FPGA 142. The Ethernet modules 164, 166 can relay the information to and from a remote device, such as a network server, a printer, a personal computer, a workstation, a file server, a print server, other communication devices, such as a fax machine, a cellular/digital phone, a pager, a personal digital assistant, an email receiver, a phone and a display. Through the use of the Ethernet modules 164, 166 any information, such as the information of the battery tested by the charger 100 can be relayed to a printer server and printed. Thus, the charger 100 is not dependent on a stand-alone printer that may be down, and can print to any networked printer, thereby saving time and money to the operator.
[0126] With the Ethernet module 164, 166, information can also be stored remotely, such as on a workstation, a file server or other data storage device. For example, after the charger 100 concludes the charging/testing of the battery, the information from the test/charge can be relayed and stored on a networked personal computer. With the information stored on the networked personal computer, the information from any previous charge/test can be compared with the latest information, a report can be generated and forwarded to the appropriate personnel.
[0127] If the chargers 100 (same or similar model) that are used by the operator are "networked" together, the chargers'"'"' firmware can be updated simultaneously. Conventionally, to update firmware, a laptop is hooked up to the charger 100 and the new firmware is uploaded. Once the upload is completed, the operator then must go to the next charger 100 and repeat the process until all of the chargers 100 are updated with the new firmware. By being able to upload new firmware onto networked chargers 100, the update process will be less time consuming, and thus cost-effective for the operator. By having the chargers 100 networked via the Ethernet modules 164, 166, information from all the chargers 100 can be relayed and displayed to the operator. Because the chargers 100 can be networked, the operator does not have check each individual charger 100 to see if the charging and testing is completed and saves valuable time and money. Additionally, by being networked, the chargers 100 can be instructed to run diagnostics and other functions remotely without having to individually program each charger 100.
[0128] In another embodiment, a notification system is provided to notify the operator when there is a problem with the charger 100 or the battery or when the charging/testing is completed. Typically, the operator has to physically check the status of the charger 100 and often would have to return many times to see if the charging/testing is completed. With the charger 100 having an Ethernet connection modules 164, 166, the status information can be relayed to a remote location, such as the network server or the personal computer, which can be programmed to notify the operator of any problems or the completion of the charging/testing. Because the operator can be notified of any problems, the operator can take appropriate measures, such as terminating the charging of the battery because charger 100 or the battery is overheating. By being notified of any problems, the operator can save money due to a decrease in electricity usage and decrease the possibility of an explosion due to overcharging the battery. Notification of the operator can be done with a personal computer that can notify the operator via another display, by pager, by fax, by email, by phone, by computer or by any means that will relay the requested information to the operator.
[0129] In another embodiment of the invention, the peripheral module port 156 can be constructed and arranged to accept a removable data storage media 168 ("storage media"). Information can be exchanged between the peripheral module port 156, the storage media 168, and the FPGA 142. The storage media 168 can be permanently fixed to the charger 100 to provide additional memory or can be removable, as required by the operator. The storage media 168 can transfer information to and from the charger 100. The information can include data from the result of the charging/testing of the battery, the battery'"'"'s warranty information, the battery type (deep cycle, gel, etc.), battery make and model, data from previous charging/testing of the battery, firmware update, data from diagnostic or operating parameters of the charger 100, maintenance data of the charger 100, and any other data required by the operator.
[0130] The storage media 168 can include, but not limited to floppy disc (including ZIP); tape drive cartridge (such as DAT); optical media (such as CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, etc.); flash memory (such as smart media, compact flash, PC card memory, memory sticks, flash SIMMs and DIMMS, etc.); magnetic based media, magneto optical; USB drives; or any other storage media that an operator can store or retrieve information from it. A person skilled in the art will recognize that any storage media can be used.
[0131] One use of the storage media 168 is to update firmware, wherein the storage media can be programmed with the firmware update and loaded into the charger 100. By using the user interface 148, the operator can select the "update firmware" option from a menu that was previously provided to the charger 100. The charger 100 is able to retrieve the new firmware and update the charger 100. In another example, the operator can use the storage media 168 to store information regarding the battery that was charged/tested. The information can be downloaded into the storage media 168, such as a compact flash card, and can be sent to the appropriate person. Additionally, the storage media 168 can contain information from the charging/testing result of a battery at another location and can be uploaded into the charger 100 and displayed to the operator. Alternatively, the information can be relayed via the Ethernet module to be viewed, stored, or printed at a remote location. The storage media 168 can also provide an image of a soft-core microprocessor to the FPGA 142 during start-up.
[0132] The charger 100 can have more than one peripheral module port 156 so that a communication nodule, a storage media module, and an many other modules as needed can be onboard the charger. The peripheral module port 156 provides flexibility to the charger 100 and provides a port so that any new device can be added to the charger as needed by the operator.
[0133] The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirits and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
Raichle, Kurt, Miller, Garret, Sontheimer, Paul
GRANTED PATENT
G01R 31/36 Arrangements for testing, m...
G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangemen...
Current Assignee SPX Corporation
Original Assignee SPX Corporation


Time and money are two things that none of us seem to have enough of. If you own or manage any homes, then you know the importance of managing these can be a circus juggling act that make anyone pull their hair out. Consider if there was an app to help ease this stress and allow you to save the time and money that is so easily spent trying to be diligent with your home. HomeZada can help you do just that!
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This sounds like such a neat app for a homeowner and almost a necessity for those who manage more than 1 home. We're thinking of purchasing my in-law's home and remodeling it. Would this app be good for managing a big remodeling project like that, or is better for smaller projects?
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Kelsey is an assistant editor with Outside's health and fitness team. Before moving to Santa Fe she reported on science, health, and environmental news from D.C., New York, Alaska, and Michigan.
Give the ultimate holiday present: new ideas for healthy and delicious meals.


Adidas Samba 2010 is a basketball shoe that is certainly very popular among a bunch of high schools and colleges. It's great for casual play due to it being very player friendly and in such a review you'll find out precisely why. One of the arguments it's so popular within the ranks of younger participants and school boys is simply because that you can personalize the colors on the idea. When you buy your Adidas Pro Model 2010 included in the package be given colored lashes which mean that you can customise your look to fit what you're currently donning.
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For this project I decided to experiment with the cut-up technique discovered by artist Brion Gysin and writer William S Burroughs in the 1950's. Cut-ups consist of cutting a page of text into four, trimming the margins, and moving the parts up and down against each other to get a new combination of words, images, and meanings. I took a poem by Rimbaud, cut it up and rearranged the parts into something I felt would be interesting to read and use as the voice track. I added some homemade recordings of my ten year old daughter messing around with a typewriter, balloon, zipper and toy whistle for the background tracks. I also added two synthesizer tracks going through a delay. The great thing about this piece for me was the process of making it and how it evolved. Originally, I did the reading of the new poem but ending up canning it. Then, I had my daughter's mom read it which turned out fine. My daughter also wanted to give it a try, so I created a new track but what happened was her voice ended up merging with her mom's track basically taking it over. I am new to Audacity but I believe there might be a ghost in the program. The result of this unintentional accident turned the piece into a cut-up sound collage creating something that I would not have been able to do if I had planned it out. The piece kind of took on a life of its own so I decided to leave it the way it is, even with the phone ringing.
This entry was posted in Sp15-P4 Audio on April 29, 2015 by Philip Malfa.


American Actor, Producer, Screen Writer, and Television Director Tom Cruise's former house is in Beverly Hills, CA.
In addition to his success as an award-winning actor, Tom Cruise also produced "The Last Samuri," "Shattered Glass," "The Others" – starring former wife Nicole Kidman – and the "Mission Impossible" movies, in which he also stars as the character Ethan Hunt.
Tom Cruise, who was born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, is a member and avid supporter of the Church of Scientology. He has three children, Isabella and Conner Antony with former wife Nicole Kidman, and daughter Suri, with former wife Katie Holmes. He was also previously married to actress Mimi Rogers.
He was rated as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world by "People" magazine three times, in 1990, 1991, and 1997. He has also been ranked on several lists of sexiest stars and powerful actors. He was Hollywood's highest-paid actor in 2014, 21 of his movies have grossed more than $200 million worldwide and 15 of his movies grossed more than $100 million in the United States.
Tom Cruise is a board member for the Hollywood Education and Literacy Project, having overcome dyslexia himself. He also took part in a telethon for the victims of 9/11.
His home in Beverly Hills was built in 1937 as a 10,000-square-foot structure, then expanded in 2003, before it was bought by Tom Cruise in 2007 for $30.5 million. The house is on 1.3 acres and includes a tennis court, as well as a pool.
In June 2016, Cruise sold the house for $38 million to multi-billionaire Leon Black and his wife Debra.


The effects of free-machining additives, microstructure modification, and tool materials are illustrated by controlled drilling tests conducted under laboratory conditions.
Closure of Porosity. Closing or sealing porosity improves the machinability of P/M steels significantly by changing the cutting process from intermittent to continuous. The reduction in vibration and chatter improves tool life and surface finish. Copper infiltration (Ref 8) and polymer impregnation (Ref 19) are efficient means to close porosity and can require an additional process step. Thus, they are most efficient when dictated by the end use, such as fluid power applications, that require a pore-free structure. However, the improvement in machinability can justify their use in severe machining operations or when a machining operation is the rate-limiting step in a process sequence.
Microcleanliness Improvement. The increase in the production and use of atomized rather than reduced iron powders has improved the microcleanliness of iron and low-alloy steel powders. Driven largely by the requirements of powder forging, the content of coarse nonmetallic inclusions in atomized powders has been reduced significantly (Ref 21). For an atomized FL-4600, the median frequency of inclusions greater than 100 /'m in size (F4) has been reduced from approximately 2.5 to 0.25 per 100 mm2. The maximum frequency of inclusions greater than 100 /'m was reduced from 9 to 1.3 inclusions per 100 mm2. These improvements suggest that the incidence of edge damage due to the presence of coarse inclusions should be reduced significantly. Because powder forging practices are now employed to produce all atomized steel powders, P/M users of these powders have benefited.
Green Machining. One way to reduce the machining problems of P/M parts is to machine them in the green (i.e., as-pressed) condition prior to sintering. The lack of bonding between particles in green compacts results in low cutting forces.
Such techniques are used in the processing of ceramic and hard metal powders. However, the green strength of metal powder compacts has been too low to withstand the cutting and clamping forces employed in machining operations.
The introduction of warm compaction technology (Ref 22) can change this perspective. The green strength of warm compacted parts is two to four times higher than that of conventional ferrous P/M parts (Table 5). This is sufficient to withstand both the cutting and clamping forces of modern machine tools. Research confirms (Ref 23) that green compacts produced with warm compaction can be machined with conventional cutting tools with low cutting forces. Drill testing (Table 6) shows that the cutting forces are relatively low. Both cutting forces and surface finish can be improved by changes to drill type and profile. These changes also alter the accuracy and surface finish of the drilled hole. Thus, the choice of tool will be a compromise between low cutting forces, surface finish, and tolerances.
Presintering the green compact at a lower temperature than the final sintering operation produces a compact of relatively low hardness and strength but with sufficient edge retention to be handled and machined. Thus, the machinability of a presintered compact can be substantially better than that of the sintered part. However, presintering introduces an additional step to the manufacturing process and increases cost. It can be justified where the properties of the as-sintered part make its machining difficult or impossible. For example, high-carbon sinter hardened steels can require grinding rather than machining. In this case, providing that the part application and tolerances permit, it can be desirable to machine the part in the presintered condition rather than perform a grinding operation. Similarly, if part design calls for a through hole normal to the compaction axis, drilling the presintered preform followed by final sintering can be the only way to produce the hole economically in a high performance P/M steel.
Free-machining agents are added to P/M steel to improve machinability (Ref 8, 24). These agents are thought to perform several functions during the cutting process (Ref 9), including initiation of microcracks at the chip/workpiece interface, chip formation, lubrication of the tool/chip interface, and prevention of adhesion between the tool and chips (Fig. 5).
Several materials including sulfur, molybdenum disulfide (Ref 24), manganese sulfide (Ref 11), and boron nitride (Ref 25) are used as free-machining agents for P/M steels. They are most frequently introduced as fine powder to powder premixes, but sulfur and manganese sulfide are also available as prealloyed powders (Ref 26, 27, 28).
Sulfur and molybdenum disulfide can have strong effects upon the dimensional change and strength of P/M steels (Fig. 6, 7). Their use should be considered at the part design stage rather than as a "retrofit" when machining problems become apparent. Manganese sulfide has smaller effects upon dimensional change and strength (Ref 13) and can be used to improve the machinability of existing premixes. The effects of several potential machining agents upon the machinability of P/M steels are described below.


A GP referral is required in order to qualify for a Medicare rebate. Referrals from Allied Health providers cannot be used in place of a referral from a GP.
Please note that as Dr Kuah has focused areas of interest, he does not see patients with back or neck injuries.
Dr Donald Kuah is an experienced Sports and Exercise Physician specialist and one of the founding practitioners at Sydney Sports Medicine Centre in Olympic Park. He has been the Chief Medical Officer to the Wests Tigers NRL team (2003-2013) and is the current Chairman of the NRL Medical Advisory Panel. He is also currently on the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia medical panel. He was the NSW Institute of Sport Medical Director from 2000-2012, being responsible for the state's top 700 elite athletes and remains involved with treating NSWIS athletes. He has previously been Consultant Sports Physician to AFL team GWS (2011-2012) and has previously been team doctor to the Sydney Kings basketball team (2000-2002).
Dr Kuah was Deputy Medical Director for AOC London Olympics and part of the Medical Headquarters with previous Australian Team appointments in Athens and Beijing and Clinical Director of the Village Polyclinic working for SOCOG in Sydney. He has also previously been National Dr to the Australian weightlifting team as well as the Australian Men's hockey team (1997-2008).
For his services to sports medicine, the Commonwealth awarded the year 2000 Sports Medal to Dr Kuah.
Dr Kuah is involved in teaching at many levels and also heavily involved in clinical research. He has previously been the State Training Coordinator for the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Medicine and continues to be a Clinical Training Supervisor and an Examiner for the College. His interest areas lie in treatment of tendon pathologies, osteoarthritis, hamstring origin pathologies and also in the area of regenerative medicine. He is currently on the medical Advisory Panel for the Australian Ski Patrol Association. Please note that Dr Kuah has decided to focus on his interest areas and now does not take on any new patients with spinal problems.
Kuah D, Sivell S, Longworth T, James K, Guermazi A, Cicuttini F, Wang Y, Craig S, Comin G, Robinson D, Wilson J. Safety, tolerability and efficacy of intra-articular Progenza in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled single ascending dose study. J Transl Med. 2018 Mar 6;16(1):49.
Succar P, Breen EJ, Kuah D, Herbert BR. Alterations in the Secretome of Clinically Relevant Preparations of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Cocultured with Hyaluronan. Stem cell International 2015(2):16.
Gan TY, Kuah DE, Graham KS, Markson G. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound in lower limb bone stress injuries: a randomized controlled trial. Clin J Sport Med. 2014 Nov;24(6):457-60.
Kuah D. Platelet rich plasma—Current evidence and use in musculoskeletal medicine. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. Dec 2011.
O'Neill BC, Graham K, Moresi M, Perry P, Kuah D.. Custom formed orthoses in cycling. J Sci Med Sport. 2011 Nov;14(6):529-34.
Sein ML, Walton J, Linklater J, Appleyard R, Kirkbride B, Kuah D, Murrell GA. Shoulder pain in elite swimmers: primarily due to swim-volume-induced supraspinatus tendinopathy. Br J Sports Med. 2010 Feb;44(2):105-13.
Sein ML, Walton J, Linklater J, Harris C, Dugal T, Appleyard R, Kirkbride B, Kuah D, Murrell GA. Reliability of MRI assessment of supraspinatus tendinopathy. Br J Sports Med. 2007 Aug;41(8):e9.
Kuah D. Burne S. Downhill skiing and snowboarding injuries: a guide for GPs. Medicine Today. 2005; 6(8): 61-66.
Merkur A, Whalan KM, Kuah D, Choo P. The Effect of Ski Shape on Injury Occurrence in Downhill Skiing. Jan 2003.
Kuah DE. An alternative slump reduction technique of anterior shoulder dislocations: a 3-year prospective study. Clin J Sport Med. 2000 Jul;10(3):158-61.


Please call (828) 254-2122 to make an appointment!
This service starts with an annual visit for physical examination, vaccinations and parasite testing. This is the single most important program we provide all of our clients' pets to get early detection and best possible outcomes for hidden medical issues. These annual visits also help pet owners understand the importance of balanced nutrition and the avoidance of obesity in their pets. When puppies and kittens are presented for their preventive exams, Dr. McCorkle has the opportunity to help owners get their pets off to a great start relative to housetraining, dental care, behavioral management and other issues.
The primary focus of Mountain Valley Veterinary Hospital is to provide excellent medical services to every patient who visits our clinic in a manner that balances the needs of the pet with the wishes of the pet owner. Along with the practice of quality medicine, our staff places special emphasis on client communication--assuring that the pet owner understands the needs of their best friend. Our hope is that after experiencing our services, clients will elect to be a permanent member of our hospital family.
We provide diagnosis and treatment for a wide array of health issues. Utilizing a full array of diagnostic tools to provide accurate assessment of medical problems, we are best able to initiate early and appropriate care. While diagnostic tools are very important when working with difficult medical cases, the instincts of an experienced veterinarian are critical relative to arriving at a timely diagnosis.
If you have a question or wish to make an Appointment!
Dr. McCorkle has taken care of our pets since 2003. He is knowledgeable and compassionate and very gentle. I remember one experience very well when one of our cats developed FUS and we had to take him to the emergency clinic as Dr. McCorkle was unavailable. They would not treat our cat without a $750.00 deposit and they would not take a check. They were kind enough to give him something for pain so we took him home. The following morning we took him to Dr. McCorkle. He cured him and kept him for two days the bill was amazingly reasonable. We were so grateful. He has cared for our three dogs and (at one time) four cats since. My family and I consider ourselves so fortunate to know him and his family and staff. We know our pets are always in the best hands.
I'd just like to express my deep appreciation for the wonderful care my dog, Corniglia, has always received from the entire staff of Mountain Valley Vet Hospital. Corniglia is precious to me, but she can be difficult with other people. A "mommy" can tell by her pet's behavior during and after an interaction with someone whether or not that pet has been well cared for. Such is the case with Corniglia--it's obvious that everyone at the hospital is kind, caring, and thorough in their treatment of her. I would and do recommend Dr. McCorkle to anyone who is seeking a vet.
I would not go anywhere else unless I absolutely could not come here !! I have found Dr. McCorkle and his staff to be the best ! They really love the pets we bring to them and I have no doubt they treat them as they would their own. My three dogs, Sasha, Indiana (Indy) and John, love Dr. McCorkle and all the staff and I know they felt secure when I had to leave them for treatments. They are not apprehensive when they have to go for routine visits ! So, I highly recommend Dr. McCorkle and Mountain Valley Veterinary Hospital to all dog, cat and animal care givers !!
These folks are the real deal- a family run hospital of people who love pets and are more concerned with making sure they are taken care of than their own convenience. We booked a last minute visit for our sick dog and they made time (after 4 on a Friday). Every subsequent visit, they've been at the office long after their scheduled hours, making sure to accommodate the needs of their patients. They are kind, understanding and fair. Nothing but positive things to say.
My mother has been using this vet for over eight years and they're accommodating, polite, and they really care about the animals here. I highly recommend them.
Dr. McCorckle and his staff at Mountain Valley are among the most compassionate, caring, and professional veterinary workers I have ever had the pleasure of interacting with. This crew truly cares more about the animals they are treating than the payment they will be receiving.
Dr Mccorkle is expensive but you wont get better care for your animal. He is very intelligent and very knowledgeable. I would never take my animals anywhere else. He is an excellent doctor.
They may be alittle on the expensive side, but the care is outstanding. I have been going here (well my pets) for about 10 years, and the knowledge and expertise of the staff is well worth the touch more expense. I had a problem with my dog while on vacation and took him to a vet in that area, that vet suggested amputating a toe he thought it was cancer. Of course I held out until i could get him to my Vet. Dr M put him on antibotics for an infection and it healed fine.
Our veterinary hospital is located on the west side of New Leicester Highway, approximately 2 miles from US-19 S/US-23 S/US-74 ALT W/Patton Ave. Look for our sign, and the driveway is just past the sign.
The primary focus of Mountain Valley Veterinary Hospital is to provide excellent medical services to every patient who visits our clinic in a manner that balances the needs of the pet with the wishes of the pet owner.
Along with the practice of quality medicine, our staff places special emphasis on client communication--assuring that the pet owner understands the needs of their best friend. Our hope is that after experiencing our services, clients will elect to be a permanent member of our hospital family.
The practice of veterinary medicine is challenging and dynamic. As in all fields of medical care, new discoveries and treatments will continue to be ongoing. With so many tools and so much information available, reaching a diagnosis and planning a treatment option should be more straightforward than they have ever been in the past.
Conversely, all of this technology comes at significant cost. What technology has made more possible, cost oftentimes makes less practical. One has only to look at human medical care to see how effectively high costs can derail quality care. We strive daily to keep the cost of caring for our client's pets within reach of pet owners.
In our full service hospital, combining good business decisions with good diagnostic skills has allowed us to keep costs in reasonable control. Our promise to our clients is to continue to work diligently to keep the value in veterinary medical care.
Dr. McCorkle and family have been operating Mountain Valley Veterinary Hospital for thirty years. The most unique thing about our hospital is that it has always been a one doctor practice staffed almost entirely by family. The only employee that is not family is Lisa, our head technician, and she has been at the practice for sixteen years--she certainly seems like family.
This continuity creates a practice environment where we are all on the same page. Every member of the team is familiar with our clients and their pets--both past and present. When our clients present a pet for ongoing care, they are guaranteed to interact with the same doctor and team that have provided all previous treatment.
Without question, this is very unique in today's veterinary market.
Want to know about our Services?
Dr. McCorkle has been providing a wide array of surgical services for soft tissue, dental and orthopedic needs for over 30 years. All surgery is performed by Dr. McCorkle to insure an experienced result. In the most technical cases, consultation with and referral to a surgical specialist is readily available. Early discharge from hospital to home after surgery is an important focus of our team, but overnight care is recommended whenever a pet's situation warrants further observation.
Dental disease is one of the most common diseases seen in our veterinary practice. While preventing this disease is straightforward, the consequences of ignoring oral health are very serious. Periodontal disease leads to oral inflammation, infection, pain, bad breath and tooth loss. In addition, more serious consequences such as jaw fractures, kidney disease, heart disease, urinary tract disease and others commonly follow. Preventing these problems requires that our veterinary team and each pet's owner begin early in the pet's life working for great oral health. In working to enhance the quality of life for every pet, maintaining great oral health is a top priority at Mountain Valley Veterinary Hospital.
In an environment where pharmaceutical prices are out of control, we maintain a full pharmacy to provide immediate access to medications for most of the conditions we treat. There is no waiting in line for your alphabetized bag and never a jaw-dropping price surprise. In addition, we stock a supply of professional flea and tick products to customize a selection for each pet's situation. Dr. McCorkle understands how flea and tick infestations begin and how they should end. Have our staff recommend a protocol to end external parasite issues for your pet. Certainly, this is an important step in maintaining an excellent quality of life for our client's pets.
As important as lifelong healthcare is for our pets, understanding and dealing with end of life issues is one of our most important responsibilities. Dr. McCorkle has had many years of experience consulting with pet owners regarding the many questions and uncertainties that arise when their aging pets are dealing with terminal issues. Certainly, comprehensive pet care has to include professional handling of these situations. Dr. McCorkle provides compassionate end of life care to pets including consultation and humane euthanasia in hospital or at the pet's home.
Please call to make an appointment!
"I would not go anywhere else unless I absolutely could not come here !! I have found Dr. McCorkle and his staff to be the best ! They really love the pets we bring to them and I have no doubt they treat them as they would their own. My three dogs, Sasha, Indiana (Indy) and John, love Dr. McCorkle and all the staff and I know they felt secure when I had to leave them for treatments. They are not apprehensive when they have to go for routine visits ! So, I highly recommend Dr. McCorkle and Mountain Valley Veterinary Hospital to all dog, cat and animal care givers !!"
"These folks are the real deal- a family run hospital of people who love pets and are more concerned with making sure they are taken care of than their own convenience. We booked a last minute visit for our sick dog and they made time (after 4 on a Friday). Every subsequent visit, they've been at the office long after their scheduled hours, making sure to accommodate the needs of their patients. They are kind, understanding and fair. Nothing but positive things to say."
"My mother has been using this vet for over eight years and they're accommodating, polite, and they really care about the animals here. I highly recommend them."
"Dr. McCorckle and his staff at Mountain Valley are among the most compassionate, caring, and professional veterinary workers I have ever had the pleasure of interacting with. This crew truly cares more about the animals they are treating than the payment they will be receiving."
"Dr Mccorkle is expensive but you wont get better care for your animal. He is very intelligent and very knowledgeable. I would never take my animals anywhere else. He is an excellent doctor."
"They may be alittle on the expensive side, but the care is outstanding. I have been going here (well my pets) for about 10 years, and the knowledge and expertise of the staff is well worth the touch more expense. I had a problem with my dog while on vacation and took him to a vet in that area, that vet suggested amputating a toe he thought it was cancer. Of course I held out until i could get him to my Vet. Dr M put him on antibotics for an infection and it healed fine."
Dr. McCorkle and family have been operating Mountain Valley Veterinary Hospital for thirty years. The most unique thing about our hospital is that it has always been a one doctor practice staffed almost entirely by family. This continuity creates a practice environment where we are all on the same page. Every member of the team is familiar with our clients and their pets--both past and present. .
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