Battery equipped with a device for tracing and / or monitoring electrical parameters

Abstract

Battery equipped with a tracking and / or electrical parameter monitoring device. Battery (1) comprising a body (10) and a cover (40) carried by the body, the body housing one or more battery cells electrically connected to output terminals (20). The battery contains an electronic tracking device (50) disposed under the cover (40) and electrically powered by the battery, this tracking device being configured to transmit its geographic coordinates wirelessly to a remote receiver (200), at least when certain predefined conditions are met. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Battery equipped with a device for tracing and / or monitoring electrical parameters technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to batteries, and more particularly but not exclusively to medium capacity batteries, between 50 Ah and 300 Ah, used in wireless telephony installations. Previous technique

[0002] Wireless telephone network relays include electronic equipment which is powered by backup batteries in the event of a general power supply failure.

[0003] These batteries are connected to inverters which charge them and allow the current to be produced at the voltage and frequency required to power the equipment.

[0004] The equipment is placed in shelters which are sometimes located in isolated places, particularly near railway lines, and subject to vibrations from passing trains.

[0005] In addition, these shelters can interfere with the propagation of radio waves.

[0006] Batteries are often electrically connected together in series and / or in parallel; inverters can monitor the input voltage but do not always have access to the individual voltage of each battery.

[0007] Batteries are frequently stolen to recover the metals they contain, especially lead.

[0008] There is therefore a need to improve protection against theft of batteries used in such installations.

[0009] Furthermore, there is a need to facilitate battery maintenance and in particular to anticipate their replacement, or to detect a failure of the battery or inverter.

[0010] Apart from these static uses, batteries are used in mobility, in various vehicles such as cars, trucks and agricultural machinery, boats, and construction equipment. These vehicles are often equipped with GPS tracking devices, sometimes still called "GPS trackers," concealed under the bodywork or in the passenger compartment.

[0011] These devices include specific housings that are recognizable and sought after by thieves.

[0012] In addition, some devices have a rechargeable battery providing limited autonomy, requiring the user to frequently remove the device to recharge it, before putting it back in place.

[0013] Others are directly connected to the vehicle's electric battery. This complicates their installation, and moreover only partially addresses the problem of vehicle theft, since many thieves take the precaution of disconnecting the vehicle's battery before stealing it by loading it onto a trailer or truck. Description of the invention

[0014] The invention aims to meet all or part of the above needs, and in particular the problems of flight and / or battery state monitoring. Summary of the invention

[0015] The invention thus relates, according to a first of its aspects, to a battery comprising a body and a cover carried by the body, the body housing one or more battery elements electrically connected to output terminals, characterized in that it contains an electronic tracking device disposed under the cover and electrically powered by the battery, this tracking device being configured to transmit its geographical coordinates by a wireless link to a remote receiver, at least when certain predefined conditions are met.

[0016] By "hood carried by the body" it must be understood that the hood is made integral with the body, being directly fixed to the latter or fixed by means of one or more intermediate parts.

[0017] By "under the hood" it is meant that the device is concealed by the hood.

[0018] The invention makes it possible to track the movements of the battery without attracting the attention of a thief, because the tracking device is not apparent.

[0019] Powering directly from the high-capacity battery ensures extended autonomy.

[0020] The body and the cover can be made of thermoplastic material, in particular by injection molding. They are preferably fixed one on top of the other, with the possible interposition of an intermediate cover, in such a way as not to be disassembled by the user without tools, in particular by welding, gluing or mechanical locking.

[0021] Preferably, the tracking device is arranged to transmit information about the voltage across the battery terminals. This information is useful for determining the battery's condition, particularly when the battery is connected in series with at least one other battery and to an inverter or other equipment, and the individual voltage of each battery is not accessible. Knowing the voltage can be useful for determining the battery's state of aging or detecting a malfunction.

[0022] Preferably, the tracking device includes a current sensor and can be arranged to transmit information concerning the charging or discharging current of the battery.

[0023] The tracking device may include a temperature sensor and be arranged to transmit information concerning the battery temperature.

[0024] The tracing device may include a gas sensor, in particular for dihydrogen, and be arranged to transmit information concerning the presence of dihydrogen.

[0025] The tracing device may include an inductive or magnetic sensor, and be arranged to allow the device to be reset by bringing a field generator or a magnet close to this inductive or magnetic sensor.

[0026] The tracking device may include electronic memory and may be configured to record data relating to the battery terminal voltage, charging or discharging current, and / or battery temperature in the memory. Several measured values ​​may be recorded and transmitted later. Alternatively, the measurements are transmitted in real time, for example at predefined time intervals.

[0027] The aforementioned predefined conditions may at least correspond to the detection of battery movement, in particular acceleration other than gravity whose intensity exceeds a predefined threshold for a predefined duration. This avoids the triggering of false positives related to the external environment, such as vibrations caused by a passing train, for example.

[0028] The tracking device may include a satellite position receiver, in particular of the GPS type, and / or a transmitter via telephone networks, in particular of the GSM type.

[0029] The tracking device may include an electronic card and an electronic card holder to which the card is attached. This holder is, for example, made of plastic, for example by injection molding or 3D printing.

[0030] The tracking device can be cast in a resin to ensure its protection and immunity to aggressions from gaseous or liquid emissions from the battery.

[0031] The battery may include an intermediate cover disposed between the battery elements and the cover, the tracking device preferably being housed on this intermediate cover.

[0032] The support can be arranged to cooperate mechanically with at least one of the body, intermediate cover and hood, so as to ensure its immobilization within the battery.

[0033] The intermediate cover has, for example, two openings for the battery terminals, and a generally rectangular compartment For example, the support may include passages adjacent to the terminals on one short side, preferably positioned between the walls defining the long sides of the compartment, particularly between ventilation openings. A cable connected to at least one detection loop wound around a battery terminal can be connected to the electronic board. The latter can be electrically connected by two cables to conductors located under the intermediate cover and electrically connected to the aforementioned output terminals.

[0034] The battery may be a lead-acid battery, in particular with a capacity between 50 and 300 Ah.

[0035] The tracking device may include a Bluetooth type transmitter / receiver.

[0036] The invention further relates to a set of batteries comprising several models with identical external appearance, one of which is a battery according to the invention, as defined above, and at least one other a battery without said tracing device.

[0037] The invention also relates, according to another aspect, to a method of monitoring a battery according to the invention, in which data from the tracking device is received by wireless transmission, in particular via a telephone network, for example of the GSM type, and in which an alert relating to the theft of the battery is generated from this data, in particular in the event of receipt of coordinates which establish a movement of the battery, and / or data relating to its state, in particular the voltage at its terminals.

[0038] Data relating to the state of the battery can be transmitted using the tracking device, this transmission preferably taking place at a higher frequency in the event of detection of abnormal parameters and / or rapid evolution of these parameters than in the event of no detection of abnormal parameters or slow evolution of these parameters.

[0039] If movement of the battery is detected, particularly by means of an accelerometer, the battery coordinates can be transmitted at a predefined frequency, this frequency being higher than that at which the coordinates are transmitted when no movement is detected. If no movement is detected, the coordinates are not retransmitted.

[0040] The battery can be used in an installation where it is connected to an inverter.

[0041] The tracking device can communicate with at least one other device via the Bluetooth type connection, and transmit data related to this other device via said wireless connection, the other device being chosen from an inverter to which the battery is electrically connected, another battery internally equipped with a simple electrical parameter monitoring device, or a sensor external to the battery.

[0042] The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a battery according to the invention, in which the tracing device is installed and electrically connected to the output terminals during the manufacture of the battery, before sealing the cover on the rest of the battery.

[0043] The invention further relates to a method for measuring the carbon footprint of a battery according to the invention, in which the path of the battery is traced using the tracing device between its place of manufacture and its place of use, and / or between its place of use and its place of recycling, and the information relating to the path is used in the calculation of the carbon footprint.

[0044] The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing or transforming a vehicle, in which the vehicle is equipped with a battery according to the invention, either as original equipment or as a replacement for an existing battery lacking a tracking device.

[0045] The invention also relates, according to another of its aspects, independently of the tracking function, to a battery comprising a body and a cover carried by the body, the body housing one or more battery elements electrically connected to output terminals, characterized in that it contains an electronic tracking device disposed under the cover and electrically powered by the battery, this tracking device being configured to transmit by a wireless link to a remote receiver data relating to the operation of the battery, in particular the voltage at its terminals and / or the charging or discharging current.

[0046] The battery according to this second aspect may incorporate all or part of the functionalities of the battery according to the first aspect of the invention. Brief description of the drawings

[0047] The invention will be better understood upon reading the detailed description that follows, the non-limiting examples of its implementation, and upon examination of the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0048] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] is an exploded, schematic and partial elevation view of a example of a battery according to the invention,

[0049] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a top view of the battery with the cover removed,

[0050] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a simplified block diagram of the electronic circuit of the device,

[0051] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] schematically represents an example of an installation comprising a battery according to the invention, and

[0052] [Fig. 5] [Fig. 5] schematically represents an installation variant comprising a battery according to the invention. Detailed description

[0053] Figure 1 shows a battery 1 according to the invention, before final assembly.

[0054] The battery 1 comprises a body 10, for example of general parallelepiped shape, containing one or more battery cells, for example lead-acid battery cells in a number adapted to produce the desired nominal output voltage.

[0055] Two metal terminals 20 protrude upwards from the body 10.

[0056] These terminals 20 are for example made of lead, generally cylindrical or slightly truncated conical in shape.

[0057] The battery 1 includes an intermediate cover 30 intended to be assembled to the body 10, for example by gluing or welding, and an upper cover 40 intended to be assembled to the intermediate cover 30, for example by welding or gluing.

[0058] The cover 30 contains a tracing device 50 according to the invention.

[0059] An example of the embodiment of the lid 30 is shown in isolation in [Fig.2].

[0060] This may include, as illustrated, openings 31 for the passage of terminals 20, and a compartment 33 which can be closed at the top by the hood 40.

[0061] Vents 35 open into the bottom of compartment 33, and the latter also includes closed studs 39.

[0062] Passages 32 allow the connection of power cables 54 of the device 50 to the terminals 20, this electrical connection being made under the cover 30, for example using a screw terminal block.

[0063] The device 50 includes an electronic card 53 which is connected by a cable 57 to a current sensor 55, for example in the form of a winding extending around one of the terminals 20.

[0064] The card 53 is immobilized in the compartment 33 by means of a support 51, which is, for example, a molded part made of plastic or a part produced by 3D printing. Alternatively, the support is produced by molding, in one piece, with the cover 40 or the intermediate cover 30.

[0065] The support 51 can be made with a housing 52 to receive one or more electronic modules separate from the card 53, for example a GSM type communication module or a GPS type satellite positioning module.

[0066] The support 51 can be immobilized by friction or snapping between the walls 34 defining the long sides of the compartment 33. Lateral wedging of the support 51 can be carried out between the vents 35 on one side and closed studs 39 on the other.

[0067] The retention of the card 53 on the support 51 can be ensured by screws or by retaining studs, or by any other suitable means.

[0068] The thickness of the card 53 combined with that of the support 51 is for example less than the height of the walls 34, so that the presence of the device 50 does not hinder the mounting of the cover 50 on the lid 40.

[0069] The device 50 includes, for example, a microcontroller circuit 60 (or other suitable programmable circuit) and a set of peripheral components necessary for its operation, as illustrated in [Fig.3].

[0070] The device 50 may include a communication module 65, for example of the GSM modem type, and a satellite positioning module 66, for example of the GPS type.

[0071] The device 50 may also include a short-range communication module 64, for example of the Bluetooth 64 type.

[0072] The device 50 advantageously comprises an accelerometer 61, a magnetic field sensor 62 and one or more auxiliary sensors 63 such as a temperature sensor.

[0073] The device 50 is powered by the battery itself, for example at approximately 12V.

[0074] Battery 1 is for example part of an installation comprising other batteries 1' identical to battery 1 except with regard to the presence of device 50, as illustrated in [Fig.4].

[0075] These batteries are for example electrically connected in series, and the whole is for example connected to an inverter 100, which also ensures the charging of the batteries.

[0076] Figure 4 illustrates the possibility for battery 1 to transmit data via a telephone network to a remote server or terminal 200.

[0077] The microcontroller circuit 60 executes a program which enables the device 50 to provide an anti-theft function on the one hand, and a battery 1 status monitoring function on the other hand.

[0078] In the event of detection of movement using the accelerometer 61, and detection of a change in position of the battery 1 using the location module 66, an alert can be transmitted to the server or terminal 200.

[0079] To reduce the risk of false alarms, no alert is generated, for example, if the movement does not exceed a predefined amplitude and if it is not detected by the accelerometer 61 for a duration greater than a given minimum, for example several seconds, with an intensity greater than a given minimum, and if this detection is not accompanied within a predefined time interval by the detection of a change in the location of the battery by the location module 66.

[0080] In the absence of an alert, the device 50 can transmit its position at widely spaced time intervals, for example several hours or days, to minimize the electrical consumption of the device.

[0081] In the event of an alert, the device 50 can switch to active tracking mode and transmit its position at close time intervals, so as to allow precise localization of the device 50, almost in real time.

[0082] Device 50 can also transmit information about the battery status to the server or terminal 200.

[0083] The device 50 can in particular measure the voltage across the terminals of the battery 1, and transmit this value in near real-time or with a delay.

[0084] Knowledge of the voltage of battery 1 can make it possible to detect an anomaly.

[0085] For example, for a lead-acid battery with a nominal voltage of 12V, the detection of a rapid increase in battery voltage is representative of a battery being charged, while a rapid decrease in voltage is representative of a battery being discharged.

[0086] A voltage that remains stable and below 13V may indicate a failure of battery 1 or inverter 100, as may a voltage that remains stable at a value above 14V.

[0087] Voltage measurements are carried out, for example, at a frequency of 1 measurement / 5 minutes.

[0088] Similarly, the measurement of the currents observed at the battery terminals will complement voltage measurements and provide important direction and power information to determine its status and actual discharge capacity.

[0089] Communication with the server or terminal 200 can be done in a delayed manner, the values ​​being recorded in the device 50 before their transmission in trains of values ​​at a slower frequency than that of the measurements, for example every hour.

[0090] The transmission of measurement results can be carried out at a variable frequency, which depends for example on the rate of change of the measured quantities.

[0091] Other operating parameters besides voltage can be measured, for example current, by means of sensor 55, temperature, or even the presence of dihydrogen.

[0092] Preferably, the device 50 is made in such a way that it is possible to reset its operation from outside the battery.

[0093] For this purpose, a magnet can be brought close to the sensor 62 through the hood 40, this sensor being for example a Hall effect sensor or a magnetic contact of the ILS type.

[0094] The microcontroller circuit 60 can be arranged to detect the presence of the magnet and trigger a reset action.

[0095] During the reset, the device 50 goes for example through a transient intermediate state which allows its local connection to a terminal allowing its programming to be modified.

[0096] In one variant, the device 50 does not ensure the traceability of the battery's position but only the monitoring of operating parameters. In this case, the location module 66 is not required, nor is the accelerometer 61.

[0097] In another variant, the device 50 only provides the function of tracking the location, and not the transmission of operating parameters, such as voltage or temperature.

[0098] The device 50 can, in a variant, communicate via the Bluetooth module 64 with the inverter 100 or with other equipment in the vicinity.

[0099] This other equipment may, where appropriate, be another battery 1” identical to battery 1 except that it is equipped with a simplified device 50” lacking the GSM communication modules 65 and satellite positioning modules 66, but capable of measuring the electrical quantities of the battery, as illustrated in [Fig. 5]. In this case, the device 50 can transmit to the terminal 100 not only the electrical quantities measured on battery 1 but also those of battery 1”.

[0100] The device 50 can also transmit to the terminal 100 not only the electrical quantities measured on the battery 1 but also data from any other detection and measurement device.

[0101] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described.

[0102] For example, device 50 can be fitted with a battery that serves as a battery for starting on a road vehicle.

[0103] In this case, device 50 may or may not transmit battery-related data. Preferably, device 50 transmits, in addition to location data, battery-related data, or even data from a compatible device connected to the vehicle's OBD port or from any other detection and measurement device.

[0104] The tracing device according to the invention can also be integrated into batteries other than lead-acid batteries, for example LiFePO4 batteries and / or batteries with other output connections, for example with output terminals not arranged on the same left or right side of the battery but on the left and right.

Claims

Demands

1. Battery (1) comprising a body (10) and a cover (40) carried by the body, the body housing one or more battery cells electrically connected to output terminals (20), characterized in that it contains an electronic tracking device (50) disposed under the cover (40) and electrically powered by the battery, this tracking device being configured to transmit its geographic coordinates via a wireless link to a remote receiver (200), at least when certain predefined conditions are met.

2. Battery according to claim 1, the tracking device (50) being arranged to transmit information concerning the voltage across the battery terminals.

3. Battery according to claim 1 or 2, the tracking device (50) comprising a current sensor (55) and being arranged to transmit information concerning the charging or discharging current of the battery.

4. Battery according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the tracking device (50) comprising a temperature sensor (63) and being arranged to transmit information concerning the temperature of the battery.

5. Battery according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the tracking device comprising an inductive or magnetic sensor (62), and being arranged to permit a reset of the device by bringing a field generator or a magnet close to this inductive or magnetic sensor.

6. Battery according to any one of the preceding claims, the tracking device (50) comprising an electronic memory and the device being arranged to record in the memory data relating to the voltage across the battery terminals, the charging or discharging current, and / or the temperature of the battery.

7. Battery according to any one of the preceding claims, the predefined conditions corresponding at least to the detection of a movement of the battery, in particular an acceleration other than gravity whose intensity exceeds a predefined threshold for a predefined duration.

8. Battery according to any one of the preceding claims, the tracking device (50) comprising a position receiver (66) satellite, in particular of the GPS type, and a transmitter (65) by telephone networks, in particular of the GSM type.

9. Battery according to any one of the preceding claims, the tracking device (50) comprising an electronic card (53) and an electronic card holder (51) on which the card is fixed.

10. Battery according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an intermediate cover (30) disposed between the battery elements and the cover (40), the tracking device (50) being housed on this intermediate cover.

11. Battery according to claims 9 and 10, the intermediate cover (30) having two openings (31) for the passage of the terminals (20) of the battery, and a compartment (33) of generally rectangular shape having on one short side passages (32) adjacent to the terminals (20), the support (51) being disposed between the walls (34) defining the long sides of the compartment (33), between ventilation openings (35), a cable (54) connected to at least one detection loop (55) wound around a terminal (20) of the battery being connected to the electronic board (53), the latter being electrically connected by two cables (54) to conductors present under the intermediate cover (30) and electrically connected to said output terminals (20).

12. Battery according to any one of the preceding claims, being a lead-acid battery, in particular of a capacity between 50 and 300 Ah.

13. Battery according to any one of the preceding claims, the tracking device (50) comprising a Bluetooth-type transmitter / receiver (64).

14. A battery assembly comprising several models with identical external appearance, one of which is a battery (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13 and at least one other a battery (1') without said device (50).

15. A method for monitoring a battery according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein data is received by wireless transmission from the tracking device (50), and wherein an alert relating to the theft of the battery is generated from this data, in particular in the event of receipt of coordinates which establish a movement of the battery, and / or data relating to its condition, in particular the voltage at its terminals.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein data relating to the state of the battery is transmitted, this transmission being carried out at a higher frequency in the event of detection of abnormal parameters and / or rapid evolution of these parameters, than in the event of absence of detection of abnormal parameters or slow evolution of these parameters.

17. A method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein in the event of detection of movement of the battery, in particular by means of an accelerometer (61), the coordinates of the battery are emitted at a predefined frequency, this frequency being higher than that at which the coordinates are emitted in the absence of detection of movement.

18. Method according to the preceding claim, the battery being used in an installation where it is connected to an inverter (100).

19. A method according to any one of claims 15 to 18 on the one hand, the battery being according to claim 13 on the other hand, wherein the tracking device (50) communicates with at least one other device via the Bluetooth type link, and transmits data related to this other device via the wireless link, the other device being chosen from an inverter (100) to which the battery is electrically connected, another battery (1”) internally equipped with a simple electrical parameter tracking device (50”), or a sensor external to the battery.

20. A method of manufacturing a battery according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the tracing device (50) is installed and electrically connected to the output terminals (20) during the manufacture of the battery, before sealing the cover (40) on the rest of the battery.

21. A method for measuring the carbon footprint of a battery according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the path of the battery is traced using the tracing device (50) between its place of manufacture and its place of use, and / or between its place of use and its place of recycling, and the information relating to the path is used in the calculation of the carbon footprint.

22. A method of manufacturing or transforming a vehicle, in which the vehicle is equipped with a battery (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, either as original equipment or as a replacement for an existing battery lacking a tracking device.

Images