Battery failure determination method, determination device, and computer program

Abstract

This battery failure determination method includes the processes of: storing a determination flow that corresponds to a type of a lead storage battery and / or a type of a vehicle or an apparatus on which the lead storage battery is mounted; receiving the type of the lead storage battery and / or the type of the vehicle or the apparatus on which the lead storage battery is mounted; determining a determination flow on the basis of the type of the received lead storage battery and / or the type of the vehicle or the apparatus on which the lead storage battery is mounted; receiving input of an investigation result for the lead storage battery; determining a failure of the lead storage battery according to the inputted inspection result on the basis of the determined determination flow; and outputting a determination result.

Description

Battery malfunction determination method, determination device, and computer program

[0001] The present invention relates to a method, a device, and a computer program for determining a battery malfunction in a lead-acid battery.

[0002] Lead-acid batteries used in mobile objects such as vehicles and industrial equipment such as uninterruptible power supplies are power sources for various electronic devices, and an unexpected malfunction can directly lead to an interruption in the power supply. For this reason, it is necessary to determine the cause of a malfunction in a lead-acid battery. Patent Document 1 discloses a method for accurately calculating the remaining capacity of a lead-acid battery used in a vehicle.

[0003] JP 2016-153949 A

[0004] A lead-acid battery suspected of having a defect is brought to a dealer or a maintenance service provider. An operator at the dealer or maintenance service provider determines the condition of the lead-acid battery in accordance with a manual. The operator, for example, checks the usage state and appearance of the lead-acid battery. Depending on the result of the operator's determination, the lead-acid battery is either returned to the user as is, returned after being charged, replaced within the scope of the warranty, or sent to the manufacturer together with a request for analysis.

[0005] Accurate judgment requires the experience and knowledge of the worker, so requests for analysis of lead-acid batteries from manufacturers are increasing. The lead-acid batteries for which analysis requests are received by manufacturers may include some that are in good condition, which could result in waste.

[0006] The present disclosure aims to provide a battery malfunction determination method, determination device, and computer program that enable appropriate determination at a dealer or maintenance service provider.

[0007] A battery malfunction determination method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a process in which a computer stores a determination flow according to the type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is installed, receives the type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is installed, determines a determination flow based on the received type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is installed, receives input of investigation results for the lead-acid battery, determines a malfunction of the lead-acid battery in accordance with the input investigation results based on the determined determination flow, and outputs the determination result.

[0008] 1 is a schematic diagram of a service system for lead-acid batteries of this embodiment. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a server device. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a determination flow stored in a storage unit. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a client device. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure in the service system. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an input screen. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of an input screen. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for accepting detailed information of mounted equipment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a survey acceptance screen for inputting survey results for lead-acid batteries. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the survey acceptance screen. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of the survey acceptance screen after updating. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of the survey acceptance screen after updating. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another example of the survey acceptance screen after updating.

[0009] (1) A battery malfunction determination method includes a process in which a computer stores a determination flow according to the type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is installed, receives the type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is installed, determines a determination flow based on the received type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is installed, receives input of investigation results for the lead-acid battery, determines a malfunction of the lead-acid battery in accordance with the input investigation results based on the determined determination flow, and outputs the determination result.

[0010] The lead-acid battery to be determined by the battery malfunction determination method is not limited to one installed in a vehicle, but may be one installed in a moving object such as a forklift, a ship, a small airplane, etc. The lead-acid battery may be one installed in industrial equipment such as an emergency power supply, an uninterruptible power supply, a lighting device, a communication device, or a measuring device.

[0011] When a problem occurs with the lead-acid battery, which is the power source, such as when the engine or motor of a vehicle won't start, or when the vehicle or equipment equipped with the battery won't start, the user or dealer will bring the lead-acid battery itself or the equipped vehicle or equipment to a lead-acid battery dealer or maintenance company. Traditionally, the dealer or maintenance company's staff would measure the lead-acid battery using a tester according to a manual, and then recharge or replace the battery depending on the measurement results, depending on the skill of the staff.

[0012] With the battery malfunction determination method disclosed herein, a worker at a lead-acid battery dealer or maintenance business receives items to be investigated and determination results based on a determination flow determined by the type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of equipment in which the lead-acid battery is installed. Based on the determination flow, the worker inputs the investigation results for the items to be investigated, and can receive the determination results from a computer, enabling appropriate determination. A uniform maintenance service can be provided that is not dependent on the skill of the worker. A malfunction can be determined even if the worker does not have the skills to determine a malfunction. Since the determination results can be output, the user can be satisfied based on the determination results. The timing of determining the determination flow and the timing of inputting the investigation results may be reversed. When the worker inputs the results of a previous investigation, a more appropriate determination flow may be selected and determined based on the input results.

[0013] Furthermore, it is preferable that the type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is installed be accepted and the determination results be output via communication.The computer can acquire, via communication, investigation results regarding defects for each type of lead-acid battery and / or each type of equipment in which the lead-acid battery is installed from various lead-acid battery dealers or maintenance companies.This allows data regarding lead-acid battery defects, which was previously conducted analogically, to be aggregated in the computer.The data regarding lead-acid battery defects aggregated in the computer also makes it possible to analyze lead-acid batteries in use, analyze regional defect trends, and analyze lead-acid battery defects for each production lot.

[0014] (2) In the battery malfunction determination method described in (1) above, the type of lead-acid battery may be classified as either a flooded type or a sealed type, and the type of vehicle or equipment may be classified as either a four-wheeled vehicle or a two-wheeled vehicle, whether it has an idling stop feature, or whether it complies with European vehicle standards.

[0015] The above configuration makes it possible to output a judgment according to various types of lead-acid batteries. The items required to judge a problem with a lead-acid battery differ depending on the electrolyte retention method, such as flooded or sealed. The type of lead-acid battery used also differs depending on whether the vehicle is a two-wheeled or four-wheeled vehicle. The type of lead-acid battery used also differs depending on whether the vehicle is equipped with an idling stop system, even for two-wheeled or four-wheeled vehicles. The type of lead-acid battery also differs depending on whether the vehicle is European standard, even for two-wheeled or four-wheeled vehicles. By setting the judgment flow for each type in detail, accurate judgments are possible.

[0016] (3) In the battery malfunction determination method of (1) or (2) above, the computer may display an input screen that accepts the type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is installed, and each time it accepts input of the investigation results on the input screen, it may output the next item to be investigated based on the determination flow.

[0017] With the above configuration, each time an investigation result for a survey item is input, the next survey item based on the judgment flow is displayed, allowing the worker to accurately grasp the procedure and carry out the investigation work.

[0018] (4) In any one of the battery malfunction determination methods (1) to (3) above, the computer may output, based on the malfunction determination result, the action to be taken, such as returning the lead-acid battery to the user, replacing it, or sending it to the manufacturer.

[0019] With the above configuration, the worker can not only determine whether the lead-acid battery is defective, but also understand the details of the measures to be taken, such as whether the battery should be returned to the user, replaced, or sent to the manufacturer for investigation, based on the judgment result based on the lead-acid battery judgment flow.

[0020] (5) In the battery malfunction determination method described in (4) above, the computer may receive information regarding the period of use of the lead-acid battery and / or the vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is installed, determine whether or not the battery is within the warranty period, and if it is determined that the battery is within the warranty period, output a free replacement of the lead-acid battery as the action to be taken.

[0021] With the above configuration, if it is determined that a battery should be replaced based on the judgment flow, information is also output as to whether the replacement can be done free of charge within the warranty period. This reduces the possibility that the operator may mistakenly suggest a free battery replacement to the user. It also makes it possible to make appropriate suggestions based on the period of use.

[0022] (6) In any one of the battery malfunction determination methods (1) to (5) above, the computer may store data describing investigation items that branch off depending on the tester measurement results, the specific gravity of the electrolyte, and / or the voltage value, as the determination flow, depending on the type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is installed.

[0023] As in the above configuration, the decision flow may be described in a table format so as to branch depending on the tester measurement results, weights, and / or voltage values. The processing unit can execute processing while checking the tester measurement results, weights, and / or voltage values ​​against the table. The decision flow is not limited to being in a table format and may be stored as tree-structured data.

[0024] (7) The determination device includes a processing unit that stores a determination flow according to the type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is installed, receives the type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is installed, determines a determination flow based on the received type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is installed, receives input of investigation results for the lead-acid battery, determines a malfunction of the lead-acid battery in accordance with the input investigation results based on the determined determination flow, and outputs the determination result.

[0025] (8) The computer program causes a computer to execute a process of storing a judgment flow according to the type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is installed, receiving the type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is installed, determining a judgment flow based on the received type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is installed, receiving input of investigation results for the lead-acid battery, determining a malfunction of the lead-acid battery in accordance with the input investigation results based on the determined judgment flow, and outputting the judgment result.

[0026] The present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof.

[0027] 1 is a schematic diagram of a service system 100 for lead-acid batteries according to this embodiment. When a lead-acid battery dealer or maintenance company receives a complaint about a lead-acid battery from a user or an agency, the service system 100 outputs a determination procedure to support the work of the worker and digitizes a work record for the complaint. The service system 100 also makes it possible to share the work records of the lead-acid battery dealer or maintenance company with the lead-acid battery manufacturer.

[0028] The service system 100 includes a server device (determination device) 1 managed by a manufacturer and a plurality of client devices 2 used at various locations of lead-acid battery dealers or maintenance companies. Data can be transmitted and received between the server device 1 and the client devices 2 via a network N. The network N includes a network N1, which is a local network or a dedicated line of the manufacturer. The network N may also include a public communication network N2, which is the so-called Internet, and a carrier network N3.

[0029] A worker at a dealer or maintenance company receives a complaint from a user or an agency regarding a defect in a lead-acid battery. The worker accesses the server device 1 using the client device 2 and inputs the type of lead-acid battery brought in along with the complaint and the type of vehicle or equipment in which it was installed, allowing the server device 1 to provide support. Traditionally, when a worker receives a complaint, they fill out a paper slip, record the results of measurements using a tester and visual inspections, and take action based on the assessment results. In contrast, in the service system 100 of this embodiment, the worker does not generally use paper slips. The worker can receive the assessment results from the server device 1 and create a work record by inputting necessary information, such as information obtained from the user or agency and the results of measurements using a tester, into a screen presented by a web application provided by the server device 1.

[0030] The following describes the configuration and processing procedures for the service system 100 of this embodiment to support the work of workers and digitize work records.

[0031] 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the server device 1. The server device 1 is a server computer or a personal computer. In the following description, the server device 1 is described as being configured with one server computer, but it may also be configured such that multiple server computers are connected to each other via a network for communication and perform distributed processing.

[0032] The server device 1 includes a processing unit 10, a storage unit 11, and a communication unit 12. The processing unit 10 is a processor that uses a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and / or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The processing unit 10 executes, based on a battery malfunction determination program P1 stored in the storage unit 11, determination of malfunctions by type of lead-acid battery and type of equipment used.

[0033] The storage unit 11 uses a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk, flash memory, or SSD (Solid State Drive). The storage unit 11 stores data referenced by the processing unit 10. The storage unit 11 stores a battery malfunction determination program P1 (program product). The battery malfunction determination program P1 may be a battery malfunction determination program P9 stored in the storage medium 9 that is read by the processing unit 10 and copied to the storage unit 11. The battery malfunction determination program P1 may also be a program downloaded from another program server or device via the communication unit 12 and stored therein.

[0034] The memory unit 11 stores a malfunction determination flow according to the type of lead-acid battery. The type of lead-acid battery is distinguished, for example, by sealed type (VRLA (Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid), also called sealed battery) and flooded type (also called vented battery). The type of lead-acid battery may also be distinguished by the type of vehicle in which the lead-acid battery is installed. The type of vehicle includes whether it is a four-wheeled vehicle or a two-wheeled vehicle, whether it is an idle stop (IS) specification, and whether it is a European vehicle (EN (European Norm) standard battery). The type of vehicle may also be distinguished by whether it is manufactured by a specific vehicle manufacturer.

[0035] 3 shows an example of a determination flow stored in the storage unit 11. The storage unit 11 stores a correspondence table and a determination flow. The correspondence table shows a correspondence relationship between the type of lead-acid battery, the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is installed, and an alphabet (A, B, C) that identifies the determination flow. The determination flow is data describing a procedure that branches according to the type of lead-acid battery and the type of vehicle or equipment in which the battery is installed, the measurement results obtained by a tester, and the measured specific gravity, voltage value, etc.

[0036] In the example shown in FIG. 3 , the judgment flow “A” initially includes a procedure to be performed next or a judgment result depending on the tester measurement result: “GOOD,” “Needs charging,” “Caution & retest (TEST),” or “BAD.” The judgment results include “1: Good,” “2: Specific gravity variation,” “3: Unable to charge,” “4: Cell short circuit” (not shown), “5: Insufficient capacity,” “6: Over-discharge,” “7: Discharge,” “8: Highly deteriorated,” and “9: Open circuit.” The memory unit 11 stores actions to be performed by the operator depending on the judgment results of the judgment flow, such as “1: Return to user,” “2: Recycle (recover),” and “3: Send to manufacturer.” Based on the data of the judgment flow and in response to input from the operator, as described below, the processing unit 10 can output the procedure (task item) to be performed next, the judgment result, and necessary actions.

[0037] The judgment flow may be stored in a search tree structure, not limited to a format that allows tracing of branching in a table as shown in Fig. 3. A learning model trained using a neural network to output a judgment result using the type of tester, the open voltage and specific gravity that are the measurement results by the tester, and the judgment result of the tester as inputs may be stored, and the processing unit 10 may use the learning model as the judgment flow.

[0038] The storage unit 11 stores account data for workers at dealerships or maintenance businesses. The worker account data includes an account ID, the name of the dealership or maintenance business, area data identifying the area of ​​the store or business, and contact information such as a telephone number and an email address.

[0039] The storage unit 11 stores the serial number of the lead-acid battery, the state of the lead-acid battery, information on the installed equipment, etc. in association with identification data (slip ID) of a slip recording a complaint about the lead-acid battery in a complaint database (DB) 111. The complaint DB 111 may be stored in an external storage device and may be readable and writable by the processing unit 10.

[0040] The communication unit 12 realizes communication with the client device 2 via the network N. Specifically, the communication unit 12 is a network card. The communication unit 12 may be a wireless communication device that connects to the carrier network N3, or may be a wireless communication device for Wi-Fi. The processing unit 10 can send and receive data to and from the client device 2 via the communication unit 12.

[0041] 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the client device 2. The client device 2 is a laptop or desktop personal computer. The client device 2 may also be a smartphone or a tablet terminal.

[0042] The client device 2 includes a processing unit 20 , a storage unit 21 , a communication unit 22 , a display unit 23 , an operation unit 24 , and an imaging unit 25 .

[0043] The processing unit 20 is a processor using a CPU and / or a GPU. The processing unit 20 executes a client program stored in the storage unit 21. The processing unit 20 transmits and receives data to and from the server device 1 based on the client program P2. The client program P2 includes a web browser program.

[0044] The storage unit 21 uses a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk, flash memory, or SSD. The storage unit 21 stores data referenced by the processing unit 20. The storage unit 21 stores various programs including a client program P2. The client program P2 may be a client program P8 (program product) stored in the storage medium 8 that is read by the processing unit 10 and copied to the storage unit 11. The client program P2 may also be downloaded from another program server or device via the communication unit 12 and stored therein.

[0045] The communication unit 22 realizes communication with the server device 1 via the network N. The communication unit 22 is, for example, a network card. The communication unit 22 may be a wireless communication device that connects to the carrier network N3, or may be a wireless communication device for Wi-Fi. The processing unit 20 can send and receive data to and from the server device 1 via the communication unit 22.

[0046] The display unit 23 is a display such as a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, etc. The display unit 23 displays a GUI (Graphical User Interface) of various application programs. The processing unit 20 displays a screen on the display unit 23 based on the data provided from the server device 1 in accordance with the client program P2.

[0047] The operation unit 24 is a user interface such as a keyboard and a mouse that can input and output data to and from the processing unit 20. The operation unit 24 may be a touch panel built into the display unit 23. The operation unit 24 may be a physical button, or the operation unit 24 may be an audio input / output unit including a microphone.

[0048] The imaging unit 25 can capture an image of a sheet bearing a serial number, a two-dimensional code, or an image attached to the package of the lead-acid battery.

[0049] The following describes the process of accepting a complaint about a lead-acid battery, determining the defect, and keeping a work record as digital data in the service system 100 configured as above. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the process procedure in the service system 100. A worker at a dealer or maintenance company who has accepted a complaint about a lead-acid battery uses the client device 2 to input account data previously assigned to the worker (log in). The server device 1 and the client device 2 execute the following process upon the input of the account data into the client device 2.

[0050] The client device 2 transmits a request for a complaint input screen together with the worker's account data to the server device 1 (step S201).

[0051] When the processing unit 10 of the server device 1 receives the request for the input screen (step S101), it issues a claim slip ID (step S102) and creates claim data for the lead-acid battery (step S103). In step S103, the processing unit 10 adds the account ID of the dealer or maintenance company that sent the request, which is included in the request, to the claim data.

[0052] The processing unit 10 creates an input screen for the complaint on which the slip ID and account ID have already been input (step S104), and transmits the data of the created input screen to the client device 2 (step S105).

[0053] The processing unit 20 of the client device 2 receives the data of the input screen (step S202) and displays the input screen on the display unit 23 (step S203). The processing unit 20 accepts input of the type of lead-acid battery and the type of equipment or vehicle in which the lead-acid battery was installed on the displayed input screen (step S204). In step S204, the processing unit 20 may accept the type by character recognition from an image of the serial number affixed to the casing of the lead-acid battery captured by the imaging unit 25. The processing unit 20 may also accept, using the imaging unit 25, an image of a two-dimensional code encoding the type, model, etc. of the lead-acid battery and accept information on the serial number, type, and model obtained by decoding the image. In step S204, the processing unit 20 may accept, as initial input data, the serial number, date and time of use start, and usage history (mileage, etc.) of the lead-acid battery. The processing unit 20 transmits the type of lead-acid battery and the type of equipment or vehicle in which the lead-acid battery was installed received in step S204 to the server device 1 (step S205).

[0054] The processing unit 10 of the server device 1 receives the type of lead-acid battery and the type of equipment or vehicle entered on the input screen (step S106), and determines a determination flow stored in the storage unit 11 based on the received type of lead-acid battery and type of equipment or vehicle (step S107). The processing unit 10 then updates the input screen displayed on the client device 2 in accordance with the determined determination flow in accordance with the items entered on the input screen (step S108). In step S108, the processing unit 10 may transmit the determination flow and cause the client device 2 to update the input screen based on the determination flow.

[0055] The processing unit 20 of the client device 2 accepts input of each item, including the tester measurement results, on the updated input screen (step S206), and transmits the data of the accepted items to the server device 1 (step S207). In step S206, the processing unit 20 may also input the type (product number) of the tester used for the measurement. In step S206, the processing unit 20 accepts input of data that the operator can know about the items displayed on the input screen, such as an external image of the lead-acid battery captured by the imaging unit 25, and transmits the data to the server device 1 each time it is accepted. In this way, as items are entered on the input screen, the necessary items are updated sequentially.

[0056] When the processing unit 10 of the server device 1 receives the data for each item transmitted from the client device 2 (step S109), it determines the judgment result and the action to be taken based on the judgment flow (step S110) and transmits them to the client device 2 (step S111). Until the judgment result and the action to be taken are finally determined, the processing unit 10 repeatedly executes the processes from step S106 to step S109 according to the determined judgment flow, and successively updates the input screen.

[0057] In step S110, if the processing unit 10 determines "replacement" as the disposition based on the judgment flow, it acquires the information such as the serial number and purchase date and time entered as other items on the input screen and determines whether the usage period is within the warranty period. If it is determined that the usage period is within the warranty period, the processing unit 10 outputs "free replacement" as the final disposition. This allows the worker to be supported using information held by the manufacturer that is available on the server device 1 to prevent the worker from making an incorrect disposition.

[0058] The processing unit 20 of the client device 2 receives the determination result and the disposition of the action (step S208) and displays the received determination result and the disposition of the action on the display unit 23 (step S209). If the disposition of the action is "replacement," the processing unit 20 may also display information indicating whether the product is within the warranty period. If the disposition of the action is recycling, the processing unit 20 may display an application screen for recycling application on the input screen, or if the disposition of the action is sending to the manufacturer, may display a screen for sending to the manufacturer.

[0059] The screen including the determination result and the disposition content displayed in step S209 may include an interface for outputting a slip. When the interface is selected on the operation unit 24, the processing unit 20 of the client device 2 creates and outputs document data such as a PDF file in which the items entered on the input screen are filled in.

[0060] The processing unit 20 accepts registration by selecting the complaint registration interface displayed on the currently displayed input screen (step S210). When the registration is accepted on the input screen, the server device 1 is notified.

[0061] The processing unit 10 of the server device 1, which has received the notification of registration, stores the various data in the claim DB 111 in association with the slip ID issued in step S102 (step S112), and terminates the process. In step S112, the processing unit 10 stores the data of each item received from the client device 2 in steps S106 and S109, the determination results determined by the processing unit 10 itself, and the processing contents.

[0062] 5, the processing unit 10 accepts the investigation results to be input according to the judgment flow determined in step S107. The processing unit 10 may receive data measured before the judgment flow was determined, such as tester measurement results, from the client device 2, and determine the judgment result while determining the judgment flow based on the received data. The processing unit 10 may determine which judgment result according to the judgment flow should be adopted based on data transmitted each time the client device 2 accepts input of data known to the operator.

[0063] The processing procedure shown in the flowchart of Fig. 5 will be specifically described with reference to example screens. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an input screen 230. The input screen 230 is displayed on the display unit 23 when the worker inputs account data using the client device 2.

[0064] In the example of FIG. 6 , an input screen 230 displayed on a web browser displays input fields for data about the lead-acid battery on separate pages. The input screen 230 is divided into a complaint reception screen 231 ( FIG. 6 ) for inputting data related to the complaint reception, a screen 232 (see FIG. 8 ) for receiving detailed information about the installed equipment (the installed vehicle), and an investigation reception screen 233 (see FIG. 9 ) for receiving the results of an investigation into the lead-acid battery. The input screen 230 may be displayed as a page including all of the complaint reception screen 231, screen 232, and investigation reception screen 233, or may be displayed in a tab format. The input screen 230 is designed to be easily operable when displayed on a smartphone and when displayed on a laptop PC.

[0065] The input screen 230 in Fig. 6 includes a complaint reception screen 231. The complaint reception screen 231 is initially displayed on the input screen 230. On the complaint reception screen 231 in Fig. 6, the slip ID and the name of the retailer have already been entered based on the account data transmitted from the client device 2 together with the complaint request.

[0066] 6, the complaint reception screen 231 includes input fields 2311 and 2312 for receiving the type of battery, the specifications (type) of the onboard equipment, or the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 6, the input fields 2311 and 2312 may be configured to receive some of the content in a selection format.

[0067] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing another example of the input screen 230. Fig. 7 shows the complaint reception screen 231 updated after data for each item has been entered into the input fields 2311 and 2312 shown in Fig. 6. In Fig. 7, "sealed" has been selected as the "type" of battery type in the input field 2311, and "ABC" has been entered as the model and "DE" as the standard. In the input field 2312 of Fig. 7, "four-wheel" and "idling stop (IS) specification" have been entered as the type of vehicle in which the lead-acid battery is installed.

[0068] When the server device 1 receives the input result shown in Fig. 7 from the client device 2, it refers to the correspondence table (Fig. 3) stored in the storage unit 11 and determines the judgment flow to be "A" (S107). Based on the determined judgment flow, the processing unit 10 of the server device 1 updates the screen in accordance with the data input to the input screen 230 thereafter. As a result, the determined judgment flow result is displayed as "A" in Fig. 7.

[0069] Fig. 8 shows an example of a screen 232 for accepting detailed information about on-board equipment. As shown in Fig. 8, the screen 232 includes fields for accepting input of information such as the manufacturer, vehicle name, model, frame number, engine type, and mileage in the case of a vehicle. As shown in Fig. 8, the screen 232 includes fields for accepting input of information such as the manufacturer and product number in the case of equipment other than a vehicle, such as a power supply unit.

[0070] Regarding "whether the usage period is within the warranty period" in the procedure shown in FIG. 5, the processing unit 20 may automatically calculate the warranty period based on the battery type and the specifications of the onboard equipment or vehicle input in FIG. 7, or the vehicle name, vehicle model, and part number of the onboard equipment, etc., shown in FIG. 8. The warranty period for a lead-acid battery is usually determined by the battery model and vehicle specifications. The server device 1 stores the warranty period corresponding to the battery model and vehicle specifications in the memory unit 11, and the processing unit 20 can automatically calculate the warranty period by referencing this via the server device 1. The processing unit 20 may also acquire, via the server device 1, the manufacturing date associated with the serial number of the lead-acid battery, data on whether the lead-acid battery has been inspected, and data on whether an extended warranty service is available, and use this information to automatically calculate the warranty period.

[0071] FIG. 9 shows an investigation reception screen 233 for inputting the results of an investigation into a lead-acid battery. The investigation reception screen 233 displays input fields and enables / disables input fields according to the judgment flow determined based on the data input into the complaint reception screen 231. The investigation reception screen 233 in FIG. 9 displays a message prompting input of the results of an investigation by a tester based on judgment flow "A" determined for a sealed lead-acid battery, and the fields for receiving input of the measurement results by the tester are enabled. The investigation reception screen 233 also receives the type of tester. The options for the tester's judgment results are updated depending on the type of tester.

[0072] When the tester measurement results are entered into the fields of the survey reception screen 233 of FIG. 9 , the input screen 230 is updated, and the survey reception screen 233 shown in FIG. 10 is displayed. FIG. 10 shows an example of the survey reception screen 233. The survey reception screen 233 indicates that the tester measurement results are an open-circuit voltage of 12.22 V and that the tester's judgment result is "recharge required (RECHARGE)." Upon receiving the input data, the processing unit 10 of the server device 1 determines, based on judgment flow "A," that the next item to be investigated is "recharge the battery and measure again with the tester." As a result, the survey reception screen 233 of FIG. 10 displays a message prompting the user to perform the procedure of recharge and measure again with the tester, and the field for accepting input of the tester measurement results is enabled. When the tester measurement results are entered into the fields of the survey reception screen 233 of FIG. 10 , the input screen 230 is updated, and the survey reception screen 233 shown in FIG. 11 or FIG. 12 is displayed.

[0073] Fig. 11 shows an example of the updated investigation reception screen 233. The investigation reception screen 233 in Fig. 11 shows that the open circuit voltage increased as a result of supplemental charging, the tester's judgment result was good (GOOD), and these measurement results were input by the operator through operation of the operation unit 24. The investigation reception screen 233 in Fig. 11 shows the defect content judged according to judgment flow "A" based on the input of the tester's measurement results. The investigation reception screen 233 in Fig. 11 shows the final judgment result of "discharge" and the disposition of "return."

[0074] 11, a "Register" button 2331 is displayed next to the final judgment result and disposition. When the "Register" button 2331 is selected by operation on the operation unit 24, the server device 1 receives a notification of registration. As a result, the various items entered on the complaint reception screen 231, the various information received on screen 232, the tester measurement results received on the investigation reception screen 233, and the judgment results based on the judgment flow are stored in association with the slip ID. Complaint reception slips, which were previously created by workers filling out paper media, are now digitized and recorded on the server device 1.

[0075] FIG. 12 shows another example of the updated investigation reception screen 233. The investigation reception screen 233 of FIG. 12 shows the results of inputting these measurement results, such as the open-circuit voltage not increasing as a result of supplemental charging and the tester's judgment result indicating the need for charging (RECHARGE), through the operator's operation of the operation unit 24. The investigation reception screen 233 of FIG. 12 displays the defect details determined in accordance with judgment flow "A" based on the input of the tester's measurement results. The investigation reception screen 233 of FIG. 12 also displays the final judgment result of "insufficient capacity" and the action to be taken: "replacement." Since the final action to be taken is "replacement," the processing unit 10 of the server device 1 determines whether the product is within the warranty period and determines that a free replacement is possible. The investigation reception screen 233 of FIG. 12 also displays a "Register" button 2331.

[0076] FIG. 13 shows another example of the updated investigation reception screen 233. In the investigation reception screen 233 of FIG. 13, the determination flow is determined by flow "B" for a liquid-type battery for vehicles with idling stop specifications. The investigation reception screen 233 of FIG. 13 displays the tester measurement results already entered at the time of reception. The investigation reception screen 233 of FIG. 13 shows the tester measurement results of 12.22 V and the tester determination result of "recharge required (RECHARGE)." Upon receiving the input data, the processing unit 10 of the server device 1 determines, based on determination flow "B," that the next item to be investigated is "measurement of specific gravity variation." As a result, the investigation reception screen 233 of FIG. 13 displays a message prompting the user to perform the procedure of measuring specific gravity variation, and a field for receiving input of the specific gravity measurement results for each cell is enabled. When the measurement result of the specific gravity is input in the field of the survey reception screen 233 of FIG. 13, the input screen 230 is updated and the survey reception screen 233 shown in FIG. 14 is displayed.

[0077] FIG. 14 shows another example of the updated survey reception screen 233. Based on the specific gravity variation measurement results, the survey reception screen 233 in FIG. 14 determines that the specific gravity of all cells is lower than the predetermined value. Upon receiving the input data, the processing unit 10 of the server device 1 determines, based on decision flow "B," that the next item to be surveyed is "measure specific gravity variation again after supplemental charging." As a result, the survey reception screen 233 in FIG. 14 displays a message encouraging the user to perform the procedure of measuring specific gravity variation again after supplemental charging, and the fields for accepting input of specific gravity measurement results for each cell are enabled. When the specific gravity measurement results are entered into the fields on the survey reception screen 233 in FIG. 14, the input screen 230 is updated, and the survey reception screen 233 shown in FIG. 15 is displayed.

[0078] FIG. 15 shows another example of the updated investigation reception screen 233. The investigation reception screen 233 of FIG. 15 shows the result of the specific gravity not recovering as a result of supplementary charging, and the result of these measurement results being input by the operator through operation of the operation unit 24. The investigation reception screen 233 of FIG. 15 shows the defect details determined in accordance with determination flow "B" based on the input of the specific gravity measurement results. The investigation reception screen 233 of FIG. 15 also shows the final determination result "unable to charge" and the action "send to manufacturer." As with the investigation reception screen 233 of FIG. 12, the investigation reception screen 233 of FIG. 15 also displays a "Register" button 2331.

[0079] As shown in Figures 11, 12, 14, and 15, not only is the input screen 230 automatically updated, but the judgment result of the defect content may be displayed only when the ``Judge'' button, which is enabled after a number or character string is selected or entered in each input field, is selected by the operation unit 24.

[0080] In this way, in the service system 100 of the present disclosure, an operator inputs the results of an investigation into a lead-acid battery into the client device 2 via a web-based system. Even if the operator has little experience, the next steps to be taken and the appropriate decision are displayed. This allows each dealer or maintenance service provider to provide appropriate services regardless of the operator's skill level. This prevents lead-acid batteries suspected of being defective from being sent unnecessarily to manufacturers, allowing for the appropriate allocation of human resources for providing services. Since the assessment results can be saved as a document file, presenting the document file to the end user as a report increases the end user's satisfaction.

[0081] Since a tablet terminal or a smartphone can be used as the client device 2, the worker at the dealer or maintenance service provider can check the contents while performing the inspection, which also increases work efficiency.

[0082] The embodiments disclosed above are illustrative in all respects and are not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, and includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0083] 100 Service system 1 Server device 10 Processing unit 11 Storage unit 111 Complaint DB P1, P9 Battery defect determination program (computer program) 2 Client device 20 Processing unit 21 Storage unit 25 Imaging unit P2, P8 Client program

Claims

1. A battery malfunction determination method including the steps of: a computer storing a determination flow according to the type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is mounted; accepting the type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is mounted; determining a determination flow based on the accepted type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is mounted; accepting input of investigation results for the lead-acid battery; determining a malfunction of the lead-acid battery in accordance with the input investigation results based on the determined judgment flow; and outputting the determination result.

2. The battery malfunction determination method according to claim 1, wherein the type of lead-acid battery is classified into flooded type and sealed type, and the type of vehicle or equipment is classified according to whether it is a four-wheeled vehicle or a two-wheeled vehicle, whether it has an idling stop specification, and whether it complies with European vehicle standards.

3. The battery malfunction determination method according to claim 1, further comprising the process of: displaying an input screen for receiving the type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is mounted, and outputting the next item to be investigated on the input screen based on the determination flow each time the input of the investigation results is received.

4. The battery malfunction determination method according to claim 1, including a process in which the computer outputs the action to be taken based on the malfunction determination result, either returning the lead-acid battery to the user, exchanging it, or sending it to the manufacturer.

5. A battery malfunction determination method as claimed in claim 4, including a process in which the computer receives information relating to the period of use of the lead-acid battery and / or the vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is mounted, determines whether or not the battery is within the warranty period, and if it is determined that the battery is within the warranty period, outputs a free replacement of the lead-acid battery as the treatment content.

6. A battery malfunction determination method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the computer stores, as the determination flow, data describing investigation items that branch off depending on tester measurement results, specific gravity of the electrolyte, and / or voltage value depending on the type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is mounted.

7. A determination device comprising a processing unit that executes processes of: storing a determination flow according to the type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is mounted; receiving the type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is mounted; determining a determination flow based on the received type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is mounted; receiving input of investigation results for the lead-acid battery; determining a malfunction of the lead-acid battery according to the input investigation results based on the determined judgment flow; and outputting the judgment result.

8. A computer program that causes a computer to execute the following processes: storing a judgment flow according to the type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is installed, accepting the type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is installed, determining a judgment flow based on the accepted type of lead-acid battery and / or the type of vehicle or equipment in which the lead-acid battery is installed, accepting input of investigation results for the lead-acid battery, determining a malfunction of the lead-acid battery according to the input investigation results based on the determined judgment flow, and outputting the judgment result.

Images