Audible Voice Prompt for Battery Test Data Association

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Solution Overview

Problem

In large battery banks, accurately associating test results with the correct battery is challenging due to the difficulty in visually monitoring the display while probing, often leading to mis-association and repetitive testing, even with two technicians.

Innovation Solution

The method involves using an audible voice prompt to announce the battery label or identifier, allowing the technician to confirm correct association and store results, potentially reducing errors and allowing single-technician operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a technician visually monitors the display while probing batteries, then test results can be recorded, but mis-association of test results with batteries occurs due to difficulty in visual monitoring

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of associating test results with batteriesVSAvoiddifficulty of visual monitoring while probing
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the visual monitoring mechanism with an acoustic feedback mechanism. A speaker announces the battery number and test result verbally, allowing the technician to probe batteries without needing to visually monitor the display. This substitution of the information delivery channel from visual to auditory resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for visual attention during probing while maintaining accurate association of test results with the correct batteries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If two technicians are used for testing, then correct association of test results improves, but testing time and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of associating test results with batteriesVSAvoidtesting efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the human visual verification mechanism with an automated acoustic announcement system. The speaker verbally announces each battery number and test result, enabling a single technician to accurately associate test results with batteries without requiring a second technician for verification. This automation maintains measurement precision while eliminating the productivity loss associated with using two technicians.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If the technician pays strict attention to the display position, then correct battery identification improves, but operational fatigue and mistakes still occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of battery identificationVSAvoidtime for correction and re-testing
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the technician's visual attention mechanism with an acoustic feedback system that verbally announces battery numbers and test results. This eliminates the need for the technician to maintain strict visual attention on the display, thereby preventing operational fatigue and mistakes. The acoustic feedback provides continuous verification without requiring cognitive load, eliminating time losses associated with correction and re-testing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP2910963B1Methods and instruments for testing batteries
Publication Date: 2019.09.25 FLUKE PRECISION MEASUREMENT
  • EP2910963B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2910963B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2910963B1 patent drawingFigure 4A

AI summary

A method and apparatus for testing batteries uses an audible voice prompt 35, 64 to enunciate the battery label or identifier that will be stored with the battery measurement in memory. Since the battery test technician must pay careful attention to the placement of the probes onto the battery terminal, the use of a voice prompt, rather than a visual prompt, allows the technician to keep his/her eyes on the test probes. If the label enunciated by the voice prompt does not match the label of the battery under test, the label on the tester can be reset to match the battery under test. In particular, a battery tester has a program which displays sequential numbers of battery labels that are stored with each battery's measurement data in memory. The sequence of labels corresponds to the sequential numbers marked on batteries in a string, array or matrix.