Battery analyzer

#The present invention relates to battery analyzers and battery chargers.

#Battery adapters and analyzers permit a user to charge, discharge, and test the performance of a rechargeable battery. However, conventional adapters and analyzers cannot communicate information concerning the battery to a device in a remote location.

#Conventional adapters and analyzers cannot receive information from a remote location, such as marketing information, software updates for the battery analyzer, software updates for the battery arrangement, user manuals, technical support data, product catalog information, battery specifications data, advertising information, and/or parameter information.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a battery analyzer system according to the present invention.

#FIG. 2a illustrates another exemplary battery analyzer system of the type illustrated in FIG. 1, in which a selected one of at least one remote device includes a centralized computer for collecting and distributing information to a customer service site.

#FIG. 2b is a flow diagram of data communication between the battery analyzer and the customer service site illustrated in FIG. 2a.

#Referring now to FIG. 1, there is seen an exemplary battery analyzer system 100 according to the present invention. The battery analyzer system 100 includes a battery analyzer 105 having a user interface 135 and a battery arrangement 120 including at least one rechargeable battery 130. The battery arrangement 120 is electrically coupled to the battery analyzer 105. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the battery analyzer 105 is communicatively coupled to at least one remote device 115a, 115b, 115c, . . . , 115n through a computer network 110.

#The computer network 110 may include any conventional arrangement operable to communicatively couple the battery analyzer 105 to the remote device 115a, 115b, 115c, . . . , 115n, such as a dedicated point-to-point network, a token-ring network, a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Local Area Network (LAN), an intranet, an internet, and/or the Internet. Furthermore, each of the battery analyzer 105 and the remote devices 115a, 115b, 115c, . . . , 115n may be operable to communicatively couple to the computer network 110 by a hardwired connection (e.g., fiber optic cables and/or conductive cables) and/or by a wireless connection.

#The battery analyzer 105 is operable to evaluate the battery 130 and to determine, for example, usage and performance information concerning the battery 130. The battery analyzer 105 may then communicate the usage and performance information, such as information indicating that the battery is not performing correctly, to one or more of the remote devices 115a, 115b, 115c, . . . , 115n via the computer network 110. The battery analyzer 105 may also communicate data related to technical support, which may include charging and discharging parameters used in configuring the power management controller. Technical support data could also include, for example, software update information, information to allow the remote location to change parameters, or automated software update if an outdated software version is detected.