Systems and methods for monitoring and storing performance and maintenance data related to an electrical component

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for testing and storage of information related to a component. A data collection device having a memory is fixedly connected to the component. A test device communicates with the data collection device to store test data concerning the component in the data collection device. The test device also performs analysis of the test data and provides information concerning the health and maintenance history of the component. The present invention also provides systems and methods for determining the current drawn or supplied by electrical components connected in parallel in an electrical system. A current sensor located between the electrical components determines the current supply or draw of one of the electrical components, while a current sensor between the electrical components and the remainder of the electrical system determine a cumulative current draw or supply by both the electrical components.

1 . A system for monitoring electrical components of an electrical system having at least first and second electrical components connected in parallel by a first conductor that connects terminals of the first and second electrical components together and a second conductor connecting a terminal of the first electrical component to a remainder of the electrical system, said system comprising:
 a first current sensing device connected between the first electrical component and the remainder of the electrical system; and   a second current sensing device connected between the first and second electrical components;   wherein when current flows from the remainder of the electrical system to the first and second electrical components, current sensed by said second current sensing device is equal to the current drawn by the second electrical component and current sensed by said first current sensing device equals the current drawn by both the first and second electrical components, and   wherein when current flows from first and second electrical components to the remainder of the electrical system, current sensed by said second current sensing device is equal to the current supplied by the second electrical component and current sensed by said first current sensing device equals the current supplied by both the first and second electrical components.   
   
   
       2 . A system according to  claim 1  further comprising a processor connected to said first and second current sensors, wherein said processor determines the current drawn and supplied by the first electrical component by subtracting the current sensed by said second current sensor from the current sensed by said first current sensor. 
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrical components are batteries, an said first and second current sensing device detect current drawn and supplied by the batteries. 
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second current sensing elements are Hall effect sensors. 
   
   
       5 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second current sensing elements are magneto resistive sensors. 
   
   
       6 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein said second current sensing elements comprises:
 sensing conductors connected to opposed ends of the first conductor connected between the first and second electrical components; and   a voltage meter connected to said sensing conductors for determining a voltage drop across the first conductor,   wherein said processor determines the current in said first conductor based on a known resistance of the conductor and the determined voltage drop across the first conductor.   
   
   
       7 . A method for monitoring electrical components of an electrical system having at least first and second electrical components connected in parallel by a first conductor that connects terminals of the first and second electrical components together and a second conductor connecting a terminal of the first electrical component to a remainder of the electrical system, said method comprising:
 connecting a first current sensing device between the first electrical component and the remainder of the electrical system;   connecting a second current sensing device between the first and second electrical components; and   sensing the current at the first and second current sensing devices, wherein   wherein when current flows from the remainder of the electrical system to the first and second electrical components, current sensed by said second current sensing device is equal to the current drawn by the second electrical component and current sensed by said first current sensing device equals the current drawn by both the first and second electrical components, and   wherein when current flows from first and second electrical components to the remainder of the electrical system, current sensed by said second current sensing device is equal to the current supplied by the second electrical component and current sensed by said first current sensing device equals the current supplied by both the first and second electrical components.   
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 7  further comprising determining the current drawn and supplied by the first electrical component by subtracting the current sensed by the second current sensor from the current sensed by the first current sensor. 
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and second electrical components are batteries, an said sensing step detects current drawn and supplied by the batteries. 
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein said sensing step uses first and second current sensing elements that are Hall effect sensors. 
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein said sensing step uses first and second current sensing elements that are magneto resistive sensors. 
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein said sensing step uses second current sensing elements that comprise:
 sensing conductors connected to opposed ends of the first conductor connected between the first and second electrical components; and   a voltage meter connected to said sensing conductors for determining a voltage drop across the first conductor,   wherein said determining step determines the current in the first conductor based on a known resistance of the conductor and the determined voltage drop across the first conductor.