Patent Application
20200341066
This application relates to battery testers. More specifically, this application relates to a user interface for a battery tester.
A battery tester may be used in a number of scenarios. It may be used on a battery installed in a vehicle, a battery removed from a vehicle, or a new battery.
Known battery testers have two cables: a positive and a negative cable, which are attached to the battery's positive and negative terminal. The battery tester uses these connected cables to perform a series of tests on the vehicle. The tests are then used to produce a report, typically regarding battery state of charge and/or health. The battery tester is typically operated by a technician.
Known testers have user interfaces with a number of disadvantages. For example, known testers may have user interfaces that are difficult to navigate when connected to a battery. Known testers may have user interfaces that only work with large, horizontal screens, requiring cumbersome tester positioning. Other known testers may have physical button-based navigation with small mono-color screens; others may require printouts to display testing results.
Known testers may therefore have user interfaces that are difficult to navigate and obtain results. What is needed is a battery tester user interface that remedies these and other deficiencies.
Disclosed is a battery tester user interface that seeks to remedy the above and other deficiencies.
In various embodiments of the invention, the battery tester user interface may be vertically-oriented (i.e. portrait orientation). The orientation may facilitate ease of operation of the battery tester by a technician by allowing for one-handed interaction with the interface. This may allow for improved ability to perform the testing—in other words, the technician may hold the device in one hand and perform physical testing with the other. In addition, the user interface may be configured for display on a touch screen, allowing for ease of access throughout testing.
The battery tester user interface according to various embodiments of the invention may include improved navigation features. For example, the interface may allow for elements to be displayed in a single, more easily-navigable screen during testing. As a further non-limiting example, the user interface may be vertically oriented to allow for ease of navigation while a tester is held.
As another non-limiting example, the interface may allow for single-touch access to multiple testing aspects. The user interface may allow for easily navigable display of a large amount of information. For example, the user interface may comprise a three-stage top navigation for displaying testing results, which may allow for quick and easy navigation to relevant battery health and battery test data.
Disclosed is a battery tester comprising a computing device and a screen, the computing device being configured to display on the screen a user interface for improved battery testing, the user interface comprising a series of interfaces: a first interface comprising a plurality of icons, each of the plurality of icons corresponding to at least one of a test condition or a tester functionality; a testing interface comprising a number of instructions which update based on a user interaction with the vehicle, and wherein selection of an icon in the first interface corresponding to a test condition displays the testing interface; and a results interface, having a three-stage top navigation and summary, the three-stage top navigation for reporting battery health metrics, wherein completion of the testing interface displays a results interface. Further disclosed is a battery tester wherein the one or more of the top navigation comprises a cranking result or a charging result. Further disclosed is a battery tester wherein selection of one or more of the three-stage navigation presents a battery replacement recommendation. Further disclosed is a battery tester wherein selection of one of the three-stage navigation provides a testing results summary interface. Further disclosed is a battery tester wherein viewing of the testing results summary interface may be achieved by scrolling downward on the tester user interface. Further disclosed is a battery tester comprising a vehicle record interface, the vehicle record interface having a plurality of fields for inputting vehicle information, wherein the interface may be populated by a user or tester-obtained data. Further disclosed is a battery tester wherein the battery tester is sized to be held one-handed.
Disclosed is a method for improved battery health data capture and display, the method comprising: holding a battery tester, the battery tester having a screen displaying a user interface; selecting one of a plurality of icons displayed on the user interface corresponding to a test condition to begin a test; displaying on the user interface a testing interface which dynamically updates based on the completion of one or more testing steps; upon completion of one or more tests, displaying on the user interface a results interface having a three-stage navigation and health summary, the three-stage top navigation corresponding to different battery health information; selecting on the user interface one or more of the three-stage top navigation to display a results summary and recommendation regarding battery health. Further disclosed is a method further comprising populating on the user interface a vehicle information interface, the vehicle information interface optionally being populated by manual entry. Further disclosed is a method wherein the battery tester is sized to be held in one hand. Further disclosed is a method wherein the user interface is vertically-oriented. Further disclosed is a method wherein the battery tester screen is a touchscreen. Further disclosed is a method wherein one of the three-stage top navigation comprises a cranking result. Further disclosed is a method wherein selection of one or more of the three-stage navigation presents a battery replacement recommendation. Further disclosed is a method wherein selection of one of the three-stage navigation provides a testing results summary interface.
Disclosed herein is a method for displaying battery health information on a graphical user interface, the method comprising: providing a touchscreen on a battery tester, the touchscreen displaying a user interface; displaying on the user interface a testing interface which dynamically updates with testing instructions based on the completion of one or more testing steps; upon completion of one or more tests, displaying on the user interface a results interface having a three-stage navigation and health summary, the three-stage top navigation corresponding to different battery health metrics; selecting on the user interface one or more of the three-stage top navigation to display a testing results summary and recommendation regarding battery health. Further disclosed is a method wherein the battery tester is sized to be held in one hand. Further disclosed is a method wherein the user interface is vertically-oriented. Further disclosed is a method wherein one of the three-stage top navigation comprises a cranking result.
In summary, the disclosed battery tester user interface and method may allow for improved ease of operation and display of information over known battery testers. These and other advantages are disclosed further herein.
It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary to the understanding to the invention or render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.
Turning to the Figures, a battery tester user interface according to various examples of embodiments is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of operation and navigation facilitated by the battery tester user interface according to various examples of embodiments.
In
As can be readily ascertained, the battery tester 101 may feature a screen or display 103 on a front of the tester. The display 103 may be a touch-sensitive screen. The front of the battery tester 101 may not have traditional, tactile “buttons.” Instead, testing according to one or more examples of embodiments is navigated using the display 103 featuring the user interface 105. However, in alternative embodiments, the front of the tester 101 may comprise one or more tactile buttons. As shown in one or more illustrated embodiments, the screen 103 is vertically oriented on the battery tester 101. The vertical orientation may allow the battery tester to advantageously feature more area for the screen while allowing the user to hold the tester. The vertically-oriented user interface may allow for ease of operation of the battery tester while held in a technician's hand. For example, the battery tester 101may be held and operated via the user interface 105 while accessing a battery for testing (for example, a battery for use with a vehicle, the battery being accessed for testing in various embodiments inside or outside of the vehicle).
In
Moving from
In one example, the icons 113 are used to navigate to the next user interface screen of user interface 105, which may comprise interfaces specific to operation of the battery tester and its functionality. For example,
In
The user interface 105 may further comprise a battery record interface 123. Battery record interface 123 may comprise fields for battery attributes 125. As example embodiments,
As shown in
In
Again, these results may be navigable with minimum effort by the tester by using a three-stage top navigation 133 allowing for easily-accessible information summary. While three icons are used, more or less may be within the scope of this disclosure. In addition, while particular colors (green, red) may be used, others (purple, blue, grey, etc.) should be contemplated as within the scope of this disclosure. In addition, while particular pictographic shapes are used (engine, leaf, ring, battery, etc.) alternatives (squares, other shapes) should be contemplated as within the scope of this disclosure.
Along the bottom of the user interface 105, for example, in
The user interface for a battery tester described herein has a number of advantages. For example, the user interface may be navigable while holding the device in one hand. The user interface may be simple to navigate, allowing for quick use during battery testing. The user interface may facilitate the display of a range of testing information without requiring further navigation, printing, and the like.
It should be noted that references to relative positions (e.g., “top” and “bottom”) in this description are merely used to identify various elements as are oriented in the Figures. It should be recognized that the orientation of particular components may vary greatly depending on the application in which they are used.
For the purpose of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or moveable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature.
It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the system, methods, and devices as shown in the various examples of embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements show as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied (e.g. by variations in the number of engagement slots or size of the engagement slots or type of engagement). The order or sequence of any algorithm, process, or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Likewise, some algorithm or method steps described may be omitted, and/or other steps added. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various examples of embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present inventions.
While this invention has been described in conjunction with the examples of embodiments outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements and/or substantial equivalents, whether known or that are or may be presently foreseen, may become apparent to those having at least ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the examples of embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is intended to embrace all known or earlier developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements and/or substantial equivalents.
The technical effects and technical problems in the specification are exemplary and are not limiting. It should be noted that the embodiments described in the specification may have other technical effects and can solve other technical problems. Aspects of the method described herein are implemented on a software system running on a computer system. To this end, the methods and system may be implemented in, or in association with, a general-purpose software package or a specific purpose software package. As a specific, non-limiting example, the device could be a battery tester having a user interface in communication with a cloud storage database and/or mobile device.
The software system described herein may include a mixture of different source codes. The system or method herein may be operated by computer-executable instructions, such as but not limited to, program modules, executable on a computer. Examples of program modules include, but are not limited to, routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, and the like which perform particular tasks or implement particular instructions. The software system may also be operable for supporting the transfer of information within a network.
While the descriptions may include specific devices or computers, it should be understood the system and/or method may be implemented by any suitable device (or devices) having suitable computational means. This may include programmable special purpose computers or general-purpose computers that execute the system according to the relevant instructions. The computer system or portable electronic device can be an embedded system, a personal computer, notebook computer, server computer, mainframe, networked computer, workstation, handheld computer, as well as now known or future developed mobile devices, such as for example, a personal digital assistant, cell phone, smartphone, tablet computer, mobile scanning device, and the like. Other computer system configurations are also contemplated for use with the communication system including, but not limited to, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable electronics, network personal computers, minicomputers, smart watches, and the like. Preferably, the computing system chosen includes a processor suitable for efficient operation of one or more of the various systems or functions or attributes of the communication system described.
The system or portions thereof may also be linked to a distributed computing environment, where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communication network(s). To this end, the system may be configured or linked to multiple computers in a network including, but not limited to, a local area network, wide area network, wireless network, and the Internet. Therefore, information, content, and data may be transferred within the network or system by wireless means, by hardwire connection, or combinations thereof. Accordingly, the devices described herein communicate according to now known or future developed pathways including, but not limited to, wired, wireless, and fiber-optic channels.
In one or more examples of embodiments, data may be stored remotely (and retrieved by the application) or may be stored locally on a user's device in a suitable storage medium. Data storage may be in volatile or non-volatile memory. Data may be stored in appropriate computer-readable medium including read-only memory, random-access memory, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tapes, flash drives, as well as other optical data storage devices. Data may be stored and transmitted by and within the system in any suitable form. Any source code or other language suitable for accomplishing the desired functions described herein may be acceptable for use.
Furthermore, the computer or computers or portable electronic devices may be operatively or functionally connected to one or more mass storage devices, such as but not limited to, a hosted database or cloud-based storage.
The system may also include computer-readable media which may include any computer-readable media or medium that may be used to carry or store desired program code that may be accessed by a computer. The invention can also be embodied as computer-readable code on a computer-readable medium. To this end, the computer-readable medium may be any data storage device that can store data. The computer-readable medium can also be distributed over a network-coupled computer system so that the computer-readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/575,960 filed Oct. 23, 2017 and 62/578,974 filed Oct. 30, 2017, the entirety of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2018/057140 | 10/23/2018 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62575960 | Oct 2017 | US | |
| 62578974 | Oct 2017 | US |
