# US 10,122,050 B2 · Deformation detection sensor for sealed secondary battery, sealed secondary battery, and deformation detection method for sealed secondary battery > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,050 B2 - Document ID: US10122050B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/308,970 - Filed: 2015-06-04 - Published: 2017-04-06 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-27 - Assignees: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Takeshi Fukuda; Takahiro Ohta - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122050B2 ## CPC - H01M 10/48: Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte (constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569) - G01B 7/24: using change in magnetic properties - G01D 5/12: using electric or magnetic means (G01D5/06 takes precedence) - G01D 11/24: Housings {; Casings for instruments} - G01L 1/12: by measuring variations in the magnetic properties of materials resulting from the application of stress - G01L 1/122: {by using permanent magnets} - H01M 10/0525: Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries - H01M 10/4285: {Testing apparatus} - H01M 50/209: adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells (H01M50/216 takes precedence) - H01M 50/211: adapted for pouch cells - H01M 50/213: adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic (H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence) - H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract The present invention provides a deformation detection sensor for a sealed secondary battery, that makes it possible to detect deformation resulting from swelling of a cell with a high degree of sensitivity, that does not restrict capacity, and that has excellent stability. The deformation detection sensor for a sealed secondary battery includes a polymer matrix layer 3 and a detection unit 4. The polymer matrix layer 3 contains a magnetic filler that is dispersed therein and that changes an external field in accordance with deformation of the polymer matrix layer 3. The detection unit 4 detects change in the external field. The polymer matrix layer 3 is sandwiched in a gap between adjacent cells 2 and mounted in a compressed state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A deformation detection sensor for a sealed secondary battery, comprising a polymer matrix layer and a detection unit, wherein the polymer matrix layer contains a filler that is dispersed therein and that changes an external field in accordance with deformation of the polymer matrix layer, and the detection unit detects change in the external field; the polymer matrix layer is sandwiched in a gap and mounted in a compressed state; and wherein the polymer matrix layer contains a magnetic filler as the filler, and the detection unit detects change in a magnetic field as the external field. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The deformation detection sensor for a sealed secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein a compression ratio of the polymer matrix layer is from 1.05 to 2.0. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The deformation detection sensor for a sealed secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein an Asker C hardness of the polymer matrix layer is from 1 to 50. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The deformation detection sensor for a sealed secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the polymer matrix layer is a foamed body containing bubbles. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The deformation detection sensor for a sealed secondary battery according to claim 4, wherein a bubble content ratio of the foamed body is from 20 to 80 vol %. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The deformation detection sensor for a sealed secondary battery according to claim 4, wherein an average bubble diameter of the foamed body is from 50 to 300 μm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The deformation detection sensor for a sealed secondary battery according to claim 4, wherein an independent-bubble ratio of the foamed body is from 5 to 70%. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A sealed secondary battery comprising the deformation detection sensor according to claim 1 mounted thereon. ### Claim 9 A deformation detection method for a sealed secondary battery, in which a polymer matrix layer is mounted in a compressed state in a form of being sandwiched in a gap, and the polymer matrix layer contains a filler that is dispersed therein and that changes an external field in accordance with deformation of the polymer matrix layer, the method comprising: detecting change in the external field accompanying the deformation of the polymer matrix layer, and detecting deformation of the sealed secondary battery on a basis of the detected change in the external field; and wherein the polymer matrix layer contains a magnetic filler as the filler, and the detection unit detects change in a magnetic field as the external field. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The deformation detection method for a sealed secondary battery according to claim 9, wherein a compression ratio of the polymer matrix layer is from 1.05 to 2.0.