System and methods for detection of internal shorts in batteries
AssigneeTiax LLC
InventorChristopher H. McCoy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for short detection in a battery pack, the battery pack including a plurality of cells, the method including: connecting a short detection module to the battery pack; determining by the short detection module that the battery pack is at rest; and selecting a first cell in the battery pack for testing for a short, wherein the testing includes: connecting a voltage source to the first cell; measuring a current of the first cell; and determining based on the measured current of the first cell whether the first cell contains a short.
Claims20
A method for short detection in a battery pack, the battery pack comprising a plurality of cells, the method comprising:
- connecting a short detection module to the battery pack;
- determining by the short detection module that the battery pack is at rest;
- and
- selecting a first cell in the battery pack for testing for a short, wherein the testing comprises:
- connecting a voltage source to the first cell, while the first cell is connected within the battery pack, the voltage source configured to provide a variable output that can be regulated to a target value, and the voltage source being configured to vary an output, when first connected to the first cell, to minimize current between the voltage source and the first cell;
- regulating the output of the voltage source to an equilibrated voltage of the first cell to achieve a regulated output;
- maintaining the regulated output;
- measuring a current of the first cell arising from application of the regulated output;
- and
- determining, based on the measured current of the first cell over time, whether the first cell contains a short.
A system for short detection in a battery pack comprising a plurality of cells, comprising:
- a cell addressing matrix and control configured to be connected to the battery pack such that each of the plurality of cells is addressed separately for testing;
- a voltage source and a current measurement module configured to be connected to the plurality of cells via the cell addressing matrix and control;
- and
- a control logic configured to determine whether a cell of the plurality of cells contains a short based on input from the current measurement module, while the first cell is connected within the battery pack, wherein the control logic determines that the battery pack is at rest,
- wherein the voltage source is configured to provide:
- (i) a variable output when first connecting to the cell of the plurality of cells to minimize current between the voltage source and the cell of the plurality of cells and (ii) the variable output that can be regulated to a target value, the control logic configured to regulate an output of the voltage source to an equilibrated voltage of the cell to achieve a regulated output, maintain the regulated output, and measure a current of the cell over time arising from application of the regulated output.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.