# US 10,481,016 B2 · Apparatus and method for measuring temperature of batteries and internal battery components > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,481,016 B2 - Document ID: US10481016B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/799,292 - Filed: 2017-10-31 - Published: 2018-05-03 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-02 - Assignees: Feasible, Inc. - Applicants: Feasible, Inc. - Inventors: Andrew Gaheem Hsieh; Barry James Van Tassell; Daniel Artemis Steingart; Shaurjo Biswas; Robert Charles Mohr - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481016B2 ## CPC - G01K 11/24: of the velocity of propagation of sound - G01R 31/382: Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC - H01M 10/486: {for measuring temperature} - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Systems and methods for measuring temperature characteristics of a battery include one or more transducers coupled to the battery for transmitting and/or receiving sound waves through at least a portion of the battery. A temperature measurement unit is provided to determine a time-of-flight of sound waves through at least the portion of the battery based on transmitted and received sound waves through at least the portion of the battery, and to determine temperature characteristics of at least the portion of the battery based on the time-of-flight. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: at least one transducer coupled to a battery, the at least one transducer configured for one or more of transmitting sound waves or receiving sound waves through at least a portion of the battery; and a temperature measurement unit communicatively coupled to the at least one transducer, the temperature measurement unit configured to determine a range of time-of-flight values of sound waves corresponding to a range of acoustic intensity levels at a time instance of observation based on transmitted and received sound waves through at least the portion of the battery, wherein the temperature measurement unit is further configured to determine temperature characteristics of at least the portion of the battery based on a predetermined correlation between temperature and the range of time-of-flight values at two or more time instances. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one transducer is one of a transmitter or receiver of acoustic signals. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a pulser and receiver coupled to the at least one transducer, the at least one transducer comprising a first transducer configured to transmit acoustic signals and one or more of a second transducer configured to receive acoustic signals or a sensor configured to sense vibrations, wherein the pulser and receiver is configured to transmit an acoustic pulse through the first transducer and receive a response acoustic signal through one or more of the second transducer or the sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the temperature measurement unit is communicatively coupled to the at least one transducer through the pulser and receiver. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a battery cycler configured to place the battery in charge or discharge cycles, wherein the temperature measurement unit is configured to determine the temperature characteristics of the battery during the charge or discharge cycles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the temperature measurement unit is further configured to detect indications of failure based on the temperature characteristics. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the failure includes one or more of unwanted side reactions during operation or storage of the battery, formation of short circuits within the battery, or decomposition of an electrolyte of the battery. ### Claim 8 A method of determining temperature associated with a battery, the method comprising: coupling at least one transducer to the battery, the at least one transducer for one or more of transmitting sound waves or receiving sound waves through at least a portion of the battery; determining a range of time-of-flight values of sound waves corresponding to a range of acoustic intensity levels at a time instance of observation based on transmitted and received sound waves through at least the portion of the battery; and determining temperature characteristics of at least the portion of the battery based on a predetermined correlation between temperature and the range of time-of-flight values at two or more time instances. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one transducer is one of a transmitter or receiver of acoustic signals. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting an acoustic pulse through a first transducer configured to transmit acoustic signals and receiving a response acoustic signal through one or more of a second transducer configured to receive acoustic signals or a sensor configured to sense vibrations. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising placing the battery in charge or discharge cycles, and determining the temperature characteristics of the battery during the charge or discharge cycles. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising detecting indications of failure based on the temperature characteristics. ### Claim 13 An apparatus comprising: means for one or more of transmitting or receiving sound waves through at least a portion of a battery, the means for one or more of transmitting or receiving sound waves coupled to the battery; means for determining a range of time-of-flight values of sound waves corresponding to a range of acoustic intensity levels at a time instance of observation based on transmitted and received sound waves through at least the portion of the battery; and means for determining temperature characteristics of at least the portion of the battery based on a predetermined correlation between temperature and the range of time-of-flight values at two or more time instances. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for placing the battery in charge or discharge cycles, and means for determining the temperature characteristics of the battery during the charge or discharge cycles. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for detecting indications of failure in the battery based on the temperature characteristics, wherein the failure includes one or more of unwanted side reactions during operation or storage of the battery, formation of short circuits within the battery, or decomposition of an electrolyte of the battery.