Circuitry and techniques for determining swelling of a battery/cell and adaptive charging circuitry and techniques based thereon

A method for estimating swelling of a rechargeable battery, the method comprising:

• determining capacity fade of the rechargeable battery in use, the capacity fade representing a reduction of capacity of the rechargeable battery;
• estimating swelling of the rechargeable battery using the determined capacity fade of the rechargeable battery;
• adjusting a charging sequence for the rechargeable battery based at least in part on the swelling of the rechargeable battery estimated using the determined capacity fade of the rechargeable battery in use, wherein adjusting the charging sequence is selected from operations consisting of:
• reducing an amplitude of a charge pulse, reducing a state of charge at which the charging sequence is terminated, reducing a width of a charge pulse, applying one or more negative pulses, increasing an amplitude of a negative pulse, increasing a width of a negative pulse, increasing a duration of a rest period, changing a timing of a rest period, and any combinations thereof;
• and
• charging the rechargeable battery using the adjusted charging sequence, wherein the charging sequence comprises a step charging technique and wherein adjusting the charging sequence further comprises increasing a number of steps of charge current in the step charging technique based at least in part on the swelling of the rechargeable battery.

A method for estimating swelling of a rechargeable battery, the method comprising:

• determining capacity fade of the rechargeable battery in use, the capacity fade representing a reduction of capacity of the rechargeable battery;
• estimating swelling of the rechargeable battery using the determined capacity fade of the rechargeable battery;
• adjusting a charging sequence for the rechargeable battery based at least in part on the swelling of the rechargeable battery estimated using the determined capacity fade of the rechargeable battery in use, wherein adjusting the charging sequence is selected from operations consisting of:
• reducing an amplitude of a charge pulse, reducing a state of charge at which the charging sequence is terminated,-reducing a width of a charge pulse, applying one or more negative pulses, increasing an amplitude of a negative pulse, increasing a width of a negative pulse, increasing a duration of a rest period, changing a timing of a rest period, and any combinations thereof;
• and
• charging the rechargeable battery using the adjusted charging sequence, wherein adjusting the charging sequence is at least partially based on a parameter selected from the group consisting of:
• an over-potential (OP) of the battery, a full relaxation time (FRT) of the battery, a charge pulse voltage (CPV), a change in CPV, a partial relaxation time (PRT) of the battery.

A system for estimating swelling of a rechargeable battery comprising:

• (a) charging circuitry configured to apply a charging sequence for the rechargeable battery;
• (b) measurement circuitry configured to measure voltage or charge passing at terminals of the rechargeable battery;
• and
• (c) logic configured to:
• determine capacity fade of the rechargeable battery in use, the capacity fade representing a reduction of capacity of the rechargeable battery, wherein the logic determines capacity fade using measured voltage and/or charge from the measurement circuitry;
• estimate swelling of the rechargeable battery using the determined capacity fade of the rechargeable battery;
• adjust a charging sequence for the rechargeable battery based at least in part on the swelling of the rechargeable battery estimated using the determined capacity fade of the rechargeable battery in use, wherein the logic is configured to adjust the charging sequence by:
• reducing an amplitude of a charge pulse, reducing a width of a charge pulse, applying one or more negative pulses, increasing an amplitude of a negative pulse, increasing a width of a negative pulse, increasing a duration of a rest period, changing a timing of a rest period, or a combination thereof;
• and
• charge the rechargeable battery using the adjusted charging sequence.