Method of detecting metal plating in intercalation cells
AssigneeQnovo Inc.
InventorsOn K. Chang, Dania Ghantous
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Abstract
In one aspect, non-invasive methods are described in which combinations of certain battery parameter values are used to identify whether metal plating (e.g., lithium plating) has occurred during charging of a battery. In response to the detection of metal plating and/or conditions associated with metal plating, one or more characteristics of a charge process may be adjusted or adapted to maintain battery parameter values within a specified range. In some cases, after detection of metal plating, a battery charge process may be adjusted or adapted to remove metal plating from a battery's anode by a discharge pulse.
Claims37
A method of controlling a charging process of a rechargeable battery comprising a negative electrode on which a metal may deposit, the method comprising:
- (a) charging the rechargeable battery using a first charging process;
- (b) detecting that the metal has deposited or is depositing on the negative electrode during the first charging process, wherein detecting that the metal has deposited or is depositing on the negative electrode comprises:
- at a defined point during the first charging process, measuring a current produced by the rechargeable battery,
- determining an expected current from a model representing the rechargeable battery, and
- determining that the measured current is greater than an expected current at the defined point for the rechargeable battery;
- and
- (c) in response to detecting that the metal has deposited or is depositing, adjusting the first charging process to produce a second charging process.
A method of controlling a charging process of a rechargeable battery comprising a negative electrode on which a metal may deposit, the method comprising:
- (a) charging the rechargeable battery using a first charging process;
- (b) detecting that the metal has deposited or is depositing on the negative electrode during the charging process;
- (c) identifying a regime in the first charging process responsible for depositing the metal on the negative electrode;
- and
- (d) in response to detecting that the metal has deposited or is depositing, adjusting the first charging process to produce a second charging process, wherein the second charging process is conducted in a different battery charging cycle than the first charging process, and wherein the second charging process does not include the regime identified in the first charging process.
A method of controlling a charging process of a rechargeable battery comprising a negative electrode on which a metal may deposit, the method comprising:
- (a) charging the rechargeable battery using a first charging process;
- (b) detecting that the metal has deposited or is depositing on the negative electrode during the charging process;
- and
- (c) in response to detecting that the metal has deposited or is depositing, adjusting the first charging process to produce a second charging process, wherein adjusting the first charging process comprises discharging the rechargeable battery by a defined amount sufficient to remove at least some of the metal deposited on the negative electrode during the first charging process.
An apparatus for charging a rechargeable battery comprising:
- charging circuitry, coupled to the rechargeable battery, configured to charge the rechargeable battery during a charge process;
- monitoring circuitry, coupled to the rechargeable battery, configured to measure a terminal voltage of the rechargeable battery;
- and
- control circuitry, coupled to the charging circuitry and the monitoring circuitry, that is configured to (i) receive data which is representative of the measured terminal voltage, and (ii) output one or more control signals to the charging circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
- identify that metal has deposited or is depositing on a negative electrode of the rechargeable battery during charging of the rechargeable battery;
- estimate an amount of metal that has been deposited on the negative electrode;
- and
- adjust the charge process applied to the rechargeable battery via the one or more control signals, wherein adjusting the charge process comprises adjusting the charge process so that at least one discharge pulse is applied to the rechargeable battery to substantially remove the deposited metal via the at least one discharge pulse.
An apparatus for recharging a rechargeable battery comprising:
- charging circuitry, coupled to the rechargeable battery, configured to charge the rechargeable battery during a charge process;
- monitoring circuitry, coupled to the rechargeable battery configured to:
- measure a terminal voltage of the rechargeable battery, and
- measure a temperature of the rechargeable battery;
- and
- control circuitry, coupled to the charging circuitry and the monitoring circuitry, that is configured to (i) receive data which is representative of the measured terminal voltage and the measured temperature of the rechargeable battery, and (ii) output one or more control signals to the charging circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
- identify that metal has deposited or is depositing on a negative electrode of the rechargeable battery during charging of the rechargeable battery by determining that the measured terminal voltage deviates from an expected voltage, wherein the expected voltage is dependent on the measured temperature, and
- adjust the charge process applied to the rechargeable battery via the one or more control signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.