# US 12,002,935 B2 · Battery pack capable of swelling detection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,002,935 B2 - Document ID: US12002935B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/503,083 - Filed: 2021-10-15 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-16 - Assignees: LG Energy Solution, Ltd. - Applicants: LG Energy Solution, Ltd. - Inventors: Ki-Young Lee; Dong-Wan Ko; Do-Yul Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12002935B2 ## CPC - G01B 11/18: {using photoelastic elements} - H01M 10/488: {Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density} - B60L 3/0046: {relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors} - B60L 50/64: Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles - G01B 11/16: for measuring the deformation in a solid, e.g. optical strain gauge - G01N 21/7703: {using reagent-clad optical fibres or optical waveguides (using measurement of total internal reflection or attenuated total reflection G01N21/552; optical fibres or waveguides per se G02B)} - H01M 10/425: {Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00)} - H01M 10/482: {for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially} - H01M 50/209: adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells (H01M50/216 takes precedence) - H01M 50/211: adapted for pouch cells - H01M 50/242: adapted for protecting batteries against vibrations, collision impact or swelling - H01M 50/249: specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains (constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64) - H01M 50/258: Modular batteries; Casings provided with means for assembling - B60L 2250/10: by alarm - G01B 7/18: {using change in resistance} - H01M 2010/4271: {Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing} - H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A battery pack includes at least one battery cell, an optical fiber sensing unit including a plate-type detection unit made of optical fibers horizontally and vertically arranged in a grid form. The plate-type detection unit is deformed by deformation of the at least one battery cell, a photoresistor to collect light reflected from the optical fiber sensing unit, and a controller configured to determine if swelling occurred in the at least one battery cell based on a resistance value with a change in an amount of light collected by the photoresistor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A battery pack, comprising: at least one battery cell; an optical fiber sensor including a plate-type detector made of optical fibers horizontally and vertically arranged in a grid form, wherein the plate-type detector is deformed by deformation of the at least one battery cell; a photoresistor to collect light reflected from the optical fiber sensor; and a controller configured to determine if swelling occurred in the at least one battery cell based on a resistance value with a change in an amount of light collected by the photoresistor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the at least one battery cell is a plate-type battery cell, and the plate-type detector of the optical fiber sensor has a size and location that covers a large scale area of the at least one battery cell. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the at least one battery cell is a plate-type battery cell and stacked and arranged with an adjacent battery cell such that the large scale areas come into contact with each other to form a battery cell assembly, and wherein the battery cell assembly is maintained by a case, and the optical fiber sensor is disposed in the battery cell assembly or between the battery cell assembly and the case. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein the photoresistor is attached to the case. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to give a warning or notify of danger when a change in the resistance value is larger than a threshold. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber sensor further comprises a wiring to allow input light or external natural light to enter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the optical fibers include a core and a clad over the core, and wherein holes in the clad allow light to exit the optical fibers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein the holes are formed in the clad where the horizontally and vertically arranged optical fibers cross each other. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein the holes are formed in a grid pattern where the horizontally and vertically arranged optical fibers cross each other. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A vehicle comprising the battery pack according to claim 1. ### Claim 11 A vehicle, comprising: at least one battery cell; an optical fiber sensor including a plate-type detector made of optical fibers horizontally and vertically arranged in a grid form, wherein the plate-type detector is deformed by deformation of the at least one battery cell; a photoresistor to collect light reflected from the optical fiber sensor; and a controller configured to determine if swelling occurred in the at least one battery cell based on a resistance value with a change in an amount of light collected by the photoresistor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to give a warning or notify of danger when a change in the resistance value is larger than a threshold.