# US 12,009,686 B2 · System and method for using unrecoverable energy in a battery cell > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,009,686 B2 - Document ID: US12009686B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/216,902 - Filed: 2023-06-30 - Published: 2024-04-18 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2022-10-14 - Assignees: Beta Air, LLC - Applicants: Beta Air, LLC - Inventors: Stuart Denson Schreiber; Tyler John Skroski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12009686B2 ## CPC - H02J 7/96: in response to battery voltage - B60L 58/12: responding to state of charge [SoC] - H01M 10/425: {Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00)} - H01M 10/4257: {Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries} - H01M 10/44: Methods for charging or discharging (circuits for charging H02J7/00) - H01M 10/48: Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte (constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569) - 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} - H02J 7/82: Control of state of charge [SOC] - H02J 7/855: {with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery} - B60L 58/10: for monitoring or controlling batteries - B60L 2200/10: Air crafts - B60L 2240/547: Voltage - B60L 2250/16: by display - B64C 29/0008: {having its flight directional axis horizontal when grounded} - 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 2010/4278: {Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller} - H02J 7/40: characterised by the exchange of charge or discharge related data - H02J 7/973: {in response to degree of gas development in the battery} - H02J 7/977: {of the battery} - H02J 2105/32: {for aircrafts} - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC 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 - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A system and method for using unrecoverable energy in a battery cell is disclosed in this application. A system includes a battery cell, the battery cell includes an excess amount of cathode or anode that can function as half cells in an emergency. A user, such as a pilot, can command a controller to utilize unrecoverable energy based on battery data presented to the user. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for using unrecoverable energy in a battery pack, the system comprising: a battery pack comprising at least a battery cell comprising an electrode with excess material; a sensor connected to the battery pack, the sensor configured to detect battery data; and a controller communicatively connected to the sensor, the controller configured to: receive battery data from the sensor; anticipate use of unrecoverable energy in the battery pack as a function of the battery data; and utilize the unrecoverable energy in the battery pack. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the battery data comprises a voltage of the battery pack. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein anticipating the use of unrecoverable energy comprises comparing the battery data to a threshold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the threshold comprises a threshold voltage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein utilizing the unrecoverable energy in the battery pack comprises overdischarging the battery pack. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to lock out the battery pack once it is overdischarged. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the battery data to a notification device communicatively connected to the controller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, further comprising the notification device, wherein the notification device is configured to: display a notification to a user as a function of the battery data; and prompt the user to input a command. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to alert the anticipated use of unrecoverable energy in the battery pack to the user. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to anticipate the use of unrecoverable energy as a function of a remaining distance of a flight plan. ### Claim 11 A method for using unrecoverable energy in a battery pack, the method comprising: receiving a battery pack comprising at least a battery cell comprising an electrode with excess material; detecting, by a sensor connected to the battery pack, battery data; receiving, by a controller, the battery data from the sensor; anticipating, by the controller, use of unrecoverable energy in the battery pack as a function of the battery data; and utilizing, by the controller, the unrecoverable energy in the battery pack. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the battery data comprises a voltage of the battery pack. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein anticipating the use of unrecoverable energy comprises comparing the battery data to a threshold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the threshold comprises a threshold voltage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein utilizing the unrecoverable energy in the battery pack comprises overdischarging the battery pack. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: locking out, by the controller, the battery pack once it is overdischarged. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: transmitting, by the controller, the battery data to a notification device communicatively connected to the controller. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: displaying, by the notification device, a notification to a user as a function of the battery data; and prompting, by the notification device, the user to input a command. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: alerting, by the controller, the anticipated use of unrecoverable energy in the battery pack to the user. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: anticipating, by the controller, the use of unrecoverable energy as a function of a remaining distance of a flight plan.