Battery thermal event detection system using an optical fiber
AssigneeTesla Motors, Inc.
InventorsWeston Arthur Hermann, Paul Bryan Kreiner, Scott Ira Kohn, Dorian West, Jonathan Louis Hall
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Abstract
A method and apparatus is provided for determining when a battery, or one or more batteries within a battery pack, undergoes an undesired thermal event such as thermal runaway. The system uses an optical fiber mounted in close proximity to, or in contact with, an external surface of the battery or batteries to be monitored. A source of light is optically coupled to the input facet of the optical fiber and a detector optically coupled to the output facet of the optical fiber. Battery health is determined by monitoring the light transmitted through the optical fiber.
Claims22
A detection system for detecting a battery thermal event, the detection system comprising:
- at least one battery;
- an optical fiber proximate to an external surface of said at least one battery;
- a light source optically coupled to an input facet of said optical fiber for transmitting light through said optical fiber;
- and
- a detector optically coupled to an output facet of said optical fiber for detecting light transmitted through said optical fiber, wherein said detector outputs a first signal when said at least one battery is operating within a prescribed temperature range and outputs a second signal when a temperature corresponding to said at least one battery exceeds a predetermined temperature, wherein said predetermined temperature is outside of said prescribed temperature range.
A detection system for detecting a battery thermal event, the detection system comprising:
- a plurality of batteries;
- a first optical fiber proximate to each battery of a first subset of said plurality of batteries;
- a second optical fiber proximate to each battery of a second subset of said plurality of batteries;
- a first light source optically coupled to an input facet of said first optical fiber for transmitting light through said first optical fiber;
- a second light source optically coupled to an input facet of said second optical fiber for transmitting light through said second optical fiber;
- a first detector optically coupled to an output facet of said first optical fiber for detecting light transmitted through said first optical fiber, wherein said first detector outputs a first thermal event notification signal when a first temperature associated with at least one battery of said first subset of said plurality of batteries exceeds a predetermined temperature;
- and
- a second detector optically coupled to an output facet of said second optical fiber for detecting light transmitted through said second optical fiber, wherein said second detector outputs a second thermal event notification signal when a second temperature associated with at least one battery of said second subset of said plurality of batteries exceeds said predetermined temperature.
A method for detecting a battery thermal event, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning an optical fiber in proximity to an external surface of at least one battery;
- transmitting light through said optical fiber, wherein said light transmitted through said optical fiber is attenuated when a temperature of said at least one battery exceeds a predetermined temperature;
- detecting said light transmitted through said optical fiber;
- outputting a first signal to a system controller when said light is transmitted through said optical fiber;
- and
- outputting a second signal to said system controller when said light is attenuated as it is transmitted through said optical fiber indicating said temperature of said at least one battery has exceeded said predetermined temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.