# US 2013/0154541 A1 · Autonomous Lithium-Ion Battery Protection

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- Number: US 2013/0154541 A1
- Document ID: US20130154541A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/327,570
- Filed: 2011-12-15
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15
- Assignees: The Boeing Company
- Inventors: John F. Stickelmaier; Allen R. Powers
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130154541A1

## CPC

- H02J 7/663: {using battery or load disconnect circuits (H02J9/002 takes precedence)}
- H02J 7/65: against overtemperature
- H02J 7/35: with light sensitive cells
- H02J 7/61: against overcharge
- H02J 7/63: against overdischarge
- Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus are disclosed for autonomous lithium-ion battery protection. In particular, the present disclosure teaches a system that provides for automatic protection of lithium-ion batteries from damage due to deep discharge and, in some embodiments, from recharging in low temperatures. The disclosed system employs internal logic, autonomous switches and, in some embodiments, heaters to protect the battery without any need for spacecraft monitoring or control intervention. The system uses one or more dedicated strings of solar array cells to, in some embodiments, preheat, and to recharge the battery. The system is completely self contained in the battery with the only additional interface being for the string(s) of the solar array cells that are used to provide dedicated and reliable power to the system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An autonomous regulation method for a battery, the method comprising:
sensing a voltage of the battery;
comparing, with a processor, the voltage of the battery with a preset voltage for the battery; and
selectively controlling a very low resistance non-electromagnetic actuator (NEA) switch to disconnect the battery from a bus circuit and, selectively controlling a low resistance relay switch to connect the battery to a dedicated charging circuit, when the processor determines that the voltage of the battery is below the preset voltage.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:
selectively controlling the relay switch to connect the battery to the bus circuit, when the processor determines that the voltage of the battery exceeds the preset voltage.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the dedicated charging circuit comprises at least a portion of a solar array.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the portion of the solar array is at least one string of solar cells.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the battery, the processor, the NEA switch, and the relay switch are housed together in a single unit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the battery is on a spacecraft.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the battery is a lithium-ion battery.

### Claim 8

An autonomous regulation system for a battery, the system comprising:
a sensor configured to sense a voltage of the battery;
a processor configured to compare the voltage of the battery with a preset voltage for the battery;
switch logic configured to switch a very low resistance non-electromagnetic actuator (NEA) switch to to disconnect the battery from a bus circuit, and configured to switch a low resistance relay switch to connect the battery to a dedicated charging circuit, when the processor determines that the voltage of the battery is below the preset voltage.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the switch logic is further configured to switch the relay switch to connect the battery to the bus circuit, when the processor determines that the voltage of the battery exceeds the preset voltage.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the dedicated charging circuit comprises at least a portion of a solar array.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the portion of the solar array is at least one string of solar cells.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the battery, the sensor, the processor, the switch logic, the NEA switch, and the relay switch are housed together in a single unit.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the battery is on a spacecraft.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the battery is a lithium-ion battery.

### Claim 15

An autonomous regulation method for a battery, the method comprising:
sensing a voltage of the battery;
comparing the voltage of the battery with a preset voltage for the battery;
selectively controlling a bus circuit switch to disconnect the battery from a bus circuit when the voltage of the battery is below the preset voltage;
sensing a temperature of the battery;
comparing the temperature of the battery with a threshold temperature for the battery; and
selectively controlling a second thermal switch to disconnect the battery from a dedicated power source, and selectively controlling a first thermal switch to connect a battery heater to the dedicated power source, when the temperature of the battery is below the threshold temperature.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:
selectively controlling the first thermal switch to disconnect the battery heater from the dedicated power source, and selectively controlling the second thermal switch to connect the battery to the dedicated power source, when the temperature of the battery exceeds the threshold temperature.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the dedicated power source comprises at least a portion of a solar array.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the portion of the solar array is at least one string of solar cells.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the battery, the bus circuit switch, the first thermal switch, the second thermal switch, and the battery heater are housed together in a single unit.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the battery is on a spacecraft.

### Claim 21 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the battery is a lithium-ion battery.

### Claim 22

An autonomous regulation system for a battery, the system comprising:
a voltage sensor configured to sense a voltage of the battery;
a first processor configured to compare the voltage of the battery with a preset voltage for the battery;
switch logic configured to switch a bus circuit switch to disconnect the battery from a bus circuit when the first processor determines that the voltage of the battery is below the preset voltage;
a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the battery;
a second processor configured to compare the temperature of the battery with a threshold temperature for the battery;
a second thermal switch configured to disconnect the battery from a dedicated power source, when the second processor determines that the temperature of the battery is below the threshold temperature; and
a first thermal switch configured to connect a battery heater to the dedicated power source, when the second processor determines that the temperature of the battery is below the threshold temperature.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The system of claim 22, wherein the first thermal switch is further configured to disconnect the battery heater from the dedicated power source, when the second processor determines that the temperature of the battery exceeds the threshold temperature; and the second thermal switch is further configured to connect the battery to the dedicated power source, when the second processor determines that the temperature of the battery exceeds the threshold temperature.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The system of claim 22, wherein the dedicated power source comprises at least a portion of a solar array.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The system of claim 24, wherein the portion of the solar array is at least one string of solar cells.

### Claim 26 (depends on 22)

The system of claim 22, wherein the battery, the voltage sensor, the first processor, the second processor, the temperature sensor, the switch logic, the bus circuit switch, the first thermal switch, the second thermal switch, and the battery heater are housed together in a single unit.

### Claim 27 (depends on 22)

The system of claim 22, wherein the second processor is the first processor.

### Claim 28 (depends on 22)

The system of claim 22, wherein the battery is on a spacecraft.

### Claim 29 (depends on 22)

The system of claim 22, wherein the battery is a lithium-ion battery.