# US 2013/0154652 A1 · Battery state of charge sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0154652 A1 - Document ID: US20130154652A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/148,230 - Filed: 2010-02-04 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2009-02-05 - Assignees: Methode Electronics, Inc. - Inventors: Maria F. Rice; Christopher Jones - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130154652A1 ## CPC - G01R 31/382: Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC - H01M 6/5044: {Cells or batteries structurally combined with cell condition indicating means} - H01M 10/425: {Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00)} - H01M 10/48: 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 10/486: {for measuring temperature} - H01M 4/5825: {Oxygenated metallic salts or polyanionic structures, e.g. borates, phosphates, silicates, olivines} - H01M 10/052: Li-accumulators - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract The invention relates to an object's state or properties being monitored, such as a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) or other type of electrical battery containing one or more LFP or other type of electrical battery cell within the battery, and one or more sensors for measuring the state or property of the object, such as the state of charge of the battery cells, by measuring the magnetic susceptibility or other properties, such as the magnetic susceptibility of electrolyte or the electrodes within the battery cells. The state of charge of the battery cells within the battery arc monitored by the one or more sensors, which are coupled to electrical circuits. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for monitoring the state of charge of a battery cell comprising: a battery state of charge sensor adapted to being attached proximate to a battery cell, the sensor comprising: an inductive drive coil for outputting a magnetic field; and at least one flux coil for sensing a change in the magnetic field by measuring a change in the inductance of the at least one flux coil, the change being indicative of a state of charge of the battery cell. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a battery cell, the battery cell comprising a battery cell electrode and an electrolyte in contact with the battery cell electrode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the battery cell is part of a battery. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the battery cell is an LFP battery cell. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the battery cell is adapted for use in a automotive motor vehicle battery. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a bracket for attaching the sensor to the battery cell. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a housing detachably connected to the bracket, the housing containing at least the inductive drive coil and the at least one flux coil. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensing circuit for receiving a signal indicative of the magnetic susceptibility of the battery cell. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flux coil comprises an amorphous core. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the amorphous core is made from an amorphous metal wire or strip. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flux coil is one of a magnetostrictive sensor, giant magnetostrictive sensor, and Hall effect cell sensor. ### Claim 12 An LFP battery for an automotive motor vehicle comprising: a plurality of interconnected battery cells, wherein at least one of the plurality of battery cells includes a battery status of charge sensor attached to the at least one battery cell; a circuit electrically connected to the battery status of charge sensor for receiving a signal indicative of the state of charge of the at least one battery cell; and a memory device for electrically storing the signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The battery according to claim 12, wherein the battery status of charge sensor comprises: an inductive drive coil for outputting a magnetic field; and at least one flux coil for sensing a change in the magnetic field by measuring a change in the inductance of the at least one flux coil, the change being indicative of a state of charge of the battery cell. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The battery according to claim 13, wherein the at least one flux coil comprises an amorphous core. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The battery according to claim 14, wherein the amorphous core is made from an amorphous metal wire or strip. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The battery according to claim 12, further comprising a device for outputting audible, visual, or audible and visual information about the signal or a change in the signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The battery according to claim 12, further comprising a circuit for optimizing the connection of individual battery cells within the battery based on the state of charge of each of the battery cells. ### Claim 18 A method for monitoring the state of charge of a battery cell comprising the steps of: providing a battery state of charge sensor adapted to being attached proximate to a battery cell, the sensor comprising: an inductive drive coil for outputting a magnetic field; and at least one flux coil for sensing a change in the magnetic field by measuring a change in the inductance of the at least one flux coil; outputting a magnetic field from the inductive drive coil; sensing a change in the magnetic field; and outputting a signal indicative of a state of charge of the battery cell. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of providing at least one battery cell adapted to storing an electrical charge, the battery cell comprising a battery cell electrode and an electrolyte in contact with the battery cell electrode. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of providing a battery for use in an automotive motor vehicle, the battery comprising a plurality of battery cells each having a battery state of charge sensor. ### Claim 21 An apparatus for monitoring the state of charge of an object comprising: a state of charge sensor adapted to being attached proximate to the object, the sensor comprising: an inductive drive coil for outputting a magnetic field; and at least one flux coil for sensing a change in the magnetic field by measuring a change in the inductance of the at least one flux coil, the change being indicative of a state of charge of the object.