# US 2026/0098902 A1 · Cell fixture assembly and method of using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2026/0098902 A1 - Document ID: US20260098902A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 19/115,044 - Filed: 2023-09-26 - Published: 2026-04-09 - Earliest claimed: 2022-09-26 - Assignees: Solithor BV - Applicants: Solithor BV - Inventors: Walid ALKARMO; Rjais MINYAEV; Fanny BARDÉ - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260098902A1 ## CPC - G01R 31/3644: {Constructional arrangements} - H01M 10/4285: {Testing apparatus} - G01R 1/0408: {Test fixtures or contact fields; Connectors or connecting adaptors; Test clips; Test sockets (G01R1/067 takes precedence; mass production testing systems G01R31/59; testing of connections G01R31/66; for testing printed circuit boards G01R31/2808)} - G01R 31/3865: {related to manufacture, e.g. testing after manufacture} - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using 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 ## Abstract The technology of the present invention generally relates to the field of battery technology, and more particularly relates to a cell fixture assembly for testing of a single electrochemical cell or a number of electrochemical cells stacked on top of each other, wherein the cell fixture assembly comprises at least one cell fixture and a base station; wherein the cell fixture comprises: at least one fixed base plate; at least two moveable plates arranged parallel to the base plate; whereby the moveable plates have oppositely arranged surfaces for contacting the electrochemical cell mounted between them; whereby the fixed and moveable plates comprise a plurality of apertures that are at least partially aligned to create a plurality of vertical channels that extend through said plates; a pressure sensor means, disposed between the base plate and at least one of the moveable plates, comprising a sensor member arranged to support said moveable plate, and configured for measuring a pressure applied to the electrochemical cells; a plurality of rotatable rods, insertable in the plurality of vertical channels, that are configured to rotatably couple with at least one of the moveable plates; whereby a rotation of the plurality of rotatable rods causes one of the moveable plates to move relative to the other moveable plate, thereby clamping or releasing the electrochemical cell mounted between them; and, a plurality of coupling members in connection with the plurality of rotatable rods; wherein the base station comprises: a plurality of actuators configured for releasably coupling with the plurality of coupling members of the cell fixture, and for inducing the rotation of the rotatable rods, and —at least one motor configured for driving the actuators. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Cell fixture assembly (100) for applying and maintaining a compressive pressure on one or more electrochemical cells (4); wherein the cell fixture assembly (100) comprises at least one cell fixture (1) and a base station (9); wherein the cell fixture (1) comprises: at least one fixed base plate (11); at least two moveable plates (12,13) arranged parallel to the base plate (11); whereby the moveable plates (12,13) have oppositely arranged surfaces for contacting the electrochemical cell (4) mounted between them; whereby the fixed and moveable plates (11-13) comprise a plurality of apertures (15) that are at least partially aligned to create a plurality of vertical channels that extend through said plates (11-13); a pressure sensor means (6), disposed between the base plate (11) and at least one of the moveable plates (12), comprising a sensor member (61) arranged to support said moveable plate (12), and configured for measuring a pressure applied to the electrochemical cells (4); a plurality of rotatable rods (2), insertable in the plurality of vertical channels, that are configured to rotatably couple with at least one of the moveable plates (13); whereby a rotation of the plurality of rotatable rods (2) causes one of the moveable plates (13) to move relative to the other moveable plate (12), thereby applying or releasing compressive pressure on the electrochemical cell (4) mounted between them; and, a plurality of coupling members (3) in connection with the plurality of rotatable rods (2); wherein the base station (9) comprises: a plurality of actuators (91) configured for releasably coupling with the plurality of coupling members (3) of the cell fixture (1), and for inducing the rotation of the rotatable rods (2), and at least one motor (92) configured for driving the actuators (91). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cell fixture assembly (100) according to claim 1, whereby the apertures (15) of at least one moveable plate (13) are threaded, and the plurality of rotatable rods (2) have a threaded portion with a threading that is complementary to the threaded apertures (15) of the moveable plate (13). ### Claim 3 The cell fixture assembly (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling member (3) comprises a receptacle with a fitting that matches an actuator (91) of the base station (9) such that at least a portion of the actuator (91) can be inserted into the coupling member (3). ### Claim 4 The cell fixture assembly (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling member (3) is arranged on an end of the rotatable rod (2) extending from the base plate (11). ### Claim 5 The cell fixture assembly (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an electrode connector means (7) that comprises a pair of electrical contacts (71), arranged on one side of a moveable plate, that are configured for electrically contacting the electrodes (2) of the one or more cells, and a pair of electrical connectors (72), arranged on the opposite side of said moveable plate, that are electrically connected to the electrical contacts (71). ### Claim 6 The cell fixture assembly (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an expansion sensor means configured for measuring an expansion of the one or more cells in at least one direction; preferably wherein the expansion sensor means comprises a displacement sensor configured for measuring a distance between at least one moveable plate and at least one fixed plate. ### Claim 7 The cell fixture assembly (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a second fixed plate (14) arranged parallel to the base plate (11) at an opposite end of the plurality of rods (2); and a biasing member configured for biasing the second fixed plate (14) away from at least one of the moveable plates such that the second fixed plate (14) remains in a fixed position relative thereto; and an expansion sensor means (8) configured for measuring a distance between the second fixed plate (14) and said moveable plate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cell fixture assembly (100) according to claim 7, whereby the expansion sensor means (8) comprises a displacement sensor, disposed between the second fixed plate (14) and the moveable plate; preferably mounted in an aperture (16) provided in the second fixed plate (14). ### Claim 9 The cell fixture assembly (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cell fixture (1) is mountable on the base station (9) such that it can freely switch between a coupled state and a released state without altering the compressive pressure applied onto the one or more cells (4). ### Claim 10 The cell fixture assembly (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, whereby the base station (9) comprises a plurality of motors (92) configured for independently driving one or more of the actuators (91). ### Claim 11 The cell fixture assembly (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, whereby the motor (92) comprises a stepper motor configured for rotating at least one rotatable rod (2) in a set number of predefined steps; preferably by dividing a 360 degrees rotation of the rotatable rod (2) into steps of 5 nm or less, for example, 4 nm, 3 nm, 2 nm, or 1 nm. ### Claim 12 The cell fixture assembly (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, whereby the plurality of actuators (91) and/or motors (92) are moveably arranged within the base station (9) such that their positions can be adjusted along at least one axis of movement to match the position of a corresponding coupling member (3) of the cell fixture (1) ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The cell fixture assembly (100) according to claim 12, wherein the positions of the plurality of actuators (91) and/or motors (92) within the base station (9) can be adjusted to match the dimension of the cell fixture (1). ### Claim 14 (depends on 12, 13) The cell fixture assembly (100) according to any one of claim 12 or 13, whereby the plurality of actuators (91) and/or motors (92) are moveably coupled such that their positions within the base station (9) can be adjusted simultaneously; preferably by moving the plurality of actuators (91) and/or motors (92) in opposite directions within the base station (9). ### Claim 15 The cell fixture assembly (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, whereby the base station (9) further comprises a control unit communicatively connected to the pressure sensor means (6) to receive pressure sensing data therefrom; whereby the control unit is operatively connected to the motor (92) and configured to control the actuation of at least one actuator (91) based on the pressure sensing data; preferably applying or releasing pressure to the one or more cells (4) until it matches a user input. ### Claim 16 The cell fixture assembly (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, whereby a plurality of electrochemical cells are stacked on top of each other between the opposing surfaces of the moveable plates. ### Claim 17 Cell fixture (1) for use in combination with a base station (9) of the cell fixture assembly (100) according to any one of the preceding claims; wherein the cell fixture (1) comprises: at least one fixed base plate (11); at least two moveable plates (12,13) arranged parallel to the base plate (11); whereby the moveable plates (12,13) have oppositely arranged surfaces for contacting the electrochemical cell (4) mounted between them; whereby the fixed and moveable plates (11-13) comprise a plurality of apertures (15) that are at least partially aligned to create a plurality of vertical channels that extend through said plates (11-13); a pressure sensor means (6), disposed between the base plate (11) and at least one of the moveable plates (12), comprising a sensor member (61) arranged to support said moveable plate (12), and configured for measuring a pressure applied to the electrochemical cell (4); a plurality of rotatable rods (2), insertable in the plurality of vertical channels, that are configured to rotatably couple with at least one of the moveable plates (13); whereby a rotation of the plurality of rotatable rods (2) causes one of the moveable plates (13) to move relative to the other moveable plate (12), thereby applying or releasing compressive pressure on the electrochemical cell (4) mounted between them; and, a plurality of coupling members (3) in connection with the plurality of rotatable rods (2), that are configured for releasably coupling with a plurality of rotatable rods (2) of the base station (9). ### Claim 18 Base station (9) for use in combination with one or more cell fixtures (1) of the cell fixture assembly (100) according to any one of the preceding claims; wherein the base station (9) comprises: a plurality of actuators (91) configured for releasably coupling with a plurality of coupling members (3) of the cell fixture (1), and for inducing the rotation of the rotatable rods (2), and at least one motor (92) configured for driving the actuators (91). ### Claim 19 Method for applying and maintaining of a compressive pressure on one or more electrochemical cells (4) using the fixture assembly (100) according to any one of the preceding claims; the method comprising the steps of mounting a cell fixture (1) onto a base station (9) by releasably coupling a plurality of coupling members (3) of the cell fixture (1) to a plurality of actuators (91) of the base station (9); mounting the electrochemical cell (4) on a moveable plate of the cell fixture (1); driving an actuator (91) of the base station (9) to induce a rotation of a plurality of rods (2) of the cell fixture (1) such that at least one moveable plate moves towards another moveable plate, thereby applying or releasing compressive pressure on the one or more cells (4) mounted between them; releasing the cell fixture (1) from said base station (9) without altering the compressive pressure applied on the electrochemical cell (4). ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, whereby a plurality of electrochemical cells are stacked on top of each other on the moveable plate of the cell fixture (1).