# US 9,040,186 B2 · Method and device to measure temperature of a prismatic cell of automotive battery > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,040,186 B2 - Document ID: US9040186B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/396,677 - Filed: 2012-02-15 - Published: 2013-08-15 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2012-02-15 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: Leonid C. Lev; Nikolay Kondratyev - Inventors: Leonid C. Lev; Nikolay Kondratyev - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9040186B2 ## CPC - 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 10/482: {for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially} - H01M 10/486: {for measuring temperature} - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - 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 Apparatuses and methods of use are provided that include a battery cell comprising a flexible resistive thermal device. The resistive thermal device includes a flexible conductive circuit that is positioned on or adjacent to the surface of the battery cell. Resistance measured in the conductive circuit is correlated with a temperature of the battery cell thereby allowing control of a cooling system and/or the charging/discharging rates of the battery cell to be adjusted in response to temperature. Flexibility of the resistive thermal device also accommodates dimensional changes in the battery cell. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A battery cell comprising: a prismatic battery cell including a pouch having a substantially planar exterior surface; a flexible resistive thermal device (RTD) for determining a temperature of the prismatic battery cell, the RTD disposed on the substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell and comprising a conductive circuit and a plurality of terminals electrically connected to the conductive circuit, wherein the plurality of terminals of the RTD extend from a periphery of the substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell; and a frame disposed about and adjacent the periphery of the substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell, the frame independent of the substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell, the frame particular to the prismatic battery cell, and the frame including a first portion and a second portion that are assembled to permit the plurality of terminals of the RTD to extend therethrough and beyond a periphery of the frame. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The battery cell of claim 1, wherein the prismatic battery cell comprises a lithium-ion battery cell. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The battery cell of claim 1, wherein the RTD contacts at least about 25% of the surface of the prismatic battery cell. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The battery cell of claim 1, wherein the prismatic battery cell includes a positive electrode that extends from the pouch and the RTD contacts the substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell proximate to where the positive electrode extends from the pouch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The battery cell of claim 1, wherein the substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell is substantially nonconductive. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The battery cell of claim 5, wherein the conductive circuit is disposed directly on the nonconductive substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The battery cell of claim 1, wherein the conductive circuit comprises a serpentine pattern. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The battery cell of claim 1, wherein the conductive circuit comprises a thin-film of conductive material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The battery cell of claim 8, wherein the thin-film of conductive material has a thickness of about 1 nm to about 10 nm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The battery cell of claim 1, wherein the conductive circuit comprises aluminum. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The battery cell of claim 1, wherein the RTD comprises a substantially nonconductive substrate positioned between the conductive circuit and the substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The battery cell of claim 11, wherein the substantially nonconductive substrate comprises a polymer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The battery cell of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of leads, each lead connecting a terminal of the plurality of terminals to the conductive circuit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The battery cell of claim 1, wherein the RTD comprises a substantially nonconductive substrate positioned between the conductive circuit and the substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell and a portion of the substantially nonconductive substrate extends from the periphery of the substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell and comprises the plurality of terminals. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The battery cell of claim 1, wherein the substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell is substantially nonconductive, the conductive circuit is disposed directly on the substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell, and the plurality of terminals is disposed on a portion of a substantially nonconductive substrate that extends from the periphery of the substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The battery cell of claim 1, wherein the substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell is substantially nonconductive and the conductive circuit is disposed directly on the substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The battery cell of claim 1, wherein the battery cell further comprises a battery management system electrically connected to the plurality of terminals and the RTD is configured to flex and bend to accommodate a change in one or more dimensions of the prismatic battery cell and remain electrically connected to the battery management system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The battery cell of claim 1, wherein a majority of the substantially planar exterior surface of the pouch is not covered by the frame. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The battery cell of claim 1, wherein the RTD contacts at least about 25% of the surface of the prismatic battery cell, the prismatic battery cell includes a positive electrode that extends from the pouch, and the RTD contacts the substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell proximate to where the positive electrode extends from the pouch. ### Claim 20 A battery cell comprising: a prismatic battery cell including a pouch having a substantially planar exterior surface; a flexible resistive thermal device (RTD) for determining a temperature of the prismatic battery cell, the RTD disposed on the substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell and comprising a conductive circuit and a plurality of terminals electrically connected to the conductive circuit, wherein the substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell is substantially nonconductive, the conductive circuit is disposed directly on the substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell, and the plurality of terminals is disposed on a tab of the prismatic battery cell substantially planar exterior surface extending from a remainder of the periphery of the substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell; and a frame disposed about and adjacent the periphery of the substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell, the frame independent of the substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell, the frame particular to the prismatic battery cell, and the plurality of terminals of the RTD extends outside a periphery of the frame. ### Claim 21 A battery assembly comprising: a plurality of prismatic battery cells, each prismatic battery cell including a pouch having a substantially planar exterior surface, wherein at least one prismatic battery cell comprises a flexible RTD for determining a temperature of the prismatic battery cell, the RTD disposed on the substantially planar exterior surface of the at least one prismatic battery cell and comprising a conductive circuit and a plurality of terminals electrically connected to the conductive circuit, wherein the plurality of terminals of the RTD extend from a periphery of the substantially planar exterior surface of the at least one prismatic battery cell; a plurality of frames, each prismatic battery cell disposed within a separate frame, the frame disposed about and adjacent the periphery of the substantially planar exterior surface of the prismatic battery cell, and the frame including a first portion and a second portion that are assembled to permit the plurality of terminals of the RTD to extend therethrough and beyond a periphery of the frame; and a battery management system electrically connected to the plurality of terminals.