Asymmetric battery testing apparatus

• US 10,209,318 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2017
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DHC Specialty Corp.
• Original Assignee: DHC Specialty Corp.
• Inventors: Sheng, Hsien-Fang
• Primary Examiner(s): Hollington, Jermele M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pothen, Feba
• Application Number:
  US15/407,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20180149707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/367 Software therefor, e.g. for battery testing using modelling or look-up tables
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3842 combining voltage and current measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/389 Measuring internal impedance, internal conductance or related variables
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/569 Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An asymmetric battery testing apparatus tests a battery unit. The battery testing apparatus includes a first wire, a second wire, a third wire, and a testing circuit. The testing circuit includes a test-enabling unit and a control unit. Each wire has a resistance. The test-enabling unit includes a resistor to obtain a first resistor voltage value and a second resistor voltage value. The control unit obtains a battery internal resistance or a battery internal conductance which is a reciprocal of the battery internal resistance of the battery unit according to a battery internal voltage value, a wire voltage value, a first testing voltage value, a second testing voltage value, a testing resistance, the first resistor voltage value, the second resistor voltage value, and the resistances. Accordingly, shorter test time, lower contact failure, higher accuracy, lower power consumption, lower costs, and smaller size are implemented.

Claims

1. An asymmetric battery testing apparatus configured to test a battery internal resistance or a battery internal conductance which is a reciprocal of the battery internal resistance of a battery unit, the asymmetric battery testing apparatus comprising:

a first wire having;

a first end connected to a positive terminal of the battery unit;

a second end; and

a first resistance existing between the first end and the second end of the first wire;

a second wire having;

a first end connected to a negative terminal of the battery unit;

a second end; and

a second resistance existing between the first end and the second end of the second wire;

a third wire having;

a first end connected to the first end of the first wire and the positive terminal or the negative terminal of the battery unit; and

a second end obtaining a wire voltage value being an open-circuit voltage value at the positive terminal or at the negative terminal of the battery unit when a resistance of the third wire is negligible; and

a testing circuit comprising;

a test-enabling unit having;

a first end connected to the second end of the first wire; and

a second end connected to the second end of the second wire, wherein a common reference with a zero voltage is connected to the second end or the first end of the test-enabling unit when the wire voltage value is measured at the positive terminal or the negative terminal of the battery unit; and

a resistor having a testing resistance and configured for providing a first resistor voltage value and a second resistor voltage value at two ends of the resistor, respectively; and

a control unit connected to the test-enabling unit and configured to receive the wire voltage value, the first resistor voltage value, and the second resistor voltage value;

wherein when the control unit is configured to activate the test-enabling unit, the control unit is configured to obtain the battery internal resistance or the battery internal conductance according to a battery internal voltage value of the battery unit, the wire voltage value, the testing resistance, the first resistor voltage value, the second resistor voltage value, and the second resistance when the wire voltage value is measured at the positive terminal of the battery unit, or according to the battery internal voltage value of the battery unit, the wire voltage value, the testing resistance, the first resistor voltage value, the second resistor voltage value, and the first resistance when the wire voltage value is measured at the negative terminal of the battery unit.

2. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the test-enabling unit further comprises:

a switch connected to the resistor in series to form a series-connected configuration, and the series-connected configuration of the test-enabling unit connected between the first wire and the second wire;

wherein the control unit is connected to the switch and provides a control signal to control the switch;

the test-enabling unit is activated when the switch is turned on by the control signal.

3. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the test-enabling unit further comprises:

a diode; and

a switch connected to the diode and the resistor in series to form a series-connected configuration, and the series-connected configuration of the test-enabling unit connected between the first wire and the second wire;

wherein the control unit is connected to the switch and provides a control signal to control the switch;

the test-enabling unit is activated when the switch is turned on by the control signal.

4. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second wire is made of a superconductor material or a metal copper material.

5. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second wire is made of a superconductor material or a metal copper material.

6. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second wire is made of a superconductor material or a metal copper material.

7. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the second testing voltage value is a zero reference potential,

the battery internal resistance is:

R_B=[(V_B−

Vm1)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144−

R12;

the battery internal conductance is;

S_B=1/{[(V_B−

Vm1)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144−

R12};

when R12 is k times great as R11, the battery internal resistance is;

R_B=[(V_B−

Vm1)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144−

k×

R11;

the battery internal conductance is;

S_B=1/{[(V_B−

Vm1)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144−

kλ

R11};

when R12 is zero, the battery internal resistance is;

R_B=[(V_B−

Vm1)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144;

the battery internal conductance is;

S_B=1/{[(V_B−

Vm1)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144};

wherein

R_B is the battery internal resistance;

S_B is the battery internal conductance;

V_B is the battery internal voltage value;

Vm1 is the wire voltage value;

V₁₄₄₊ is the first resistor voltage value;

V₁₄₄₋

is the second resistor voltage value;

R144 is the testing resistance;

R11 is the first resistance;

R12 is the second resistance; and

k is a real number.

8. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein when the second testing voltage value is a zero reference potential,

the battery internal resistance is:

R_B=[(V_B−

Vm1)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144−

R12;

the battery internal conductance is;

S_B=1/{[(V_B−

Vm1)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144−

R12};

when R12 is k times great as R11, the battery internal resistance is;

R_B=[(V_B−

Vm1)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144−

k×

R11;

the battery internal conductance is;

S_B=1/{[(V_B−

Vm1)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144−

k×

R11};

when R12 is zero, the battery internal resistance is;

R_B=[(V_B−

Vm1)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144;

the battery internal conductance is;

S_B=1/{[(V_B−

Vm1)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144};

wherein

R_B is the battery internal resistance;

S_B is the battery internal conductance;

V_B is the battery internal voltage value;

Vm1 is the wire voltage value;

V₁₄₄₊ is the first resistor voltage value;

V₁₄₄₋

is the second resistor voltage value;

R144 is the testing resistance;

R11 is the first resistance;

R12 is the second resistance; and

k is a real number.

9. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein when the second testing voltage value is a zero reference potential,

the battery internal resistance is:

R_B=[(V_B−

Vm1)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144−

R12;

the battery internal conductance is;

S_B=1/{[(V_B−

Vm1)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144−

R12};

when R12 is k times great as R11, the battery internal resistance is;

R_B=[(V_B−

Vm1)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144−

k×

R11;

the battery internal conductance is;

S_B=1/{[(V_B−

Vm1)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₁₋

)]×

R144−

k×

R11};

when R12 is zero, the battery internal resistance is;

R_B=[(V_B−

Vm1)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144;

the battery internal conductance is;

S_B=1/{[(V_B−

Vm1)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144};

wherein

R_B is the battery internal resistance;

S_B is the battery internal conductance;

V_B is the battery internal voltage value;

Vm1 is the wire voltage value;

V₁₄₄₊ is the first resistor voltage value;

V₁₄₄₋

is the second resistor voltage value;

R144 is the testing resistance;

R11 is the first resistance;

R12 is the second resistance; and

k is a real number.

10. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first wire is made of a superconductor material or a metal copper material.

11. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first wire is made of a superconductor material or a metal copper material.

12. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first wire is made of a superconductor material or a metal copper material.

13. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the first testing voltage value is a zero reference potential,

the battery internal resistance is:

R_B=[(V_B+Vm2)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144−

R11;

the battery internal conductance is;

S_B=1/{[(V_B+Vm2)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144−

R11};

when R11 is k times great as R12, the battery internal resistance is;

R_B=[(V_B+Vm2)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144−

k×

R12;

the battery internal conductance is;

S_B=1/{[(V_B+Vm2)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144−

k×

R12};

when R11 is zero, the battery internal resistance is;

R_B=[(V_B+Vm2)/(V₁₄₄+−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144;

the battery internal conductance is;

S_B=1/{[(V_B+Vm2)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144};

wherein R_B is the battery internal resistance;

S_B is the battery internal conductance;

V_B is the battery internal voltage value;

Vm2 is the wire voltage value;

V₁₄₄₊ is the first resistor voltage value;

V₁₄₄₋

is the second resistor voltage value;

R144 is the testing resistance;

R11 is the first resistance;

R12 is the second resistance; and

k is a real number.

14. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein when the first testing voltage value is a zero reference potential,

the battery internal resistance is:

R_B=[(V_B+Vm2)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144−

R11;

the battery internal conductance is;

S_B=1/{[(V_B+Vm2)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144−

R11};

when R11 is k times great as R12, the battery internal resistance is;

R_B=[(V_B+Vm2)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144−

k×

R12;

the battery internal conductance is;

S_B=1/{[(V_B+Vm2)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144−

k×

R12};

when R11 is zero, the battery internal resistance is;

R_B=[(V_B±

Vm2)/(V₁₄₄₋

−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144;

the battery internal conductance is;

S_B=1/{[(V_B+Vm2)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144};

wherein

R_B is the battery internal resistance;

S_B is the battery internal conductance;

V_B is the battery internal voltage value;

Vm2 is the wire voltage value;

V₁₄₄₊ is the first resistor voltage value;

V₁₄₄₋

is the second resistor voltage value;

R144 is the testing resistance;

R11 is the first resistance;

R12 is the second resistance; and

k is a real number.

15. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein when the first testing voltage value is a zero reference potential,

the battery internal resistance is:

R_B=[(V_B+Vm2)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144−

R11;

the battery internal conductance is;

S_B=1/{[(V_B±

Vm2)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144−

R11};

when R11 is k times great as R12, the battery internal resistance is;

R_B=[(V_B+Vm2)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)—

]×

R144−

k×

R12;

the battery internal conductance is;

S_B=1/{[(V_B+Vm2)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144−

k×

R12};

when R11 is zero, the battery internal resistance is;

R_B=[(V_B+Vm2)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144;

the battery internal conductance is;

S_B=1/{[(V_B+Vm2)/(V₁₄₄₊−

V₁₄₄₋

)]×

R144};

wherein

R_B is the battery internal resistance;

S_B is the battery internal conductance;

V_B is the battery internal voltage value;

Vm2 is the wire voltage value;

V₁₄₄₊ is the first resistor voltage value;

V₁₄₄₋

is the second resistor voltage value;

R144 is the testing resistance;

R11 is the first resistance;

R12 is the second resistance; and

k is a real number.

16. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a first connection element connected to the first wire and configured to provide an electrical connection with one electrode terminal of the battery unit; and

a second connection element connected to the second wire and configured to provide an electrical connection with the other electrode terminal of the battery unit;

wherein the first connection element or the second connection element is connected to the third wire.

17. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises:

a microcontroller;

a memory connected to the microcontroller to store data related to a battery testing;

an analog-to-digital converter connected to the microcontroller to convert analog data into digital data;

a digital-to-analog converter connected to the microcontroller to convert digital data into analog data;

an input unit connected to the microcontroller to input data related to the battery testing; and

an output unit connected to the microcontroller to output data of testing results.

18. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control unit comprises:

a microcontroller;

a memory connected to the microcontroller to store data related to a battery testing;

an analog-to-digital converter connected to the microcontroller to convert analog data into digital data;

a digital-to-analog converter connected to the microcontroller to convert digital data into analog data;

an input unit connected to the microcontroller to input data related to the battery testing; and

an output unit connected to the microcontroller to output data of testing results.

19. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control unit comprises:

a microcontroller;

a memory connected to the microcontroller to store data related to a battery testing;

an analog-to-digital converter connected to the microcontroller to convert analog data into digital data;

a digital-to-analog converter connected to the microcontroller to convert digital data into analog data;

an input unit connected to the microcontroller to input data related to the battery testing; and

an output unit connected to the microcontroller to output data of testing results.

20. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the control unit is connected to an information input/output apparatus or an information control apparatus;

wherein connection manners between the control unit and the information input/output apparatus or the information control apparatus are;

a unidirectional or a bidirectional connection, a local or a remote connection, or a wired or a wireless connection.

21. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the control unit is connected to an information input/output apparatus or an information control apparatus;

wherein connection manners between the control unit and the information input/output apparatus or the information control apparatus are;

a unidirectional or a bidirectional connection, a local or a remote connection, or a wired or a wireless connection.

22. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the control unit is connected to an information input/output apparatus or an information control apparatus;

wherein connection manners between the control unit and the information input/output apparatus or the information control apparatus are;

a unidirectional or a bidirectional connection, a local or a remote connection, or a wired or a wireless connection.

23. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the information input/output apparatus is a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a keyboard, a printer, a physical server, or a cloud server.

24. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the information input/output apparatus is a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a keyboard, a printer, a physical server, or a cloud server.

25. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the information input/output apparatus is a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a keyboard, a printer, a physical server, or a cloud server.

26. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the information control apparatus is a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a keyboard, a physical server, or a cloud server.

27. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the information control apparatus is a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a keyboard, a physical server, or a cloud server.

28. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the information control apparatus is a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a keyboard, a physical server, or a cloud server.

29. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein information contents processed by the information input/output apparatus or the information control apparatus include information of battery manufacturer, information of battery specification, information of testing result, information of testing date and time, information of testing location, information of installation location, or information of testing personnel.

30. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein information contents processed by the information input/output apparatus or the information control apparatus include information of battery manufacturer, information of battery specification, information of testing result, information of testing date and time, information of testing location, information of installation location, or information of testing personnel.

31. The asymmetric battery testing apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein information contents processed by the information input/output apparatus or the information control apparatus include information of battery manufacturer, information of battery specification, information of testing result, information of testing date and time, information of testing location, information of installation location, or information of testing personnel.