Battery and charging method

• US 10,243,243 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2017
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Company Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Company Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Huang, Baoning, Luo, Bingcai
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Arun C
• Application Number:
  US15/479,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20180006337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 320148
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0431 Cells with wound or folded electrodes H01M10/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/446 Initial charging measures
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• 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 50/186 characterised by the disposition of the sealing members
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/195 Composite material consisting of a mixture of organic and inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/586 inside the batteries, e.g. incorrect connections of electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A battery includes a cell including a core and a sealing film enclosing the core. The core includes a negative electrode plate, a metal plate, a separator, and a positive electrode plate arranged successively. The battery further includes a protection circuit coupled to the negative electrode plate and one of the metal plate or the positive electrode plate to measure a reference voltage between the negative electrode plate and the one of the metal plate or the positive electrode plate.

Claims

1. A battery comprising:

a cell including;

a core including a negative electrode plate, a metal plate, a separator, and a positive electrode plate arranged successively; and

a sealing film enclosing the core; and

a protection circuit coupled to the negative electrode plate and the metal plate to measure an internal voltage between the negative electrode plate and the metal plate.

2. The battery of claim 1, wherein the core includes a wound core.

3. The battery of claim 2, wherein the wound core is wound having one of a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or a shape consisting of arcs and straight lines.

4. The battery of claim 2, wherein the negative electrode plate, the metal plate, the separator, and the positive electrode plate are arranged successively from an inner side of the wound core to an outer side of the wound core.

5. The battery of claim 2, wherein the negative electrode plate, the metal plate, the separator, and the positive electrode plate are arranged successively from an outer side of the wound core to an inner side of the wound core.

6. The battery of claim 1, wherein:

the separator is a first separator, and

the core further includes a second separator, the positive electrode plate being arranged between the first separator and the second separator.

7. The battery of claim 1, wherein:

the separator is a first separator, and

the core further includes a second separator arranged between negative electrode plate and the metal plate.

8. The battery of claim 1, wherein:

the metal plate is a first metal plate, and

the core further includes a second metal plate arranged between the separator and the positive electrode plate.

9. The battery of claim 8, wherein:

the separator is a first separator; and

the core further includes a second separator arranged between the second metal plate and the positive electrode plate.

10. The battery of claim 1, wherein the metal plate is coupled to a ground terminal.

11. A charging method comprising:

acquiring a charging current for charging a battery;

determining whether an internal voltage of the battery is lower than a limiting voltage, the internal voltage being between a negative electrode of the battery and a metal plate in a core of the battery, and the metal plate being arranged between the negative electrode and a positive electrode of the battery; and

increasing, in response to the internal voltage being lower than the limiting voltage, the charging current to a maximum current.

12. The charging method of claim 11, further comprising:

measuring a battery voltage between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the battery;

determining whether the battery voltage is lower than a maximum battery voltage sustainable by the battery; and

increasing, in response to the battery voltage being lower than the maximum battery voltage, the charging current to the maximum current.

13. The charging method of claim 11, wherein the limiting voltage is a threshold voltage at which an electric potential of the negative electrode is about 0V.

14. The charging method of claim 11, further comprising, when the internal voltage increases to the limiting voltage:

reducing the charging current to a preset current.

15. The charging method of claim 14, further comprising, when the internal voltage reaches a preset voltage lower than the limiting voltage:

increasing the charging current to the maximum current.

16. The charging method of claim 15,

wherein the preset current is a first preset current,

the method further comprising, when the internal voltage reaches the limiting voltage:

reducing the charging current to a second preset current smaller than the first preset current.

17. The charging method of claim 16,

wherein the preset voltage is a first preset voltage,

the method further comprising, when the internal voltage reaches a second preset voltage lower than the limiting voltage and higher than the first preset voltage:

increasing the charging current to the maximum current.

18. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

acquire a charging current for charging a battery;

determine whether an internal voltage of the battery is lower than a limiting voltage, the internal voltage being between a negative electrode of the battery and a metal plate in a core of the battery, and the metal plate being arranged between the negative electrode and a positive electrode of the battery; and

increase, in response to the reference voltage being lower than the limiting voltage, the charging current to a maximum current.

19. The electronic apparatus of claim 18, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

measure a battery voltage between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the battery;

determine whether the battery voltage is lower than a maximum battery voltage sustainable by the battery; and

increase, in response to the battery voltage being lower than the maximum battery voltage, the charging current to the maximum current.

20. The electronic apparatus of claim 18, wherein the limiting voltage is a threshold voltage at which an electric potential of the negative electrode is about 0V.