SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING OF THERMAL BATTERIES
First Claim
1. A method for testing a thermal battery, the method comprising:
- applying a sinusoidal voltage to the thermal battery;
determining at least one of an impedance, a reactance, and a capacitance across two terminals of the thermal battery; and
comparing at least one of the impedance, the reactance, and the capacitance to at least one of a reference impedance, a reference reactance, and a reference capacitance.
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Abstract
The present invention generally relates to a thermal battery testing apparatus and a method for testing a thermal battery. The method includes one or more of the following steps: connecting the thermal battery in series with a resistance; connecting the thermal battery and resistance in series with a sinusoidal voltage source; applying a sinusoidal voltage to the thermal battery, measuring an impedance, reactance and/or capacitance across two terminals of the thermal battery, comparing the measured impedance, reactance and/or capacitance to a reference impedance, reactance and/or capacitance; and indicating whether the tested thermal battery is “in family” or “out of family.” The battery testing apparatus may include a testing device configured to apply a sinusoidal voltage to the thermal battery and to measure the impedance, reactance and/or capacitance across two terminals of the thermal battery. The testing apparatus may further be configured to report “out of family” batteries.
36 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for testing a thermal battery, the method comprising:
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applying a sinusoidal voltage to the thermal battery; determining at least one of an impedance, a reactance, and a capacitance across two terminals of the thermal battery; and comparing at least one of the impedance, the reactance, and the capacitance to at least one of a reference impedance, a reference reactance, and a reference capacitance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for testing a thermal battery comprising:
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a testing device, wherein the testing device is configured to determine at least one of an impedance, a reactance, and a capacitance across two terminals of the thermal battery based in part on applying a sinusoidal voltage; and a computer configured to communicate with the testing device, wherein the computer is configured to receive at least one of the determined impedance, reactance, and capacitance from the testing device, and wherein the computer is configured to compare at least one of the determined impedance, reactance, and capacitance to a standard; wherein the computer is configured to identify if the thermal battery differs from the standard. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A thermal battery testing apparatus comprising:
a testing device connected to two or more terminals of a thermal battery, wherein the testing device is configured to measure at least one of an impedance, a reactance, and a capacitance across at least two of the two or more terminals based in part on applying a sinusoidal voltage to the thermal battery, and wherein the testing device is configured to indicate the quality of the thermal battery based on at least one of the measured impedance, reactance, and capacitance. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
Specification