ELECTRONIC CURRENT INTERRUPT DEVICE FOR BATTERY

• US 20100119881A1
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Leyden Energy
• Original Assignee: Leyden Energy
• Inventors: Patel, Aakar, Juzkow, Marc
• Application Number:
  US12/573,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20100119881A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/7
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• 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 10/48 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 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/103 Fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/106 PTC
• 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: H01M 50/574 Devices or arrangements for the interruption of current
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/581 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/583 in response to current, e.g. fuses
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The present invention provides a protection circuit disposed in a lithium-ion cell for protection of the lithium-ion cell. The protection circuit includes a first protection module, a second protection module, an integrated circuit module, a thermal sensor or thermocouple, a switch, a fuse and/or a resistor.

Claims

1. A protection circuit disposed within a lithium-ion cell assembly, wherein the lithium-ion assembly includes a lithium-ion cell in electrical communication with said protection circuit, said circuit comprising:

a first and a second connection terminals for connecting to a charging device for charging the lithium-ion cell and/or a load device driven by a discharge current from the lithium-ion cell assembly;

a first protection module coupled between the lithium-ion cell and the first terminal for conducting or cutting off a first circuit loop between the lithium-ion cell and the first terminal or second terminal;

a second protection module coupled between the first protection module and the first terminal for conducting or cutting off a second circuit loop between the lithium-ion cell and the first terminal or second terminal;

an integrated circuit module coupled with the first protection module, the second protection module, the lithium-ion cell, the first terminal and the second terminal for monitoring the parameters of the lithium-ion cell and controlling the first and the second protection module to conduct or cut off the first circuit loop, the second circuit loop, or both, between the lithium-ion cell and the first and the second terminals;

a thermal sensor coupled to the integrated circuit, wherein the thermal sensor is in contact with the lithium-ion cell for detecting the temperature of the cell; and

a resistor coupled between the second protection module and the first terminal for measuring and controlling the current of the lithium-ion cell.

2. The protection circuit of claim 1, wherein the first protection module comprises a switch, wherein the switch is coupled to the integrated circuit module and cuts off the first circuit loop between the lithium-ion cell and the first terminal when the temperature of the lithium-ion cell is above a predetermined temperature or the rate of change of temperature is deviated from a predetermined value.

3. The protection circuit of claim 1, wherein the first protection module comprises a switch, wherein the switch is coupled to the integrated circuit module and cuts off the first circuit loop between the lithium-ion cell and the first terminal when the operation current of the integrated circuit is greater than a predetermined current or there is a short circuit.

4. The protection circuit of claim 1, wherein the first protection module comprises a switch, wherein the switch is coupled to the integrated circuit module and cuts off the first circuit loop between the lithium-ion cell and the first terminal when the voltage of the lithium-ion cell is greater than or lower than a predetermined voltage.

5. The protection circuit of claim 1, wherein the second protection module comprises a fuse, wherein the fuse is coupled to the integrated circuit module and cuts off the second circuit loop between the lithium-ion cell and the first terminal when the operation current of the integrated circuit is greater than a predetermined current or there is a short circuit.

6. The protection circuit of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit is pre-programmed.

7. The protection circuit of claim 1, wherein said lithium-ion cell comprising a current collector and an electrolyte.

8. The protection circuit of claim 7, the electrolyte solution comprises a salt selected from the group consisting of LiPF₆, LiBF₄, LiClO₄ and a compound having the formula:

(R^aSO₂)N⁻

Li⁺(SO₂R^a),

wherein each R^a is independently C_1-8perfluoroalkyl or perfluoroaryl.

9. The protection circuit of claim 8, wherein the electrolyte solution comprises a salt selected from CF₃SO₂N⁻

(Li⁺)SO₂CF₃, CF₃CF₂SO₂N⁻

(Li⁺)SO₂CF₃, CF₃CF₂SO₂N⁻

(Li⁺)SO₂CF₂CF₃, CF₃SO₂N⁻

(Li⁺)SO₂CF₂OCF₃, CF₃OCF₂SO₂N⁻

(Li⁺)SO₂CF₂OCF₃, C₆F₅SO₂N⁻

(Li⁺)SO₂CF₃, C₆F₅SO₂N⁻

(Li⁺)SO₂C₆F₅ or CF₃SO₂N⁻

(Li⁺)SO₂PhCF₃.

10. The protection circuit of claim 7, wherein the current collector is selected from the group consisting of a metal foil and a carbon sheet selected from a graphite sheet, a carbon fiber sheet, a carbon foam, a carbon nanotube film or a mixture thereof.

11. A lithium-ion cell assembly, comprising:

a lithium-ion cell;

a protection circuit; and

wherein the lithium-ion cell is in electrical communication with said protection circuit.

12. The lithium-ion cell assembly of claim 11, wherein the protection circuit comprises a first protection module comprising a switch.

13. The lithium-ion cell assembly of claim 11, wherein the protection circuit comprises a second protection module comprising a fuse.

14. The lithium-ion cell assembly of claim 11, wherein the protection circuit comprises a thermal sensor comprising a thermocouple.

15. The lithium-ion cell assembly of claim 11, wherein the lithium-ion cell comprises a carbon sheet current collector.

16. A lithium-ion battery, comprising:

one or more lithium-ion cell assemblies, each lithium-ion assembly comprises a lithium-ion cell in electrical communication with a protection circuit.

17. The battery of claim 16, wherein the protection circuit comprises a first protection module comprising a switch.

18. The battery of claim 16, wherein the protection circuit comprises a second protection module comprising a fuse.

19. The battery of claim 16, wherein the protection circuit comprises a thermal sensor comprising a thermocouple.

20. The battery of claim 16, wherein the lithium-ion cell comprises a carbon sheet current collector.