SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRESSURE DETERMINATION IN A Li-ION BATTERY

• US 20100285338A1
• Filed: 05/08/2009
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Ahmed, Jasim, Chaturvedi, Nalin, Christensen, John F., Kozinsky, Boris
• Granted Patent: US 8,859,123 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/50
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• 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 10/058 Construction or manufacture
• 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 10/443 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/445 in response to gas pressure
• 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 4/134 Electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/136 Electrodes based on inorganic compounds other than oxides or hydroxides, e.g. sulfides, selenides, tellurides, halogenides or LiCoFy
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

An electrochemical battery system in one embodiment includes a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, a separator positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode, an active material within the second electrode, a pressure sensor in fluid connection with the second electrode, a memory in which command instructions are stored, and a processor configured to execute the command instructions to obtain a pressure signal from the pressure sensor associated with the pressure within the second electrode, and to identify a state of charge of the electrochemical battery system based upon the pressure signal.

Claims

1. An electrochemical battery system, comprising:

a first electrode;

a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode;

a separator positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode;

an active material within the second electrode;

a pressure sensor in fluid connection with the second electrode;

a memory in which command instructions are stored; and

a processor configured to execute the command instructions to obtain a pressure signal from the pressure sensor associated with the pressure within the second electrode, and to identify a state of charge of the electrochemical battery system based upon the pressure signal.

2. The electrochemical battery system of claim 1, wherein the second electrode is a cathode.

3. The electrochemical battery system of claim 2, wherein the active material comprises a form of sulfur.

4. The electrochemical battery system of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is a cathode.

5. The electrochemical battery system of claim 4, wherein the active material comprises a form of LiSi.

6. The electrochemical battery system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is in fluid connection with the first electrode.

7. The electrochemical battery system further comprising:

a temperature sensor in thermal contact with the second electrode, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the command instructions to obtain a temperature signal from the temperature sensor associated with the temperature within the second electrode, and to identify the state of charge of the electrochemical battery system based upon the temperature signal.

8. A method of determining the state of charge of an electrochemical cell, comprising:

storing data indicative of the relationship between a range of pressures in an electrochemical cell and a range of states of charge for the electrochemical cell in a memory;

generating a signal associated with the pressure within the electrochemical cell;

receiving the signal associated with the pressure within the electrochemical cell; and

identifying a state of charge of the electrochemical cell based upon the received signal and the stored data.

9. The method of claim 8, the signal generation comprising;

sensing the pressure within an electrode of the electrochemical cell with a pressure sensor.

10. The method of claim 9, the state of charge identification comprising:

obtaining a signal indicative of a temperature associated with the electrode; and

identifying the state of charge of the electrochemical cell based upon the obtained signal.

11. The method of claim 8, the signal generation comprising;

sensing a pressure associated with an electrode incorporating a form of sulfur.

12. The method of claim 11, the signal generation comprising;

sensing a pressure associated with an electrode incorporating a form of lithium.

13. The method of claim 8, the signal generation comprising;

sensing a pressure associated with an electrode incorporating a form of lithium.

14. The method of claim 13, the signal generation comprising;

sensing a pressure associated with an electrode incorporating a form of silicon.