Battery Signature Identification System

• US 20160047861A1
• Filed: 07/24/2015
• Published: 02/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc. (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc. (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Wayne, Blackledge, Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 10,145,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/367 Software therefor, e.g. for battery testing using modelling or look-up tables
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/374 with means for correcting the measurement for temperature or ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/378 specially adapted for the type of battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• 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: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health
• 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: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/005 Detection of state of health [SOH]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A system for authenticating a rechargeable battery and for detecting counterfeit batteries includes battery characteristics detection circuitry and a battery. Battery characteristics detection circuitry performs an authentication routine on the battery such that battery characteristics of the battery are measured. Battery characteristics include state of health, state of charge, internal resistance, relaxation time, and impedance. The battery is validated by comparing the battery characteristics to validation parameters provided by a manufacturer. If battery characteristics are within ranges of the validation parameters, then the battery is authenticated as originating from a particular manufacturer or batch. If validation fails, then the device is disabled or protected. In one example, validation parameters are stored and compared locally on a device. In another example, the device communicates battery characteristics to a remote entity that performs the validation. In another example, the device receives validation parameters from the remote entity and performs the validation locally.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

measuring a plurality of battery characteristics of a battery; and

validating an origin of the battery if the battery characteristics are within a range defined by the validation parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the origin represents a manufacturer identity or a manufacturing lot identity.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling a protection mode if the battery characteristics are outside a range defined by the validation parameters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery characteristics comprises at least one of:

a state of health (SOH) characteristic, a state of charge (SOC) characteristic, and an internal resistance characteristic.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery is a Lithium Ion battery.

6. The method of claim 1, the validating comprising:

obtaining the validation parameters from a remote entity; and

comparing the plurality of battery characteristics to validation parameters to determine if the battery characteristics are within a range defined by the validation parameters.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining the validation parameters from a local memory; and

comparing the plurality of battery characteristics to validation parameters to determine if the battery characteristics are within a range defined by the validation parameters.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating the measured battery characteristics to a remote entity; and

receiving a validation result from the remote entity, wherein the validation result is positive if the battery characteristics are within a range defined by the validation parameters.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery characteristic include an identifier that identifies a battery type.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a battery that supplies the electronic device; and

a battery characteristics detection circuit that authenticates an origin of the battery if measured battery characteristics of the battery are within a range defined by validation parameters.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the battery characteristics comprise at least one of:

a state of health (SOH) characteristic, a state of charge (SOC) characteristic, and an internal resistance characteristic.

12. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the validation parameters are received from a remote entity onto the electronic device, and wherein the measured battery characteristics of the battery are compared to the validation parameters locally.

13. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the validation parameters are prestored on the electronic device, and wherein the measured battery characteristics of the battery are compared to the validation parameters locally.

14. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the electronic device communicates the measured battery characteristics to a remote entity that compares the measured battery characteristics to the validation parameters, and wherein the electronic device receives a validation result from the remote entity.

15. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the battery characteristics detection circuit comprises:

a power management unit (PMU) that charges and discharges the battery;

an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that generates a digital signal for each measured battery characteristic;

a memory that stores the validation parameters; and

a processor that protects the electronic device if the processor determines that the measured battery characteristics of the battery are outside the range defined by the validation parameters.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a battery that supplies the apparatus; and

means for determining battery characteristics of the battery, wherein the battery characteristics of the battery are used to validate an identity of the battery by comparison of the battery characteristics to validation parameters.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means is a battery characteristic detection circuit that includes a processor, a power management unit (PMU), an instrumentation circuit, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and a memory.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the battery characteristics comprise at least one of:

a state of health (SOH) characteristic, a state of charge (SOC) characteristic, and an internal resistance characteristic.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means is also for receiving the validation parameters from a remote entity and comparing the battery characteristics to the received validation parameters.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means is also for communicating the determined battery characteristics to a remote entity and receiving a validation result from the remote entity.