Method and system for unobtrusively measuring physical properties in electrochemical processes
First Claim
1. A method for measuring the state of charge in an electrochemical battery, the battery having an anode including a first sheet of material, and a cathode including a second sheet of material, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a coil;
(b) positioning the coil relative to the battery to minimize the reluctance path between the coil and a selected sheet;
(c) orienting the coil so that the winding axis of the coil is generally transverse to the surface of the selected sheet;
(d) applying an alternating current of a first frequency to the coil to generate a first oscillatory magnetic field;
(e) providing a means for concentrating the oscillating magnetic field in a direction towards the selected sheet;
(f) measuring the electrical complex impedance of the coil at the first frequency;
(g) determining the state of charge of the battery based upon the measured electrical complex impedance of the coil by comparing the measured electrical complex impedance of the coil with data correlating the state of charge of the battery with electrical complex impedance of the coil.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a method and system for unobtrusively measuring physical properties in electrochemical processes occurring in a predefined volume, such as the state of charge in an electrochemical battery. The invention provides for a coil (22) or (42) positioned relative to the predefined volume to minimize the reluctance path between the coil and the electrochemical process, with the winding axis of the coil generally transverse to a surface bounding the predefined volume. In this position, an alternating current is applied to the coil to generate an oscillatory magnetic field. Preferably, the coil includes a core (24) or a backing plate (46) for concentrating the magnetic field in a direction towards the process in the predefined volume. The physical properties are determined based upon a measurement of the electrical complex impedance of the coil, and data correlating the physical properties of the process with the electrical complex impedance of the coil.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for measuring the state of charge in an electrochemical battery, the battery having an anode including a first sheet of material, and a cathode including a second sheet of material, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a coil; (b) positioning the coil relative to the battery to minimize the reluctance path between the coil and a selected sheet; (c) orienting the coil so that the winding axis of the coil is generally transverse to the surface of the selected sheet; (d) applying an alternating current of a first frequency to the coil to generate a first oscillatory magnetic field; (e) providing a means for concentrating the oscillating magnetic field in a direction towards the selected sheet; (f) measuring the electrical complex impedance of the coil at the first frequency; (g) determining the state of charge of the battery based upon the measured electrical complex impedance of the coil by comparing the measured electrical complex impedance of the coil with data correlating the state of charge of the battery with electrical complex impedance of the coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for measuring the state of charge in an electrochemical battery, the battery having an anode including a first sheet of material, and a cathode including a second sheet of material, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a coil; (b) positioning the coil relative to the battery to minimize the reluctance path between the coil and a selected sheet; (c) orienting the coil so that the winding axis of the coil is generally transverse to the surface of the selected sheet; (d) applying an alternating current of a first frequency to the coil to generate a first oscillatory magnetic field; (e) providing a means for concentrating the oscillating magnetic field in a direction towards the selected sheet; (f) measuring the electrical complex impedance of the coil at the first frequency; (g) determining the state of charge of the battery based upon the measured electrical complex impedance of the coil; (h) applying an alternating current at a plurality of frequencies to the coil to generate a plurality of oscillatory magnetic fields; and (i) measuring the electrical complex impedance of the coil at the plurality of frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A method for measuring the state of charge in an electrochemical battery, the battery having an anode including a first sheet of material, and a cathode including a second sheet of material, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a coil; (b) positioning the coil relative to the battery to minimize the reluctance path between the coil and a selected sheet; (c) orienting the coil so that the winding axis of the coil is generally transverse to the surface of the selected sheet; (d) applying an alternating current of a first frequency to the coil to generate a first oscillatory magnetic field, and selecting the first frequency to maximize the effect the selected sheet has on the electrical complex impedance of the coil; (e) providing a means for concentrating the oscillating magnetic field in a direction towards the selected sheet; (f) measuring the electrical complex impedance of the coil at the first frequency; and (g) determining the state of charge of the battery based upon the measured electrical complex impedance of the coil.
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8. A method, for measuring the state of charge in an electrochemical battery, the battery having an anode including a first sheet of material, and a cathode including a second sheet of material, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a coil; (b) positioning the coil relative to the battery to minimize the reluctance path between the coil and a selected sheet; (c) orienting the coil so that the winding axis of the coil is generally transverse to the surface of the selected sheet; (d) applying an alternating current of a first frequency to the coil to generate a first oscillatory magnetic field; (e) providing means for concentrating the oscillating magnetic field in a direction towards the selected sheet; (f) measuring the electrical complex impedance of the coil at the first frequency; and (g) determining the state of charge of the battery based upon the measured electrical complex impedance of the coil by; (i) reducing the measured electrical complex impedance of the coil into first and second component terms; (ii) making a first initial determination of the state of charge of the battery based upon the first component term; (iii) making a second initial determination of the state of charge of the battery based upon the second component term; and (iv) making a final determination of the state of charge of the battery based upon the first and second initial determinations. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A method for measuring a physical parameter of a chemical solution residing in a container, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a coil; (b) positioning the coil relative to the container to minimize the reluctance path between the coil and the solution in the container; (c) orienting the coil so that the winding axis of the coil is generally transverse to the surface of the container; (d) applying an alternating current to the coil to generate an oscillatory magnetic field; (e) providing a means for concentrating the first oscillating magnetic field in a direction towards the solution in the container; (f) measuring the electrical complex impedance of the coil; and (g) determining the physical parameter of the solution based upon the measured electrical complex impedance of the coil by comparing the measured electrical complex impedance of the coil with data correlating the physical parameter of the chemical solution with electrical complex impedance of the coil.
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11. A method for measuring a physical parameter in an electrochemical process occurring within a predefined volume, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a coil; (b) positioning the coil relative to the predefined volume to minimize the reluctance path between the coil and the electrochemical process; (c) orienting the coil so that the winding axis of the coil is generally transverse to a surface bounding the predefined volume; (d) applying an alternating current at a first frequency to the coil to generate a first oscillatory magnetic field; (e) providing a means for concentrating the first oscillating magnetic field in a direction towards the electrochemical process; (f) measuring the electrical complex impedance of the coil at the first frequency; and (g) determining the physical parameter based upon the measured electrical complex impedance of the coil by comparing the measured electrical complex impedance of the coil with data correlating the physical parameter with electrical complex impedance of the coil. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for measuring the state of charge in an electrochemical battery, the battery having an anode including a first sheet of material, and a cathode including a second sheet of material, the system comprising:
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(a) a coil; (b) holding means for holding the coil adjacent the battery, and in an orientation so that the winding axis of the coil is generally transverse to the surface of at least one of the sheets; (c) alternating current means electrically connected to the coil, for applying an alternating current at a first frequency to the coil to generate a first oscillatory magnetic field; (d) magnetic field concentration means for concentrating the first oscillating magnetic field in a direction towards the sheets; (e) measuring means electrically connected to the coil, for measuring the electrical complex impedance of the coil at the first frequency; and
data processing means for receiving the measured electrical complex impedance of the coil; and(f) determining the state of charge of the battery, wherein the data processing means determines the state of charge of the battery by comparing the measured electrical complex impedance of the coil with data correlating state of charge of the battery with electrical complex impedance of the coil. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for measuring the state of charge in an electrochemical battery, the battery having an anode including a first sheet of materials, and a cathode including a second sheet of material, the system comprising;
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(a) a coil; (b) holding means for holding the coil adjacent the battery, and in an orientation so that the winding axis of the coil is generally transverse to the surface of at least one of the sheets; (c) alternating current means electrically connected to the coil for applying an alternating current at a first frequency to the coil to generate a first oscillatory magnetic field; (d) magnetic field concentration means for concentrating the first oscillating magnetic field in a direction towards the sheets; (e) measuring means electrically connected to the coil, for measuring the electrical complex impedance of the coil at the first frequency; and (f) data processing means for receiving the measured electrical complex impedance of the coil, and determining the state of charge of the battery, wherein the data processing means determines the state of charge of the battery based upon the electrical complex impedance of the coil by; (i) reducing the measured complex impedance of the coil into first and second component terms; (ii) making a first initial determination of the state of charge of the battery based upon the first component term; (iii) making a second initial determination of the state of charge of the battery based upon the second component term; and (iv) making a final determination of the state of charge of the battery based upon the first and second initial determinations. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification