Shunt recognition in lithium batteries
First Claim
1. A method of recognizing a shunt in a rechargeable lithium battery comprising:
- charging the battery with a charging current;
sampling the voltage of the battery at pre-determined time intervals, wherein the step of sampling the voltage of the battery includes interrupting the charging current to sample an open circuit voltage, said open circuit voltage being sampled in a range of 5-5,000 ms after the charging current has been interrupted in order to obtain a steady open circuit voltage;
identifying one or more points indicating onset of shunting, wherein the point indicating onset of shunting is identified by a drop in the steady open circuit voltage of the battery;
continuing charging if the point is not identified; and
terminating charging if the point indicating shunting is identified.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method of recognizing a shunt caused by formation of dendrites in a rechargeable lithium battery which comprises charging the battery with a charging current, sampling the charging current voltage of the battery at pre-determined time intervals in order to identify one or more point indicating onset of shunting, and terminating charging if the shunt or dendrite is indicated. If a shunt is not recognized charging is continued. Dendrite formation or the beginning of shunting due to such formation is indicated by any one of the following conditions: a negative gradient in sampled voltage values; a negative gradient in sampled steady open circuit values; and a negative gradient in the chemical polarization voltage values which may be calculated by sampling both the open circuit voltage soon after current interruption and steady open circuit voltages during a plurality of currentless phases.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of recognizing a shunt in a rechargeable lithium battery comprising:
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charging the battery with a charging current; sampling the voltage of the battery at pre-determined time intervals, wherein the step of sampling the voltage of the battery includes interrupting the charging current to sample an open circuit voltage, said open circuit voltage being sampled in a range of 5-5,000 ms after the charging current has been interrupted in order to obtain a steady open circuit voltage; identifying one or more points indicating onset of shunting, wherein the point indicating onset of shunting is identified by a drop in the steady open circuit voltage of the battery; continuing charging if the point is not identified; and terminating charging if the point indicating shunting is identified. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 16)
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9. A method of dendrite recognition in a rechargeable lithium battery comprising:
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sampling a charging voltage of the battery; interrupting charging of the battery to sample an open circuit voltage of the battery; identifying one or more points indicative of dendrite formation, said point indicative of dendrite formation being selected from the group consisting of; a. a negative gradient in sampled voltage values, Δ
V;a negative gradient in sampled steady open circuit values -EOCV a negative gradient in chemical polarization voltage values -Δ
VCP, andd. a function of any two or all three of the above points; continuing charging if the point indicative of dendrite formation is not identified; and terminating charging if the point indicative of dendrite formation is identified. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A battery charger capable of shunt recognition for charging a rechargeable battery comprising:
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a power supply to provide charging current to said battery or cell; a charge interrupter for periodically interrupting the charging current; a voltage sensor for sampling voltage values of the battery, said voltage values being selected from the group consisting of a charging voltage value, V, a steady open circuit value EOCV, and a chemical polarization voltage value VCP ; a data compiler for compiling and analyzing the voltage values to identify a voltage point indicating onset of a shunting; and a charging current adjuster for adjusting the charging current when said voltage points are identified. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification