Metal-air battery with an extended service life

• US 6,773,842 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2002
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Cheer International Limited
• Original Assignee: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Liu, Jean, Huang, Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parsons, Thomas H.
• Application Number:
  US10/105,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20030186099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 429/27, 429/61, 429/71, 429/82, 429/93
• US Class Current: 429/407
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/06 with one metallic and one gaseous electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/00 Safety devices for primary or secondary batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/109 of button or coin shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/317 Re-sealable arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/42 Grouping of primary cells into batteries H01M6/40 takes precedence

Abstract

A battery comprising a control means and a plurality of metal-air cell assemblies that are electronically connected in parallel. Each cell assembly comprises a casing with a controllable air vent thereon and at least a metal-air cell inside the casing. The controllable air vent is closed during a battery storage period and is opened in response to a programmed signal in order to allow outside air or oxygen to enter the assembly through the air vent to activate the operation of the corresponding cell assembly. The control means, preferably including a sampling unit, a power control unit and a logic control unit, is capable of sensing the battery output voltage and sending programmed signals to open or close up the air vents at the same time or at different moments of time in a programmed fashion.

Claims

1. A battery comprising at least a first metal-air cell assembly and a second metal-air cell assembly electronically connected in parallel, wherein

said first cell assembly comprises a first casing with a first controllable air vent thereon and at least a first metal-air cell inside said first casing, wherein said first controllable air vent is closed during a battery storage period and is opened in response to a first programmed signal in order to allow outside air or oxygen to enter said at least a first metal-air cell through said first air vent to activate operation of said first metal-air cell assembly;

said second cell assembly comprises a second casing with a second controllable air vent thereon and at least a second metal-air cell inside said second casing, wherein said second controllable air vent is closed during a battery storage period and is opened in response to a second programmed signal in order to allow outside air or oxygen to enter said at least a second metal-air cell through said second air vent to activate operation of said second metal-air cell assembly; and

control means for sending programmed signals to open up said at least first and second vents at the same time or at different moments of time in a programmed fashion.

2. The battery as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first cell assembly comprises at least another electrochemical cell which is electronically connected in series or in parallel to said first metal-air cell.

3. The battery as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second cell assembly comprises at least another electrochemical cell which is electronically connected in series or in parallel to said second metal-air cell.

4. The battery as set forth in claim 2, wherein said another electrochemical cell is a metal-air cell.

5. The battery as set forth in claim 3, wherein said another electrochemical cell is a metal-air cell.

6. The battery as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first air vent and/or second air vent is closed when said battery is not in operation.

7. The battery as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first air vent or second air vent is equipped with an actuator means that operates to open or close said first air vent or said second air vent responsive to programmed signals from said control means.

8. The battery as set forth in claim 7, wherein said actuator means comprises an actuator element selected from the group consisting of a bi-metal device, a thermo-mechanical device, a piezo-electric device, a shape memory alloy, an electromagnetic element, or a combination thereof.

9. The battery as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control means comprises a sampling unit and a logic circuit to determine the timing at which an air vent is opened.

10. The battery as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said controllable air vents is re-closeable and is re-closed responsive to a programmed signal from said control means.

11. The battery as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least said second controllable air vent is opened when a voltage output of said battery, when in use, drops below a predetermined low threshold voltage.

12. The battery as set forth in claim 10, wherein at least one of said controllable air vents is re-closed when a voltage output of said battery exceeds a predetermined high threshold voltage.

13. The battery as set forth in claim 1, wherein said programmed fashion comprises a mode of sequential timing at which said air vents are opened or closed in a predetermined sequential fashion.

14. The battery as set forth in claim 9, further comprising a power-control unit to regulate a power input to said logic control unit and wherein said power input is switched off to conserve battery power after said control unit determines that no opening or closing of any of said air vents is needed.

15. The battery as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a main casing to house said at least first and second cell assemblies.

16. The battery as set forth in claim 15, wherein said main casing comprises an air vent which is closed during an initial battery storage period and is opened manually to begin the operation of said battery.