Safety method, device and system for an energy storage device
First Claim
1. An emergency energy discharge system comprising:
- at least one energy storage device;
at least one detecting device for monitoring one or more operating parameters of said energy storage device;
means for storing predetermined safety threshold values for operating parameters of said energy storage device;
comparison means for comparing said predetermined safety threshold values with said operating parameters;
decision means for determining whether said operating parameters exceed one or more said predetermined operating threshold values;
activation means responsive to decision means;
energy discharge device for discharging said energy stored in said energy storage device so as to render said energy storage device safe before the fault or faults causing said monitored operating parameters to exceed said safety threshold values renders the energy storage device unsafe; and
heat absorbing material thermally coupled to said energy discharge device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, device and system is disclosed for rapidly and safely discharging remaining energy stored in an electrochemical battery 104 in the event of an internal short circuit or other fault. In its best mode of implementation, if a sensor 116 detects one or more parameters such as battery temperature 204 or pressure 206, exceeding a predetermined threshold value 334, the terminals 144 of the battery or cell are intentionally short-circuited external to the battery through a low or near zero resistance load 150 which rapidly drains energy from the battery 104. Heat generated by such rapid drain is absorbed by a heat absorbing material 151 such as an endothermic phase-change material like paraffin. The rate energy is drained via the external discharge load 150 may be controlled with an electronic circuit 136 responsive to factors such as state of charge and battery temperature. Devices such as inductive charging coils 160, piezoelectric and Peltier devices 300, may also be used as emergency energy discharge loads. Heat absorption material 163 may be used to protect adjacent issue in medically-implanted devices.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. An emergency energy discharge system comprising:
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at least one energy storage device;
at least one detecting device for monitoring one or more operating parameters of said energy storage device;
means for storing predetermined safety threshold values for operating parameters of said energy storage device;
comparison means for comparing said predetermined safety threshold values with said operating parameters;
decision means for determining whether said operating parameters exceed one or more said predetermined operating threshold values;
activation means responsive to decision means;
energy discharge device for discharging said energy stored in said energy storage device so as to render said energy storage device safe before the fault or faults causing said monitored operating parameters to exceed said safety threshold values renders the energy storage device unsafe; and
heat absorbing material thermally coupled to said energy discharge device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A battery safety circuit comprising:
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one or more first electrochemical cells;
at least one sensor monitoring at least one of the following conditions of said one or more first electrochemical cells;
voltage, change in voltage, rate of change in voltage, current, change in current, rate of change in current, state of charge, change in state of charge, rate of change in state of charge, temperature, change in temperature, rate of change in temperature, impedance, change in impedance, rate of change in impedance, pressure, change in pressure, rate of change in pressure, electrolyte pH, electrolyte specific gravity, amount of bulging of battery enclosure, change in amount of bulging of battery enclosure, and rate of change of amount of bulging of battery enclosure;
memory storage;
predetermined safety thresholds for said at least one condition;
a comparator circuit;
a control circuit;
a diverter switch device;
an energy discharge load;
heat absorbing material closely thermally coupled to said energy discharge load;
said comparator circuit comparing said monitored conditions with said stored predetermined safety thresholds and signaling said control circuit whenever said at least one monitored condition exceeds one or more said predetermined thresholds;
said control circuit sending an emergency energy discharge signal to said diverter switch device in response to signal from said comparator circuit; and
said diverter switch device causing electrodes of said one or more cells having conditions exceeding said predetermined thresholds to be connected to said energy discharge load. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An implantable battery comprising:
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one or more electrochemical cells;
a charging circuit;
a charging control circuit;
an implanted electronic device receiving its power from said one or more electrochemical cells;
an emergency energy discharge circuit further comprising at least one sensor monitoring at least one of the following conditions of said electrochemical cells;
voltage, change in voltage, rate of change in voltage, current, change in current, rate of change in current, state of charge, change in state of charge, rate of change in state of charge, temperature, change in temperature, rate of change in temperature, impedance, change in impedance, rate of change in impedance, pressure, change in pressure, rate of change in pressure, electrolyte pH, electrolyte specific gravity, amount of bulging of battery enclosure, change in amount of bulging of battery enclosure, and rate of change of amount of bulging of battery enclosure;
memory storage;
predetermined safety thresholds for said at least one condition stored in said memory storage;
a comparator circuit;
a control circuit;
a diverter switch;
an electrical discharge load;
heat absorbing material;
said comparator circuit comparing said monitored conditions with said stored predetermined safety thresholds and signaling said control circuit whenever said at least one monitored condition exceeds one or more said predetermined thresholds;
said emergency discharge circuit sending an emergency energy discharge signal to said diverter switch in response to signal from said comparator circuit;
said diverter switch causing electrodes of said one or more cells having conditions exceeding said predetermined thresholds to be connected to said energy discharge load. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A battery comprising:
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one or more electrochemical cells;
a charging circuit;
a charging control circuit;
an electronic device receiving its power from said one or more electrochemical cells;
an emergency energy discharge circuit further comprising at least one sensor monitoring at least one of the following conditions of said electrochemical cells;
voltage, change in voltage, rate of change in voltage, current, change in current, rate of change in current, state of charge, change in state of charge, rate of change in state of charge, temperature, change in temperature, rate of change in temperature, impedance, change in impedance, rate of change in impedance, pressure, change in pressure, rate of change in pressure, electrolyte pH, electrolyte specific gravity, amount of bulging of battery enclosure, change in amount of bulging of battery enclosure, and rate of change of amount of bulging of battery enclosure;
memory storage;
predetermined safety thresholds for said at least one condition stored in said memory storage;
a comparator circuit;
a control circuit;
a diverter switch;
an electrical discharge load;
heat absorbing material;
said comparator circuit comparing said monitored conditions with said stored predetermined safety thresholds and signaling said control circuit whenever said at least one monitored condition exceeds one or more said predetermined thresholds;
said emergency discharge circuit sending an emergency energy discharge signal to said diverter switch in response to signal from said comparator circuit;
said diverter switch causing electrodes of said one or more cells having conditions exceeding said predetermined thresholds to be connected to said energy discharge load. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A battery comprising:
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one or more electrochemical cells;
a charging circuit;
a charging control circuit;
an electronic device receiving its power from said one or more electrochemical cells;
an emergency energy discharge circuit further comprising at least one sensor monitoring at least one of the following conditions of said electrochemical cells;
voltage, change in voltage, rate of change in voltage, current, change in current, rate of change in current, state of charge, change in state of charge, rate of change in state of charge, temperature, change in temperature, rate of change in temperature, impedance, change in impedance, rate of change in impedance, pressure, change in pressure, rate of change in pressure, electrolyte pH, electrolyte specific gravity, amount of bulging of battery enclosure, change in amount of bulging of battery enclosure, and rate of change of amount of bulging of battery enclosure;
memory storage;
predetermined safety thresholds for said at least one condition stored in said memory storage;
a comparator circuit;
a control circuit;
a diverter switch;
an electrical discharge load;
said comparator circuit comparing said monitored conditions with said stored predetermined safety thresholds and signaling said control circuit whenever said at least one monitored condition exceeds one or more said predetermined thresholds;
said emergency discharge circuit sending an emergency energy discharge signal to said diverter switch in response to signal from said comparator circuit;
said diverter switch causing electrodes of said one or more cells having conditions exceeding said predetermined thresholds to be connected to said energy discharge load. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification