Battery, assembled battery unit, vehicle equipped with battery, and battery voltage adjusting method

• US 7,609,029 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2007
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Shimamura, Oasamu, Horie, Hedeaki, Hosaka, Kenji, Kinoshita, Takuya, Abe, Takaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US11/683,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20070210760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/110, 320/116, 320/134, 320/135, 320/136, 320/DIG.21
• US Class Current: 320/116
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0418 with bipolar electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• 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 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/211 adapted for pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A battery is basically provided with an electricity generating element and a discharging section. The electricity generating element has a plurality of electric cells connected in series. The discharging section constantly discharges electricity from each of the electric cells at a prescribed discharge rate so that a voltage in each of the electric cells is lower than a voltage corresponding to a prescribed depth of discharge. The battery is especially useful in a power supply component of a vehicle.

Claims

1. A battery comprising:

an electricity generating element including a plurality of electric cells connected in series; and

a discharging section configured and arranged to constantly discharge electricity from each of the electric cells at a constant discharge rate so that a voltage in each of the electric cells is lower than a voltage corresponding to when a depth of discharge exceeds 100%.

2. The battery as recited in claim 1, wherein

the electricity generating element further includes

a plurality of bipolar electrodes with each of the bipolar electrodes including a collector, a positive electrode layer formed on a first surface of the collector and a negative electrode layer formed on a second surface that is opposite from the first surface of the collector, and

a plurality of electrolyte layers with each of the electrolyte layers being interposed between an adjacent pair of the bipolar electrodes so that the positive electrode layer of one of the bipolar electrodes, the negative electrode layer of an adjacent one of the bipolar electrodes and the electrolyte layer disposed between the positive electrode layer and the negative electrode layer form one of the electric cells of the electricity generating element.

3. The battery as recited in claim 2, wherein

the collector is made from a material that does not elute when a current flows therethrough at a voltage that is below a lower limit of a range of use of the battery.

4. The battery as recited in claim 2, wherein

the collector is made of stainless steel.

5. The battery as recited in claim 2, further comprising

an outer packaging member tightly sealing the bipolar electrodes, the electrolyte layers and the discharging section.

6. The battery as recited in claim 1, wherein

the discharging section is configured and arranged to discharge electricity at the constant discharge rate that is equal to or less than 0.25 C.

7. An assembled battery unit including a plurality of the batteries as recited in claim 1, wherein

the plurality of the batteries are connected in either series or in parallel.

10. A vehicle including the battery as recited in claim 1, wherein

the vehicle has a power supply component that includes the battery.

8. An assembled battery unit comprising:

a plurality of secondary batteries connected in series; and

a discharging section configured and arranged to constantly discharge electricity from each of the secondary batteries at a constant discharge rate so that a voltage of each of the secondary batteries is lower than a voltage corresponding to when a depth of discharge exceeds 100%.

9. The assembled battery unit as recited in claim 8, wherein

the discharging section is configured and arranged to discharge electricity at the constant discharge rate that is equal to or less than 0.25 C.

11. A vehicle including the assembled battery unit as recited in claim 8, wherein

the vehicle has a power supply component that includes the assembled battery unit.

12. A battery voltage adjusting method comprising:

providing a plurality of battery elements connected in series; and

constantly discharging electricity from each of the battery elements at a constant discharge rate so that a voltage of each of the battery elements is lower than a voltage corresponding to when a depth of discharge exceeds 100%.

13. A battery comprising:

electricity generating means for generating electricity using a plurality of battery elements connected in series; and

discharging means for constantly discharging electricity from each of the battery elements at a constant discharge rate so that a voltage in each of the battery elements is lower than a voltage corresponding to when a depth of discharge exceeds 100%.