Controlling battery charging based on current, voltage and temperature
First Claim
1. A method for charging a battery, wherein the battery is a lithium-ion battery, the method comprising:
- monitoring a current through the battery;
monitoring a voltage of the battery;
monitoring a temperature of the battery;
inferring electrode lithium surface concentrations for the battery from the monitored current, voltage and temperature; and
applying the charging current and/or the charging voltage in a manner that maintains the inferred electrode lithium surface concentrations for the battery within set limits, wherein maintaining the inferred electrode lithium surface concentrations for the battery within set limits comprises;
receiving a charging profile comprising a set of data points, wherein each data point specifies a current, a voltage and a temperature for the battery, wherein the specified current, voltage and temperature are associated with a maximum lithium surface concentration for the battery during the charging process;
using interpolation to compare the monitored current, temperature and voltage of the battery against a surface defined by the set of data points, wherein the surface is associated with the maximum lithium concentration of the battery; and
using results of the comparison to adjust the charging current and/or the charging voltage to maintain the electrode lithium surface concentrations of the battery below the maximum lithium surface concentration during the charging process.
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Abstract
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that charges a lithium-ion battery. During operation, the system monitors: a current through the battery, a voltage of the battery, and a temperature of the battery. Next, the system uses the monitored current, voltage and temperature to control a charging process for the battery. In some embodiments, controlling the charging process involves: inferring electrode lithium surface concentrations for the battery from the monitored current, voltage and temperature; and applying the charging current and/or the charging voltage in a manner that maintains the inferred electrode lithium surface concentrations for the battery within set limits.
61 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for charging a battery, wherein the battery is a lithium-ion battery, the method comprising:
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monitoring a current through the battery; monitoring a voltage of the battery; monitoring a temperature of the battery; inferring electrode lithium surface concentrations for the battery from the monitored current, voltage and temperature; and applying the charging current and/or the charging voltage in a manner that maintains the inferred electrode lithium surface concentrations for the battery within set limits, wherein maintaining the inferred electrode lithium surface concentrations for the battery within set limits comprises; receiving a charging profile comprising a set of data points, wherein each data point specifies a current, a voltage and a temperature for the battery, wherein the specified current, voltage and temperature are associated with a maximum lithium surface concentration for the battery during the charging process; using interpolation to compare the monitored current, temperature and voltage of the battery against a surface defined by the set of data points, wherein the surface is associated with the maximum lithium concentration of the battery; and using results of the comparison to adjust the charging current and/or the charging voltage to maintain the electrode lithium surface concentrations of the battery below the maximum lithium surface concentration during the charging process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A battery with a charging mechanism, comprising:
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the battery; a voltage sensor configured to monitor a voltage of the battery; a current sensor configured to monitor a current through the battery; a temperature sensor configured to monitor a temperature of the battery; a charging source configured to apply a charging current and/or a charging voltage to the battery; and a controller configured to receive inputs from the voltage sensor, the current sensor and the temperature sensor, and to send a control signal to the charging source; wherein the controller is configured to, infer electrode lithium surface concentrations for the battery from the monitored current, voltage and temperature, and apply the charging current and/or the charging voltage in a manner that maintains the inferred electrode lithium surface concentrations for the battery within set limits, wherein maintaining the inferred electrode lithium surface concentrations for the battery within set limits comprises; receiving a charging profile comprising a set of data points, wherein each data point specifies a current, a voltage and a temperature for the battery, wherein the specified current, voltage and temperature are associated with a maximum lithium surface concentration for the battery during the charging process; using interpolation to compare the monitored current, temperature and voltage of the battery against a surface defined by the set of data points, wherein the surface is associated with the maximum lithium concentration of the battery; and using results of the comparison to adjust the charging current and/or the charging voltage to maintain the electrode lithium surface concentrations of the battery below the maximum lithium surface concentration during the charging process. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A charging mechanism for a battery, comprising:
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a voltage sensor configured to monitor a voltage of the battery; a current sensor configured to monitor a current through the battery; a temperature sensor configured to monitor a temperature of the battery; a charging source configured to apply a charging current and/or a charging voltage to the battery; and a controller configured to receive inputs from the voltage sensor, the current sensor and the temperature sensor, and to send a control signal to the charging source; wherein the controller is configured to, infer electrode lithium surface concentrations for the battery from the monitored current, voltage and temperature, and apply the charging current and/or the charging voltage in a manner that maintains the inferred electrode lithium surface concentrations for the battery within set limits, wherein maintaining the inferred electrode lithium surface concentrations for the battery within set limits comprises; receiving a charging profile comprising a set of data points, wherein each data point specifies a current, a voltage and a temperature for the battery, wherein the specified current, voltage and temperature are associated with a maximum lithium surface concentration for the battery during the charging process; using interpolation to compare the monitored current, temperature and voltage of the battery against a surface defined by the set of data points, wherein the surface is associated with the maximum lithium concentration of the battery; and using results of the comparison to adjust the charging current and/or the charging voltage to maintain the electrode lithium surface concentrations of the battery below the maximum lithium surface concentration during the charging process. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification