Battery system and battery safety alarm system

• US 8,808,890 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Fuse, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruddock, Ula C
• Assistant Examiner(s): VAN OUDENAREN, MATTHEW W
• Application Number:
  US12/895,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20110236735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 429/90
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• 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 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/20 Pressure-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/107 having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/103, H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery system that can prevent a burst of a battery and a battery safety alarm system therefor are provided. A battery system includes a lithium ion battery formed in a cylindrical shape and including an organic electrolytic solution as an electrolyte. A laser beam source emits a laser beam. An optical fiber of a single mode is wound around an outer circumferential portion of the lithium ion battery in a plurality of lines and via which the laser beam emitted from the light source is transmitted. A detector receives the laser beam transmitted via the optical fiber and detects abnormality of the lithium ion battery on the basis of a loss of the laser beam due to the optical fiber or a change with time of the loss. An alarm warns a user of the abnormality when abnormality of the lithium ion battery is detected by the detector.

Claims

1. A battery system comprising:

a lithium ion battery formed in a cylindrical shape and including an organic electrolytic solution as an electrolyte;

a laser beam source that emits a laser beam;

an optical fiber of a single mode that is wound around an outer circumferential portion of the lithium ion battery in a plurality of lines and via which the laser beam emitted from the light source is transmitted, the optical fiber including a core, a clad that covers an outer side of the core, and a covering layer that covers an outer side of the clad, wherein the core is formed of a material having a refractive index higher than that of the clad;

a detector including a photodiode that receives the laser beam transmitted via the optical fiber and converts the received laser beam into an electronic signal and a control circuit that detects abnormality of the lithium ion battery from the electronic signal on the basis of an absolute value of a transmission loss of the laser beam caused by lateral pressure acting on the optical fiber;

an alarm that warns, when abnormality of the lithium ion battery is detected by the detector, a user of the abnormality;

a first reinforcement layer that covers an outer side of a portion of the optical fiber that extends between the laser beam source and the lithium ion battery; and

a second reinforcement layer that covers an outer side of a portion of the optical fiber that extends between the lithium ion battery and the detector,

wherein;

the laser beam source that emits the laser beam is located at a first end of the optical fiber, and the detector that receives the laser beam is located at a second end of the optical fiber; and

a reinforcement layer is absent from a portion of the optical fiber that is wound around the outer circumferential portion of the lithium ion battery.

2. A battery system comprising:

a lithium ion battery formed in a cylindrical shape and including an organic electrolytic solution as an electrolyte;

a laser beam source that emits a laser beam;

an optical fiber of a single mode that is wound around an outer circumferential portion of the lithium ion battery in a plurality of lines and via which the laser beam emitted from the light source is transmitted, the optical fiber including a core, a clad that covers an outer side of the core, and a covering layer that covers an outer side of the clad, wherein the core is formed of a material having a refractive index higher than that of the clad;

a detector including a photodiode that receives the laser beam transmitted via the optical fiber and converts the received laser beam into an electronic signal and a control circuit that detects abnormality of the lithium ion battery from the electronic signal on the basis of a change of an absolute value of loss of an amount of the light received by the photodiode with time;

an alarm that warns, when abnormality of the lithium ion battery is detected by the detector, a user of the abnormality;

a first reinforcement layer that covers an outer side of a portion of the optical fiber that extends between the laser beam source and the lithium ion battery; and

a second reinforcement layer that covers an outer side of a portion of the optical fiber that extends between the lithium ion battery and the detector,

wherein;

the laser beam source that emits the laser beam is located at a first end of the optical fiber, and the detector that receives the laser beam is located at a second end of the optical fiber; and

a reinforcement layer is absent from a portion of the optical fiber that is wound around the outer circumferential portion of the lithium ion battery.

3. A battery system comprising:

a battery;

a light source that emits light;

an optical fiber of a single mode that is wound around an outer surface portion of the battery and via which the light emitted from the light source is transmitted, the optical fiber including a core, a clad that covers an outer side of the core, and a covering layer that covers an outer side of the clad, wherein the core is formed of a material having a refractive index higher than that of the clad;

a detector including a photodiode that receives the light transmitted via the optical fiber and converts the received light into an electronic signal and a control circuit that detects abnormality of the battery from the electronic signal on the basis of a change in transmission properties caused by lateral pressure acting on the optical fiber corresponding to a change in an absolute value of light received by the photodiode;

a first reinforcement layer that covers an outer side of a portion of the optical fiber that extends between the light source and the battery; and

a second reinforcement layer that covers an outer side of a portion of the optical fiber that extends between the battery and the detector,

wherein;

the light source that emits the light is located at a first end of the optical fiber, and the detector that receives the light is located at a second end of the optical fiber; and

a reinforcement layer is absent from a portion of the optical fiber that is wound around the outer surface portion of the battery.

4. The battery system according to claim 3, further comprising an alarm that warns, when abnormality of the battery is detected by the detector, a user of the abnormality.

5. The battery system according to claim 3, wherein the battery is a lithium ion battery.

6. The battery system according to claim 5, wherein the lithium ion battery includes an organic electrolytic solution as an electrolyte.

7. The battery system according to claim 3, wherein the light source emits a laser beam.

8. The battery system according to claim 3, wherein the battery has a cylindrical external shape.

9. The battery system according to claim 3, wherein the optical fiber is wound around the outer surface portion of the battery in a plurality of lines.

10. An automobile comprising the battery system according to claim 3.

11. A cellular phone comprising the battery system according to claim 3.

12. A personal computer comprising the battery system according to claim 3.

13. A battery system comprising:

a battery;

a light source that emits light;

an optical fiber of a single mode that is wound around an outer surface portion of the battery and via which the light emitted from the light source is transmitted, the optical fiber including a core, a clad that covers an outer side of the core, and a covering layer that covers an outer side of the clad, wherein the core is formed of a material having a refractive index higher than that of the clad;

a detector including a photodiode that receives the light transmitted via the optical fiber and converts the received light into an electronic signal and a control circuit that detects abnormality of the battery from the electronic signal on the basis of a change with time of an absolute value of an amount of received light;

a first reinforcement layer that covers an outer side of a portion of the optical fiber that extends between the light source and the battery; and

a second reinforcement layer that covers an outer side of a portion of the optical fiber that extends between the battery and the detector,

wherein;

the light source that emits the light is located at a first end of the optical fiber, and the detector that receives the light is located at a second end of the optical fiber; and

a reinforcement layer is absent from a portion of the optical fiber that is wound around the outer surface portion of the battery.

14. The battery system according to claim 13, further comprising an alarm that warns, when abnormality of the battery is detected by the detector, a user of the abnormality.

15. The battery system according to claim 13, wherein the battery is a lithium ion battery.

16. The battery system according to claim 15, wherein the lithium ion battery includes an organic electrolytic solution as an electrolyte.

17. The battery system according to claim 13, wherein the light source emits a laser beam.

18. The battery system according to claim 13, wherein the battery has a cylindrical external shape.

19. The battery system according to claim 13, wherein the optical fiber is wound around the outer surface portion of the battery in a plurality of lines.

20. An automobile comprising the battery system according to claim 13.

21. A cellular phone comprising the battery system according to claim 13.

22. A personal computer comprising the battery system according to claim 13.

23. A battery safety alarm system comprising:

a light source that emits light;

an optical fiber of a single mode that is wound around an outer surface portion of a battery and via which the light emitted from the light source is transmitted, the optical fiber including a core, a clad that covers an outer side of the core, and a covering layer that covers an outer side of the clad, wherein the core is formed of a material having a refractive index higher than that of the clad;

a detector alarm including a photodiode that receives the light transmitted via the optical fiber and converts the received light into an electronic signal and a control circuit that detects abnormality of the battery from the electronic signal on the bases of a change in transmission properties caused by lateral pressure acting on the optical fiber corresponding to a change in an absolute value of light received by the photodiode, and warns, when abnormality of the battery is detected, a user of the abnormality;

a first reinforcement layer that covers an outer side of a portion of the optical fiber that extends between the light source and the battery; and

a second reinforcement layer that covers an outer side of a portion of the optical fiber that extends between the battery and the detector alarm,

wherein;

the light source that emits the light is located at a first end of the optical fiber, and the detector alarm that receives the light is located a second end of the optical fiber;

and

a reinforcement layer is absent from a portion of the optical fiber that is wound around the outer surface portion of the battery.

24. A battery safety alarm system comprising:

a light source that emits light;

an optical fiber of a single mode that is wound around an outer surface portion of a battery and via which the light emitted from the light source is transmitted, the optical fiber including a core, a clad that covers an outer side of the core, and a covering layer that covers an outer side of the clad, wherein the core is formed of a material having a refractive index higher than that of the clad; and

a detector alarm that receives the light transmitted via the optical fiber and detects abnormality of the battery on the basis of a change in transmission properties caused by lateral pressure acting on the optical fiber corresponding to a change in an absolute value of light received by the photodiode, and warns, when abnormality of the battery is detected, a user of the abnormality;

wherein the light source that emits the light is located at a first end of the optical fiber, and the detector alarm that receives the light is located at a second end of the optical fiber.