Optical waveguide methods for detecting internal faults in operating batteries
First Claim
1. A battery structure for monitoring development of impending faults of a battery cell, the battery structure comprising:
- a first electrode and a second electrode;
a battery cell separator formed of a light transmitting material that has light transmission characteristics that are a function of a state of impending faults of the battery cell;
wherein the battery cell separator comprises;
a core section,a first cladding section between the core section and the first electrode, anda second cladding section between the core section and the second electrode;
an electrolyte capable of passing through portions of the battery cell separator;
a light source, in optical communication with a first edge of the battery cell separator, for transmitting light, having a predetermined wavelength, into the battery cell separator; and
a light detector, in optical communication with a second edge of the battery cell separator, for receiving light transmitted through the battery cell separator,wherein a fault state of a portion of the battery cell associated with the light detector can be determined based on the received light.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Light is transmitted from a light source through or from a separator of a battery cell and received by one or more light detectors. The light that is normally transmitted through the separator is scattered, absorbed, wavelength-shifted or otherwise distorted by an impending fault in the vicinity of or within the separator. The change in light due to the impending fault is measured by a detector and a signal from the detector is processed to identify the impending fault so that a warning can be generated indicative of the impending fault. In particular, the separator and a battery cell electrolyte can be selected to provide waveguide properties.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A battery structure for monitoring development of impending faults of a battery cell, the battery structure comprising:
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a first electrode and a second electrode; a battery cell separator formed of a light transmitting material that has light transmission characteristics that are a function of a state of impending faults of the battery cell;
wherein the battery cell separator comprises;a core section, a first cladding section between the core section and the first electrode, and a second cladding section between the core section and the second electrode; an electrolyte capable of passing through portions of the battery cell separator; a light source, in optical communication with a first edge of the battery cell separator, for transmitting light, having a predetermined wavelength, into the battery cell separator; and a light detector, in optical communication with a second edge of the battery cell separator, for receiving light transmitted through the battery cell separator, wherein a fault state of a portion of the battery cell associated with the light detector can be determined based on the received light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for monitoring development of impending faults of a battery cell, the method comprising:
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forming a battery cell separator between a first electrode and a second electrode having associated electrolyte, the battery cell separator formed of a light transmitting material that has light transmission characteristics that are a function of a state of impending faults of the battery cell;
wherein the battery cell separator comprises;a core section, a first cladding section between the core section and the first electrode, and a second cladding section between the core section and the second electrode; transmitting, using a light source in optical communication with a first edge of the battery cell separator, light, having a predetermined wavelength, into the battery cell separator; and detecting, using a light detector in optical communication with a second edge of the battery cell separator, light transmitted through the battery cell separator, wherein a fault state of a portion of the battery cell associated with the light detector can be determined based on the received light. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A battery structure for monitoring development of impending faults of a battery cell, the battery structure comprising:
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a first electrode and a second electrode; a battery cell separator formed of a light transmitting material that has light scattering characteristics that are a function of a state of impending faults of the battery cell;
wherein the battery cell separator comprises;a core section, a first cladding section between the core section and the first electrode, and a second cladding section between the core section and the second electrode; an electrolyte capable of passing through portions of the battery cell separator; a light source, in optical communication with the battery cell separator, for transmitting light, having a predetermined wavelength, into the battery cell separator; and a light detector, in optical communication with the battery cell separator, for receiving light scattered within the battery cell separator, wherein a fault state of a portion of the battery cell associated with the light detector can be determined based on the received light. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification