TESTING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TESTING A BATTERY CELL

• US 20110254558A1
• Filed: 03/28/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Oswandel, Kenneth J., Stancu, Janina
• Granted Patent: US 8,736,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/025 Measuring very high resistances, e.g. isolation resistances, i.e. megohm-meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3865 related to manufacture, e.g. testing after manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4285 Testing apparatus
• 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 testing system and a method for testing a battery cell are provided. The system includes a nest member that receives the battery cell, and a clamping device that secures a first battery tab between first and second connectors, and secures a second battery tab between third and fourth connectors. The system further includes a voltmeter that measures a voltage level between the first and third connectors when the first and second battery tabs are contacting the first and third connectors, respectively. The system further includes an ohmeter that measures a first resistance level between a first portion of the outer housing and the first connector when the first battery tab is contacting the first connector.

Claims

1. A testing system for a battery cell therein, the battery cell having an outer housing and first and second battery tabs extending from the outer housing, comprising:

a nest member configured to receive the battery cell thereon;

a clamping device configured to secure the first battery tab between first and second connectors, and to secure the second battery tab between third and fourth connectors;

a voltmeter configured to measure a voltage level between the first and third connectors when the first and second battery tabs are contacting the first and third connectors, respectively, and to send a voltage level value indicative of the voltage level to a computer;

an ohmeter configured to measure a first resistance level between a first portion of the outer housing and the first connector when the first battery tab is contacting the first connector and to send a first resistance level value indicative of the first resistance level to the computer; and

the computer configured to generate a validation message indicating the battery cell is operating as desired if the voltage level is within a desired voltage level range and the first resistance level is within a first resistance level range.

2. The testing system of claim 1, wherein the ohmeter is further configured to measure a second resistance level between the first portion of the outer housing and the third connector when the second battery tab is contacting the third connector and to send a second resistance level value indicative of the second resistance level to the computer.

3. The testing system of claim 2, wherein the computer is further configured to generate the validation message indicating the battery cell is operating as desired if the voltage level is within the desired voltage level range, and the first resistance level is within the first resistance level range, and the second resistance level is within a second resistance level range.

4. The testing system of claim 2, wherein the ohmeter is further configured to measure a third resistance level between the first portion of the outer housing and a second portion of the outer housing and to send a third resistance level value indicative of the third resistance level to the computer.

5. The testing system of claim 4, wherein the computer is further configured to generate the validation message indicating the battery cell is operating as desired if the voltage level is within the desired voltage level range, and the first resistance level is within the first resistance level range, and the second resistance level is within the second resistance level range, and the third resistance level is within a third resistance level range.

6. A method of testing a battery cell disposed on a nest member of a testing system, comprising:

securing a first battery tab of the battery cell between first and second connectors utilizing a clamping device;

securing a second battery tab of the battery cell between third and fourth connectors utilizing the clamping device;

measuring a voltage level between the first and third connectors when the first and second battery tabs are contacting the first and third connectors, respectively, utilizing a voltmeter;

sending a voltage level value indicative of the voltage level from the voltmeter to a computer;

measuring a first resistance level between a first portion of the outer housing and the first connector when the first battery tab is contacting the first connector utilizing an ohmeter;

sending a first resistance level value indicative of the first resistance level from the ohmeter to the computer; and

generating a validation message indicating the battery cell is operating as desired if the voltage level is within a desired voltage level range and the first resistance level is within a first resistance level range utilizing the computer.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

measuring a second resistance level between the first portion of the outer housing and the third connector when the second battery tab is contacting the third connector utilizing the ohmeter; and

sending a second resistance level value indicative of the second resistance level from the ohmeter to the computer.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising generating the validation message indicating the battery cell is operating as desired if the voltage level is within the desired voltage level range, and the first resistance level is within the first resistance level range, and the second resistance level is within a second resistance level range, utilizing the computer.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising measuring a third resistance level between the first portion of the outer housing and a second portion of the outer housing utilizing the ohmeter;

and

sending a third resistance level value indicative of the third resistance level from the ohmeter to the computer.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising generating the validation message indicating the battery cell is operating as desired if the voltage level is within the desired voltage level range, and the first resistance level is within the first resistance level range, and the second resistance level is within the second resistance level range, and the third resistance level is within a third resistance level range, utilizing the computer.