Shunt recognition in lithium batteries
US5729116A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 20, 1996 |
| Grant date | Mar 17, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 20, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/10
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method of recognizing a shunt caused by formation of dendrites in a rechargeable lithium battery which comprises charging the battery with a charging current, sampling the charging current voltage of the battery at pre-determined time intervals in order to identify one or more point indicating onset of shunting, and terminating charging if the shunt or dendrite is indicated. If a shunt is not recognized charging is continued. Dendrite formation or the beginning of shunting due to such formation is indicated by any one of the following conditions: a negative gradient in sampled voltage values; a negative gradient in sampled steady open circuit values; and a negative gradient in the chemical polarization voltage values which may be calculated by sampling both the open circuit voltage soon after current interruption and steady open circuit voltages during a plurality of currentless phases.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.