Battery cell monitoring

Abstract

The invention relates to battery cell monitoring, in particular to a system for monitoring a battery cell, which comprises a deformation detector and a monitoring device, a deformation detector configured to be disposed at a position at a distance from an exhaust port portion when the exhaust port portion of the battery cell is in an undeformed position and configured to detect a deformation of the exhaust port portion; and processing circuitry to determine whether the detected deformation satisfies a threshold deformation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to battery cells. In particular aspects, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for battery cell monitoring, particularly for predicting the venting of battery cells. The present disclosure may be applicable to heavy vehicles, such as trucks, buses, and construction equipment, as well as other vehicle types. The present disclosure may also be applicable to marine vessels, such as watercraft, motorboats, work vessels, sport vessels, boats, ships, and other vessel types. The present disclosure may also be applicable to battery testing environments. Although the present disclosure may be described with respect to specific embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to any specific embodiment. Background Art

[0002] Battery electric vehicles serve as an environmentally sustainable alternative to internal combustion engines that run on fossil fuels. Several companies in the heavy-duty vehicle industry are aiming to reach a level in the near future where they only sell and produce a portfolio of vehicles that use electricity as the primary source of propulsion. In a battery electric vehicle, batteries are installed to power the electric motor and provide propulsion. As a result, rechargeable batteries are becoming more and more common in the automotive industry.

[0003] There are three main types of battery cells used in rechargeable battery packs for vehicles: cylindrical cells, prismatic cells and pouch cells. Such battery cells must be safe to use. To achieve this, some rechargeable battery cells have one or more vents. A vent is a mechanical part of the battery's cover assembly that enables the release of gas and other substances from inside the battery when the pressure inside the battery rises above an allowed level. This ensures that catastrophic failure of the battery cell is prevented.

[0004] However, in many cases, the battery cells release harmful or toxic substances during venting, such as methine gas, carbonyl gas, hydrogen fluoride, etc. This means that other components of the battery pack may be contaminated or damaged by the released substances. For example, in lithium-ion batteries, residual lithium salts (e.g., LiPF6) included in the electrolyte of the battery cells can react with moisture in the atmosphere to form hydrogen fluoride, causing corrosion of the mechanical parts of the battery pack. Even in the case of cell testing, when the battery cells are placed in a climate chamber, toxic substances can be released and contaminate or damage the climate chamber itself.

[0005] It would therefore be desirable to develop a solution for battery cell venting that would solve or at least alleviate some of these problems. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present disclosure attempts to solve the above problems by providing systems, methods and other means for monitoring vent deformation throughout the life of the battery cell to protect the battery pack and test facilities from the effects of cell venting. By monitoring the deformation of the cell vent, early detection of potential cell venting can be provided, which is different from current sensing methods that focus on detecting cell venting events after they occur. This method enables action to be taken before venting, thereby ensuring that the surrounding environment of the battery cell can be avoided from contamination or damage.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a system for monitoring a battery cell is provided, the system comprising: a deformation detector, the deformation detector being configured to be arranged at a certain distance from the exhaust port portion of the battery cell when the exhaust port portion is in an undeformed position and being configured to detect deformation of the exhaust port portion; and a processing circuit for determining whether the detected deformation satisfies a threshold deformation.

[0008] This enables early detection of potential cell venting, ensuring that action can be taken before potentially hazardous materials are expelled from the cell and damage or contaminate the surrounding environment (e.g., the battery pack or parts of the test facility). By implementing a deformation detector arranged at a distance from the vent portion, monitoring can be performed without interfering with the structure of the vent portion and without hindering its primary safety function.

[0009] Optionally, the deformation detector comprises at least one contact sensor configured to contact the vent portion when the vent portion is in the deformed position. This provides a simple mechanism for detecting deformation of the vent portion.

[0010] Optionally, the at least one contact sensor is arranged in a cantilever arrangement. This allows the arrangement of the deformation detector to not interfere with the structure of the exhaust port portion.

[0011] Optionally, the at least one contact sensor is disposed in a cantilever arrangement from the housing of the battery cell. This provides an integrated design for the battery cell that enables early detection of potential cell venting without interfering with the structure and function of the vent portion.

[0012] Optionally, the distance corresponds to the threshold deformation. This provides a simple structure for instantaneous detection of the threshold deformation.

[0013] Optionally, the deformation detector comprises at least one non-contact sensor configured to detect deformation of the vent portion. This allows the arrangement of the deformation detector to not interfere with the structure and function of the vent portion.

[0014] Optionally, the non-contact sensor comprises an optical sensor or a laser sensor.This enables, for example, different devices to be used in embodiments requiring different levels of accuracy.

[0015] Optionally, the deformation detector comprises a plurality of sensors. This enables the deformation to be determined at a plurality of locations of the vent portion, thereby providing a more reliable detection.

[0016] Optionally, the threshold deformation corresponds to a deformation of the vent portion that is less than a deformation required for venting of the battery cell. This enables early detection of potential cell venting, thereby ensuring that action can be taken before potentially hazardous materials are vented from the cell and damage or contaminate surrounding portions of the battery pack or test facility.

[0017] Optionally, the threshold deformation is determined based on experimental or model data. This enables accurate determination of the threshold for a specific use case.

[0018] Optionally, the threshold deformation comprises a plurality of threshold deformations. This enables different parts of the vent portion to undergo different levels of deformation before action is taken.

[0019] Optionally, the vent portion is arranged on an end side of the battery cell comprising one or more electrical terminals. This enables the venting of the battery cell to be directed in a specific direction, for example away from sensitive components.

[0020] Optionally, the battery cell is a prismatic cell, a cylindrical cell or a pouch cell. This enables early detection of potential cell venting in a variety of different cell types.

[0021] Optionally, the battery cell is included in a battery pack of a vehicle. This enables protection of components of the battery pack and the vehicle through detection of cell outgassing.

[0022] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle is provided, the vehicle including the system.

[0023] Optionally, the battery cell is in a test environment. This enables the components of the test environment to be protected by detecting cell outgassing.

[0024] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method for monitoring a battery cell is provided, the method comprising: determining deformation of a vent portion at a deformation detector arranged at a certain distance from the vent portion of the battery cell; and determining whether the detected deformation satisfies a threshold deformation.

[0025] This enables early detection of potential cell venting, ensuring that action can be taken before potentially hazardous materials are vented from the cell and damage or contaminate surrounding parts of the battery pack or test facility. This can be performed without disturbing the structure of the vent portion and without impeding its primary safety function.

[0026] Optionally, the method comprises determining the deformation using at least one contact sensor of the deformation detector.This provides a simple mechanism for detecting deformation of the vent portion.

[0027] Optionally, the method includes determining the deformation using at least one non-contact sensor of the deformation detector. This enables early detection of potential cell venting without interfering with the structure and function of the vent portion.

[0028] Optionally, the method further comprises taking action to prevent battery cell venting in response to determining that the detected deformation satisfies the threshold deformation. This enables protection of surrounding portions of the battery pack or test facility by preventing the release of potentially hazardous substances.

[0029] Optionally, taking action includes electrically disconnecting the battery cells. This enables the prevention of venting, thereby protecting the battery pack or surrounding parts of the test facility from the discharge of potentially hazardous substances.

[0030] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method is provided, the computer-implemented method comprising: receiving, by a processing circuit of a computer system, a signal representing deformation of a vent portion from a deformation detector arranged at a certain distance from the vent portion of the battery cell; and determining whether the detected deformation satisfies a threshold deformation.

[0031] This enables early detection of potential cell venting, ensuring that action can be taken before potentially hazardous materials are vented from the cell and damage or contaminate surrounding parts of the battery pack or test facility. This can be performed without disturbing the structure of the vent portion and without impeding its primary safety function.

[0032] Optionally, the computer-implemented method further comprises taking action (e.g., sending a signal to electrically disconnect the battery cell) in response to determining that the detected deformation satisfies the threshold deformation to prevent venting of the battery cell. This enables protection of surrounding portions of the battery pack or test facility by preventing the release of potentially hazardous substances.

[0033] It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the above-mentioned aspects, the attached claims and / or the examples disclosed herein above and below may be appropriately combined with each other.

[0034] Additional features and advantages are disclosed in the following description, claims and drawings, and in part will be apparent to those skilled in the art or recognized by practicing the disclosure as described herein. A control unit, a computer-readable medium and a computer program product associated with the technical benefits discussed above are also disclosed herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Various aspects of the present disclosure cited as examples will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0036] Figures 1A to 1C An example battery cell is shown.

[0037] FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C A cross-sectional view of an example battery cell undergoing venting is schematically shown.

[0038] Figure 3 An example system for monitoring battery cells is schematically shown.

[0039] Figure 4A and Figure 4B A cross-sectional view of an example deformation detector of a system for monitoring a battery cell is schematically shown.

[0040] Figure 5A and Figure 5B A cross-sectional view of another example deformation detector of a system for monitoring a battery cell is schematically shown.

[0041] Fig. 6A and Figure 6B A cross-sectional view of another example deformation detector of a system for monitoring a battery cell is schematically shown.

[0042] Fig. 7A and Figure 7B A cross-sectional view of another example deformation detector of a system for monitoring a battery cell is schematically shown.

[0043] FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C A cross-sectional view of another example deformation detector of a system for monitoring a battery cell is schematically shown.

[0044] Fig. 9 is a flow chart of an example method for monitoring a battery cell.

[0045] Fig.10 is a flow chart of an example computer-implemented method for monitoring battery cells.

[0046] Fig.11 is a schematic diagram of a computer system for implementing the examples disclosed herein.

[0047] Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] The aspects and examples set forth below represent the necessary information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present disclosure.

[0049] Many of today's battery cells include one or more vents to release pressure inside the battery if it rises above an allowable level. This ensures that catastrophic failure of the battery cell is prevented. However, cell venting can result in the release of harmful or toxic substances from the cell, which means that surrounding components may be contaminated or damaged.

[0050] To address this, systems, methods and other methods are provided for monitoring vent deformation throughout the service life of a battery cell. By monitoring the shape or deformation of the cell vent early on, detection of potential cell venting can be provided, unlike current sensing methods which focus on detecting these events after cell venting events have occurred. This makes it possible to avoid contamination or damage to the surroundings of the cell, for example during vehicle operation or cell testing. By implementing a deformation detector arranged at a certain distance from the vent portion, monitoring can be performed without interfering with the structure and function of the vent portion and without hindering its primary safety function, meaning that venting can still occur if necessary.

[0051] Figures 1A to 1C An example battery cell 100 is shown. Figure 1A A prismatic battery cell 100a is shown, Figure 1B A cylindrical battery cell 100b is shown, and Figure 1C A soft pack battery cell 100c is shown. Such a battery cell 100 may be used in a battery pack of a vehicle to, for example, provide power to an electric motor and other electric components of the vehicle. Prior to implementation, the battery cell 100 may be tested, for example in a climate chamber, to observe the behavior of the cell 100 over time under different conditions.

[0052] Each battery cell 100 includes a housing 102 configured to enclose components known in the art, such as electrode rolls and current collectors. Each battery cell 100 includes a positive terminal 104 and a negative terminal 106 for providing electrical connections to the battery cell 100.

[0053] Each battery cell 100 also includes a vent portion 108. The vent portion 108 is configured to rupture or separate when the pressure inside the battery cell 100 reaches a threshold. When this occurs, an opening is provided through which gas and / or other substances can be released from the battery cell 100 to prevent catastrophic failure of the battery cell 100. Figures 1A to 1C1 , the vent portion 108 is disposed on an end side of the battery cell 100 including one or more of the electrical terminals 104, 106, but it should be understood that the vent portion 108 may be located at any suitable portion of the battery cell 100 to, for example, ensure that exhausted material is directed away from sensitive components.

[0054] FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C A cross-sectional view of an example battery cell 100 undergoing venting is schematically shown. Specifically, FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C Shows Figure 1A 1 is a cross-section of the top of the prismatic cell 100a shown in FIG. 1 , but it should be understood that the same principles apply to Figures 1A to 1C A battery cell 100 of any type shown in FIG.

[0055] exist Figure 2A In FIG. 1 , the battery cell 100 is undergoing normal operation, and since the pressure in the cell 100 is at a normal level, the vent portion 108 is in a static position. Figure 2B For example, due to a fault in the battery cell 100 (such as thermal runaway), the pressure in the cell 100 has increased. Figure 2B As shown in FIG. 1 , the vent portion 108 has deformed due to the increase in pressure inside the battery cell 100. This may occur suddenly or gradually over the service life of the battery cell 100. Figure 2C In the embodiment of the present invention, the pressure in the battery cell 100 has increased to a threshold level, at which time the vent portion 108 is separated from the housing 102. The vent portion 108 of the battery cell 100 can be operated using various mechanisms known in the art and therefore will not be discussed in detail here. The gas and other substances inside the housing 102 of the battery cell 100 can then escape. As discussed above, the released substances may be hazardous or toxic and may cause damage or contamination of surrounding components.

[0056] To provide early detection of potential cell outgassing, such as Figure 3 As shown, a system 200 is provided. The system includes a deformation detector 210 associated with a battery cell 100 and a processing circuit 220 configured to determine whether a deformation detected by the deformation detector 210 satisfies a threshold deformation.

[0057] The deformation detector 210 is configured to be disposed at a distance from the vent portion 108 when the vent portion 108 of the battery cell 100 is in an undeformed position, and is configured to determine when the vent portion 108 is deformed due to an increase in pressure inside the battery cell 100 (e.g., Figure 2B The deformation detector 210 will be explained in more detail with respect to FIGS. 4 to 8 .

[0058] The deformation detector 210 is communicatively connected to the processing circuit 220 so that a detection signal can be provided from the deformation detector 210 to the processing circuit 220. The connection can be a wired, wireless, or network connection, as known in the art. The processing circuit 220 can be located locally or remotely from the deformation detector 210. For example, the processing circuit 220 can be part of a battery management system (BMS) of a vehicle or a test facility, or can be integrated with the deformation detector.

[0059] Processing circuit 220 is configured to determine whether the deformation detected by deformation detector 210 satisfies a threshold deformation. The threshold deformation may be set to correspond to a certain deformation of vent portion 108 that is less than the deformation required for venting of battery cell 100. In this way, it may be determined that vent portion 108 is deforming, and action may be taken before venting occurs.

[0060] The threshold deformation may be determined based on the internal pressure of the battery cell 100 and the change in shape of the vent portion 108. This may be determined based on experimental or model data. For example, the threshold deformation may be determined by increasing the pressure in the battery cell 100 (e.g., by injecting gas into a model cell) or by mechanically simulating a specific pressure on the vent portion 108 and monitoring the behavior of the vent portion 108, i.e., determining the maximum deformation before the vent portion 108 breaks or separates. This enables the threshold to be accurately determined for a specific use case.

[0061] In some examples, system 200 may also include a sensor disposed on vent portion 108. For example, system 200 may include at least one of a pressure sensor or a strain gauge disposed on vent portion 108. This provides redundancy for system 210, for example, in the event that deformation detector 210 fails. However, such a solution may potentially interfere with the primary safety function of vent portion 108 by impeding movement of vent portion 108.

[0062] Figure 3 The system 200 shown in enables monitoring of vent deformation throughout the service life of the battery cell 100. This provides early detection of potential cell venting, thereby enabling action to be taken to protect the battery pack and test facilities from contamination or damage due to cell venting. By implementing a deformation detector arranged at a certain distance from the vent portion, monitoring can be performed without interfering with the structure and function of the vent portion and without hindering its primary safety function, which means that venting may still occur if necessary. As a further advantage, by determining the cell aging state based on the monitored deformation, the deformation of the vent portion is used as an indicator for replacing aged cells.

[0063] 4 to 8 illustrate examples of different deformation detectors 210. As discussed above, the deformation detector 210 is configured to be disposed at a distance from the vent portion 108 of the battery cell 100 when the vent portion 108 is in an undeformed position. The deformation detector 210 is configured to determine when the vent portion 108 is deformed due to an increase in pressure inside the battery cell 100.

[0064] Figure 4A and Figure 4B A cross-sectional view of a first example deformation detector 210a of a system for monitoring a battery cell 100 is schematically shown. The deformation detector 210a includes a contact sensor 212 disposed on a support 214. The contact sensor 212 may include a sensor for surface roughness monitoring, a strain gauge, or any suitable type of contact sensor for monitoring deformation of the vent portion 108. Figure 4A As shown, when the vent portion 108 of the battery cell 100 is in a non-deformed position, the deformation detector 210a, in particular the contact sensor 212, is arranged at a distance from the vent portion 108. Although the contact sensor 212 is shown as having a profile extending below the support 214, this is for illustrative purposes only, and it should be understood that as long as the contact sensor is able to detect contact, it may have a smaller profile, or even be flush with the lower surface of the support 214.

[0065] like Figure 4B As shown, when the vent portion 108 is in a fully deformed position, the contact sensor 212 contacts the vent portion 108. Therefore, the contact sensor 212 is able to detect the deformation of the vent portion 108. The detected deformation can then be transmitted to the processing circuit 220, which can compare the deformation with a threshold deformation, such as with respect to Figure 3 described.

[0066] In one example, the distance between deformation detector 210a, and in particular contact sensor 212, and vent portion 108 corresponds to a threshold deformation when vent portion 108 is in an undeformed position. In this manner, when vent portion 108 undergoes a deformation having a sufficient distance to contact contact sensor 212, it may be immediately determined that vent portion 108 has undergone a deformation equal to or greater than the threshold deformation, and corresponding action may be taken.

[0067] In another example, the distance between deformation detector 210a, and in particular contact sensor 212, and vent portion 108 when vent portion 108 is in an undeformed position may be less than a threshold deformation. In this way, a margin may be provided for deformation detection, thereby ensuring that false positive determinations are avoided. Contact sensor 212 may be a pressure sensor, and processing circuit 220 may use the pressure at the undeformed position of vent portion 108 as a zero level for detecting deformation. The measured pressure may then be associated with the deformation distance, thereby enabling detection of a threshold deformation.

[0068] Figure 4A The touch sensor 212 shown in FIG. 1 is disposed at a location substantially corresponding to the center of the vent portion 108. Due to the structure of the vent portion 108 and its attachment to the housing 102, this location is likely where the greatest deformation occurs. However, it should be understood that the touch sensor 212 may be attached in any suitable location along the length of the support member 214 to correspond to different locations of the vent portion 108, for example depending on how the vent portion 108 is structured and configured to operate. Specifically, the touch sensor 212 may be disposed at a location substantially corresponding to the location of the expected greatest deformation of the vent portion 108.

[0069] The support 214 may be a disk, plate, or arm configured to hold the touch sensor 212 in a given position. Figure 4A The support member 214 shown in is attached to the housing 102 of the battery cell 100. This provides an integrated design for the battery cell 100 and the deformation detector 210a. It should be understood that the support member 214 can be attached to another part of the battery pack or test environment that maintains the contact sensor 212 at a certain distance from the undeformed position of the vent portion 108. For example, any suitable design of the cover assembly or module top cover of the battery cell 100 can be adopted. The support member 214 can be configured to enable exhaust from the vent portion 108 (that is, the support member is configured not to block the discharge of material from the vent portion 108) so that it does not interfere with the main safety function of the vent portion 108. This can be achieved in a variety of ways, such as by providing a thin support arm or providing a hole in a support plate or disc.

[0070] It should also be understood that since the vent portion 108 may be located at any appropriate portion of the battery cell 100 as discussed above, for example to ensure that exhausted material is directed away from sensitive components in the area surrounding the battery cell 100, the deformation detector 210 may be located at any suitable corresponding location.

[0071] Figure 5A and Figure 5BSchematically shows a cross-sectional view of a second example deformation detector 210b of a system for monitoring a battery cell 100. Figure 5A As shown in FIG. 2 , the deformation detector 210 b includes a plurality of contact sensors 212 arranged at different positions on a support member 214. Figure 4A , when the vent portion 108 of the battery cell 100 is in the undeformed position, the deformation detector 210b, in particular the contact sensor 212, is arranged at a distance from the vent portion 108. As discussed above, the distance between the deformation detector 210b, in particular the contact sensor 212, and the vent portion 108 when the vent portion 108 is in the undeformed position may correspond to the threshold deformation or may be less than the threshold deformation.

[0072] like Figure 5B As shown in , when the vent portion 108 is in a fully deformed position, one or more of the contact sensors 212 contacts the vent portion 108. Therefore, the contact sensors 212 are able to detect the deformation of the vent portion 108. By implementing multiple contact sensors 212 arranged at different positions, irregular or unpredictable deformation of the vent portion 108 can be detected. It should be understood that the multiple contact sensors 212 can be arranged on the support member 214 in any suitable form, such as in the form of lines, circles, patterns, etc., depending on the structure of the support member 214 or the expected deformation points of the vent portion 108. Although seven non-contact sensors 212 are shown, it should be understood that any suitable number of contact sensors 212 can be provided.

[0073] Fig. 6A and Figure 6B Schematically shows a cross-sectional view of a third example deformation detector 210c of a system for monitoring a battery cell 100. Fig. 6A As shown in FIG. 1 , the deformation detector 210c includes a contact sensor 212 disposed on a cantilever support 214. This allows the arrangement of the deformation detector to not interfere with the structure and function of the vent portion 108 because the support extends from the contact sensor 212 in only one direction. Figure 4A and Figure 5A When the vent portion 108 of the battery cell 100 is in an undeformed position, the deformation detector 210c, in particular the contact sensor 212, is arranged at a distance from the vent portion 108, which distance may correspond to a threshold deformation or may be less than the threshold deformation.

[0074] like Figure 6BAs shown in , when the vent portion 108 is in a sufficiently deformed position, the contact sensor 212 contacts the vent portion 108. Therefore, the contact sensor 212 can detect the deformation of the vent portion 108. If no action is taken in sufficient time to prevent exhaust, the structure of the deformation detector 210c allows the vent portion to break or disengage from the housing 102 to allow pressure to be released, such as Figure 2C as shown in .

[0075] Similar to Figure 4A , Fig. 6A The touch sensor 212 is shown disposed in a position substantially corresponding to the center of the exhaust port portion 108, but it should be understood that the touch sensor 212 may be attached in any suitable position along the length of the support 214. The support 214 may be a plate or arm configured to hold the touch sensor 212 in a cantilevered manner in a given position.

[0076] Fig. 6A The support member 214 shown in FIG. 1 is attached to the housing 102 of the battery cell 100. This provides an integrated design for the battery cell 100 and the deformation detector 210c. It should be understood that the support member 214 can be attached to another portion of the battery pack or test environment that maintains the contact sensor 212 at a distance from the undeformed position of the vent portion 108. For example, any suitable design of the cover assembly or module top cover of the battery cell 100 can be used.

[0077] Fig. 7A and Figure 7B Schematically shows a cross-sectional view of a fourth example deformation detector 210d of a system for monitoring a battery cell 100. Fig. 7A As shown in FIG. 1 , the deformation detector 210 c includes a plurality of contact sensors 212 arranged on corresponding cantilever supports 214. Figure 4A , Figure 5A and Fig. 6A When the vent portion 108 of the battery cell 100 is in an undeformed position, the deformation detector 210d, in particular the contact sensor 212, is arranged at a certain distance from the vent portion 108, which distance may correspond to a threshold deformation or may be less than the threshold deformation.

[0078] like Figure 7B, when the vent portion 108 is in a substantially deformed position, one or more of the contact sensors 212 contacts the vent portion 108. Thus, the contact sensors 212 are able to detect deformation of the vent portion 108. By implementing multiple contact sensors 212 arranged at different locations, irregular or unpredictable deformation of the vent portion 108 can be detected. Although two contact sensors 212 and cantilever supports 214 are shown, it should be understood that any suitable number of contact sensors 212 and cantilever supports 214 may be provided, and each support may be provided with more than one contact sensor 212.

[0079] FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C A cross-sectional view of a fifth example deformation detector 210e of a system for monitoring a battery cell 100 is schematically shown. In these examples, the deformation detector 210e includes a non-contact sensor 216 shown in dashed lines. The non-contact sensor 216 can be mounted at any suitable position relative to the battery cell 100 that enables it to detect the deformation of the vent portion 108. For example, the non-contact sensor 216 can be mounted to the housing 102 of the battery cell 100, or to another part of the battery pack or test environment. For example, any suitable design of the cover assembly or module top cover of the battery cell 100 can be adopted. By using the non-contact sensor 216, the deformation of the vent portion 108 can be detected without interfering with the structure or function of the vent portion 108 at all, and the sensor can be located at any suitable distance from the vent portion 108, thereby increasing the flexibility of the implementation of the deformation detector 210e.

[0080] Non-contact sensor 216 may include an optical sensor or a laser sensor capable of detecting deformation of vent portion 108 without contacting vent portion 108. Selection of the type of non-contact sensor 216 enables different devices to be used, for example, in implementations requiring different levels of accuracy. Figure 4A and Fig. 6A , Fig. 8A The non-contact sensor 216 is shown in FIG. 2 as being disposed at a location substantially corresponding to the center of the exhaust vent portion 108 , but it should be understood that the contact sensor 212 may be attached at any suitable location relative to the exhaust vent portion 108 .

[0081] like Figure 8BAs shown in , deformation detector 210e includes a plurality of non-contact sensors 216 arranged at different positions relative to exhaust portion 108. By implementing a plurality of non-contact sensors 216 arranged at different positions, irregular or unpredictable deformation of exhaust port portion 108 can be detected. It should be understood that the plurality of non-contact sensors 216 can be arranged in any suitable form, such as in the form of lines, circles, patterns, etc., depending on the expected deformation points of exhaust port portion 108. Although three non-contact sensors 216 are shown, it should be understood that any suitable number of non-contact sensors 216 can be provided.

[0082] Figure 8C An example is shown in which substantially the entire surface of vent portion 108 may be monitored, for example, by an optical sensor or a laser sensor. In this example, non-contact sensor 216 may be arranged to monitor vent portion 108 in a lateral direction 218 relative to battery pack 100 to detect deformation of vent portion 108 in a longitudinal direction.

[0083] The deformation detector 210 (such as the deformation detectors 210a-e shown in Figures 4 to 8) enables early detection of potential venting of the battery cell 100 without interfering with the structure and function of the vent portion 108 and without hindering its primary safety function. It should be understood that the deformation detectors 210a-e shown in Figures 4 to 8 can be combined in any suitable manner. For example, the deformation detector 210 can include any suitable number of contact sensors 212 and / or non-contact sensors 216 arranged in any suitable configuration.

[0084] In the case of using a single contact sensor 212 or non-contact sensor 216, the value measured by the sensor can be compared with a threshold deformation. If the value meets or exceeds the threshold, action can be taken to prevent exhaust. In the case of using multiple contact sensors 212 and / or non-contact sensors 216, one, several, or all of the values ​​measured by the sensors can be compared with the threshold. For example, it can be determined that only one sensor is required to detect a sufficiently large deformation in order to take action to prevent exhaust. Alternatively, it can be determined that a subset of sensors (e.g., two or more sensors) are required to detect a sufficiently large deformation in order to take action to prevent exhaust. Alternatively, it can be determined that all sensors are required to detect a sufficiently large deformation in order to take action to prevent exhaust. Different sensors can also use different thresholds. For example, different parts of the exhaust port portion 108 can be allowed to experience more deformation than other parts, and corresponding thresholds can be set accordingly.

[0085] Fig. 9 4 is a flow chart of a method 400 for monitoring a battery cell 100. The method 400 may be Figure 3The system 200 described herein is implemented.

[0086] At 402, a deformation of the vent portion 108 of the battery cell 100 is determined. The deformation is determined by a deformation detector 210 (such as one of the deformation detectors 210 described with respect to FIGS. 4 to 8 ). The deformation detector 210 is disposed at a distance from the vent portion 108. In some examples, the deformation is determined using at least one contact sensor 212 of the deformation detector 210. In some examples, the deformation is determined using at least one non-contact sensor 216 of the deformation detector 210.

[0087] At 404, a determination is made whether the detected deformation satisfies a threshold deformation. This determination is performed using processing circuitry 220. The determination of the threshold may be performed in the manner discussed above.

[0088] At 406, if it is determined that the detected deformation meets the threshold deformation, action is taken to prevent venting of the battery cell 100. In one example, the action includes electrically disconnecting the battery cell 100 to prevent further failure of the battery cell 100.

[0089] The method 400 enables early detection of potential cell venting, thereby ensuring that action can be taken before potentially hazardous materials are vented from the battery cell 100 and damage or contaminate surrounding portions of the battery pack or test facility. This can be performed without disturbing the structure of the vent portion 108 of the battery cell 100 and without hindering its primary safety function. As another advantage, by determining the cell aging state based on the monitored deformation, the deformation of the vent portion 108 serves as an indicator for replacing aged cells.

[0090] Fig.10 1 is a flow chart of a method 500 for monitoring a battery cell 100. The method 500 may be Figure 3 The processing circuit 220 of the system 200 described above is executed.

[0091] At 502, a signal is received that represents deformation of the vent portion 108 of the battery cell 100. The signal may be received from a deformation detector 210 configured to determine deformation, such as one of the deformation detectors 210 described with respect to FIGS.

[0092] At 504, it is determined whether the detected deformation satisfies a threshold deformation. The determination of the threshold may be performed as discussed above.

[0093] At 506, if it is determined that the detected deformation meets the threshold deformation, action is taken to prevent venting of the battery cell 100. In one example, the action includes sending a signal to electrically disconnect the battery cell 100 to prevent further failure of the battery cell 100.

[0094] Fig.11 6 is a schematic diagram of a computer system 600 that implements the examples disclosed herein. The computer system 600 is suitable for executing instructions from a computer-readable medium to perform these and / or any functions or processes described herein. The computer system 600 can be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines in a LAN, an intranet, an extranet, or the Internet. Although only a single device is shown, the computer system 600 may include any device collection that executes an instruction set (or multiple instruction sets) individually or jointly to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein. Therefore, any reference to a computer system, a computing system, a computer device, a computing device, a control system, a control unit, an electronic control unit (ECU), a processor device, a processing circuit, etc. in the present disclosure and / or claims includes a reference to one or more such devices to execute an instruction set (or multiple instruction sets) individually or jointly to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein. For example, the control system may include a single control unit or multiple control units that are connected to each other or otherwise communicatively coupled, so that any executed function can be distributed between the control units as needed. In addition, such devices can communicate with each other or with other devices through various system architectures such as directly or via a controller area network (CAN) bus.

[0095] The computer system 600 may include at least one computing device or electronic device that can include firmware, hardware and / or execute software instructions to implement the functions described herein. The computer system 600 may include a processing circuit 602 (e.g., a processing circuit including one or more processor devices or control units), a memory 604, and a system bus 606. The computer system 600 may include at least one computing device with a processing circuit 602. The system bus 606 provides an interface for system components (including but not limited to the memory 604 and the processing circuit 602). The processing circuit 602 may include any number of hardware components for performing data or signal processing or for executing computer codes stored in the memory 604. The processing circuit 602 may include, for example, a general-purpose processor, a special-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a circuit containing a processing component, a group of distributed processing components, a group of distributed computers configured for processing, or other programmable logic devices designed to perform the functions described herein, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof. The processing circuit 602 may also include computer executable code that controls the operation of the programmable device. The processing circuit 220 of the system 200 may be embodied by the processing circuit 602 .

[0096] The system bus 606 can be any of several types of bus structures, which can be further interconnected to a memory bus (with or without a memory controller), a peripheral bus, and / or a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. The memory 604 can be one or more devices for storing data and / or computer code to complete or facilitate the methods described herein. The memory 604 can include a database component, an object code component, a script component, or other types of information structures for supporting various activities herein. Any distributed or local memory device can be utilized with the systems and methods of the present specification. The memory 604 can be communicatively connected to the processing circuit 602 (e.g., via a circuit or any other wired, wireless, or network connection) and can include computer code for performing one or more processes described herein. The memory 604 may include nonvolatile memory 608 (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), etc.) and volatile memory 610 (e.g., random access memory (RAM)), or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer or other machine having the processing circuit 602. A basic input / output system (BIOS) 612 may be stored in the nonvolatile memory 608 and may include the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the computer system 600.

[0097] The computer system 600 may also include or be coupled to non-transitory computer-readable storage media such as storage device 614, which may include, for example, an internal or external hard disk drive (HDD) (e.g., enhanced integrated drive electronics (EIDE) or serial advanced technology attachment (SATA)), a HDD for storage (e.g., EIDE or SATA), flash memory, etc. The storage device 614 and other drives associated with computer-readable and computer-usable media may provide non-volatile storage of data, data structures, computer-executable instructions, etc.

[0098] The hard-coded or soft-coded computer code may be provided in the form of one or more modules. The module may be implemented as software and / or hard-coded in the circuit to implement the functions described herein in whole or in part. These modules may be stored in a storage device 614 and / or a volatile memory 610 that may include an operating system 616 and / or one or more program modules 618. All or part of the examples disclosed herein may be implemented as a computer program 620 stored on a temporary or non-temporary computer-available or computer-readable storage medium (e.g., a single medium or multiple media) such as a storage device 614, which includes complex programming instructions (e.g., complex computer-readable program code) that cause the processing circuit 602 to perform the actions described herein. Therefore, the computer-readable program code of the computer program 620 may include software instructions for implementing the functions of the examples described herein when executed by the processing circuit 602. In some examples, storage device 614 may be a computer program product (e.g., a readable storage medium) having computer program 620 stored thereon, wherein at least a portion of computer program 620 may be loadable (e.g., loaded into a processor) for implementing the functionality of the examples described herein when executed by processing circuit 602. Processing circuit 602 may serve as a controller or control system of computer system 600 for implementing the functionality described herein.

[0099] The computer system 600 may include an input device interface 622 configured to receive input and selections to be transmitted to the computer system 600 when executing instructions, such as from a keyboard, mouse, touch-sensitive surface, etc. Such input devices may be connected to the processor circuit 602 via an input device interface 622 coupled to the system bus 606, but may be connected via other interfaces such as a parallel port, an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 serial port, a universal serial bus (USB) port, an IR interface, etc. The computer system 600 may include an output device interface 624 configured to forward output to a display, a video display unit (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system 600 may include a communication interface 626 suitable for communicating with a network as appropriate or as needed.

[0100] The operational actions described in any exemplary aspect of this article are described to provide examples and discussions. These actions can be performed by hardware components, can be embodied in machine executable instructions so that a processor performs these actions, or can be performed by a combination of hardware and software. Although a specific order of method actions can be shown or described, the order of actions can be different. In addition, two or more actions can be performed simultaneously or partially simultaneously.

[0101] According to some examples, also disclosed are:

[0102] Example 1. A system (200) for monitoring a battery cell (100), the system comprising: a deformation detector (210) configured to be disposed at a distance from the vent portion (108) of the battery cell when the vent portion is in an undeformed position and to detect deformation of the vent portion; and Processing circuitry (220) is configured to determine whether the detected deformation satisfies a threshold deformation.

[0103] Example 2. The system (200) of Example 1, wherein the deformation detector (210) includes at least one contact sensor (212) configured to contact the exhaust port portion (108) when the exhaust port portion is in the deformed position.

[0104] Example 3. The system (200) of Example 2, wherein the at least one touch sensor (212) is arranged in a cantilever arrangement.

[0105] Example 4. The system (200) of Example 3, wherein the at least one contact sensor (212) is disposed in a cantilever arrangement from a housing (102) of the battery cell (100).

[0106] Example 5. The system (200) of any one of Examples 2 to 4, wherein the distance corresponds to the threshold deformation.

[0107] Example 6. The system (200) of any preceding example, wherein the deformation detector (210) comprises at least one non-contact sensor (216) configured to detect deformation of the exhaust port portion.

[0108] Example 7. The system (200) of Example 6, wherein the non-contact sensor (216) comprises an optical sensor or a laser sensor.

[0109] Example 8. The system (200) of any one of Examples 2 to 7, wherein the deformation detector (210) comprises a plurality of sensors (212, 216).

[0110] Example 9. The system (200) of any preceding example, wherein the threshold deformation corresponds to a deformation of the vent portion (108) that is less than a deformation required for venting of the battery cell (100).

[0111] Example 10. The system (200) of any preceding example, wherein the threshold deformation is determined based on experimental or model data.

[0112] Example 11. The system (200) of any preceding example, wherein the threshold deformation comprises a plurality of threshold deformations.

[0113] Example 12. The system (200) of any preceding example, wherein the vent portion (108) is disposed on an end side of the battery cell (100) that includes one or more electrical terminals.

[0114] Example 13. The system (200) of any preceding example, wherein the battery cell (100) is a prismatic cell, a cylindrical cell, or a pouch cell.

[0115] Example 14. The system (200) of any preceding example, wherein the battery cell (100) is included in a battery pack of a vehicle.

[0116] Example 15. A vehicle comprising a system (200) as described in any of the preceding examples.

[0117] Example 16. The system (200) of any one of Examples 1 to 14, wherein the battery cell (100) is in a test environment.

[0118] Example 17. A method (400) for monitoring a battery cell (100), the method comprising: determining (402) deformation of the vent portion at a deformation detector (210) disposed at a distance from the vent portion (108) of the battery cell; and It is determined (404) whether the detected deformation satisfies a threshold deformation.

[0119] Example 18. The method (400) of Example 17, comprising determining the deformation using at least one contact sensor (212) of the deformation detector (210).

[0120] Example 19. The method (400) of Example 17 or 18, comprising determining the deformation using at least one non-contact sensor (216) of the deformation detector (210).

[0121] Example 20. The method (400) of any one of Examples 17 to 19, further comprising taking action (406) to prevent venting of the battery cell (100) in response to determining (404) that the detected deformation satisfies the threshold deformation.

[0122] Example 21. The method (400) of Example 20, wherein taking an action (406) includes electrically disconnecting the battery cell (100).

[0123] Example 22. A computer-implemented method (500), comprising, by a processing circuit of a computer system: receiving (502) a signal indicative of deformation of the vent portion from a deformation detector (210) disposed at a distance from the vent portion (108) of the battery cell; and It is determined ( 504 ) whether the detected deformation satisfies a threshold deformation.

[0124] Example 23. A computer-implemented method (500) as described in Example 22, further comprising taking action (506) (e.g., sending a signal to electrically disconnect the battery cell (100)) in response to determining (504) that the detected deformation meets the threshold deformation to prevent venting of the battery cell (100).

[0125] The terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing specific aspects and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms "one", "a kind of" and "the" are intended to also include plural forms. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It should also be understood that the terms "include" and / or "comprising" when used herein indicate the presence of stated features, integers, actions, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, actions, steps, operations, elements, components and / or their groups.

[0126] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, a first element may be referred to as a second element, and similarly, a second element may be referred to as a first element.

[0127] Relative terms such as "below" or "above" or "upper" or "lower" or "horizontal" or "vertical" may be used herein to describe the relationship of one element to another element, as shown in the figures. It should be understood that these terms and those discussed above are intended to cover different device orientations in addition to the orientations depicted in the figures. It should be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, the element may be directly connected or coupled to the other element, or there may be intervening elements. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, there are no intervening elements.

[0128] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. It should also be understood that, unless otherwise clearly defined herein, the terms used herein should be interpreted as meanings consistent with their meanings in the context of this specification and the relevant art, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense.

[0129] It should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the aspects described above and shown in the accompanying drawings; rather, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims. In the drawings and description, various aspects have been disclosed for illustrative purposes only and not for limiting purposes, and the scope of the disclosure is set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A system (200) for monitoring a battery cell (100), the system comprising: a deformation detector (210) configured to be arranged at a distance from the vent portion (108) of the battery cell when the vent portion is in an undeformed position and to detect deformation of the vent portion, wherein the deformation detector comprises at least one contact sensor (212) arranged in a cantilever arrangement and configured to contact the vent portion when the vent portion is in a deformed position; as well as Processing circuitry (220) is configured to determine whether the detected deformation satisfies a threshold deformation.

2. The system (200) of claim 1, wherein the distance corresponds to the threshold deformation.

3. The system (200) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the deformation detector (210) comprises at least one non-contact sensor (216), the at least one non-contact sensor being configured to detect deformation of the exhaust port portion.

4. The system (200) of claim 3, wherein the non-contact sensor (216) comprises an optical sensor or a laser sensor.

5. The system (200) of any preceding claim, wherein the deformation detector (210) comprises a plurality of sensors (212, 216).

6. The system (200) of any preceding claim, wherein the threshold deformation corresponds to a deformation of the vent portion (108) that is less than a deformation required for venting of the battery cell (100).

7. The system (200) of any preceding claim, wherein the threshold deformation comprises a plurality of threshold deformations.

8. A vehicle comprising a system (200) as described in any preceding example.

9. A method (400) for monitoring a battery cell (100), the method comprising: determining (402) deformation of the vent portion at a deformation detector (210) disposed at a distance from the vent portion (108) of the battery cell, wherein the deformation detector includes at least one contact sensor (212) disposed in a cantilever arrangement and configured to contact the vent portion when the vent portion is in a deformed position; as well as It is determined (404) whether the detected deformation satisfies a threshold deformation.

10. The method (400) of claim 9, further comprising determining the deformation using at least one non-contact sensor (216) of the deformation detector (210).

11. The method (400) of claim 9 or 10, further comprising taking action (406) to prevent venting of the battery cell (100) in response to determining (404) that the detected deformation satisfies the threshold deformation.

12. The method (400) of claim 11, wherein taking an action (406) includes electrically disconnecting the battery cell (100).

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