Testing devices for testing battery cells in a resting state

Abstract

In some embodiments, battery cell (108) testing devices (100) each include at least one cell slot (104) for receiving a corresponding battery cell along an insertion axis in a direction parallel to the cell's width axis, a positive electrical contact, and a negative electrical contact. The positive and negative electrical contacts may be located and configured such that when the battery cell is inserted into the cell slot, a positive electrical tab (200) of the cell makes physical contact with the positive electrical contact, and a negative electrical tab (200) of the cell makes physical contact with the negative electrical contact. In some embodiments, the cell slot further includes at least one cell receiver that slidably receives the battery cell and holds the battery cell during the test.In some embodiments, each of the positive and negative electrical contacts includes a tab receiver. Figure 1A should be published with the abbreviation.

Description

Title of the invention: Test apparatus for testing battery cells in the resting state Application data

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 526,726, filed July 14, 2023, entitled "Testing Apparatuses for Testing Battery Cells in Rest Status," and U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 770,731, filed July 12, 2024. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of battery cell testing. In particular, the present invention relates to test apparatuses for testing battery cells in the resting state. Background to the invention

[0003] Battery cells, such as pouch cells, must be tested and monitored while in the resting state, also known as the storage and warehousing state, in which no charging or discharging takes place in order to determine the behavior of each cell. One type of resting state test is the internal electrical resistance test in which electrical test pins or clips are contacted with corresponding positive and negative electrical tabs of a battery cell, measurement data is collected, and then the test pins or clips are removed from the electrical tabs. Typically, testing is performed cell by cell.Another type of quiescent state test is a surface temperature test in which a thermocouple is thermally coupled to a test point on an element using a thermally conductive gel, and measurement data is collected and displayed on multi-channel temperature acquisition equipment. Brief description of the drawings

[0004] For purposes of illustration, the accompanying drawings depict aspects of one or more embodiments of the invention. However, it should be noted that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the configurations and instruments specifically illustrated in the drawings, in which:

[0005] [Fig.lA] is an isometric end view of an exemplary battery cell testing apparatus manufactured in accordance with the present disclosure, showing the sidewall closest to the observer removed to reveal the internal structure;

[0006] [Fig. 1B] is an isometric top view of the exemplary test apparatus of [Fig. 1A];

[0007] [Fig. 1C] is a top-down view of the exemplary test apparatus of Figs. 1A and 1B, showing portions of the electrical contacts for receiving the electrical tabs of the elements;

[0008] [Fig. 1D] is a reduced-size isometric view of the exemplary test apparatus of Figs. 1A-1C, showing an example of how temperature sensors may be applied to a battery cell contained in the battery cell test apparatus;

[0009] [Fig.lE(l)] is an enlarged isometric view of one of the tab receivers of the test apparatus of Figures 1A to 1D;

[0010] [Fig.lE(2)] is an isometric view of the tab receiver of Fig. 1E(1), representing the removed case;

[0011] [Fig. 1E(3)] is an enlarged view of one end of one of the element locations of the exemplary test apparatus of Figs. 1A-1D, showing the electrical contact block of one of the tab receivers in an extended position when no element is present in the element location;

[0012] [Fig. 1E(4)] is an isometric view of the end of the element location shown in Fig. 1E(3), showing the contact block in the lowered position under the influence of the element in the element location;

[0013] [Fig.2A] is a side view of an example of a pouch-type battery cell that can be tested in a battery cell testing apparatus of the present disclosure; and

[0014] [Fig.2B] is an enlarged end view of the exemplary pouch-type battery cell of [Fig.2A]. Detailed description

[0015] An apparatus for testing a battery cell includes a stacking region having first and second side faces spaced apart from each other along a width axis, first and second ends spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to the width axis, a positive electrical tab projecting from the stacking region at the first end and a negative electrical tab projecting from the stacking region at the second end, the apparatus including a cell location for receiving the battery cell along an insertion axis in a direction parallel to the width axis of the battery cell; a positive electrical contact; and a negative electrical contact;wherein the positive and negative electrical contacts are located and configured such that when the battery cell is inserted into the cell location along the width axis of the battery cell, the positive electrical tab physically contacts the positive electrical contact; through the side edge of the positive electrical tab and the negative electrical tab makes physical contact with the negative electrical contact through the side edge of the negative electrical tab.

[0016] The cell location may further include at least one receiver that may slidably receive the battery cell and hold the battery cell during testing.

[0017] In this case, the at least one cell receiver may comprise a holding region and a guide region for guiding the battery cell into the holding region.

[0018] In this case, the guide region may include at least one inclined surface designed and configured to guide the battery cell along the insertion axis when the battery cell is inserted into the cell location.

[0019] Alternatively, the holding region may be designed and configured to frictionally hold the battery cell.

[0020] Each of the positive and negative electrical contacts may be biased by a biasing mechanism in a direction parallel to the insertion axis such that, when the battery cell is inserted into the cell location, further insertion of the battery cell may compress the biasing mechanism.

[0021] In this case, the biasing mechanism may comprise at least one spring, or the biasing mechanism may remain compressed by the weight of the battery cell, or the biasing mechanism may remain compressed by frictional fit of the battery cell with lateral guides designed and configured to guide the battery cell along the insertion axis when the battery cell is inserted into the cell location, or the biasing mechanism may remain compressed by frictional fit of the battery cell with clips of the positive and negative electrical contacts.

[0022] Each of the positive and negative electrical contacts may include a tab receiver.

[0023] In this case, each tab receiver may have a tab location intended to receive a lower portion of a corresponding one of the electrical tabs.

[0024] In this case, each tab location can provide a friction fit between the tab receiver and a corresponding one of the electrical tabs.

[0025] The apparatus may further comprise a temperature probe for measuring the temperature of the stacking region of the battery cell.

[0026] The apparatus may further comprise central electronics that collect data from the element location, wherein each of the contacts positive and negative electrical can be in functional communication with the central electronics.

[0027] In this case, the central electronics may comprise a wireless radio device intended to transmit the collected data to an external device.

[0028] The apparatus may further include a plurality of element locations, wherein each element location may each include positive and negative electrical contacts.

[0029] In this case, the plurality of element locations may be arranged side by side, with adjacent element locations being separated by a fireproof wall.

[0030] Alternatively, the apparatus may further include central electronics that may collect data from the element locations, wherein each of the positive and negative electrical contacts of the plurality of element locations may be in operative communication with the central electronics.

[0031] In this case, the central electronics may comprise a wireless radio device intended to transmit the collected data to an external device.

[0032] Alternatively, each of the cell locations may include a temperature probe for measuring a temperature of the stack region of the battery cell contained within the cell location, wherein each of the temperature probes may be in operative communication with the central electronics.

[0033] In some aspects, the present disclosure relates to testing apparatuses designed and configured to test battery cells (hereinafter, simply "cells"), such as pouch cells, using any suitable electrochemistry, such as, but not limited to, lithium (Li)-metal electrochemistry and Li-ion electrochemistry, among others, including cells using a liquid electrolyte, a gel electrolyte, or a solid electrolyte, or any combination or subcombination thereof. In some embodiments, the testing apparatus is configured to test at least one cell, and in many cases more than one cell, using, among other things, at least one type of test, such as an internal resistance test or a surface temperature test, or both.Typically, a test apparatus of the present disclosure is designed and configured to perform tests (e.g., data collection) while each cell is at rest, i.e., when it is neither in a charged nor discharged state.

[0034] Figures 1A to 1E(4) illustrate an example of a test apparatus 100 manufactured in accordance with the present disclosure. In this example, the test apparatus 100 comprises a plurality of element locations, here six element locations 104, for receiving and testing a corresponding plurality of elements 108, here six elements 108 (all of which are unmarked). It is possible to provide more or less of element locations 104 depending on particular design requirements. It should also be noted that the illustrated elements 108 are only examples and that other elements may vary in one or more ways, for example, but not limited to, being longer or shorter, thicker or thinner, wider or narrower, or having different electrical tab configurations, among others, and any combination or subcombination thereof.

[0035] Figures 2A and 2B illustrate an example of the type of cell that the cell 108 of Figures 1A-1D may be. In this example, the cell 108 is a pouch-like cell having the general configuration illustrated, with positive and negative electrical tabs 200 located at opposite ends of a stacking region 204. As will be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, the stacking region 204 is the portion of the cell 108 that contains one or more different layers, such as anode(s), separator(s), cathode(s), among other possible layers, and one or more electrolytes (e.g., in the form of a liquid, gel, solid, or any suitable combination thereof) that provide the electrochemical energy storage capability of the cell 108.Figures 2A and 2B also show a width axis WA referred to below in the description of the operation of the test apparatus. In this example, the width axis WA extends parallel to the width of the element 108, the length of the element 108 extending along an axis perpendicular to the width axis WA and extending between the two tabs 200.

[0036] Referring to Figures 1A to 1E(4), each element location 104 includes at least one element receiver, here three element receivers 112, which slidably receive a corresponding one of the elements 108 and hold the element fixed during testing. In this example, each element receiver 112 includes a guide region 116 and a holding region 120, the element guide region having one or more inclined surfaces that guide an element 108 to engage it on the holding region. The holding region 120 may be configured to frictionally engage the side faces of the element 108, such that there is little or no clearance between the element and the holding region of the element receiver 112. In some embodiments, each inclined surface of the element guide region 116 forms an angle of about 10° to about 45° relative to the vertical, although other angles may be used.In the illustrated example, each side of the element guide region 116 forms an angle of approximately 30° relative to the vertical.

[0037] In this example, each element location 104 includes a tab receiver 124 located at each end of the element location. Each tab receiver 124 is designed and configured to make electrical contact with a corresponding electrical tab 200 (hereinafter, simply "tab") on an element 108 when the element is fully inserted into the element location 104. Note that [Fig.lA] shows the tab receiver 124 at the end of each element location 104 closest to the observer of [Fig.lA]. A similar tab receiver 124 is located in a mirror orientation at the opposite end of each element location 104. Referring more particularly to Figure 1E(1), in the illustrated example, each tab receiver 124 includes a contact block 128, a base 132, and a housing 136. The contact block 128 may be made of an electrically conductive material, such as copper, aluminum, etc., and the base 132 and housing 136 may be made of a dielectric material, such as a suitable plastic.As shown in Figure 1E(2), the contact block 128 is biased by one or more springs (here, two springs 140), which tilt it into the extended position with an extension distance, E, measured from the top of the housing 136 to the upper surface of the contact block 128, as illustrated in Figure 1E(3). The contact block 128 includes a flange 144 that the springs 140 push back into contact with the underside of the upper wall of the housing 136 when the contact block 128 is in the extended position. In the example shown, the distance E is approximately 3 mm, although it may be larger or smaller depending on the design.In this example, the weight of an element 108 within the corresponding element location 104 causes the tab 200 on the element 108 to compress the springs 140 located below the contact block 128 so as to urge the contact block downward to a lowered position corresponding to a lowered distance, D, measured from the top of the housing 136 to the upper surface of the contact block, as illustrated in FIG. 1E(4). FIG. 1E(1) also shows a wire 148 extending from below the tab receiver 124. This wire 148 electrically connects the contact block 128 to electronics, such as the central electronics 152 described below.

[0038] In other embodiments, a tab receiver 124 may include a tab location (not shown) for slidably receiving the lower portion of a corresponding tab 200 at the lower edge of that tab. At least some of the portions of the tab receiver 124 that contact the tab 200 are made of one or more electrically conductive materials, such as metals, so that electricity may pass between those portions and the tab, for example during an internal electrical resistance test. In some embodiments, the tab location may be eliminated, with only the lower edge of a tab 200 engaging the tab receiver 124 and the contact block 128.

[0039] As indicated above, each tab receiver 124 may include a biasing means, such as a coil spring, a leaf spring, a bufferof foam, elastic tape, etc., which biases the tab receiver upward to a position above its position when the corresponding element 108 is fully inserted into the corresponding element location 104. In this way, physical contact between the tab 200 and the tab receiver 124 can be ensured, because the action of fully inserting the element 108 into the element location 104 acts against the biasing means, thereby causing the tab receiver to remain in forced engagement with the tab when the element is fully inserted into the element location. In some embodiments, the biasing force of each tab receiver 124 can be designed and selected so that the tab receiver moves under the influence of the weight of the element 108 alone.In some embodiments, the biasing force of each tab receiver 124 may be designed and selected such that the tab receiver only moves when the member 108 is pushed back to fully engage the member location 104. In the latter case, friction between the member 108 and the holding region 120 of the member receiver 112 may prevent the biasing means from moving once the member has been fully inserted.

[0040] In the example illustrated in Figures 1A-1D, the test apparatus 100 includes central electronics 152, mounted on a mounting block 156, which is in electrical communication with the electrical contacts and any sensors, such as the temperature sensors 160 illustrated in [Fig.1D], which are located in the test apparatus 100. The central electronics 152 may include, among other things, data collection electronics / software, test control electronics / software, one or more communication ports (e.g., a wireless communication port (radio (e.g., BLUETOOTH®, infrared, etc.) and / or a wired communication port (e.g., USB, RS232, etc.)) and, among other things, any communication software necessary for the communications.In this example, each temperature sensor 160 may be any suitable type of temperature sensor, such as, but not limited to, a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor and a thermocouple, among others. In this example, three temperature sensors 160 are applied to one face of one of the six elements 108 of the test apparatus 100, for example using a thermal adhesive. Sensor wires 164 connect each of the three temperature sensors 160 to the central electronics 152. It is noted that more or fewer than three temperature sensors 160 may be used on any face of one or more elements 108 in the test apparatus 100.

[0041] In some embodiments, all or part of the walls 168 (inner and outer) may be made of one or more sufficiently strong materials. robust to remain intact in the event that one of the tested elements 108 explodes and / or catches fire. Examples of suitable materials include, but are not limited to, a variety of metals, quartz, marble, and glass, among many others. Although not illustrated, the test apparatus 100 may include at least one cover that closes all of the element locations 104 so as to fully confine any explosion and / or fire that may occur in any of the element locations.

[0042] It should be noted that while the exemplary test apparatus of Figures 1A-1D is shown as having a vertical insertion axis 1A ([Fig.1A]), the insertion axis 1A may be horizontal in other embodiments, particularly in embodiments in which the elements 108 are held in place by means of a friction fit, such as a friction fit with the holding region 120 of each provided element receiver 112 or a friction fit between each electrical tab 200 and the tab location, or a combination of both friction fits. When the insertion axis 1A is horizontal, the element locations 104 may have their longitudinal axis oriented vertically or horizontally. Of course, the insertion axis(es) 1A may be oriented other than purely vertically or horizontally.

[0043] Various modifications and additions may be made without departing from the scope and ambit of the present disclosure. The feature elements of each of the different embodiments described above may, if desired, be combined with feature elements of other described embodiments, to provide a multiplicity of combinations of feature elements in new associated embodiments. In addition, although a number of distinct embodiments have been described in the foregoing, these have been described herein solely for the purpose of illustrating the application of the principles of the present invention. Furthermore, although particular methods presented herein may be illustrated and / or described as being performed in a specific order, this order is highly variable within the ordinary skill in carrying out certain aspects of the present disclosure.Accordingly, the present description should be considered by way of example only, and not to otherwise limit the scope of the present invention.

[0044] Exemplary embodiments have been described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand that what is specifically disclosed herein is subject to various modifications, omissions, and additions without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims

1. An apparatus (100) for testing a battery cell (108) that includes a stacking region (204) having first and second side faces spaced apart from each other along a width axis, first and second ends spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to the width axis, a positive electrical tab (200) projecting from the stacking region at the first end and a negative electrical tab (200) projecting from the stacking region at the second end, the apparatus including: a cell location (104) for receiving the battery cell along an insertion axis in a direction parallel to the width axis of the battery cell; a positive electrical contact; and a negative electrical contact;wherein the positive and negative electrical contacts are located and configured such that when the battery cell is inserted into the cell location along the width axis of the battery cell, the positive electrical tab physically contacts the positive electrical contact via the side edge of the positive electrical tab and the negative electrical tab physically contacts the negative electrical contact via the side edge of the negative electrical tab.;

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cell location (104) further comprises at least one receiver (112) that slidably receives the battery cell (108) and holds the battery cell during testing.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one cell receiver comprises a holding region (120) and a guide region (116) for guiding the battery cell into the holding region.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the guide region comprises at least one inclined surface designed and configured to guide the battery cell along the insertion axis when the battery cell is inserted into the cell location.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the holding region is designed and configured to hold the battery cell by friction.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the positive and negative electrical contacts is biased by a biasing mechanism in a direction parallel to the insertion axis such that, when the battery cell is inserted into the cell location, further insertion of the battery cell compresses the biasing mechanism.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the biasing mechanism comprises at least one spring.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the biasing mechanism remains compressed by the weight of the battery cell.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the biasing mechanism remains compressed by frictional fit of the battery cell with lateral guides designed and configured to guide the battery cell along the insertion axis when the battery cell is inserted into the cell location.

10. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the biasing mechanism remains compressed by frictional fit of the battery cell with clips of the positive and negative electrical contacts.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the positive and negative electrical contacts comprises a tab receiver (124).

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each tab receiver has a tab location for receiving a lower portion of a corresponding one of the electrical tabs.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein each tab location provides a frictional fit between the tab receiver and a corresponding one of the electrical tabs.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a temperature probe for measuring the temperature of the stacking region of the battery cell.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising central electronics (152) that collects data from the element location, wherein each of the contacts positive and negative electrical is in functional communication with the central electronics.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the central electronics comprises a wireless radio device for transmitting the collected data to an external device.

17. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising a plurality of element locations, wherein each element location each comprises positive and negative electrical contacts.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the plurality of element locations are arranged side by side, with adjacent element locations separated by a fireproof wall.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising central electronics that collect data from the element locations, wherein each of the positive and negative electrical contacts of the plurality of element locations is in operative communication with the central electronics.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the central electronics comprises a wireless radio device for transmitting the collected data to an external device.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein each of the cell locations includes a temperature probe for measuring a temperature of the stacking region of the battery cell contained in the cell location, wherein each of the temperature probes is in operative communication with the central electronics.

Images