Apparatus for micro shorts detection in electric vehicle battery cells and method for the same

Abstract

An apparatus 102 for detection of micro shorts in one or more cells 106 of an electric vehicle (EV) battery 104 comprises a multiplexing circuit 108 with one or more electromechanical relay devices 11

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to the field of Lithium-ion battery diagnostics systems; and more specifically, to a portable apparatus for detection of micro shorts in one or more cells of an Electric Vehicle (EV) battery and a method for detection of the micro shorts in one or more cells of the EV battery. BACKGROUND Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in various applications, including electric vehicles (EVs), portable electronics, and energy storage systems, due to their high energy density and long-life cycle. However, these batteries can suffer from a phenomenon known as "micro shorts" at the cell level. The Micro shorts are small internal shorts in the battery cells which can arise from several reasons, such as manufacturing defects, physical damage, or natural degradation over time. These small internal shorts may not significantly affect the battery's immediate performance but can lead to self-discharge of the battery over prolonged periods of inactivity. The self-discharge is particularly problematic for EV owners who may leave their vehicles parked for extended durations, only to return and find reduced battery capacity and potential error messages. The Current Battery Management Systems (BMS) integrated into the lithium-ion batteries are designed to monitor and balance cell voltages, typically have varying accuracy among different manufacturers with some accuracy of around 20 millivolts. While sufficient for general cell balancing, such level of precision is inadequate for detecting the subtle voltage drops indicative of the micro shorts. Furthermore, in operational environments where batteries are frequently charged and discharged, voltage fluctuations make it challenging to identify slow self-discharge rates accurately. Currently, certain attempts have been made for detection of the micro shorts in the lithium-ion batteries, such as a laboratory equipment setup is developed which is capable of measuring the precise voltage measurements. However, such laboratory equipment setups are often cumbersome, require manual configuration and continuous monitoring to determine the presence of self-discharge and therefore, not practical for routine use in consumer products or large-scale battery management. Thus, there exists a technical problem of how to precisely and timely detect the micro shorts in the lithium-ion batteries. Therefore, in light of the foregoing discussion there exists a need to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks associated with the conventional battery diagnostics systems. SUMMARY The present disclosure provides a portable apparatus for detection of micro shorts in one or more cells of an Electric Vehicle (EV) battery and a method for detection of the micro shorts in one or more cells of the EV battery. The present disclosure provides a solution to the existing problem of how to precisely and timely detect the micro shorts in the lithium-ion batteries. An aim of the present disclosure is to provide a solution that overcomes at least partially the problems encountered in prior art, and provide a portable apparatus for detection of micro shorts in one or more cells of an EV battery and an improved method for detection of the micro shorts in one or more cells of the EV battery. The object of the present disclosure is achieved by the solutions provided in the enclosed independent claims. Advantageous implementations of the present disclosure are further defined in the dependent claims. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a portable apparatus for detection of micro shorts in one or more cells of an Electric Vehicle (EV) battery. The portable apparatus comprises a multiplexing circuit comprising one or more electromechanical relay devices configured to sequentially connect the one or more cells of the EV battery to a voltage measurement circuit. The voltage measurement circuit comprising one or more Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) Integrated Circuits (ICs) configured to measure voltage across the connected one or more cells of the EV battery. The portable apparatus further comprises a controller configured to receive the voltage measurements from the one or more ADC ICs connected to the one or more cells and compare each individual differential input voltage of the one or more cells measured by the one or more ADC ICs to aggregate positive and negative voltages of the EV battery. The controller is further configured to detect a fault in the one or more electromechanical relay devices based on comparison of each individual differential input voltage of the one or more cells to aggregate positive and negative voltages of the EV battery and prevent switching from a current electromechanical relay device connected to a current cell to a next electromechanical relay device connected to a next cell until the voltage from the current cell is no longer present on the one or more ADC ICs. The controller is further configured to detect the micro shorts in the one or more cells of the EV battery after detecting the presence of the voltage of the current cell on the one or more ADC ICs. The disclosed portable apparatus enables a precise and timely detection of the micro shorts in the one or more cells of the EV battery. The portable apparatus comprises the multiplexing circuit with the one or more electromechanical relay devices, which sequentially connect the one or more cells to the one or more ADC ICs of the voltage measurement circuit. The one or more ADC ICs are configured to perform high-resolution voltage measurements across the connected cells of the EV battery. The high precise voltage measurements lead to an enhanced accuracy of the micro shorts’ detection as well as reduced the time required to determine the presence of the micro shorts. The sequential connection of the one or more cells to the one or more ADC ICs allows precise voltage measurements across a cell or cells of the EV battery. Thereafter, the voltage measurements are analysed and processed by the controller. The controller is configured to detect a fault in the one or more electromechanical relay devices by comparing each individual differential input voltage of the one or more cells to overall positive and negative voltages of the EV battery. Thereafter, the controller is configured to prevent switching from the current electromechanical relay device to the next electromechanical relay device until the voltage from the current cell is no longer present on the one or more ADC ICs. By ensuring that the voltage from the previous cell or cells is no longer present before switching to the next electromechanical relay device, the controller can identify any internal cell short and maintain the safety and performance of the EV battery. In an implementation form, the controller is further configured to provide a notification message to a display device associated with a user on detection of the micro shorts in the one or more cells of the EV battery. The portable apparatus allows a timely identification of the micro shorts in the one or more cells of the EV battery and enables the user to make informed decisions regarding the usability and safety of the EV battery. In an implementation form, the controller is further configured to store the received voltage measurements over a period of time and process the stored voltage measurements to identify a voltage decay pattern, where the voltage decay pattern is an indicative of the presence of the micro shorts in the one or more cells of the EV battery. By analysing the voltage decay pattern, any manufacturing defects or usage-related issues or damage caused by accidents, can be identified with accuracy and reliability in the one or more cells of the EV battery. In a further implementation form, the controller is further configured to identify the voltage decay pattern by computing a gradient of the stored voltage measurements. By computing the gradient of the stored voltage measurements, any abnormal trend in the voltage measurements can be easily identified that may indicate a fault in the battery cells. In a further implementation form, the one or more electromechanical relay devices comprise either one or more electromechanical switches or one or more switching devices. The use of the one or more electromechanical relay devices, such as electromechanical switches or switching devices, ensures precise control over the connection and disconnection of the one or more cells to the voltage measurement circuit, which further leads to accurate detection of the micro shorts in the battery cells. In a further implementation form, the portable apparatus is either self-powered using either an internal battery or configured to receive power from an external source. This is advantageous to ensure the versatility and usability of the portable apparatus in various application scenarios. In a further implementation form, the notification message is in form of either a graphical display pattern or a voice command or a text message displayed on the display device. This is advantageous to display the notification message in different forms in terms of enhancing the user experience and facilitating the prompt action regarding the usage of the EV battery. In a further implementation form, the display device comprises at least one of: a display screen, a light-emitting diode (LED) indicator, or a communication interface for providing the notification message to the user. The use of the display device allows an efficient communication of the notification message, such as self-discharge detection or internal cell shorting alerts, ensuring that the user can take appropriate actions in a timely manner. In a further implementation form, the voltage measurement circuit has a voltage measurement resolution of less than 1 millivolt. By virtue of having the voltage measurement resolution of less than 1 millivolt, the voltage measurement circuit leads to high precise voltage measurements across the connected cells. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a battery management system comprising the portable apparatus. The incorporation of the portable apparatus into the battery management system allows the battery management system to accurately measure various parameters of the EV battery, such as voltage and temperature, and make informed decisions regarding any manufacturing fault or accidental damage to determine if the battery cells of the EV battery are usable or faulty. In a yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for detection of micro shorts in one or more cells of an Electric Vehicle (EV) battery, the method comprising sequentially connecting, by one or more electromechanical relay devices of a multiplexing circuit, the one or more cells of the EV battery to a voltage measurement circuit. The method further comprises measuring, by one or more Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) Integrated Circuits (ICs) of the voltage measurement circuit, voltage across the connected one or more cells of the EV battery and receiving, by a controller, the voltage measurements from the one or more ADC ICs connected to the one or more cells. The method further comprises 5 comparing, by the controller, each individual differential input voltage of the one or more cells measured by the one or more ADC ICs to aggregate positive and negative voltages of the EV battery and detecting, by the controller, a fault in the one or more electromechanical relay devices based on comparison of each individual differential input voltage of the one or more cells to aggregate positive and negative voltages of the EV battery. The method further comprises preventing, by the controller, switching from a current electromechanical relay device connected to a current cell to a next electromechanical relay device connected to a next cell until the voltage from the current cell is no longer present on the one or more ADC ICs. The method further comprises detecting, by the controller, the micro shorts in the one or more cells of the EV battery after detecting the presence of the voltage of the current cell on the one or more ADC ICs. The method achieves all the advantages and technical effects of the portable apparatus of the present disclosure. It is to be appreciated that all the aforementioned implementation forms can be combined. It has to be noted that all devices, elements, circuitry, units and means described in the present application could be implemented in the software or hardware elements or any kind of combination thereof. All steps which are performed by the various entities described in the present application as well as the functionalities described to be performed by the various entities are intended to mean that the respective entity is adapted to or configured to perform the respective steps and functionalities. Even if, in the following description of specific embodiments, a specific functionality or step to be performed by external entities is not reflected in the description of a specific detailed element of that entity which performs that specific step or functionality, it should be clear for a skilled person that these methods and functionalities can be implemented in respective software or hardware elements, or any kind of combination thereof. It will be appreciated that features of the present disclosure are susceptible to being combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Additional aspects, advantages, features and objects of the present disclosure would be made apparent from the drawings and the detailed description of the illustrative implementations construed in conjunction with the appended claims that follow. 6 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The summary above, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure, exemplary constructions of the disclosure are shown in the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those skilled in the art will understand that the drawings are not to scale. Wherever possible, like elements have been indicated by identical numbers. Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein: FIG. 1 illustrates a portable apparatus for detection of micro shorts in one or more cells of an Electric Vehicle (EV) battery, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 illustrates a Battery Management System (BMS) comprising a portable apparatus for detection of micro shorts in one or more cells of an EV battery, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a connection between a portable apparatus and a battery module comprising a BMS and a number of EV batteries, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and FIGs. 4A and 4B collectively, illustrate a method for detection of micro shorts in one or more cells of an EV battery, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the accompanying drawings, an underlined number is employed to represent an item over which the underlined number is positioned or an item to which the underlined number is adjacent. A non-underlined number relates to an item identified by a line linking the nonunderlined number to the item. When a number is non-underlined and accompanied by an associated arrow, the non-underlined number is used to identify a general item at which the arrow is pointing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the present disclosure and ways in which they can be implemented. Although some modes of carrying out the present disclosure have been disclosed, those skilled in the art would recognize that other embodiments for carrying out or practicing the present disclosure are also possible. FIG. 1 illustrates a portable apparatus for detection of micro shorts in one or more cells of an Electric Vehicle (EV) battery, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a portable apparatus 102 connected to an Electric Vehicle (EV) battery 104 comprising one or more cells 106. The portable apparatus 102 comprises a multiplexing circuit 108 comprising one or more electromechanical relay devices 110. Each of the one or more electromechanical relay devices 110 is configured to sequentially connect the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104 to a voltage measurement circuit 112. The voltage measurement circuit 112 comprises one or more Analog-to-Digital-Converter (ADC) Integrated Circuits (ICs) 114 configured to measure voltage across the connected one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104. The portable apparatus 102 further comprises a controller 116 configured to receive the voltage measurements from the one or more ADC ICs 114 connected to the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104. The controller 116 is further configured to process the received voltage measurements and provide a notification message to a display device 118 associated with a user 120 on detection of micro shorts in the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104 The portable apparatus 102 may include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, or code that is configured to detect the micro shorts in the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104. The term “micro shorts” refers to a condition in which a small-scale electrical fault occurs within a battery cell, resulting in an unintended connection between the positive and negative terminals, potentially leading to a reduced performance, overheating, or even catastrophic failure of an EV battery. The controller 116 is configured to receive the voltage measurements and compare each individual cell's voltage to the aggregate positive and negative voltages of the EV battery 104. If a micro short is detected, the notification message is sent to the user 120 via the display device 118. The portable apparatus 102 allows users (or operators) to easily test and determine if a battery cell is faulty or usable, providing benefits, such as identifying manufacturing, usage, or accident damage of the EV battery 8 104. The synergistic combination of the multiplexing circuit 108, the voltage measurement circuit 112, and fault detection in the one or more electromechanical relay devices 110 enables an efficient and a reliable detection of the micro shorts in the EV battery 104, and consequently, enhances the performance of battery management systems. The EV battery 104 may be referred to as a rechargeable energy storage device specifically designed for use in electric vehicles, capable of storing and supplying electrical energy to power the electric vehicle. The one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104 may be referred to as individual units within the EV battery 104 that store and release electrical energy, typically consisting of an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. The multiplexing circuit 108 may be referred to as a circuit used to sequentially connect individual battery cells or groups of cells to the voltage measurement circuit 112. The multiplexing circuit 108 allows the portable apparatus 102 to use a single high-precision voltage measurement device to assess the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104 and thus, reduces complexity and cost while maintaining accuracy. Each of the one or more electromechanical relay devices 110 may be referred to as a device that utilizes an electromagnetic coil to control the opening and closing of electrical contacts and thereby, enabling the switching of electrical signals. The voltage measurement circuit 112 may be referred to as a circuit designed to accurately measure the voltage level of an electrical signal, typically by employing appropriate sensing and amplification techniques. The one or more ADC ICs 114 may be referred to as electronic components that convert continuous analog signals into discrete digital signals. The one or more ADC ICs 114 transform analog voltages or currents into digital binary codes that can be processed by a digital system, for example, the controller 116. The controller 116 may include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, or code that is configured to process the received voltage measurements and detect the micro shorts in the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104. Examples of the controller 116 may include, but are not 9 limited to, a processor, a co-processor, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a complex instruction set computing (CISC) processor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) processor, a reduced instruction set (RISC) processor, a very long instruction word (VLIW) processor, a central processing unit (CPU), a state machine, a data processing unit, a computing device, and other processors or circuits. Moreover, the controller 116 may refer to one or more individual processors, processing devices, computing devices, a processing unit that is part of a machine. The display device 118 may be referred to as an electronic device that visually presents information, images, or data to the user 120. Examples of the display device 118 may include but are not limited to, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Light Emitting Diode (LED) display, a handheld device, a smart phone, a laptop, a desktop, and the like. The portable apparatus 102 comprises the multiplexing circuit 108 comprising the one or more electromechanical relay devices 110 configured to sequentially connect the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104 to the voltage measurement circuit 112. The use of the multiplexing circuit 108 with the one or more electromechanical relay devices 110 enables the portable apparatus 102 to perform precise voltage measurements on each cell of the EV battery 104. The sequential connection of the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104 to the one or more ADC ICs 114 of the voltage measurement circuit 112 having high-precision, enables the portable apparatus 102 to detect any abnormal voltage readings that may indicate the presence of a micro short in the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104. Such detection has significance for ensuring the safety and optimal performance of the EV battery 104. The connection from the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104 is current-limited by means of a resistor on each cell connection such that if a micro short occurs within a cell, it does not affect the performance of other battery cells. In an implementation, the one or more electromechanical relay devices 110 comprise either one or more electromechanical switches or one or more switching devices. The portable apparatus 102 utilizes the one or more electromechanical relay devices 110 (i.e., an array of relays) to sequentially connect the one or more cells 106 to the one or more ADC ICs 114 of the voltage measurement circuit 112. The one or more electromechanical relay devices 110 are controlled to operate on and off, allowing the one or more ADC ICs 114 to take a measurement of each cell or cells within a battery module one at a time. The ADC output is then analysed and processed by the controller 116. The use of the one or more electromechanical relay devices 110, such as electromechanical switches or switching devices, in the portable apparatus 102 ensures precise control over the connection and disconnection of the one or more cells 106 to the voltage measurement circuit 112. This enables accurate voltage measurements of individual cells, facilitating the detection of faults and self-discharge. In an implementation, the multiplexing circuit 108 may comprise one or more semiconductor switching devices. The one or more semiconductor switching devices may also be used to connect the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104 to the one or more ADC ICs 114 of the voltage measurement circuit 112. The voltage measurement circuit 112 comprises the one or more ADC ICs 114 configured to measure voltage across the connected one or more cells of the EV battery 104. The one or more ADC ICs 114 are configured to perform high-resolution voltage measurements across the connected one or more cells of the EV battery 104. The use of the one or more ADC ICs 114 in combination with the one or more electromechanical relay devices 110 enables high-resolution voltage measurements and therefore, enhances the accuracy of the micro shorts’ detection. The portable apparatus 102 further comprises the controller 116 configured to receive the voltage measurements from the one or more ADC ICs 114 connected to the one or more cells 106. The controller 116 is configured to receive the voltage measurements measured sequentially across the connected cells and analyse the received voltage measurements to identify any abnormal voltage reading that may indicate the presence of the micro shorts. The early detection of the micro shorts ensures the overall safety and reliability of EV batteries by enabling proactive maintenance and preventing potential hazards or performance degradation caused by the micro shorts. The controller 116 is further configured to compare each individual differential input voltage of the one or more cells 106 measured by the one or more ADC ICs 114 to aggregate positive and negative voltages of the EV battery 104 and detect a fault in the one or more electromechanical relay devices 110 based on comparison of each individual differential input voltage of the one or more cells 106 to aggregate positive and negative voltages of the EV battery 104. The differential input voltage refers to a voltage difference between two cells of the EV battery 104, where each cell is connected to a separate signal source or a reference point. The comparison of each individual differential input voltage of the one or more cells 106 to overall positive and negative voltages of the EV battery 104 is performed to detect any fault in the one or more electromechanical relay devices 110. The controller 116 is further configured to prevent switching from a current electromechanical relay device connected to a current cell to a next electromechanical relay device connected to a next cell until the voltage from the current cell is no longer present on the one or more ADC ICs 114. The prevention of switching to the next electromechanical relay device until the voltage from the current cell is no longer present has significance for an accurate detection of the micro shorts in the EV battery cells. By ensuring that the voltage from the previous cell or cells has dissipated, the controller 116 can accurately measure the voltage of each cell without interference or false readings. Furthermore, by ensuring that the voltage from the previous cell or cells is no longer present before switching to the next electromechanical relay device, the controller 116 can identify any internal cell short and maintain the safety and performance of the EV battery 104. The controller 116 is further configured to detect the micro shorts in the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104 after detecting the presence of the voltage of the current cell on the one or more ADC ICs 114. In case, if the voltage of the current cell connected to the current electromechanical relay device is present on the one or more ADC ICs 114 then, in that case, the controller 116 detects the micro shorts in the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104. The combination of multi-channel voltage measurements and a custom algorithm for analysis of the voltage measurements enables the portable apparatus 102 to accurately detect the micro shorts in the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104. Such combination allows a timely identification of internal cell shorting issues, enabling the user 120 to make informed decisions regarding the usability and safety of the EV battery 104. In an implementation, the controller 116 is further configured to provide a notification message to the display device 118 associated with the user 120 on detection of the micro shorts in the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104. After detection of the micro shorts in the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104, the controller 116 is configured to display the information to the user 120 via the display device 118. In an implementation, the controller 116 is further configured to store the received voltage measurements over a period of time and process the stored voltage measurements to identify a voltage decay pattern, where the voltage decay pattern is an indicative of the presence of the micro shorts in the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104. The term “voltage decay pattern" refers to a characteristic trend or behaviour exhibited by a gradual decrease in voltage levels over time in a battery cell, which can provide valuable information about the cell's state of charge and overall performance of the battery. The received voltage measurements are stored over time and then processed to identify the voltage decay pattern in order to ascertain the presence of internal cell shorting within the EV battery 104. By analysing the voltage decay pattern, the controller 116 can detect manufacturing defects, usage-related issues, or damage caused by accidents in the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104. This further allows the user 120 to determine if the battery cells are usable or faulty, enabling the user 120 to make informed decisions regarding the usage or replacement of the battery cells. In an implementation, the controller 116 is further configured to identify the voltage decay pattern by computing a gradient of the stored voltage measurements. The computation of the gradient of the stored voltage measurements allows the identification of the presence of internal cell shorting in the EV battery 104. By computing the gradient of the stored voltage measurements, the controller 116 can detect any abnormal trends that may indicate a fault in the battery cells. Such kind of information has significance for ensuring the reliability and safety of the battery module (i.e., the EV battery 104). In an implementation, the portable apparatus 102 is either self-powered using either an internal battery or configured to receive power from an external source. The portable apparatus 102 can be self-powered using either the internal battery or configured to receive power from the external power source, which ensures the versatility and usability of the portable apparatus 102 in various application scenarios. In an implementation, the notification message is in form of either a graphical display pattern or a voice command or a text message displayed on the display device 118. If self-discharge 13 is detected, the user 120 is notified through a Human-Machine Interface (HMI), which can be either the graphical display pattern or the voice command or the text message displayed on the display device 118. The purpose of providing the notification message in different formats is to effectively inform the user 120 about the detected self-discharge in the battery module. Different users may have different preferences or accessibility requirements, hence providing multiple options for the notification message ensures that the user 120 can receive the information in a format that suits them best. Furthermore, the use of different formats for providing the notification message to the user 120 enhances the user experience and facilitates a prompt action. By presenting the self-discharge notification in various formats, the portable apparatus 102 ensures that the user 120 can easily comprehend and respond to the detected issue. This further improves the overall usability and effectiveness of the portable apparatus 102 in monitoring and maintaining the performance of the EV battery 104 In an implementation, the display device 118 comprises at least one of: a display screen, a light-emitting diode (LED) indicator, or a communication interface for providing the notification message to the user 120. The display device 118 is used for providing the notification message to the user 120. The inclusion of the display device 118 enhances the user experience by providing a clear and easily understandable method of receiving the notification message. The use of the display device 118 allows an efficient communication of the notification message, such as self-discharge detection or internal cell shorting alerts, ensuring that the user 120 can take appropriate actions in a timely manner. In an implementation, the voltage measurement circuit 112 has a voltage measurement resolution of less than 1 millivolt. By virtue of having the voltage measurement resolution of less than 1 millivolt, the voltage measurement circuit 112 manifests the ability to measure the voltage levels of the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104 with very high precision. The precise voltage measurements enable the detection of internal cell shorts with enhanced accuracy, which can pose significant safety risks and impact the overall performance and lifespan of the EV battery 104. Thus, the portable apparatus 102 enables a precise and timely detection of the micro shorts in the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104. The portable apparatus 102 comprises the multiplexing circuit 108 with the one or more electromechanical relay devices 110 which sequentially connect the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104 to the one or more ADC ICs 114 of the voltage measurement circuit 112. The one or more ADC ICs 114 are configured to perform high-resolution voltage measurements across the connected cells of the EV battery 104. The use of the one or more ADC ICs 114 in combination with the one or more electromechanical relay devices 110 enables high-precision (i.e., less than 1 mV) voltage measurements and therefore, enhances the accuracy of the micro shorts’ detection as well as reduces the time taken to determine the presence of any micro shorts. In contrast to the portable apparatus 102, conventional micro short detection systems rely on low resolution voltage measurements and therefore, may take much longer to detect the presence of the micro shorts. The sequential connection of the one or more cells 106 to the one or more ADC ICs 114 allows precise voltage measurements across a cell or cells of the EV battery 104. Thereafter, the voltage measurements are analysed and processed by the controller 116. The controller 116 is configured to detect a fault in the one or more electromechanical relay devices 110 by comparing each individual differential input voltage of the one or more cells 106 to overall positive and negative voltages of the EV battery 104. Thereafter, the controller 116 is configured to prevent switching from the current electromechanical relay device to the next electromechanical relay device until the voltage from the current cell is no longer present on the one or more ADC ICs 114. By ensuring that the voltage from the previous cell or cells is no longer present before switching to the next electromechanical relay device, the controller 116 can identify any internal cell short and maintain the safety and performance of the EV battery 104. The combination of multichannel voltage measurements and a custom algorithm for analysis of the voltage measurements enables the portable apparatus 102 to precisely detect the micro shorts in the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104. Such combination allows a timely identification of internal cell shorting issues, enabling the user 120 to make informed decisions regarding the usability and safety of the EV battery 104. FIG. 2 illustrates a Battery Management System (BMS) comprising a portable apparatus for detection of micro shorts in one or more cells of an EV battery, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is described in conjunction with elements from FIG. 1. With reference to FIG. 2, there is shown a BMS 202 comprising the portable apparatus 102 (of FIG. 1). The BMS 202 is integrated to the EV battery 104 comprising the one or more cells 106. The portable apparatus 102 may be a part of the BMS 202, as shown in FIG. 2. However, in another implementation scenario, the portable apparatus 102 may not be a part of the BMS 202 and may function as an independent unit, as shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 2, only one EV battery (i.e., the EV battery 104) integrated to the BMS 202 is shown, for sake of brevity. However, there may be more EV batteries integrated to the BMS 202 depending on an application scenario. The BMS 202 may be referred to as an electronic system designed to monitor, control and optimize the performance and safety of rechargeable battery packs. The BMS 202 is used to monitor State-of-charge (SoC), State-of-Health (SoH), voltage, current and temperature of the EV battery 104 comprising the one or more cells 106. By comprising the portable apparatus 102, the BMS 202 can monitor and control the charging, discharging, and overall performance of the EV battery 104. The incorporation of the portable apparatus 102 into the BMS 202 allows the BMS 202 to accurately measure various parameters of the EV battery 104, such as voltage and temperature, and make informed decisions regarding any manufacturing fault or accidental damage to determine if the battery cells of the EV battery 104 are usable or faulty. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an integration between a portable apparatus and a battery module comprising a BMS and a number of EV batteries, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is described in conjunction with elements from FIGs. 1 and 2. With reference to FIG. 3, there is shown a battery module 302 comprising a BMS 304 and a first EV battery 306A, a second EV battery 306B and a third EV battery 306C. The BMS 304 is configured to monitor and control charging and discharging of the first EV battery 306A, the second EV battery 306B and the third EV battery 306C. The battery module 302 is integrated to the portable apparatus 102 (of FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 3, the portable apparatus 102 is not a part of the BMS (i.e., the BMS 304) and acts as an independent unit. The BMS 304 is not the same as that of the BMS 202 (of FIG. 2) by virtue of not comprising the portable apparatus 102. By virtue of connecting the battery module 302 to the portable apparatus 102, the portable apparatus 102 may be used for detection of micro shorts in one or more cells of any of the first EV battery 306A, the second EV battery 306B and the third EV battery 306C and. The portable apparatus 102 may provide a timely alert to EV battery operators or EV owners if battery cells of any of the first EV battery 306A, the second EV battery 306B and the third EV battery 306C are faulty. FIGs. 4A and 4B collectively, illustrate a method for detection of micro shorts in one or more cells of an EV battery, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIGs. 4A and 4B are described in conjunction with elements from FIGs. 1, 2 and 3. With reference to FIGs. 4A and 4B, there is shown a method 400 for detection of micro shorts in the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104. The method 400 is implemented in the portable apparatus 102 (of FIG. 1) and executed by the multiplexing circuit 108, the voltage measurement circuit 112 and the controller 116 comprised by the portable apparatus 102. The method 400 includes steps 402 to 414, the steps 402 to 410 are shown in FIG. 4A and the steps 412 and 414 are shown in FIG. 4B. There is provided method 400 for detection of micro shorts in the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104. Referring to FIG. 4A, at step 402, the method 400 comprises sequentially connecting, by the one or more electromechanical relay devices 110 of the multiplexing circuit 108, the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104 to the voltage measurement circuit 112. The sequential connection of the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104 to the voltage measurement circuit 112 enables an early detection of faults or abnormalities in the battery cells, enabling timely maintenance or replacement of the battery cells to ensure safe and efficient operation of the EV battery 104. At step 404, the method 400 further comprises measuring, by the one or more Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) Integrated Circuits (ICs) 114 of the voltage measurement circuit 112, voltage across the connected one or more cells of the EV battery 104. By measuring the voltage across each cell, the method 400 can be used to identify any abnormal voltage level that may indicate the presence of the micro shorts. This allows for early detection and prevention of potential issues that may lead to battery malfunction or failure. At step 406, the method 400 further comprises receiving, by the controller 116, the voltage measurements from the one or more ADC ICs 114 connected to the one or more cells 106. At step 408, the method 400 further comprises comparing, by the controller 116, each individual differential input voltage of the one or more cells 106 measured by the one or more ADC ICs 114 to aggregate positive and negative voltages of the EV battery 104. By comparing the individual differential input voltage of the one or more cells 106 to the aggregate positive and negative voltages of the EV battery 104, the method 400 allows the identification of any fault in the one or more electromechanical relay devices 110. At step 410, the method 400 further comprises detecting, by the controller 116, a fault in the one or more electromechanical relay devices 110 based on comparison of each individual differential input voltage of the one or more cells 106 to aggregate positive and negative voltages of the EV battery 104. By comparing the individual differential input voltages of the one or more cells 106 to the aggregate positive and negative voltages of the EV battery 104, faults in the one or more electromechanical relay devices 110 can be identified, and thereby, potential short circuits can be prevented. Now referring to FIG. 4B, at step 412, the method 400 further comprises preventing, by the controller 116, switching from a current electromechanical relay device connected to a current cell to a next electromechanical relay device connected to a next cell until the voltage from the current cell is no longer present on the one or more ADC ICs 114. By preventing switching to the next electromechanical relay device until the voltage from the current cell is no longer present on the one or more ADC ICs 114, the method 400 ensures that accurate voltage measurements are obtained and avoids the occurrence of any false reading due to the residual voltage. At step 414, the method 400 further comprises detecting, by the controller 116, the micro shorts in the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104 after detecting the presence of the voltage of the current cell on the one or more ADC ICs 114. The micro shorts can lead to various issues, including reduced battery performance, increased self-discharge, and potential safety hazards. By detecting the micro shorts early on, appropriate actions can be taken to prevent further damage and ensure the safe and efficient operation of the EV battery 104 In an implementation, the method 400 further comprises providing, by the controller 116, a notification message to the display device 118 associated with the user 120 on detection of 18 the micro shorts in the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104. The notification message sent to the display device 118 ensures that the user 120 is promptly informed about the detected micro shorts, and enables the user 120 to take appropriate actions. In an implementation, the method 400 further comprises storing, by the controller 116, the received voltage measurements over a period of time and processing, by the controller 116, the stored voltage measurements to identify a voltage decay pattern, wherein the voltage decay pattern is an indicative of the presence of the micro shorts in the one or more cells 106 of the EV battery 104. By analysing the voltage decay pattern, the presence of internal cell shorting can be identified. This provides a reliable means to assess the condition of the battery and determine if the battery is suitable for use or if the battery requires to be replaced. In an implementation, the method 400 further comprises identifying, by the controller 116, the voltage decay pattern by computing a gradient of the stored voltage measurements. The computation of the gradient of the stored voltage measurements enables an effective analysis of the voltage decay pattern. Such analysis may lead to the identification of internal cell shorts, which may indicate potential issues or faults within the EV battery 104. By promptly detecting such issues, appropriate actions can be taken to prevent further damage or ensure the safe operation of the EV battery 104. The steps 402 to 414 are only illustrative, and other alternatives can also be provided where one or more steps are added, or one or more steps are provided in a different sequence without departing from the scope of the claims herein. Modifications to embodiments of the present disclosure described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the accompanying claims. Expressions such as "including", "comprising", "incorporating", "have", "is" used to describe and claim the present disclosure are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural. The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance or illustration". Any embodiment described as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments and / or to exclude the incorporation of features from other embodiments. The word "optionally" is used herein to 19 mean "is provided in some embodiments and not provided in other embodiments". It is appreciated that certain features of the present disclosure, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the present disclosure, which are, for brevity, 5 described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the disclosure.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus (102) for detection of micro shorts in one or more cells (106) of an Electric Vehicle, EV, battery (104), the portable apparatus (102) comprises:a multiplexing circuit (108) comprising one or more electromechanical relay devices (110) configured to sequentially connect the one or more cells (106) of the EV battery (104) to a voltage measurement circuit (112);the voltage measurement circuit (112) comprising one or more Analog-to-Digital Converter, ADC, Integrated Circuits, ICs, (114) configured to measure voltage across the connected one or more cells of the EV battery (104); anda controller (116) configured to:receive the voltage measurements from the one or more ADC ICs (114) connected to the one or more cells (106);compare each individual differential input voltage of the one or more cells (106) measured by the one or more ADC ICs (114) to aggregate positive and negative voltages of the EV battery (104);detect a fault in the one or more electromechanical relay devices (110) based on comparison of each individual differential input voltage of the one or more cells (106) to aggregate positive and negative voltages of the EV battery (104);prevent switching from a current electromechanical relay device connected to a current cell to a next electromechanical relay device connected to a next cell until the voltage from the current cell is no longer present on the one or more ADC ICs (114); anddetect the micro shorts in the one or more cells (106) of the EV battery (104) after detecting the presence of the voltage of the current cell on the one or more ADC ICs (114).

2. The portable apparatus (102) according to claim 1, wherein the controller (116) is further configured to provide a notification message to a display device (118) associated with a user (120) on detection of the micro shorts in the one or more cells (106) of the EV battery (104).

3. The portable apparatus (102) according to claim 1, wherein the controller (116) is further configured to store the received voltage measurements over a period of time and 21process the stored voltage measurements to identify a voltage decay pattern, wherein the voltage decay pattern is an indicative of the presence of the micro shorts in the one or more cells (106) of the EV battery (104).

4. The portable apparatus (102) according to claim 3, wherein the controller (116) is further configured to identify the voltage decay pattern by computing a gradient of the stored voltage measurements.

5. The portable apparatus (102) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more electromechanical relay devices (110) comprise either one or more electromechanical switches or one or more switching devices.

6. The portable apparatus (102) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the portable apparatus (102) is either self-powered using either an internal battery or configured to receive power from an external source.

7. The portable apparatus (102) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the notification message is in form of either a graphical display pattern or a voice command or a text message displayed on the display device (118).

8. The portable apparatus (102) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the display device (118) comprises at least one of: a display screen, a light-emitting diode (LED) indicator, or a communication interface for providing the notification message to the user (120).

9. The portable apparatus (102) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the voltage measurement circuit (112) has a voltage measurement resolution of less than 1 millivolt.

10. A battery management system (202) comprising the portable apparatus (102) according to any of the preceding claims.

11. A method (400) for detection of micro shorts in one or more cells (106) of an ElectricVehicle, EV, battery (104), the method (400) comprising:sequentially connecting, by one or more electromechanical relay devices (110) of a multiplexing circuit (108), the one or more cells (106) of the EV battery (104) to a voltage measurement circuit (112);measuring, by one or more Analog-to-Digital Converter, ADC, Integrated Circuits ICs, (114) of the voltage measurement circuit (112), voltage across the connected one or more cells of the EV battery (104);receiving, by a controller (116), the voltage measurements from the one or more ADC ICs (114) connected to the one or more cells (106);comparing, by the controller (116), each individual differential input voltage of the one or more cells (106) measured by the one or more ADC ICs (114) to aggregate positive and negative voltages of the EV battery (104);detecting, by the controller (116), a fault in the one or more electromechanical relay devices (110) based on comparison of each individual differential input voltage of the one or more cells (106) to aggregate positive and negative voltages of the EV battery (104);preventing, by the controller (116), switching from a current electromechanical relay device connected to a current cell to a next electromechanical relay device connected to a next cell until the voltage from the current cell is no longer present on the one or more ADC ICs (114); anddetecting, by the controller (116), the micro shorts in the one or more cells (106) of the EV battery (104) after detecting the presence of the voltage of the current cell on the one or more ADC ICs (114).

12. The method (400) according to claim 11, further comprising providing, by the controller (116), a notification message to a display device (118) associated with a user (120) on detection of the micro shorts in the one or more cells (106) of the EV battery (104).

13. The method (400) according to claim 11, further comprising storing, by the controller(116), the received voltage measurements over a period of time and processing, by the controller (116), the stored voltage measurements to identify a voltage decay pattern,wherein the voltage decay pattern is an indicative of the presence of the micro shorts in the one or more cells (106) of the EV battery (104).

14. The method (400) according to claim 13, further comprising identifying, by the controller (116), the voltage decay pattern by computing a gradient of the stored voltage measurements.

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