Battery inspection device and operation method thereof

Abstract

A battery inspection device according to one embodiment includes a connection unit connected to an electrode of a battery cell, a charge / discharge unit that charges or discharges the battery cell via the connection unit, an ultrasonic sensing unit that outputs an ultrasonic signal toward the battery cell and detects the ultrasonic signal that has passed through the battery cell, and a controller that determines the state of the battery cell based on characteristics of the ultrasonic signal that has passed through the battery cell while the battery cell is being charged or discharged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0082736 filed on July 5, 2022, and all the contents disclosed in the literature of the Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] The embodiments disclosed herein relate to a battery inspection apparatus and a method of operating the battery inspection apparatus.

Background Art

[0003] In recent years, research and development on secondary batteries have been actively conducted. A secondary battery is a rechargeable battery, and means any battery including conventional Ni / Cd batteries, Ni / MH batteries, etc. and recent lithium-ion batteries. Among them, lithium-ion batteries have the advantage of being much higher in energy density than conventional Ni / Cd batteries, Ni / MH batteries, etc. Since lithium-ion batteries can be manufactured in a small and lightweight form, they are widely used as a power source for mobile devices. In recent years, their usage range has been extended to the power source of electric vehicles and they have attracted attention as a next-generation energy storage medium.

[0004] A charge-discharge test is a method of inspecting the state of a battery using state parameters of the battery (e.g., voltage, current, temperature, change in resistance, etc.) obtained while charging or discharging the battery, and is widely used because it can monitor the remaining life or presence of defects in a battery cell in a non-destructive manner. In a charge-discharge test, a gripper for electrically connecting the electrode lead of a battery cell to a charger is used, but a conventional gripper is simply a member for passing current through a battery cell and does not have an additional function for diagnosing the internal state of the battery cell.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] One object of the embodiments disclosed in this specification is to provide a battery inspection device capable of monitoring changes in the characteristics of an ultrasonic signal passing through a cell while conducting a charge / discharge test on the battery cell, and determining the state of the battery cell based on this.

[0006] The technical problems of the embodiments disclosed in this specification are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] A battery inspection device according to one embodiment includes a connection part connected to an electrode of a battery cell, a charge / discharge part for charging or discharging the battery cell via the connection part, an ultrasonic sensing part for outputting an ultrasonic signal toward the battery cell and detecting the ultrasonic signal that has passed through the battery cell, and a controller for determining the state of the battery cell based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal that has passed through the battery cell while the battery cell is being charged or discharged.

[0008] In a battery inspection device according to one embodiment, the ultrasonic sensing part may include an ultrasonic transmission part located inside the connection part in contact with an electrode lead on one side of the battery cell, for transmitting an ultrasonic signal toward the battery cell, and an ultrasonic reception part located inside the connection part in contact with an electrode lead on the opposite side of the battery cell, for receiving the ultrasonic signal that has passed through the battery cell.

[0009] In a battery inspection device according to one embodiment, the controller can determine the state of the battery cell based on at least one of the velocity change and amplitude change of the ultrasonic signal.

[0010] In a battery inspection device according to one embodiment, the controller can determine the presence or absence of lithium precipitation inside the battery cell based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal.

[0011] In a battery inspection apparatus according to an embodiment, the controller can determine the presence or absence of a defect in the electrode lead of the battery cell based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal.

[0012] In a battery inspection apparatus according to an embodiment, the controller can calculate at least one of the SOC (State of Charge) and SOH (State of Health) of the battery cell based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal and the charge / discharge data of the battery cell.

[0013] In a battery inspection apparatus according to an embodiment, it can further include a solution injection part for forming an ultrasonic medium layer between the electrode lead of the battery cell and the connection part.

[0014] A method of operating a battery inspection apparatus according to an embodiment includes a step of charging or discharging a battery cell via a connection part connected to an electrode of the battery cell, a step of outputting an ultrasonic signal toward the battery cell, a step of detecting the ultrasonic signal that has passed through the battery cell, and a step of determining the state of the battery cell based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal that has passed through the battery cell while the battery cell is being charged or discharged.

[0015] In a method of operating a battery inspection apparatus according to an embodiment, the step of outputting an ultrasonic signal toward the battery cell is performed by an ultrasonic transmitter located inside the connection part that contacts the electrode lead on one side of the battery cell, and the step of detecting the ultrasonic signal that has passed through the battery cell can be performed by an ultrasonic receiver located inside the connection part that contacts the electrode lead on the opposite side of the battery cell.

[0016] In a method of operating a battery inspection apparatus according to an embodiment, the step of determining the state of the battery cell can include a step of determining the state of the battery cell based on at least one of the velocity change and amplitude change of the ultrasonic signal.

[0017] In the operation method of the battery inspection apparatus according to an embodiment, the step of determining the state of the battery cell may include a step of determining the presence or absence of lithium precipitation inside the battery cell based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal.

[0018] In the operation method of the battery inspection apparatus according to an embodiment, the step of determining the state of the battery cell may include a step of determining the presence or absence of defects in the electrode lead of the battery cell based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal.

[0019] In the operation method of the battery inspection apparatus according to an embodiment, the step of determining the state of the battery cell may include a step of calculating at least one of the SOC (State of Charge) and SOH (State of Health) of the battery cell based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal and the charge / discharge data of the battery cell.

[0020] The operation method of the battery inspection apparatus according to an embodiment may further include a step of forming an ultrasonic medium layer between the electrode lead of the battery cell and the connecting portion.

Advantages of the Invention

[0021] According to the battery inspection apparatus of an embodiment disclosed in this specification, while charging / discharging the battery through a connecting portion (for example, a gripper) connected to the electrode of the battery cell, the state of the battery cell can be determined using the ultrasonic transducer and the ultrasonic sensor provided in the connecting portion.

[0022] Conventional charge / discharge testers estimated the state of the battery using only the electrical parameters of the battery cell. However, according to the embodiment, not only the electrical parameters but also the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal passing through the battery cell are utilized to more precisely estimate the state of the cell, such as SOC (State of Charge), SOH (State of Health), the presence or absence of lithium precipitation, and the presence or absence of defects in the electrode lead. In addition to this, various effects that can be grasped directly or indirectly are provided according to this specification.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] To more clearly explain the embodiments disclosed in this specification or the technical solutions of the prior art, the drawings necessary for the description of the embodiments are briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings are only for explaining the embodiments of this specification and are not for limitation. Also, for the sake of clarity of the description, the expressions of some components in the drawings may be exaggerated or omitted.

[0024]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4a

Figure 4b

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail with reference to the exemplary drawings. When assigning reference numerals to components in each drawing, it should be noted that the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components when they appear in other drawings as much as possible. Furthermore, when describing the embodiments disclosed herein, if a detailed description of related known structures or functions is deemed to hinder understanding of the embodiments disclosed herein, such detailed description will be omitted.

[0026] The terms used in this specification have been selected to the extent possible based on current widespread and general terms, taking functionality into consideration. However, these terms may vary depending on the intentions or practices of engineers in the relevant field or the emergence of new technologies. In addition, in certain cases, the applicant arbitrarily selected terms, and in such cases, their meanings will be described in the description section of the specification. Therefore, it is clear that the terms used in this specification should be interpreted not simply based on the name of the term, but based on the substantive meaning of the term and the overall content of this specification. Furthermore, the terms used in this specification are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of other embodiments. A singular term may include a plural term unless otherwise clearly indicated in the context.

[0027] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a battery testing device and an operating method thereof will be described with reference to the drawings. The components shown in the block diagrams are divided according to their respective functions and roles, and each block does not necessarily have to be realized by independent hardware or software. For example, the divided components may actually be realized by a single device or program, or one component may be realized as a combination of multiple devices and programs. Furthermore, in this specification, terms such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish between components and do not imply a ranking or order between the components.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a battery inspection device according to one embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing how a battery cell is inspected using the battery inspection device.

[0029] 1, the battery testing device 10 includes a connection unit 110 connected to an electrode of a battery cell 20, a charge / discharge unit 120 that charges or discharges the battery cell 20 via the connection unit 110, an ultrasonic sensing unit 130 that outputs an ultrasonic signal toward the battery cell 20 and detects the ultrasonic signal that has passed through the cell, and a controller 140 that determines the state of the battery cell 20 based on characteristics of the ultrasonic signal. Although not shown, the battery testing device 10 may further include basic components for performing a battery charge / discharge test (e.g., a power source for charging, a rod for discharging, wires for electrically connecting the battery cell and components, a control circuit for controlling the device, etc.).

[0030] The battery cell 20 may have various forms, and the battery to which the technology disclosed herein is applicable is not limited to a specific form or structure. For example, the battery cell 20 may have a structure in which multiple monocells (basic battery units consisting of a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator) are stacked and enclosed in a pouch or case, and may include electrode leads for electrically connecting the positive and negative electrodes of the battery cell to an external device. Figure 2 shows the battery cell 20 and the electrode leads 201 and 202 protruding from the battery cell.

[0031] The connecting part 110 is a member that comes into contact with the electrode leads 201, 202 of the battery cell 20 and electrically connects the battery testing device 10 and the battery cell 20. As shown in Fig. 2, the connecting part may be composed of a first contact part 111 and a second contact part 112 that come into contact with the electrode leads 201, 202, respectively, and the part that comes into contact with the electrode leads may be made of a metallic material through which current flows.

[0032] For example, the connecting part 110 may be a gripper used to make electrical contact with the electrodes of the battery cell in a charger. Also, each of the contact parts 111 and 112 of the connecting part may be in the form of a clip or a clamp with a spring to firmly fix the electrode leads 201 and 202. However, the form of the connecting part shown is merely an example for aiding understanding and can be deformed into other suitable forms according to the shape of the battery cell and the position of the electrodes.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the battery inspection device 10 may further include a solution injection part (not shown) for forming an ultrasonic medium layer between the electrode leads 201 and 202 of the battery cell 20 and the contact parts 111 and 112 of the connecting part. Although the transmission speed and magnitude of the ultrasonic signal vary according to the medium, if the electrode lead and the connecting part (e.g., the gripper) are not in close contact, the characteristics of the signal are likely to be distorted by an air gap. Therefore, the solution injection part injects a water-soluble couplant between the electrode lead and the connecting part, presses them together, and enables the ultrasonic signal to pass through the battery cell without distortion.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 1 again, the charge / discharge part 120 charges or discharges the battery cell 20 via the connecting part 110 in contact with the battery cell 20. According to one embodiment, the charge / discharge part 120 is configured to measure the electrical parameters (such as current, voltage, impedance, etc.) of the battery cell 20 while charging or discharging the battery cell 20 at a preset C-rate. The measured parameters are transmitted to the controller 140 and can be utilized for estimating the state of the battery cell 20 together with, or independently of, the ultrasonic signal analysis result.

[0035] The ultrasonic sensing unit 130 can be composed of an ultrasonic transmitting unit that transmits an ultrasonic signal toward the battery cell 20 and an ultrasonic receiving unit that receives the ultrasonic signal that has passed through the battery cell 20. According to one embodiment, the ultrasonic transmitting unit may be an ultrasonic transducer composed of a piezoelectric element that converts an electrical signal supplied from a power source into an ultrasonic signal, and the ultrasonic receiving unit may be an ultrasonic sensor that detects an ultrasonic signal and converts it into an electrical signal. Although not shown, the ultrasonic sensing unit 130 can include additional components such as a power source for driving the transducer and the sensor, a pulse generator, an oscilloscope, a switch, and a control circuit for controlling these components.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 2, the ultrasonic transmitting unit 131 is located inside the first contact portion 111 of the connecting portion that contacts the electrode lead 201 on one side of the battery cell 20, and the ultrasonic receiving unit 132 can be located inside the second contact portion 112 of the connecting portion that contacts the electrode lead 202 on the opposite side of the battery cell 20. Alternatively, both the ultrasonic transmitting unit and the ultrasonic receiving unit may be included in each of the first contact portion 111 and the second contact portion 112 of the connecting portion, and it may be a structure that outputs or detects ultrasonic waves toward the corresponding transmitting unit / receiving unit. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, both the ultrasonic transmitting unit 131 and the ultrasonic receiving unit 132' that detects the ultrasonic signal output from the ultrasonic transmitting unit located in the second contact portion 112 of the connecting portion can be provided in the first contact portion 111 of the connecting portion.

[0037] Referring again to FIG. 2, when the ultrasonic transmitting unit 131 located inside the connecting portion 111 that contacts the electrode lead 201 on one side outputs an ultrasonic signal toward the battery cell 20, the ultrasonic receiving unit 132 located inside the connecting portion 112 that contacts the electrode lead 202 on the opposite side detects the ultrasonic signal. The ultrasonic sensing unit 130 can obtain characteristic information of the ultrasonic signal such as the amplitude change between the output ultrasonic signal and the detected ultrasonic signal, and the time of flight of the ultrasonic signal passing through the battery cell, and transmit it to the controller 140.

[0038] Based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal detected by the ultrasonic sensing unit 130 (e.g., the change in the speed of the ultrasonic signal, the change in amplitude, etc.), or based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal and the charge / discharge data acquired by the charge / discharge unit 120 (e.g., the current, voltage, impedance data, etc. of the battery cell), the controller 140 can determine the state of the battery cell 20.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the controller 140 can determine the presence or absence of lithium precipitation inside the battery cell or the presence or absence of defects in the electrode leads of the battery cell based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal. According to other embodiments, the controller 140 can calculate state parameters such as the SOC (State of Charge) and SOH (State of Health) of the battery cell based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal and the charge / discharge data of the battery cell.

[0040] FIG. 4a is a graph showing the change in the time of flight (ToF) of the ultrasonic signal passing through the battery cell according to the number of charge / discharge cycles. The ToF can be calculated by the difference between the output time point of the ultrasonic wave of the ultrasonic sensing unit 130 and the detection time point of the ultrasonic wave. Referring to FIG. 4a, it can be confirmed that as the number of charge / discharge cycles increases (i.e., as the remaining life decreases due to the use of the battery), the ToF generally decreases. This is because when the battery is continuously used, the speed of the ultrasonic signal passing through the battery cell increases due to lithium precipitation inside the cell, impedance increase, and temperature rise, etc.

[0041] FIG. 4b is a graph showing the change in the amplitude of the ultrasonic signal passing through the battery cell according to the number of charge / discharge cycles. Referring to FIG. 4b, it can be confirmed that as the number of charge / discharge cycles increases (i.e., as the remaining life decreases due to the use of the battery), the amplitude of the ultrasonic signal generally increases. This is because when the battery is continuously used, the intensity of the ultrasonic signal passing through the battery cell increases due to lithium precipitation inside the cell, impedance increase, and temperature rise, etc.

[0042] According to one embodiment, while the charging and discharging unit 120 charges or discharges the battery cell 20, the state of the battery cell can be estimated more precisely based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal measured by the ultrasonic sensing unit 130.

[0043] Specifically, in the case of defects such as initial lithium precipitation in the battery cell, although it can be observed in a specific charging section, after passing through this section, a phenomenon occurs where the deposited metal dissolves and disappears. In this case, although an abnormality cannot be diagnosed by a general ultrasonic inspection performed separately from the charge and discharge inspection of the battery cell, according to the embodiment, since an ultrasonic inspection can be performed simultaneously with charging or discharging through the ultrasonic sensor provided at the connection part for the charge and discharge test, the diagnosis is easy.

[0044] Furthermore, conventionally, an ultrasonic transducer has been brought into contact with the body part of the battery cell to perform an ultrasonic inspection. However, according to this, especially in the case of a pouch-type battery, there is a possibility that internal defects due to deformation may occur during the crimping process between the transducer and the battery, and directly applying a couplant to the surface of the cell is not preferable in terms of commerciality.

[0045] According to the embodiment, by coupling a gripper to the electrode lead portion instead of the surface of the cell and applying an ultrasonic signal, the above problems can be solved, and there is a technical advantage that not only internal defects of the cell but also defects of the electrode and connection defects with other components can be inspected.

[0046] According to the battery inspection device described above, by performing an ultrasonic inspection simultaneously with the charge and discharge inspection of the battery using a connection part equipped with an ultrasonic sensor, the state of the battery cell (such as lithium precipitation, presence or absence of electrode lead defects, remaining life, etc.) can be determined according to the charge and discharge data and the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal.

[0047] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation method of the battery inspection device according to one embodiment. The components of the battery inspection device 10 and the battery 20 are as described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 5, in step (S100), an ultrasonic medium layer can be formed between the electrode of the battery cell and the connection part. This step (S100) can be selectively performed by the solution injection part before or after bringing the connection part into contact with the electrode of the battery cell. Since the transmission speed and magnitude of the ultrasonic signal vary depending on the medium, if the electrode and the connection part are not in close contact, the characteristics of the signal are likely to be distorted by the air gap. Therefore, a water-soluble couplant is injected between the electrode and the connection part, and they are crimped so that the ultrasonic signal can pass through the battery cell without distortion.

[0049] In step (S200), the battery cell is charged or discharged through the connection part connected to the electrode of the battery cell. According to one embodiment, the connection part may be a gripper used for fixing in a state where the electrode of the battery and the charger are connected in the battery charger, and the part in contact with the electrode can be made of a metal material through which current flows.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the charging and discharging part can measure the electrical parameters (such as current, voltage, impedance, etc.) of the battery cell while charging or discharging the battery cell at a preset C-rate. The measured parameters can be utilized for determining the state of the battery cell together with or independently of the ultrasonic signal analysis result.

[0051] In step (S300), an ultrasonic signal is output toward the battery cell. According to one embodiment, this step (S300) can be performed by an ultrasonic transmitter located inside the first contact part of the connection part in contact with the electrode lead on one side of the battery cell (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The ultrasonic transmitter may be an ultrasonic transducer composed of a piezoelectric element that converts an electrical signal supplied from a power source into an ultrasonic signal.

[0052] In step (S400), an ultrasonic signal that has passed through the battery cell is detected. According to one embodiment, this step (S400) can be performed by an ultrasonic receiving unit located inside a second contact portion of a connecting portion that is in contact with an electrode lead on the opposite side of the battery cell (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The ultrasonic receiving unit may be an ultrasonic sensor that detects an ultrasonic signal and converts it into an electrical signal.

[0053] In step (S500), while the battery cell is being charged or discharged, the state of the battery cell is determined based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal detected as it passes through the battery cell.

[0054] According to one embodiment, the step (S500) of determining the state of the battery cell can include a step of determining the state of the battery cell based on characteristics of the ultrasonic signal such as a change in the speed of the ultrasonic signal and a change in amplitude. For example, the ultrasonic sensing unit can acquire characteristic information of the ultrasonic signal such as the amplitude change between the output ultrasonic signal and the detected ultrasonic signal, and the time (Time of Flight) it takes for the ultrasonic signal to pass through the battery cell. The controller can estimate the state of the battery cell based on this.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the step (S500) of determining the state of the battery cell can include a step of determining the presence or absence of lithium precipitation inside the battery cell or the presence or absence of defects in the electrode leads of the battery cell based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal (e.g., a change in the speed of the ultrasonic signal, a change in amplitude, etc.). According to other embodiments, state parameters such as the SOC (State of Charge) and SOH (State of Health) of the battery cell can be calculated based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal and the charge and discharge data of the battery cell (e.g., the current, voltage, impedance data, etc. of the battery cell).

[0056] As described above with reference to FIGS. 4a and 4b, since the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal change as the number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery cell increases (i.e., as the remaining life decreases due to the use of the battery), it is possible to more precisely estimate the state of the battery cell by utilizing characteristic information such as the time of flight (ToF) of the ultrasonic signal passing through the battery cell, amplitude change, and charge-discharge data.

[0057] Specifically, by analyzing the change in the ultrasonic signal while charging or discharging the battery cell, it is possible to detect abnormalities that can only be observed in some charging intervals, such as initial lithium precipitation. In this case, general ultrasonic inspections performed separately from the charge-discharge inspection of the battery cell cannot diagnose the abnormalities. However, according to the inspection method of the embodiment, since the ultrasonic inspection can be performed simultaneously with charging or discharging through the ultrasonic sensor provided at the connection part for the charge-discharge test, the diagnosis is easy.

[0058] FIG. 6 shows the hardware configuration of a battery inspection apparatus according to an embodiment. Referring to FIG. 6, the battery inspection apparatus 10 can include a microcontroller (MCU) 1010 that controls various processes and each component, a memory 1020 in which an operating system program and various programs are recorded, an input / output interface (I / F) 1030 that provides an input interface and an output interface between the battery cell module and / or semiconductor switching element, and a communication interface (I / F) 1040 that can communicate with the outside via a wired or wireless communication network. In this way, the computer program for the execution of the battery inspection apparatus is recorded in the memory 1020 and processed by the microcontroller 1010, and can be realized as a module that performs each functional block shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example.

[0059] The operation method of the battery inspection apparatus according to the above-described embodiment can be realized by an application or in the form of program instruction words executable via various computer components, and can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium can include program instruction words, data files, data structures, etc. alone or in combination.

[0060] <{ As described above, all the components constituting the embodiment have been described as being combined or operating in combination into one, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to such an embodiment, and within the scope of the object, all the components may be selectively combined and operate with one or more. Also, terms such as "including", "constituting", or "having" described above should be construed to mean that the component can be inherent therein unless otherwise stated to the contrary, and thus should not be construed as excluding other components, but may further include other components.

[0061] The above description is only an illustrative explanation of the technical idea disclosed in this specification. Those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the embodiments disclosed in this specification belong can make various modifications and variations without departing from the essential characteristics of the embodiments disclosed in this specification.

[0062] Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are not for limiting the technical idea disclosed in this specification but for explaining it, and the scope of the technical idea disclosed in this specification is not limited by such embodiments. The protection scope of the technical idea disclosed in this specification should be construed according to the scope of the claims described later, and all technical ideas within the equivalent scope should be construed as being included in the scope of rights of this specification.

Claims

1. A connection part connected to an electrode of a battery cell; A charge and discharge part for charging or discharging the battery cell through the connection part; An ultrasonic sensing part that outputs an ultrasonic signal toward the battery cell and detects the ultrasonic signal that has passed through the battery cell; A controller that determines the state of the battery cell based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal that has passed through the battery cell while the battery cell is being charged or discharged; A battery inspection device comprising the above.

2. The ultrasonic sensing part: An ultrasonic transmitting part that is located inside the connection part in contact with an electrode lead on one side of the battery cell and transmits an ultrasonic signal toward the battery cell; An ultrasonic receiving part that is located inside the connection part in contact with an electrode lead on the opposite side of the battery cell and receives the ultrasonic signal that has passed through the battery cell. The battery inspection device according to Claim 1, characterized by comprising the above.

3. The controller determines the state of the battery cell based on at least one of the velocity change and amplitude change of the ultrasonic signal. The battery inspection device according to Claim 1, characterized by this.

4. The controller determines the presence or absence of lithium precipitation inside the battery cell based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal. The battery inspection device according to Claim 3, characterized by this.

5. The controller determines the presence or absence of a defect in the electrode lead of the battery cell based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal. The battery inspection device according to Claim 3, characterized by this.

6. The controller calculates at least one of the SOC (State of Charge) and SOH (State of Health) of the battery cell based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal and the charge and discharge data of the battery cell. The battery inspection device according to Claim 3, characterized by this.

7. The battery inspection device according to Claim 1, further comprising a solution injection part for forming an ultrasonic medium layer between the electrode lead of the battery cell and the connection part.

8. A step of charging or discharging a battery cell through a connection part connected to an electrode of the battery cell; A step of outputting an ultrasonic signal toward the battery cell; A step of detecting the ultrasonic signal that has passed through the battery cell; A step of determining the state of the battery cell based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal that has passed through the battery cell while the battery cell is being charged or discharged; An operating method of a battery inspection device comprising the above.

9. The step of outputting an ultrasonic signal toward the battery cell is performed by an ultrasonic transmitter located inside the connecting portion that contacts the electrode lead on one side of the battery cell. The step of detecting the ultrasonic signal that has passed through the battery cell is performed by an ultrasonic receiver located inside the connecting portion that contacts the electrode lead on the opposite side of the battery cell. The method for operating a battery inspection device according to claim 8 is characterized in that.

10. The step of determining the state of the battery cell includes the step of determining the state of the battery cell based on at least one of a change in the speed and a change in the amplitude of the ultrasonic signal. The method for operating a battery inspection device according to claim 8 is characterized in that.

11. The step of determining the state of the battery cell includes the step of determining the presence or absence of lithium precipitation inside the battery cell based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal. The method for operating a battery inspection device according to claim 10 is characterized in that.

12. The step of determining the state of the battery cell includes the step of determining the presence or absence of a defect in the electrode lead of the battery cell based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal. The method for operating a battery inspection device according to claim 10 is characterized in that.

13. The step of determining the state of the battery cell includes the step of calculating at least one of the SOC (State of Charge) and SOH (State of Health) of the battery cell based on the characteristics of the ultrasonic signal and the charge and discharge data of the battery cell. The method for operating a battery inspection device according to claim 10 is characterized in that.

14. The method for operating a battery inspection device according to claim 8 further includes the step of forming an ultrasonic medium layer between the electrode lead of the battery cell and the connecting portion.

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