Cell ID recovery device and its operation method

Abstract

A cell ID recovery device according to one embodiment disclosed in this document may include a communication circuit and a processor, wherein the processor may be configured to acquire multiple IDs of multiple unit cells via the communication circuit, sort the multiple IDs according to a specified criterion, derive an ID setting rule for the multiple IDs based on the multiple IDs sorted according to the specified criterion, detect an unrecognized cell from among the multiple unit cells based on the multiple IDs, and set the ID of the unrecognized cell based on the ID of at least one unit cell adjacent to the unrecognized cell and the ID setting rule.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0105651 filed on August 23, 2022 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0047483 filed on April 11, 2023, and all contents disclosed in the documents of said Korean patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The embodiments disclosed in this document relate to a cell ID recovery device and its operation method. [Background technology]

[0003] Unlike primary batteries, secondary batteries are rechargeable and have the potential to be small and have large capacities. Due to technological developments and growing demand for mobile devices, the demand for secondary batteries as an energy source is rapidly increasing.

[0004] A secondary battery is manufactured by incorporating an electrode assembly into a cylindrical or prismatic case made of a metal material or a pouch-shaped case made of an aluminum-containing laminate sheet, injecting an electrolyte solution, and then sealing the case.

[0005] Electrode assemblies are stacked with a separator between the positive and negative electrodes. They are classified into a jelly roll type electrode assembly in which a separator is interposed between long sheet-like positive and negative electrodes coated with an active material, and the electrode is wound up with the separator interposed between them; a stack type electrode assembly in which plate-like positive and negative electrodes are stacked with the separator interposed between them; a stack-and-fold type electrode assembly in which unit cells are placed on a long sheet-like separator and the separator is then repeatedly folded from one end in the same direction; and a lamination-and-stack type electrode assembly in which unit cells are stacked with the separator interposed between them.

[0006] Here, the unit cell may be configured as a mono cell in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are located on both outermost sides, a bi-cell in which electrodes of the same polarity are located on both outermost sides, or a half cell in which a positive electrode or a negative electrode is located between separators on both outermost sides.

[0007] The manufacturing process of the electrode assembly may include a notching process of forming electrode tabs on an electrode sheet of a unit cell, a lamination process of joining a unit cell and a separator, and / or a process of stacking or folding a specified number of unit cells to form an electrode assembly.

[0008] In order to manage problems that occur during the manufacturing process of the electrode assembly, it is necessary to ensure the traceability of each unit cell. To ensure such traceability, the manufacturing process of the electrode assembly may include a process of assigning an ID to the unit cell and recognizing the ID assigned to each unit cell. For example, the manufacturing process of the electrode assembly may include a process of assigning an ID to the unit cell by marking a barcode on the electrode tab of the unit cell, and recognizing the assigned ID by reading the barcode marked on the electrode tab with a bar code reader (BCR). Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] If a problem occurs in the process of assigning IDs to unit cells or in the process of recognizing the IDs assigned to each unit cell, and the IDs of the unit cells cannot be recognized, it is difficult to ensure the tracking rate of each unit cell.

[0010] An object of the embodiments disclosed in this document is to provide a cell ID recovery device and an operation method thereof that can recover the ID of an unrecognized cell whose ID has not been recognized.

[0011] The technical problems of the embodiments disclosed in this document 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 problem]

[0012] A cell ID recovery device according to one embodiment disclosed in this document may include a communication circuit and a processor, wherein the processor may be configured to acquire a plurality of IDs corresponding to a plurality of unit cells via the communication circuit, sort the plurality of IDs according to a specified criterion, derive an ID setting rule for the plurality of IDs based on the plurality of IDs sorted according to the specified criterion, detect an unrecognized cell from among the plurality of unit cells based on the plurality of IDs, and set the ID of the unrecognized cell based on the ID of at least one unit cell adjacent to the unrecognized cell and the ID setting rule.

[0013] According to one embodiment disclosed herein, the processor may be configured to acquire the IDs corresponding to the unit cells from a first discharge unit in a first process, a second discharge unit in a second process, a first input unit in a third process, and / or a third output unit in a third process via the communication circuit, the first process being a notching process for forming electrode tabs on electrode sheets of the unit cells, the second process being a lamination process for joining the unit cells and a separator, and the third process being a process for inputting the unit cells in a specified number to form an electrode assembly, the third process including a stacking process, and to sort the IDs based on a time sequence in which the IDs were acquired.

[0014] According to one embodiment disclosed herein, the processor may be configured to acquire the IDs corresponding to the unit cells from a second input unit of a fourth step via the communication circuit, the fourth step being a step of forming an electrode assembly by inputting the unit cells in a specified number, the fourth step including a folding step, and to rearrange the IDs based on the order in which the unit cells are input into the fourth step and the time order in which the IDs are acquired.

[0015] According to one embodiment disclosed herein, the processor may be configured to acquire the IDs corresponding to the unit cells from a fourth discharge unit of a fourth step via the communication circuit, the fourth step being a step of forming an electrode assembly by feeding the unit cells in a specified number, the fourth step including a folding step, and to rearrange the IDs based on an arrangement order of the unit cells in the electrode assembly formed through the fourth step and a time order in which the IDs were acquired.

[0016] According to one embodiment disclosed herein, the processor may be configured to detect the unrecognized cell having an ID including a specified number or alphabetic character from among the plurality of unit cells based on the plurality of IDs.

[0017] According to one embodiment disclosed in this document, the processor may be configured to detect, from among the plurality of unit cells, the unrecognized cell having an ID that deviates from the ID setting rule, based on the plurality of IDs sorted according to the specified criteria.

[0018] According to one embodiment disclosed in this document, the processor may be configured to identify a first ID of a first unit cell and a second ID of a second unit cell adjacent to the unrecognized cell based on the plurality of IDs sorted according to the specified criteria, derive a set of first ID candidates that can be set between the first ID and the second ID based on the ID setting rule, and set at least a portion of the set of first ID candidates as the ID of the unrecognized cell.

[0019] According to one embodiment disclosed herein, the first unit cell and the second unit cell may be characterized in that a cell distance from the unrecognized cell is 1 or less.

[0020] According to one embodiment disclosed in this document, the processor may be configured to derive a second set of ID candidates from the first set of ID candidates that are not set as IDs of the plurality of unit cells, and to set at least a portion of the second set of ID candidates as IDs of the unrecognized cells.

[0021] According to one embodiment disclosed herein, the processor may be configured to set all IDs included in the second set of ID candidates as the IDs of the unrecognized cells.

[0022] A cell ID recovery method according to one embodiment disclosed in this document may include operations of obtaining a plurality of IDs corresponding to a plurality of unit cells, sorting the plurality of IDs according to a specified criterion, deriving an ID setting rule for the plurality of IDs based on the plurality of IDs sorted according to the specified criterion, detecting an unrecognized cell from the plurality of unit cells based on the plurality of IDs, the unrecognized cell having an ID that deviates from the ID setting rule, and setting the ID of the unrecognized cell based on the ID of at least one unit cell adjacent to the unrecognized cell and the ID setting rule.

[0023] According to one embodiment disclosed in this document, the operation of detecting the unrecognized cell may include an operation of detecting the unrecognized cell having an ID that deviates from the ID setting rule from among the plurality of unit cells based on the plurality of IDs sorted according to the specified criteria.

[0024] A cell ID recovery method according to one embodiment disclosed in this document may include an operation of identifying a first ID of a first unit cell and a second ID of a second unit cell adjacent to the unrecognized cell based on the plurality of IDs sorted according to the specified criteria, an operation of deriving a set of first ID candidates that can be set between the first ID and the second ID based on the ID setting rule, and an operation of setting at least a portion of the set of first ID candidates as the ID of the unrecognized cell.

[0025] A cell ID recovery method according to one embodiment disclosed in this document may include an operation of deriving a second set of ID candidates from the first set of ID candidates, which are not set as IDs of the plurality of unit cells, and an operation of setting at least a portion of the second set of ID candidates as IDs of the unrecognized cells.

[0026] A cell ID recovery method according to an embodiment disclosed herein may include setting all IDs included in the second ID candidate set as the IDs of the unrecognized cells. [Effects of the Invention]

[0027] According to the embodiments disclosed herein, the tracking rate of unit cells can be improved by recovering the IDs of unrecognized cells whose IDs are not recognized.

[0028] According to the embodiment disclosed in this document, the range restoration method that restores all IDs included in the ID candidate group to the ID of the unrecognized cell can improve the restoration rate for the unrecognized cell.

[0029] In addition, various other effects can be provided that can be understood directly or indirectly through this document. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a cell ID recovery device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 10 is an operation flowchart of a cell ID recovery device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3a] 10 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a cell ID recovery device according to an embodiment sorts a plurality of acquired IDs and detects unrecognized cells. FIG. [Figure 3b] 10 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a cell ID recovery device sets an ID of an unrecognized cell according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4a] 10 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a cell ID recovery device according to an embodiment sorts a plurality of acquired IDs and detects unrecognized cells. FIG. [Figure 4b] 10 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a cell ID recovery device sets an ID of an unrecognized cell according to an embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments, but also includes various modifications, equivalents, and / or alternatives to the embodiments of the present invention.

[0032] The various embodiments and terms used in this document should not be understood to limit the technical features described in this document to a specific embodiment, but should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or alternatives of the embodiment. In connection with the description of the drawings, like reference numerals may be used for like or related components. The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of the said item, unless the relevant context clearly indicates a different meaning.

[0033] In this document, each of the phrases such as "A or B," "at least one of A and B," "at least one of A or B," "A, B or C," "at least one of A, B and C," "at least one of A, B or C," etc., can include any one of the items listed together in the phrase, or all possible combinations thereof. Terms such as "first," "second," "first," "second," "A," "B," "(a)," "(b)," etc., can be used simply to distinguish a component from other components, and do not limit the component in other respects (e.g., importance or procedure) unless specifically stated to the contrary.

[0034] In this document, when a (e.g., first) component is referred to as being "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" to another (e.g., second) component, with or without the terms "functionally" or "communicatively," or when a reference is made to being "coupled" or "connected," it means that the component can be coupled to the other component directly (e.g., by wire), wirelessly, or through a third component.

[0035] According to one embodiment, methods according to various embodiments disclosed herein may be provided in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded as a commodity between a seller and a buyer. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)) or may be distributed online (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) via an application store or directly between two user devices. In the case of online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product may be at least temporarily stored or ad-hoc generated in a machine-readable storage medium, such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, an application store server, or an intermediary server.

[0036] According to various embodiments, each of the above components (e.g., modules or programs) may include one or more objects, and some of the objects may be located separately in other components. According to various embodiments, one or more of the above components or operations may be omitted, or one or more other components or operations may be added. Alternatively or additionally, multiple components (e.g., modules or programs) may be integrated into a single component. In this case, the integrated component may perform one or more functions of each of the multiple components in the same or similar manner to those performed by the respective components of the multiple components before the integration. According to various embodiments, operations performed by modules, programs, or other components may be performed sequentially, in parallel, iteratively, or heuristically, and one or more of the operations may be performed in a different order, omitted, or one or more other operations may be added.

[0037] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a cell ID recovery device according to an embodiment.

[0038] 1, the cell ID recovery device 110 may include a communication circuit 111 and / or a processor 115. According to an embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 may omit at least one of the components of FIG. 1 or may include one or more other components. According to an embodiment, some of the components may be implemented in a single integrated circuit.

[0039] The communication circuit 111 can transmit and receive data via wire or wirelessly with the first discharge section 120 of the first process, the second discharge section 130 of the second process, the first input section 140 of the third process, the third output section 150 of the third process, the second input section 160 of the fourth process, and / or the fourth output section 170 of the fourth process.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the first, second, third, and fourth processes may be included in a process for manufacturing an electrode assembly constituting a secondary battery. For example, the first process may be a notching process for forming an electrode tab on each electrode sheet of a plurality of unit cells. The second process may be a lamination process for joining a plurality of unit cells to a separator. The third and fourth processes may be processes for forming an electrode assembly by inserting a specified number of unit cells. The third process may include a stacking process. The stacking process may be a process for stacking a plurality of unit cells with a separator interposed therebetween to form an electrode assembly. The fourth process may include a folding process. The folding process may be a process for arranging a plurality of unit cells on a long sheet-like separator and then repeatedly folding the separator in the same direction from one end to form an electrode assembly.

[0041] According to an embodiment, the first discharge unit 120 in the first process, the second discharge unit 130 in the second process, the first input unit 140 in the third process, the third output unit 150 in the third process, the second input unit 160 in the fourth process, and / or the fourth output unit 170 in the fourth process may recognize a plurality of IDs corresponding to a plurality of unit cells. For example, the first discharge unit 120 in the first process, the second discharge unit 130 in the second process, the first input unit 140 in the third process, the third output unit 150 in the third process, the second input unit 160 in the fourth process, and / or the fourth output unit 170 in the fourth process may recognize the IDs by recognizing barcodes marked on electrode tabs of each of the plurality of unit cells using a bar code reader (BCR).

[0042] According to one embodiment, the first discharge unit 120 in the first step (or the second discharge unit 130 in the second step) can recognize the IDs of the multiple unit cells discharged through the first step (or the second step) and transmit the recognized IDs to the communication circuit 111 of the cell ID recovery device 110.

[0043] According to one embodiment, the first input unit 140 of the third process (or the third output unit 150 of the third process) can recognize the IDs of multiple unit cells output through the third process (or input into the third process) and transmit the recognized IDs to the communication circuit 111 of the cell ID recovery device 110.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the second input unit 160 for the fourth process may recognize the IDs and input order of the unit cells to be input into the fourth process, before the unit cells are input into the fourth process. For example, if the fourth process is a process of folding 15 unit cells, the second input unit 160 for the fourth process may recognize the IDs and input order (e.g., 1 to 15) of the 15 unit cells to be input for the first folding. The second input unit 160 for the fourth process may also recognize the IDs and input order of the 15 unit cells to be input for the second folding after the first folding. The second input unit 160 for the fourth process may transmit information regarding the IDs and input order of each of the recognized unit cells to the communication circuit 111 of the cell ID recovery device 110.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the fourth ejector 170 in the fourth step may recognize the IDs and arrangement order of the unit cells included in the electrode assembly ejected through the fourth step. For example, if the fourth step is a step of folding 15 unit cells, the fourth ejector 170 in the fourth step may recognize the IDs and arrangement order (e.g., numbers 1 to 15) of the 15 unit cells included in the first electrode assembly formed by the first folding. The fourth ejector 170 in the fourth step may also recognize the IDs and arrangement order of the 15 unit cells included in the second electrode assembly formed by the second folding after the first folding. The fourth ejector 170 in the fourth step may transmit information regarding the IDs of the identified unit cells and their arrangement order in the electrode assembly to the communication circuit 111 of the cell ID restoration device 110.

[0046] According to one embodiment, the communication circuit 111 can transmit to the processor 113 information regarding a plurality of IDs and / or process input order (or arrangement order within the electrode assembly) corresponding to a plurality of unit cells received from the first discharge unit 120 for the first process, the second discharge unit 130 for the second process, the first input unit 140 for the third process, the third discharge unit 150 for the third process, the second input unit 160 for the fourth process, and / or the fourth discharge unit 170 for the fourth process.

[0047] The processor 113 may execute software to control at least one other component connected to the processor 113 and perform various data processing or calculations. According to one embodiment, the processor 113 may control at least one other component connected to the processor 113 to control the overall operation of the cell ID recovery device 110. The processor 113 may include at least one of processing devices such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), central processing units (CPUs), microcontrollers, and microprocessors.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the processor 113 can acquire a plurality of IDs corresponding to a plurality of unit cells via the communication circuit 111. According to one embodiment, the processor 113 can acquire a plurality of IDs corresponding to a plurality of unit cells from the first discharge unit 120 of the first process, the second discharge unit 130 of the second process, and / or the input unit 140 of the third process. According to one embodiment, the processor 113 can acquire a plurality of IDs corresponding to a plurality of unit cells and / or information regarding the process input order from the input unit 140 of the third process.

[0049] According to one embodiment, processor 113 can sort the multiple IDs based on the time order in which the multiple IDs were acquired. According to one embodiment, when processor 113 acquires multiple IDs from first discharge unit 120 in the first process or second discharge unit 130 in the second process, processor 113 can sort the multiple IDs based on the time order in which the multiple IDs were acquired. For example, processor 113 can sort the multiple IDs in descending (or ascending) order in the time order in which they were acquired.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the processor 113 may sort the IDs based on the order in which the unit cells are input into the process and the time order in which the IDs are acquired. According to one embodiment, when the processor 113 acquires the IDs from the input unit 140 of the third process, the processor 113 may sort the IDs based on the order in which the unit cells are input into the process and the time order in which the IDs are acquired. For example, if the third process is a process of stacking or folding two unit cells, the processor 113 may first classify the IDs of unit cells that are input into the third process in the same order (e.g., first or second). More specifically, if three stacking or folding processes are performed in the third process, the processor 113 may classify the IDs of the three unit cells that were input first into each stacking or folding process and the IDs of the three unit cells that were input second into each stacking or folding process.

[0051] The processor 113 can rearrange the classified IDs based on the time order in which they were acquired. For example, the processor 113 can rearrange the classified IDs in descending (or ascending) order in the time order in which they were acquired. More specifically, if three stacking or folding steps are performed in the third step, the IDs of the three unit cells that were first (or second) in the insertion order in each stacking or folding step can be rearranged in descending (or ascending) order in the time order.

[0052] According to one embodiment, the processor 113 can derive an ID setting rule for multiple IDs. According to one embodiment, the processor 113 can derive an ID setting rule for multiple IDs based on multiple IDs sorted according to specified criteria. According to one embodiment, the processor 113 can derive an ID setting rule based on a number or alphabet character positioned at the last digit of the sorted multiple IDs. As one example, the processor 113 can derive a rule that sets the number positioned at the last digit of the sorted multiple IDs to numbers that increase by N (where N is a natural number) in the sorting order. As another example, the processor 113 can derive a rule that sets the alphabet positioned at the last digit of the sorted multiple IDs to an alphabet that is Nth or lower in the sorting order.

[0053] According to one embodiment, the processor 113 can detect an unrecognized cell from among the plurality of unit cells.

[0054] According to one embodiment, the processor 113 can detect an unrecognized cell from among the plurality of unit cells based on the acquired plurality of IDs. According to one embodiment, the processor 113 can detect an unrecognized cell having an ID including a specified number or alphabetic character from among the plurality of unit cells. For example, the specified alphabetic character may be a lowercase letter o. In this case, the processor 113 can detect a unit cell having an ID including a lowercase letter o as an unrecognized cell.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the processor 113 can detect an unrecognized cell from among the plurality of unit cells based on the plurality of IDs sorted according to a specified criterion. According to one embodiment, the processor 113 can detect an unrecognized cell from among the plurality of unit cells that has an ID that does not comply with the ID setting rule.

[0056] According to one embodiment, the processor 113 can set the ID of the unrecognized cell based on the ID of at least one unit cell adjacent to the unrecognized cell and the ID setting rule derived in operation 215.

[0057] According to one embodiment, the processor 113 can identify a first ID of a first unit cell and a second ID of a second unit cell adjacent to an unrecognized cell based on the IDs sorted according to a specified criterion. For example, the first unit cell and the second unit cell may have a cell distance of 1 or less from the unrecognized cell in the table sorted by IDs.

[0058] According to one embodiment, the processor 113 can derive a first ID candidate group that can be set between the first ID and the second ID based on an ID setting rule. For example, the ID setting rule may be a rule in which the ID is set to NBG80050 before the last digit and the last digit is set to a number that increases by 3, and the first ID may be NBG800501 and the second ID may be NBG800507. In one embodiment, the processor 113 can derive a first ID candidate group (e.g., NBG800502 to NBG800506) in which the ID is set to NBG80050 before the last digit and the last digit is set to a number between 1 and 7 based on the ID setting rule. In another embodiment, the processor 113 can derive a first ID candidate group (e.g., NBG800504) in which the ID is set to NBG80050 before the last digit and the last digit is set to 4, which increases by 3 from 1 and decreases by 3 from 7, based on the ID setting rule. According to one embodiment, the processor 113 may set at least a portion of the first set of ID candidates as IDs of unrecognized cells.

[0059] According to one embodiment, processor 113 can derive a second set of ID candidates from the first set of ID candidates, which are not set as IDs of multiple unit cells. For example, if NBG800502 and NBG800506 from the first set of ID candidates (e.g., NBG800502 to NBG800506) are set as IDs of other unit cells, processor 113 can derive the remaining IDs (e.g., NBG800503, NBG800504, and NBG800505) excluding these IDs as the second set of ID candidates. According to one embodiment, processor 113 can set at least a portion of the second set of ID candidates as IDs of unrecognized cells.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the processor 113 may set all IDs included in the second ID candidate group as IDs of unrecognized cells. For example, the processor 113 may set NBG800503, NBG800504, and NBG800505 included in the second ID candidate group as IDs of unrecognized cells. Hereinafter, a range restoration method may be referred to as a method for setting multiple IDs included in the ID candidate group as the ID of a single unrecognized cell. The cell ID restoration device 110 may improve the cell ID restoration rate using the range restoration method.

[0061] According to one embodiment, the IDs of the unit cells may be linked to the ID of the final secondary battery (e.g., battery cell). According to one embodiment, the secondary battery may be manufactured by stacking or folding a specified number of unit cells to form an electrode assembly, incorporating the electrode assembly into a cylindrical or prismatic case made of a metal material or a pouch-shaped case made of an aluminum laminate sheet, injecting an electrolyte solution, and then sealing the assembly. In this case, the IDs of the specified number of unit cells incorporated into the secondary battery may be linked to the ID of the secondary battery. Here, the ID of the secondary battery may be an ID marked on the case of the secondary battery. Thus, if a problem occurs with the secondary battery, the IDs of the specified number of unit cells linked to the ID of the secondary battery can be tracked.

[0062] 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of a cell ID recovery device according to an embodiment of the present invention, which will be described using the configuration of FIG.

[0063] The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is just one embodiment, and the order of steps according to various embodiments of the present invention may differ from that shown in FIG. 2, and some steps shown in FIG. 2 may be omitted, the order between steps may be changed, or steps may be combined.

[0064] According to one embodiment, operations 205-225 may be understood to occur in processor 113 of cell ID recovery device 110.

[0065] 2 , in operation 205, the cell ID restoration device 110 may acquire a plurality of IDs, each of which may correspond to a plurality of unit battery cells. According to one embodiment, the cell ID restoration device 110 may acquire a plurality of IDs corresponding to a plurality of unit cells from the first discharge unit 120 for the first process, the second discharge unit 130 for the second process, the first input unit 140 for the third process, the third output unit 150 for the third process, the second input unit 160 for the fourth process, and / or the fourth output unit 170 for the fourth process. According to one embodiment, the cell ID restoration device 110 may acquire a plurality of IDs of each of the plurality of unit cells and / or information regarding the process input order from the second input unit 160 for the fourth process. According to one embodiment, the cell ID restoration device 110 may acquire a plurality of IDs of each of the plurality of unit cells and / or information regarding the arrangement order within the electrode assembly from the fourth output unit 170 for the fourth process.

[0066] Here, the first process may be a notching process in which an electrode tab is formed on each electrode sheet of the plurality of unit cells. The second process may be a lamination process in which a separator is bonded to the plurality of unit cells. The third process may be a process in which a specified number of unit cells are inserted to form an electrode assembly. The third process may include a stacking process. The stacking process may be a process in which the plurality of unit cells are stacked with a separator interposed therebetween to form an electrode assembly. The fourth process may include a folding process. The folding process may be a process in which the plurality of unit cells are arranged on a long sheet-like separator, and then the separator is repeatedly folded from one end in the same direction to form an electrode assembly.

[0067] In operation 210, the cell ID recovery device 110 may sort the multiple IDs obtained in operation 205 according to a specified criterion.

[0068] According to one embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 can sort the multiple IDs based on the time order in which the multiple IDs were acquired. According to one embodiment, in operation 205, when the cell ID recovery device 110 acquires multiple IDs from the first output unit 120 in the first step, the second output unit 130 in the second step, the first input unit 140 in the third step, or the third output unit 150 in the third step, the cell ID recovery device 110 can sort the multiple IDs based on the time order in which the multiple IDs were acquired. For example, the cell ID recovery device 110 can sort the multiple IDs in descending order (or ascending order) in the time order in which they were acquired.

[0069] According to one embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 may sort the IDs based on the order in which the unit cells are input into the process and the time order in which the IDs are acquired. According to one embodiment, when the cell ID recovery device 110 acquires the IDs from the second input unit 160 of the fourth process in operation 205, the cell ID recovery device 110 may sort the IDs based on the order in which the unit cells are input into the process and the time order in which the IDs are acquired. For example, if the fourth process is a process of folding two unit cells, the cell ID recovery device 110 may first classify the IDs of the unit cells that are input into the fourth process in the same order (e.g., first or second). More specifically, if three folding processes are performed in the fourth process, the cell ID recovery device 110 may classify the IDs of the three unit cells that are input first and the IDs of the three unit cells that are input second in each folding process.

[0070] The cell ID recovery device 110 can rearrange the classified IDs based on the time order in which they were acquired. For example, the cell ID recovery device 110 can rearrange the classified IDs in descending (or ascending) order in the time order in which they were acquired. More specifically, if three folding steps are performed in the fourth step, the IDs of the three unit cells that were inserted first (or second) in each folding step can be rearranged in descending (or ascending) order in the time order.

[0071] According to one embodiment, the cell ID restoration device 110 may sort the IDs based on the arrangement order of the unit cells in the electrode assembly and the time order in which the IDs were acquired. According to one embodiment, when the cell ID restoration device 110 acquires the IDs from the fourth discharge unit 170 in the fourth step in operation 205, the cell ID restoration device 110 may sort the IDs based on the arrangement order of the unit cells in the electrode assembly and the time order in which the IDs were acquired. For example, if the fourth step is a step of folding two unit cells, the cell ID restoration device 110 may first classify the IDs of the unit cells that have the same arrangement order (e.g., number 1 or number 2) in the electrode assembly formed through the fourth step. More specifically, if three folding steps are performed in the fourth step, the cell ID restoration device 110 may classify the IDs of the three unit cells that are number 1 in the electrode assembly formed through each folding step.

[0072] The cell ID restoration device 110 may rearrange the classified IDs based on the time order in which they were acquired. For example, the cell ID restoration device 110 may rearrange the classified IDs in descending (or ascending) order in the time order in which they were acquired. More specifically, if three folding processes are performed in the fourth process, the IDs of the three unit cells that are first (or second) in the arrangement order in the electrode assembly formed through each folding process may be rearranged in descending (or ascending) order in the time order.

[0073] In operation 215, the cell ID recovery device 110 may derive an ID setting rule for the plurality of IDs. According to one embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 may derive an ID setting rule for the plurality of IDs based on the plurality of IDs sorted in operation 210. According to one embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 may derive an ID setting rule based on a number or alphabet character positioned as the last digit of the plurality of sorted IDs. As one example, the cell ID recovery device 110 may derive a rule that sets the number positioned as the last digit of the plurality of sorted IDs to a number that increases by N (where N is a natural number) in the sorting order. As another example, the cell ID recovery device 110 may derive a rule that sets the alphabet character positioned as the last digit of the plurality of sorted IDs to an alphabet character that is Nth or lower in the sorting order.

[0074] In operation 220, the cell ID recovery device 110 can detect an unrecognized cell from among the plurality of unit cells.

[0075] According to one embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 can detect an unrecognized cell from among the plurality of unit cells based on the plurality of IDs obtained in operation 205. According to one embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 can detect an unrecognized cell having an ID including a specified number or alphabetic character from among the plurality of unit cells. For example, the specified alphabetic character may be a lowercase letter o. In this case, the cell ID recovery device 110 can detect a unit cell having an ID including a lowercase letter o as the fifth digit as an unrecognized cell.

[0076] According to one embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 can detect an unrecognized cell from among the plurality of unit cells based on the plurality of IDs sorted in operation 210. According to one embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 can detect an unrecognized cell from among the plurality of unit cells that has an ID that deviates from the ID setting rule derived in operation 215.

[0077] In operation 225, the cell ID recovery device 110 may set an ID of the unrecognized cell detected in operation 220. According to one embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 may set the ID of the unrecognized cell based on the ID of at least one unit cell adjacent to the unrecognized cell and the ID setting rule derived in operation 215.

[0078] According to one embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 may identify a first ID of a first unit cell and a second ID of a second unit cell adjacent to the unrecognized cell based on the multiple IDs sorted in operation 210. For example, the first unit cell and the second unit cell may have a cell distance of 1 or less from the unrecognized cell in the table with sorted IDs.

[0079] According to an embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 can derive a group of first ID candidates that can be set between the first ID and the second ID based on an ID setting rule. For example, the ID setting rule is a rule in which the first digit of the ID is set to NBG80050i and the last digit is set to a number that increases by 3, and the first ID may be NBG80050i1 and the second ID may be NBG80050i7. In an embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 can derive a group of first ID candidates (e.g., NBG80050i2 to NBG80050i6) in which the first digit of the ID is set to NBG80050i and the last digit is set to a number between 1 and 7 based on the ID setting rule. In another embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 may derive a first set of ID candidates (e.g., NBG80050i4) based on an ID setting rule, in which the ID is set to NBG80050i before the last digit and the last digit is set to 4, which is increased by 3 from 1 and decreased by 3 from 7. According to an embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 may set at least a portion of the first set of ID candidates as IDs of unrecognized cells.

[0080] According to one embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 can derive a second set of ID candidates that are not set as IDs of a plurality of unit cells from the first set of ID candidates. For example, if NBG80050i2 and NBG80050i6 among the first set of ID candidates (e.g., NBG80050i2 to NBG80050i6) are set as IDs of other unit cells, the cell ID recovery device 110 can derive other IDs excluding these (e.g., NBG80050i3, NBG80050i4, and NBG80050i5) as the second set of ID candidates. According to one embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 can set at least a portion of the second set of ID candidates as IDs of unrecognized cells.

[0081] According to an embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 may set all IDs included in the second ID candidate group as IDs of unrecognized cells. For example, the cell ID recovery device 110 may set all of NBG80050i3, NBG80050i4, and NBG80050i5 included in the second ID candidate group as IDs of unrecognized cells. The cell ID recovery device 110 may improve the recovery rate of cell IDs using the range recovery method.

[0082] Below, based on Figures 3a and 3b, an example will be described in which a cell ID recovery device 110 according to one embodiment acquires multiple IDs from the first output unit 120 in the first step, the second output unit 130 in the second step, the first input unit 140 in the third step, or the third output unit 150 in the third step, and performs the operation of Figure 2.

[0083] 3a is a diagram showing an example in which a cell ID recovery device according to an embodiment sorts a plurality of acquired IDs and detects unrecognized cells. FIG. 3a will be described using the configuration of FIG.

[0084] Referring to FIG. 3a, the cell ID recovery device 110 can sort the acquired IDs in ascending order of acquisition time, as shown in table 300.

[0085] According to one embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 can derive an ID setting rule based on the multiple IDs sorted in the table 300. For example, the cell ID recovery device 110 can derive a rule that the number before the last digit of the sorted multiple IDs is set to NBG80050i, and the number of the last digit is set to a number that starts from 2 and increases by 1.

[0086] According to one embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 can detect an unrecognized cell from among a plurality of unit cells. As an example, the cell ID recovery device 110 can detect a unit cell having an ID 310 including a lowercase letter o as the fifth digit (e.g., 9BGIo00DMX) as an unrecognized cell. As another example, the cell ID recovery device 110 can detect, based on an ID setting rule, a unit cell having an ID 310 in which the number before the last digit is not NBG80050i or the last digit is not 5, which is increased by one from 4, as an unrecognized cell.

[0087] 3b is a diagram illustrating an example in which a cell ID recovery device sets an ID of an unrecognized cell according to an embodiment. FIG. 3b will be described using the configuration of FIG.

[0088] 3b, the cell ID recovery device 110 may identify a first ID 320 (e.g., NBG80050i4) and a second ID 330 (e.g., NBG80050i6) adjacent to the ID 310 (e.g., 9BGIo00DMX) of the unrecognized cell on the table 300. Here, the cell distance between the first ID 320 and the second ID 330 and the ID 310 of the unrecognized cell on the table 300 may be 1 or less. More specifically, the first ID 320 may be located in the row immediately above the ID 310 of the unrecognized cell, and the second ID 330 may be located in the row immediately below the ID 310 of the unrecognized cell on the table 300.

[0089] According to an embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 may derive a set of first ID candidates that can be set between the first ID 320 and the second ID 330 based on an ID setting rule. For example, the cell ID recovery device 110 may derive NBG80050i5, in which the ID is set to NBG80050i before the last digit and the last digit is set to a number between 4 and 6, as a set of first ID candidates.

[0090] According to an embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 can identify whether NBG80050i5 included in the first ID candidate group is set as the ID of another unit cell. If NBG80050i5 is not set as the ID of another unit cell, the cell ID recovery device 110 can set NBG80050i5 as the ID of an unrecognized cell.

[0091] Below, based on Figures 4a and 4b, an example will be described in which the cell ID recovery device 110 according to one embodiment acquires multiple IDs from the second input unit 160 of the fourth step or the fourth output unit 170 of the fourth step and performs the operation of Figure 2.

[0092] 4a is a diagram showing an example in which a cell ID recovery device according to an embodiment sorts a plurality of acquired IDs and detects unrecognized cells. FIG. 4a will be described using the configuration of FIG.

[0093] 4a, the cell ID recovery device 110 may obtain information regarding the IDs of each of the unit cells and / or the order of insertion into the process (or the arrangement order within the electrode assembly) from the second input unit 160 of the fourth process, such as the first table 410. For example, the fourth process may be a process of folding 15 unit cells.

[0094] According to one embodiment, the cell ID restoration device 110 may acquire information about the IDs and insertion order (e.g., numbers 1 to 15) of 15 unit cells inserted for the first folding. Furthermore, the cell ID restoration device 110 may acquire information about the IDs and insertion order of unit cells inserted for the multiple folding performed in the fourth process after the first folding, in units of 15. According to another embodiment, the cell ID restoration device 110 may acquire information about the IDs and arrangement order (e.g., numbers 1 to 15) of 15 unit cells included in a first electrode assembly formed by the first folding. Furthermore, the cell ID restoration device 110 may acquire information about the IDs and arrangement order of unit cells included in each of a plurality of electrode assemblies formed by the multiple folding performed in the fourth process after the first folding, in units of 15.

[0095] According to one embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 can rearrange the multiple IDs in the first table 410, like the second table 420, based on the order in which the multiple unit cells are input into the process (or the order in which they are arranged within the electrode assembly) and the time order in which the multiple IDs were obtained.

[0096] According to one embodiment, when 15 stacking or folding steps are performed in the third step, the cell ID restoration device 110 can classify the IDs of the 15 unit cells whose insertion order (or arrangement order within the electrode assembly) is number 1 and the IDs of the 15 unit cells whose insertion order (or arrangement order within the electrode assembly) is number 2 to 15, respectively, in each folding step.

[0097] According to one embodiment, the cell ID restoration device 110 can rearrange the IDs of the 15 unit cells whose insertion order (or arrangement order within the electrode assembly) is 1 (or 2 to 15) in each folding in ascending order of time.

[0098] According to an embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 may derive an ID setting rule based on the IDs sorted in the second table 420. For example, the cell ID recovery device 110 may derive a rule in which the last digit of the sorted IDs is set to DCCE05907, and the last digit is set to the fourth or lower alphabet or number starting from a lowercase z and moving down each row.

[0099] According to one embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 can detect an unrecognized cell from among a plurality of unit cells. As an example, the cell ID recovery device 110 can detect a unit cell having an ID 421 including a lowercase letter o as the fifth digit (e.g., IBIUoHKyex) as an unrecognized cell. As another example, the cell ID recovery device 110 can detect, based on an ID setting rule, a unit cell having an ID 421 in which the last digit is not DCCE05907 or the last digit is not a capital letter W in the fourth digit or less from a as an unrecognized cell.

[0100] 4b is a diagram illustrating an example in which a cell ID recovery device sets an ID of an unrecognized cell according to an embodiment. FIG. 4b will be described using the configuration of FIG.

[0101] 4b, the cell ID recovery device 110 may identify a first ID 423 (e.g., DCCE05907a) and a second ID 425 (e.g., DCCE05907S) adjacent to an ID 421 (e.g., IBIUoHKyex) of an unrecognized cell on the second table 420. Here, the cell distance between the first ID 423 and the second ID 425 and the ID 421 of the unrecognized cell on the second table 420 may be 1 or less. More specifically, on the second table 420, the first ID 423 may be located in the row immediately above the ID 421 of the unrecognized cell, and the second ID 425 may be located in the row immediately below the ID 421 of the unrecognized cell.

[0102] According to an embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 may derive a set of first ID candidates that can be set between the first ID 423 and the second ID 425 based on an ID setting rule. For example, the cell ID recovery device 110 may derive a set of second ID candidates (e.g., DCCE05907Z, DCCE05907Y, DCCE05907X, DCCE05907W, DCCE05907V, DCCE05907U, and DCCE05907T) in which the ID is set to DCCE05907 before the last digit and the last digit is set to an alphabetic character between a lowercase a and an uppercase S.

[0103] According to an embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 can derive a second set of ID candidates (e.g., DCCE05907W and DCCE05907V) that are not set as IDs of other unit cells from the first set of ID candidates. According to an embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 can set at least a portion of the second set of ID candidates as IDs of unrecognized cells.

[0104] According to an embodiment, the cell ID recovery device 110 may set DCCE05907W and DCCE05907V included in the second ID candidate group as IDs of unrecognized cells. The cell ID recovery device 110 may improve the recovery rate of cell IDs using the range recovery method.

[0105] As used above, terms such as "comprise," "constitute," and "have" mean that the relevant element can be contained within the term unless otherwise specified, and should be interpreted as including other elements rather than excluding other elements. All terms, including technical and scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments disclosed herein belong, unless otherwise defined. Commonly used terms, such as dictionary-defined terms, should be interpreted in a manner consistent with the context of the relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined herein. [Explanation of symbols]

[0106] 110 Cell ID Recovery Device 111 Communication Circuit 113 processors 115 processors 120 1st discharge section 130 Second discharge section 140 1st input section 140 Input section 150 Third discharge section 160 2nd input section 170 4th discharge section 300 tables 310 ID 320 1st ID 330 2nd ID 410 Table 1 420 Table 2 421 ID 423 1st ID 425 2nd ID

Claims

1. In a cell ID (identification) recovery device, A communication circuit; a processor; The processor: acquiring a plurality of IDs corresponding to a plurality of unit cells by the communication circuit; sorting the plurality of IDs according to specified criteria; deriving an ID setting rule for the plurality of IDs based on the plurality of IDs sorted according to the specified criteria; detecting an unrecognized cell from among the plurality of unit cells based on the plurality of IDs; a cell ID recovery device configured to set an ID of the unrecognized cell based on an ID of at least one unit cell adjacent to the unrecognized cell and the ID setting rule;

2. The processor: the plurality of IDs corresponding to the plurality of unit cells are acquired from a first discharge unit of a first process, a second discharge unit of a second process, a first input unit of a third process, and / or a third output unit of a third process through the communication circuit; the first process is a notching process of forming an electrode tab on an electrode sheet of each of the plurality of unit cells; the second process is a lamination process of bonding the plurality of unit cells and a separator; and the third process is a process of inputting the plurality of unit cells in a designated number to form an electrode assembly, the third process including a stacking process; The cell ID recovery device of claim 1 , configured to sort the plurality of IDs based on a time order in which the plurality of IDs were obtained.

3. The processor: the plurality of IDs corresponding to the plurality of unit cells are acquired from a second input unit of a fourth step by the communication circuit, the fourth step being a step of inputting the plurality of unit cells in a designated number to form an electrode assembly, the fourth step including a folding step; The cell ID recovery device according to claim 1 , configured to rearrange the IDs based on the order in which the unit cells are input to the fourth step and the time order in which the IDs are acquired.

4. The processor: the plurality of IDs corresponding to the plurality of unit cells are acquired from a fourth discharge unit of a fourth step by the communication circuit, the fourth step being a step of forming an electrode assembly by inserting the plurality of unit cells in designated units, the fourth step including a folding step; 2. The cell ID recovery device of claim 1, configured to rearrange the IDs based on the arrangement order of the unit cells in the electrode assembly formed through the fourth process and the time order in which the IDs were acquired.

5. The processor: The cell ID recovery device according to claim 1 , configured to detect the unrecognized cell having an ID including a specified number or alphabetic character from among the plurality of unit cells based on the plurality of IDs.

6. The processor: The cell ID recovery device according to claim 1, configured to detect, from among the plurality of unit cells, the unrecognized cell having an ID that deviates from the ID setting rule, based on the plurality of IDs sorted according to the specified criteria.

7. The processor: Identifying a first ID of a first unit cell and a second ID of a second unit cell adjacent to the unrecognized cell based on the plurality of IDs sorted according to the specified criteria; deriving a group of first ID candidates that can be set between the first ID and the second ID based on the ID setting rule; The cell ID recovery device according to claim 1 , configured to set at least a part of the first group of ID candidates as the ID of the unrecognized cell.

8. The cell ID recovery device of claim 7 , wherein the first unit cell and the second unit cell have a cell distance of 1 or less from the unrecognized cell.

9. The processor: deriving a second group of ID candidates from the first group of ID candidates, the second group of ID candidates being not set as IDs of the plurality of unit cells; The cell ID recovery device according to claim 7 , configured to set at least a part of the second group of ID candidates as the ID of the unrecognized cell.

10. The processor: The cell ID recovery device according to claim 9 , configured to set all IDs included in the second group of ID candidates as the IDs of the unrecognized cells.

11. In the cell ID (identification) recovery method, An operation of obtaining a plurality of IDs corresponding to a plurality of unit cells; sorting the plurality of IDs according to a specified criterion; deriving an ID setting rule for the plurality of IDs based on the plurality of IDs sorted according to the specified criteria; an operation of detecting an unrecognized cell having an ID that deviates from the ID setting rule from among the plurality of unit cells based on the plurality of IDs; and setting an ID of the unrecognized cell based on an ID of at least one unit cell adjacent to the unrecognized cell and the ID setting rule.

12. The cell ID recovery method of claim 11, wherein the operation of detecting the unrecognized cell includes an operation of detecting the unrecognized cell having an ID that deviates from the ID setting rule from among the plurality of unit cells based on the plurality of IDs sorted according to the specified criteria.

13. Identifying a first ID of a first unit cell and a second ID of a second unit cell adjacent to the unrecognized cell based on the plurality of IDs sorted according to the specified criteria; an operation of deriving a group of first ID candidates that can be set between the first ID and the second ID based on the ID setting rule; The cell ID recovery method according to claim 11 , further comprising: setting at least a part of the first group of ID candidates as the ID of the unrecognized cell.

14. an operation of deriving a second group of ID candidates from the first group of ID candidates, the second group of ID candidates being not set as IDs of the plurality of unit cells; The cell ID recovery method according to claim 13 , further comprising: setting at least a part of the second group of ID candidates as the ID of the unrecognized cell.

15. The cell ID recovery method according to claim 14 , further comprising an operation of setting all IDs included in the second ID candidate group as the IDs of the unrecognized cells.

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