Edge detection method and apparatus for battery insulation part, and battery production line

Abstract

The present application discloses an edge detection method and apparatus for a battery insulation part, and a battery production line. In the edge detection method for a battery insulation part, the battery insulation part is used for wrapping at least the side face of a battery cell of a battery. The method comprises: irradiating an edge to be detected of the insulation part by means of at least two light source assemblies; imaging said edge by means of an imaging assembly which is arranged to face said edge, so as to obtain an edge image; and identifying the position of said edge from the edge image. The edge detection method in the present application can solve the problem of performing standardized, stable, and reliable edge detection on the battery insulation part, and by making said edge of the battery insulation part more clearly visible in the edge image, improve the accuracy of extracting said edge from the edge image.

Description

Battery insulation edge detection method, device and battery production line

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202410267111.2, filed on March 8, 2024, entitled “Edge detection method, device and battery production line for battery insulation parts,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of assembly and detection of battery insulating parts in the post-process of power batteries, and specifically to a method and device for edge detection of the insulating film wrapping the battery cells in the battery and a corresponding battery production line. Background Art

[0004] With the continuous development of the mobile device and electric vehicle industries, the demand for the production and manufacturing of power batteries, especially lithium batteries, has increased. During the battery manufacturing process, battery quality testing is crucial, including post-production processes such as lamination and encapsulation. This requires the assembly of bare cell insulation before cell housing and precise inspection of the edges after assembly.

[0005] Generally, battery insulating parts are such as Mylar film. Mylar is a polyester polymer with good surface smoothness, transparency and mechanical flexibility. In actual production, Mylar film is a translucent soft film (for example, the thickness can be around 0.1mm), which can greatly increase the insulation performance and strength of the battery cell packaging and provide reliable sealing and protection for the battery cell. Due to the inherent properties of the Mylar film and the influence of the manufacturing process, the edge of the Mylar film cannot exactly correspond to the reference edge of the battery cell top cover, that is, there is a certain distance between the edge of the diaphragm and the edge of the top cover. Therefore, this distance is used as one of the parameters to judge whether the size and assembly of the Mylar film are qualified. Therefore, a detection method that can accurately measure this distance between the diaphragm and the edge of the top cover is needed.

[0006] The existing testing process uses imaging at varying exposure intensities (high and low) to create a white area around the Mylar film, then calculates the distance between the white area and the cell cover. This method is not very accurate; for example, imaging of bare cells against a pure white background can be affected. Furthermore, the lack of a standardized, detailed measurement method hinders widespread adoption, resulting in inconsistent testing results.

[0007] Summary of the Invention

[0008] In view of the above problems, the present application provides a method and device for edge detection of battery insulating parts and a corresponding battery production line, which can detect the actual position of the edge of battery insulating parts more precisely and accurately through the standardized process of battery insulating part assembly and charge coupled device (CCD) edge detection, and achieve stable detection without background interference.

[0009] In a first aspect, the present application provides an edge detection method for a battery insulating member, wherein the battery insulating member is used to wrap at least one side of a battery cell, and the method comprises: causing at least two light source assemblies to illuminate the edge to be measured of the insulating member; causing an imaging assembly arranged toward the edge to be measured to image the edge to be measured to obtain an edge image; and identifying the position of the edge to be measured from the edge image.

[0010] In the technical solution of the embodiments of this application, edge imaging is enhanced by positioning two or more light source assemblies at different locations relative to the edge of the battery insulator. Light from these at least two light source assemblies illuminates the edge of the battery insulator, and light from this edge region is incident on an imaging assembly positioned horizontally to the edge to be measured, resulting in more accurate edge imaging and detection results.

[0011] In some embodiments, the step of illuminating the edge of the insulating member to be measured with at least two light source assemblies includes illuminating a curved portion of the edge to be measured that is bent away from the battery cell. In some embodiments, the at least two light source assemblies include a first light source assembly that illuminates a first surface of the curved portion away from the battery cell and a second light source assembly that illuminates a cross-section of the curved portion. In some embodiments, the at least two light source assemblies illuminate the curved portion simultaneously from both sides of the curved portion. The positions and directions of the two light source assemblies are conducive to illuminating the edge to be measured as much as possible, thereby improving the imaging quality of the edge image.

[0012] In some embodiments, imaging the edge to be measured includes aligning a light signal receiving end of an imaging assembly toward a first surface of the curved portion, distal from the battery cell. Positioning the imaging assembly relative to the front surface of the curved portion of the Mylar film helps ensure that as much light signal reflected from the imaging area as possible is collected.

[0013] In some embodiments, the first and second light source assemblies are positioned on opposite sides of the imaging assembly in a first direction parallel to the cell axis. Positioning the first light source assembly to illuminate the first surface of the stressed bend prevents shadows from appearing when imaging the edge region. Positioning the second light source assembly to illuminate the cross-section of the bend helps to visualize sharper edges in the image, achieving better imaging results.

[0014] In some embodiments, the first light source assembly is arranged so that the angle between the emitted first light beam and the first direction is a first angle, and the second light source is arranged so that the angle between the emitted second light beam and the first direction is a second angle, and the first angle is smaller than the second angle. In particular, the first angle is 34 to 40 degrees, and the second angle is 28 to 33 degrees. The angle formed by the stress bending portion of the mylar film of the embodiment of the present application relative to the side of the battery cell is affected by the battery cell size, welding process, material properties, etc., and the angle is constant for products on the same production line; therefore, only when the angles between the first light source assembly and the second light source assembly relative to the perpendicular normal of the imaging assembly are also set within a specific range, can the front and cross-section of the curved portion of the mylar film be illuminated respectively to achieve an optimized lighting effect.

[0015] In some embodiments, identifying the position of the edge to be measured from the edge image includes: extracting the edge to be measured from the edge image using an edge detection algorithm; and calculating the distance from the edge to be measured to the edge of the top cover of the battery, wherein the outer shell of the battery includes a shell and the top cover. In some embodiments, extracting the edge to be measured from the edge image using an edge detection algorithm includes: preprocessing the edge image, the preprocessing including: image smoothing, gradient and gradient difference calculation, and non-maximum suppression. Based on the above-mentioned lighting conditions and imaging results, an image of the edge of the battery insulating part with sharp reflection can be obtained, and a data processing method such as the Canny edge detection algorithm is used to extract the edge of the battery insulating part from the edge imaging, and the distance between the edge and the edge of the top cover as the background is used as the measurement value of the edge to be measured.

[0016] In some embodiments, the method further includes: in response to the distance not meeting a preset threshold condition, issuing an error signal indicating an edge anomaly of the insulating component. In some embodiments, the method further includes: in response to receiving the error signal, adjusting process parameters for the insulating component. By setting error conditions, edge detection can be unified with previous process steps, allowing detection results to infer process issues and adjust process parameters accordingly, thereby forming a standardized production and inspection process.

[0017] In second aspect, the present application provides a battery manufacturing method, characterized in that it includes: preparing a segment of a battery insulating member, the segment of the battery insulating member having an edge along the length direction, the edge including a curved portion curved from the first surface of the segment of the battery insulating member toward the second surface of the segment of the battery insulating member; wrapping the segment of the battery insulating member onto the surface of a battery cell so that the second surface faces away from the battery cell, and fixing the edge to a fixing device of the top cover of the battery cell; and performing the edge detection method as described in the first aspect.

[0018] In the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, by forming a standardized process for each link from battery insulation assembly to edge detection, a more integrated battery production process can be achieved, wherein the process parameters of the assembly link are adjusted according to the error signal feedback from the detection link, so as to achieve more accurate insulation preparation and assembly based on the detection results.

[0019] In some embodiments, preparing the battery insulating member segments includes stamping and cutting the insulating member so that the edges have the curved portions. In some embodiments, the method further includes: calculating a distance from the edge to an edge of the top cover distal from the battery cell based on the position of the edge; and, in response to the distance not meeting a preset threshold, issuing an error signal indicating an abnormality in the insulating member edge.

[0020] In some embodiments, in response to receiving the error signal, the process parameters for stamping and cutting the insulating member are adjusted. In some embodiments, the process parameters include cutter spacing and stamping pressure. Taking the mylar film as an example, the stamping and cutting process causes the formed mylar film to inevitably have an edge area with a slightly curved shape, and since the settings of parameters such as cutter spacing and stamping pressure will affect the degree of curvature of the edge area, it is intuitively presented as the edge position of the mylar film. The edge detection in the embodiment of the present application is fed back to the process of the mylar film, and the cutter spacing and stamping pressure, etc. are adjusted according to the aforementioned detected edge position and curvature.

[0021] In some embodiments, the color of the battery insulation segment is different from the color of the top cover fixture. For example, when the battery insulation is a Mylar film, the top cover can be made of a dark, non-reflective outer shell, while the Mylar film, which appears entirely white when illuminated by the light source assembly, can be distinguished from the Mylar film as the background for edge imaging, thereby improving detection accuracy during edge extraction.

[0022] In a third aspect, the present application provides a battery production line, characterized in that it includes: a preparation device, the preparation device is configured to prepare a segment of a battery insulating member, the segment of the battery insulating member has an edge along the length direction, and the edge includes a curved portion that bends from the first surface of the segment of the battery insulating member to the second surface of the segment of the battery insulating member; an assembly device, the assembly device is configured to wrap the segment of the battery insulating member onto the surface of a battery cell so that the second surface faces away from the cell, and fix the edge to a fixing device of the top cover of the cell; and an edge detection device, the edge detection device performs the edge detection method of the battery insulating member as described in the first aspect.

[0023] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of the present application. In order to more clearly understand the technical means of the present application, it can be implemented in accordance with the contents of the specification. In order to make the above and other purposes, features and advantages of the present application more obvious and easy to understand, the specific implementation methods of the present application are listed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiment below. The accompanying drawings are for illustration purposes only and are not to be considered as limiting the present application. The same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to represent the same components. In the drawings:

[0025] 1A to 1C are schematic diagrams of assembling a battery insulating member according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0026] 2A and 2B are schematic structural diagrams of edge detection devices for battery insulation components according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0027] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of an edge detection device for a battery insulating member imaging an edge of a battery insulating member according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0028] FIG4 is an exemplary configuration diagram of an edge detection device for a battery insulating member according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0029] FIG5 is a flow chart of a method for edge detection of a battery insulating member according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0030] FIG6 is an exemplary configuration diagram of a battery production line according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0031] FIG7 is a flow chart of a battery manufacturing method according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0032] The accompanying drawings in the specific implementation manner are as follows:

[0033] Battery insulation 110, battery cell 120, top cover 130;

[0034] Battery insulation edge 1121, battery insulation edge cross section 1122, battery insulation edge first surface 1123, top cover edge 1301;

[0035] Cutter 140, die holder 150, cutter spacing 1450. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The following embodiments of the technical solution of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present application and are therefore only examples and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application.

[0037] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs; the terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application; the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of this application and the above-mentioned figure descriptions are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

[0038] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the technical terms "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish different objects and should not be understood to indicate or imply relative importance or implicitly specify the quantity, specific order, or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of this application, the meaning of "plurality" is more than two, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0039] References herein to "embodiments" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it constitute an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It is understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0040] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "and / or" is simply a description of the association relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent the following three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0041] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the term "multiple" refers to more than two (including two). Similarly, "multiple groups" refers to more than two (including two groups), and "multiple pieces" refers to more than two (including two) pieces.

[0042] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the technical terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0043] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, technical terms such as "installed," "connected," "connected," and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integration; mechanical connections or electrical connections; direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; internal connections between two components or interactions between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present application based on specific circumstances.

[0044] Currently, market developments indicate that power batteries are becoming increasingly widely used. They are not only used in energy storage systems such as hydropower, thermal, wind, and solar power plants, but are also widely used in electric vehicles like electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and electric vehicles, as well as in military equipment and aerospace. As power battery applications continue to expand, market demand is also growing.

[0045] The manufacturing process of power batteries represented by lithium batteries is extremely complex, and the safety requirements are extremely high. Therefore, the inspection of battery quality is particularly important, which is conducive to counting production defects, improving manufacturing processes, and screening and eliminating defective products. At present, in the manufacturing process of lithium batteries, after the battery cells are manufactured, they need to be placed in a hard shell to complete the assembly, and there is a risk of scratching the battery cells. Therefore, before the battery cells are placed in the aluminum shell, they need to be coated with insulating materials of suitable materials to prevent the shell from damaging the battery cells. Generally, battery insulating parts can be made of materials with good surface flatness, heat resistance and mechanical flexibility, as well as good transparency. Therefore, they are widely used in the electronics industry, such as being mounted on various electronic components to achieve insulation of electronic components.

[0046] In the battery cell manufacturing industry, substandard battery insulation components used to wrap battery cells are one of the main causes of substandard battery quality. The main reason for substandard battery insulation components is that the soft material and inherent static electricity prevent precise positioning during the wrapping process using traditional alignment and positioning mechanisms. This can lead to defects such as battery insulation misalignment, insufficient distance from the top cover, poor solder joints, and loose adhesive. Furthermore, this can cause the battery insulation components to fall off when attached to electronic components, or damage electronic components due to excessive pressure during attachment. Traditional battery insulation component attachment and / or inspection are often performed manually, which is unable to fully control the various parameters during the manufacturing and inspection process. This is not only inefficient but also makes it difficult to achieve consistent inspection results across multiple devices. Existing automated inspection processes use a combination of different exposure intensities, such as using strong light to illuminate each side of the battery cell to detect battery insulation misalignment, insufficient distance from the top cover, and poor solder joints, while using weak light to detect other issues such as dirt and loose adhesive. This design typically results in the battery insulation area appearing entirely white, and the distance between the white area and the cell top cover, which serves as the reference edge, is calculated. However, this method is not very accurate and is easily affected by the incoming material. For example, if a bare battery cell is set against a pure white background, the white area cannot be clearly distinguished from the imaging background, resulting in inconsistent detection results.

[0047] Based on the above considerations, in order to solve the problem of standardized, stable and reliable edge detection of battery insulating parts, the inventors have conducted in-depth research and designed an edge detection method. By illuminating the edge area of ​​the battery insulating part in at least two directions, eliminating the shadow of the edge area and illuminating the cross-section of the battery insulating part, and using structures such as a black top cover as a background, the clarity of the edge imaging is improved, thereby improving the accuracy of edge detection.

[0048] For battery insulation, a preferred material type is the soft and flexible mylar film. Mylar, as a tough polyester polymer, meets the requirements of mechanical flexibility and transparency, and is widely used in actual production. In particular, in the process of making the mylar film used to wrap the battery cells, due to the size limitation of the mylar film required for the battery cells and the toughness of mylar as a polymer material, stamping and cutting will cause the mylar film to form a very small stress bending part in its edge area. The edge detection method in the embodiment of the present application thus uses the edge with a slightly curved shape as the measurement and detection object, and adopts at least two light source assemblies arranged at different positions. The angles of the light sources are coordinated to ensure that the edge of the mylar film is illuminated and there are no shadows that affect the resolution. On this basis, the position and angle of the light source assembly are fixed, so that multiple edges to be measured on the production line are imaged under uniform lighting conditions, which can effectively solve the problem of unstable detection effect of existing automatic detection methods and equipment. Furthermore, based on the detection results of the edge to be tested, anomalies are found to determine whether there are defects in the battery cell and / or mylar film, or whether there are parameter deviations in the process of the mylar film, so as to achieve a standardized process from manufacturing to testing.

[0049] It should be understood that other materials can also be used to package the battery cells, such as a composite material hard shell as the cell package. During the actual manufacturing process, it is not easy to form stress-bent portions corresponding to the Mylar film described above in the edge region, but a cross-section with a certain angle to the package surface still exists. Accordingly, the at least two light source assemblies included in the embodiments of the present application can be similarly arranged at different positions relative to the edge and / or emit light at different angles to respectively illuminate the package surface and cross-section near the edge, thereby similarly obtaining a clearer edge position from edge imaging and achieving similar improved detection accuracy.

[0050] The detection method and device disclosed in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to, but not limited to, a CCD detection system for battery cell packaging. The method can be implemented using a hardware device encapsulated in a dedicated housing, or it can be implemented using a program stored in a computer storage medium. It should be understood that the detection method in the present application is used to detect the mylar film wrapped around the battery cell, but the detection method and device can also be applied to detect other types of similar films with slightly curved edges, including improving the imaging effect and thus improving the detection accuracy by eliminating shadows and illuminating at least two light sources in the cross section.

[0051] Specifically, the embodiments of this application address the unstable detection results of existing detection equipment by providing a complete standardized "production-assembly-testing" process. Extensive data from Mylar film packaging demonstrates that this detection method can reduce the overkill rate of Mylar film edge detection equipment from 1.1% to 0.1%, achieving an order of magnitude improvement. Furthermore, in response to the production practice of multiple plants, multiple production lines, and multiple production equipment, the standardized process flow combined with a stable and reliable detection system can achieve unified horizontal deployment across multiple plants and multiple production lines, allowing for rapid deployment of unified standards.

[0052] For the convenience of description, the following embodiments are described by taking a battery insulating member 110 wrapped around a battery cell 120 according to an embodiment of the present application as an example.

[0053] Please refer to Figures 1A to 1C, which are schematic diagrams of the assembly of battery insulating parts in some embodiments of the present application. Power batteries are generally used in new energy vehicles, including pure electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles or extended-range vehicles, which require the assembly of bare battery cells wrapped with battery insulating parts before the battery cells are put into the shell, and perform precise detection of the edges of the battery insulating parts 110 after assembly. Figure 1A shows the positional relationship and wrapping method of the battery insulating part 110 relative to the battery cell 120, wherein the battery cell 120 is fixed to the top of the top cover 130, and the top cover 130 includes a plastic bracket (not shown) for supporting the battery cell 120, and the edge 1121 of the battery insulating part is mounted on the top cover 130. It should be understood that the battery also includes a shell (not shown) for packaging the battery cell 120, and the shell includes a shell and a top cover 130, so as to achieve protection and fixation of the battery cell 120. Specifically, the battery insulator edge 1121 can be mounted to the top cover 130 via welding, or can be further connected to a fixing device in the top cover 130 (such as a dedicated battery insulator clamping structure) via other fastening methods to assist in securing the battery cell 120. Figure 1B is an enlarged view of the circled area 1120 in Figure 1A (i.e., the area near the battery insulator edge), showing the battery insulator edge 1121 (perpendicular to the page) and a cross-section 1122 of the battery insulator edge.

[0054] Generally, the curved portion of the battery insulating member 110 refers to a portion formed at the edge 1121 of the battery insulating member during the process of being wrapped around the battery cell 120, which is curved away from the battery cell 120 due to the manufacturing and assembly processes. In one non-limiting embodiment, when the battery insulating member 110 is a Mylar film, a curved portion away from the battery cell is formed at the edge during the film manufacturing process. The side of the curved portion away from the battery cell 120 is shown as the first surface 1123 of the battery insulating member in FIG. 1B . FIG1C is a schematic diagram of the manufacturing process of the battery insulating member 110 as a Mylar film in FIG1A , showing a cutter 140 and a die holder 150 for punching and cutting. The Mylar film sizing process causes the battery insulating member 110 to form a curved surface at the position where the cutter 140 contacts the die holder 150. In other words, the edge to be measured in the edge detection method of the embodiment of the present application corresponds to the stress bending portion formed when the Mylar film is punched and cut. Furthermore, based on the cell wrapping process, the Mylar film is wrapped around the cell so that the first surface 1123 of the curved portion away from the cell 120 faces the optical signal receiving end of the imaging component described below.

[0055] Please refer to Figures 2A and 2B, which are schematic diagrams of the structure of the edge detection device of the battery insulating member in some embodiments of the present application, in which the components or structures that are the same as those in Figures 1A to 1C are not repeated. As shown in the figure, the edge detection device includes an imaging component 210 and at least two light source components (two light source components are shown in Figure 2A, respectively marked as a first light source component 220 and a second light source component 230). Specifically, the imaging component 210 is arranged in a horizontal direction relative to the edge 1121 of the battery insulating member, and the first light source component 220 and the second light source component 230 are used to illuminate the edge 1121 of the battery insulating member.

[0056] In some embodiments, the first light source assembly 220 and the second light source assembly 230 are respectively located on opposite sides of the imaging assembly 210 in a first direction 2101 parallel to the battery cell axis. With the battery cell 120 axis as the vertical direction and the battery cell 120 located at the highest point of the top cover 130 in the vertical direction, the first light source assembly 220 is located above the imaging assembly 210, and the second light source assembly 230 is located below the imaging assembly 210. Specifically, the first light source assembly 220 and the second light source assembly 230 simultaneously illuminate the battery insulator edge 1121 from both sides thereof, such as illuminating the battery insulator 1121 from both sides thereof, above and below the imaging assembly 210, respectively. When the battery insulator 110 is a Mylar film, the stress-bent portion (i.e., edge 1121) formed by stamping and cutting points away from the battery cell 120 and toward the imaging assembly 210. Therefore, the first light source assembly 220 specifically illuminates the first surface 1123 of the bent portion, i.e., the area near the battery insulator edge 1121, and the second light source assembly 230 illuminates the cross-section 1122. Furthermore, to achieve better illumination, the first and second light source assemblies 220 and 230 should be arranged as perpendicular as possible to the plane to be illuminated (or the direction of the plane closest to the object to be illuminated). Because the area near the battery insulator edge 1121 is slightly bent relative to the battery cell 120, the first light source assembly 220 is arranged such that the angle between the emitted first light beam 2201 and the first direction 2101 is a first angle α, and the second light source assembly 230 is arranged such that the emitted second light beam 2301 and the first direction 2101 are a second angle β. As shown in Figure 2B, the first light beam 2201 can illuminate the first surface 1123 of the curved portion of the battery insulator 110 facing the imaging component 210, and the second light beam 2301 can illuminate the cross-section 1122 of the curved portion, shining from the upper and lower positions (of the first direction 2101) toward the edge 1121 of the battery insulator and its surrounding areas. The imaging component 210 receives light reflected from these areas, so that the edge 1121 of the battery insulator is effectively highlighted in the imaging results.

[0057] Furthermore, in some embodiments, when wrapping the battery insulating member 110, formed of a Mylar film, around the battery cell 120 using a cell wrapping process, the Mylar film is pre-cut and pre-cut, and the wrapping is performed so that the first surface 1123 of the battery insulating member faces the imaging assembly 210. Specifically, the Mylar film is attached to the top cover 130 with its edge bent outward. The curved portion of the Mylar film, corresponding to the edge to be measured, is secured to the top cover 130, such that the cut edge is located at the cell wrapping edge. When parameters such as the cutter spacing 1450 of the cutter 140 and the stamping pressure are fixed, the curved portion has a bend angle determined by the relative material, thereby enabling the corresponding setting of a first angle α and a second angle β. Generally, the first angle α is different from the second angle β. Due to the welding process used to attach the Mylar film 110 to the top cover 130 and the properties of the polymer material, the first angle α corresponding to the bend of the Mylar film edge caused by stamping and cutting is smaller than the second angle β. In one non-limiting embodiment, the edge detection device uses a first angle α of 50 to 56 degrees (or represented by an angle of 34 to 40 degrees between the light-emitting plane of the first light source assembly 220 and the first direction 2101), and a second angle β of 57 to 62 degrees (or represented by an angle of 28 to 33 degrees between the light-emitting plane of the second light source assembly 230 and the first direction 2101). In another non-limiting embodiment, the cutter spacing 1450 used in the punching and cutting process is set to 0.8 to 1.2 mm, and the punching pressure is set to 0.6 to 1 MPa. It should be understood that as the size of the Mylar film 110 and / or the process parameters of the cutter 140 change, the degree of curvature of the battery insulation edge 1121 will also change. Accordingly, the first angle α and the second angle β are not limited to the aforementioned numerical ranges, and the position and angle of the light source assembly can be adjusted at any time to match the changes in process parameters.

[0058] In some embodiments, the light source assembly (such as the first light source assembly 220 and the second light source assembly 230) can adopt one or more of a strip coaxial light source, a dual ring light source, a single square coaxial light source, and a single ring coaxial light source. Additionally, the light source assembly includes a white light source. In a non-limiting embodiment, the first light source assembly 220 and the second light source assembly 230 adopt a white strip light source to match the slender shape of the edge 1121 of the battery insulation member and provide uniform, high-illuminance, and highly directional lighting. It should be understood that the number of light source assemblies is not limited to the two shown in Figure 2A, and more than two light source assemblies can be set, and the positions of these light source assemblies are not limited to above and below the imaging assembly 210, and can also be arranged at any position around the imaging assembly 210 that can illuminate the edge 1121 of the battery insulation member.

[0059] In some embodiments, the imaging component 210 may include one or more charge-coupled devices (CCDs). Additionally or alternatively, the imaging component 210 may include an area array camera. The imaging component 210 may generally use a CCD detection system, combined with the aforementioned unified lighting method and light source angle and other conditions, to form a unified and stable edge detection method. The front of the curved portion of the mylar film is directed toward the optical signal receiving end of the imaging component 210, such as a CCD device. The CCD device receives the light signal 2101 reflected from the edge area of ​​the mylar film and converts it into digital information of the imaging of the area. In a non-limiting embodiment, the imaging component 210 is an area array camera, thereby acquiring a two-dimensional image at one time through continuous planar scanning light.

[0060] It should be understood that the number of imaging components 210 is not limited to the single one shown in FIG. 2A ; more than one imaging component may be provided. Furthermore, the position of the imaging component 210 is not limited to the position in FIG. 2A where the signal receiving end faces the edge 1121 of the battery insulator; the imaging component 210 may be positioned at a predetermined angle toward the edge of the battery insulator 110 . For example, multiple imaging components may be arranged in a semi-circular pattern at predetermined positions corresponding to the edge 1121 of the battery insulator to obtain multi-angle images of the edge 1121 of the battery insulator. Based on the positional relationship of the imaging components, a transformation matrix between the multiple images is determined, and a more accurate measurement of the edge to be measured is achieved through methods such as multi-image mutual calibration.

[0061] Please refer to Figure 3, which is a schematic diagram of an edge detection device for a battery insulator according to some embodiments of the present application imaging the edge of a battery insulator. Based on the aforementioned configuration of the light source assembly and imaging assembly 210, an image is captured of a battery cell 120 (not shown in Figure 3) encasing the battery insulator 110. In one non-limiting embodiment, for a battery insulator 110 constructed as a Mylar film, due to the unified configuration during the aforementioned assembly and imaging processes, the Mylar film edge is clearly and stably visible in the image, which can mitigate algorithm misjudgments. In one non-limiting embodiment, the top cover 130 is a dark color, such as black, that is non-reflective or poorly reflective. This allows the Mylar film, which appears entirely white when illuminated by the light source, to be significantly different from the color of the top cover 130 and / or the fixture therein. In this case, the imaged battery insulator edge 1121 exhibits a higher contrast against the background of the top cover 130, thereby improving the accuracy of extracting the edge 1121 from the edge imaging.

[0062] In a non-limiting embodiment, an edge detection algorithm can be used to extract the edge 1121 of the battery insulator from the edge image, and the distance d from the edge 1121 of the battery insulator to the edge 1301 of the top cover can be calculated. The edge detection algorithm may include, but is not limited to, first-order models such as the Roberts operator, Prewitt operator, Sobel operator, Canny operator, and second-order models such as the Laplacian operator. In the embodiment of the present application, the Canny edge detection algorithm is taken as an example. The preprocessing of the edge image includes steps such as image smoothing, gradient and gradient difference calculation, and non-maximum suppression, so as to blur, denoise, and enhance the edge as much as possible, and find the local maximum point in the gradient image of the imaging result to extract the edge. This algorithm can accurately find weak edge points in the image and form accurate image edges.

[0063] In some embodiments, the battery insulating parts obtained by the cutting, wrapping and other process steps in the standardized process should have stability and uniformity. That is, the distance d between the edge of the battery insulating part and the edge of the top cover obtained by the edge detection algorithm can be used as a reference value to measure whether the edge of the imaged battery insulating part meets the standard. Generally, in response to the position of the edge to be measured not meeting the preset threshold condition, an error signal is issued to indicate that the edge of the insulating part is abnormal. That is, a threshold can be preset for the distance d. If the distance d obtained by a certain edge detection does not meet the preset threshold condition, it means that the current battery insulating part may have abnormalities such as misalignment, unevenness, and poor solder joints. Furthermore, in response to receiving the error signal, the process parameters of the battery insulating part are adjusted. In particular, for the battery insulating part as a mylar film, its process parameters include the cutter spacing (the aforementioned 1450) and the stamping pressure. That is, the problems in the process are inferred from the results of the edge detection, and the process is standardized through error feedback.

[0064] Please refer to Figure 4, which is an exemplary configuration diagram of an edge detection device 4000 for a battery insulator in some embodiments of the present application. In some embodiments, the edge detection method of a battery insulator can be implemented by an edge detection device 4000, which may include a processor 4100. The processor 4100 of the edge detection device 4000 can provide various functions of the scheduling system. A processor can refer to various implementations of a digital circuit system, an analog circuit system, or a mixed-signal (a combination of analog and digital) circuit system that performs functions in a computing system. The processing circuit may include, for example, circuits such as an integrated circuit (IC), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), parts or circuits of a separate processor core, an entire processor core, a separate processor, a programmable hardware device such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and / or a system including multiple processors.

[0065] In some embodiments, the edge detection device 4000 may further include a memory (not shown). The memory of the edge detection device 4000 may store information generated by the processor 4100 as well as programs and data used for processor operations. The memory may be a volatile memory and / or a non-volatile memory. For example, the memory may include, but is not limited to, a random access memory (RAM), a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), and a flash memory. Generally, the processor may be configured to execute instructions stored on the memory to implement the aforementioned method for dispatching crew support vehicles.

[0066] Specifically, as shown in FIG4 , in some embodiments, an edge detection device 4000 for a battery insulator according to an embodiment of the present application may include a light source module 4010, an imaging module 4020, an image processing module 4030, and a control module 4040. It should be understood that the various functional modules of the edge detection device 4000 shown in FIG4 are merely logical modules divided according to the specific functions they implement, and are not intended to limit specific implementation methods. In actual implementation, each of the aforementioned modules may be implemented as independent physical entities, or may be implemented by a single entity (e.g., a processor (CPU or DSP, etc.), an integrated circuit, etc.).

[0067] Next, the specific operations of each module of the scheduling system will be described in detail with reference to FIG4 . As previously described, the light source module 4010 is configured to enable at least two light source assemblies to illuminate the edge to be measured (1121) of the battery insulator (the aforementioned 110). Wherein, corresponding to the battery insulator being a mylar film, the light source module 4010 is configured to illuminate the curved portion of the edge to be measured that is bent in the direction away from the battery cell, and further includes a first light source assembly (220) that illuminates the first surface (1123) of the curved portion away from the battery cell and a second light source assembly (230) that illuminates the cross-section of the curved portion. In some embodiments, the first light source assembly 220 and the second light source assembly 230 are respectively located on opposite sides of the imaging assembly in a first direction parallel to the axis of the battery cell. The light source module 4010 is configured to include a white light source, such as a white strip light source.

[0068] Imaging module 4020 is configured to be positioned toward the edge of the battery insulator and to image the edge of the battery insulator to obtain an edge image. In some embodiments, imaging module 4020 is configured to include one or more charge-coupled devices (CCDs) to convert light signal 2101 reflected from the edge of the battery insulator and its surrounding area into a digital signal. In other embodiments, particularly when the battery insulator is made of a material such as Mylar film, imaging module 4020 is further configured to direct its light signal receiving end toward the curved portion formed by the edge of the insulator.

[0069] Image processing module 4030 is configured to identify the location of the edge of the battery insulator from the edge image. In some embodiments, image processing module 4030 is further configured to use an edge detection algorithm to extract the edge of the battery insulator from the edge image and calculate the distance (shown as d in FIG3 ) from the edge of the battery insulator to the edge of the top cover used to secure the battery cells. In other embodiments, image processing module 4030 is further configured to issue an error signal indicating an abnormality in the edge of the battery insulator in response to the position of the edge of the battery insulator not meeting a preset threshold condition.

[0070] In addition, the edge detection device 4000 also includes a control module 4040. The control module 4040 is configured to issue control instructions to other functional modules, such as controlling the on / off of the light source module 4010, controlling the position movement or angle change of the light source assembly therein, controlling the on / off of the imaging module 4020, and controlling the scanning speed of the CCD assembly therein. In other embodiments, the control module 4040 is further configured to issue control instructions to external devices when the image processing module 4030 issues an error signal, such as controlling process parameters for stamping and cutting, thereby facilitating the standardization of assembly and inspection processes.

[0071] Additionally, the edge detection device 4000 may also have a built-in or external input module and an output module (not shown). The input module may include devices for the user to input various data or instructions, such as operating devices such as buttons, touch pads, keyboards, microphones, switches, and other devices that can receive input through methods such as sound and action. In addition, for example, the input module may be a remote control device with infrared light or other radio waves, or may be a mobile device suitable for a battery insulation production line. Based on, for example, data or instructions input by the user, the input module generates an input signal and supplies the input signal to other functional modules in the edge detection device.

[0072] The output module includes a device capable of outputting visual or auditory information to the user of the edge detection device 4000. For example, the output module includes a display screen, a speaker, a buzzer, a projector, a lamp, etc. The display device included in the output module can be a device with a conventional display, or can display visual information to other devices, etc. Based on this, the edge detection device 4000 can display the results of the edge detection algorithm (such as the distance between the edge of the battery insulator and the edge of the top cover) and the error signal indicating an abnormality in the edge of the battery insulator as visual information such as graphic data or auditory information such as voice prompts, so that the user can obtain the detection data and adjust the device parameters accordingly.

[0073] Next, please refer to Figure 5, which is a flow chart of an edge detection method 5000 for a battery insulating member in some embodiments of the present application. In step S501, at least two light source assemblies are used to illuminate the edge to be measured of the battery insulating member. In step S502, an imaging assembly arranged toward the edge to be measured is used to image the edge to be measured to obtain an edge image. In step S503, the position of the edge to be measured is identified from the edge image. The details of the above steps S501 to S503 are similar to those described with reference to Figures 1A and 2A and are not repeated here. It should be understood that the division of the various steps in Figure 5 is only for illustration and not for limitation of the embodiments of the present application. These steps can be completed individually by the various modules shown in Figure 4, two or more of them can be completed together, or by an external system not shown in cooperation with the illustrated modules, and can be completed in steps or in combination.

[0074] Please refer to Figure 6, which is an exemplary configuration diagram of a battery production line 6000 in some embodiments of the present application. In some embodiments, the battery production line 6000 includes a preparation device 6010, an assembly device 6020, and an edge detection device 4000 as shown in Figure 4. The preparation device 6010 is configured to prepare a segment of a battery insulating member, that is, to obtain a size sheet for wrapping a battery cell through a processing process including stamping and cutting. Specifically, the segment of the battery insulating member has an edge along the length direction, and the edge includes a curved portion that bends from the first surface of the segment of the battery insulating member to the second surface of the segment of the battery insulating member. According to the above, when the material of the battery insulating member is mylar film, for example, the size sheeting process causes the battery insulating member to form a curved portion at the position where the cutter (the aforementioned 140) contacts the mold base (150). The curved portion bends from the first surface to the second surface, and its edge is the detection object of the edge detection device 4000 in the embodiment of the present application. The assembly device 6020 is configured to wrap a segment of the battery insulator around the surface of the battery cell, with the second surface facing away from the cell, and secure the edge of the segment to the securing device of the cell's top cover. The details of the edge detection device 4000 are similar to the device composition and function described above with reference to FIG2A and are not further described here. Specifically, the edge detection device 4000 is configured to provide feedback to the manufacturing device 6010. This feedback is based on the distance between the edge of the battery insulator and the edge of the top cover, as detected and calculated by the edge detection device 4000, to assess whether the imaged edge of the battery insulator meets standards. Generally, in response to the position of the measured edge failing to meet a preset threshold, an error signal indicating an abnormality in the edge of the insulator is issued. Specifically, a threshold can be preset for the distance. If the distance obtained during a particular edge detection does not meet the threshold, an error signal indicating an abnormality in the insulator can be issued. This error signal is then sent as feedback to the manufacturing device 6010 to adjust process parameters for the battery insulator, such as the cutter spacing and stamping pressure. As a result, all links of the battery production line form a direct whole, enhancing the standardization of the process.

[0075] Next, please refer to Figure 7, which is a flow chart of a battery manufacturing method 7000 according to some embodiments of the present application. In step S701, a battery insulator segment is prepared. The battery insulator segment has an edge along its length, and the edge includes a curved portion that curves from a first surface of the battery insulator segment to a second surface of the battery insulator segment. In step S702, the battery insulator segment is wrapped around the surface of a battery cell, with the second surface facing away from the cell, and the edge is secured to a fixture on the cell's top cover. In step S703, a light source assembly is used to illuminate the curved portion of the battery insulator segment. In step S704, an imaging assembly is used to image the curved portion to obtain an edge image. In step S705, the edge position is identified from the edge image. It is understood that the details of steps S703 to S705 are similar to those described with reference to the edge detection method described in FIG. 5 and are not further described here. It should be understood that the division of the steps in FIG. 7 is for illustrative purposes only and does not limit the embodiments of the present application. These steps can be completed individually by the devices or components for each production link shown in Figure 6, by two or more of them together, or by an external system not shown in the figure in conjunction with the illustrated modules, and can be completed in steps or in combination.

[0076] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and they should all be included in the scope of the claims and specification of the present application. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the various embodiments can be combined in any way. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions that fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for detecting an edge of a battery insulating member, wherein the battery insulating member is used to wrap at least a side surface of a battery cell, the method comprising: Allow at least two light source assemblies to illuminate the curved portion of the edge to be measured of the insulating member that is curved away from the battery cell; causing an imaging component arranged toward the edge to be measured to image the edge to be measured to obtain an edge image, wherein a light signal receiving end of the imaging component is directed toward a first surface of the curved portion away from the battery cell; and The position of the edge to be measured is identified from the edge image.

2. The edge detection method according to claim 1, wherein: The at least two light source assemblies include a first light source assembly illuminating a first surface of the curved portion away from the battery cell and a second light source assembly illuminating a cross section of the curved portion.

3. The edge detection method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The at least two light source assemblies illuminate the curved portion from both vertical sides of the curved portion simultaneously.

4. The edge detection method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The first light source assembly and the second light source assembly are respectively located on opposite sides of the imaging assembly in a first direction parallel to the axis of the battery core.

5. The edge detection method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The first light source assembly is arranged so that the angle between the emitted first light beam and the first direction is a first angle, and the second light source is arranged so that the angle between the emitted second light beam and the first direction is a second angle, wherein the first angle is smaller than the second angle.

6. The edge detection method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: Identifying the position of the edge to be measured from the edge image includes: Extracting the edge to be detected from the edge image using an edge detection algorithm; and The distance from the edge to be measured to the edge of the top cover of the battery is calculated, wherein the outer shell of the battery includes a shell and the top cover.

7. The edge detection method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: Extracting the edge to be detected from the edge image using an edge detection algorithm includes: The edge image is preprocessed, and the preprocessing includes: image smoothing, gradient and gradient difference calculation, and non-maximum suppression.

8. The edge detection method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: In response to the distance not meeting a preset threshold condition, an error signal is issued to indicate that an edge of the insulating member is abnormal.

9. The edge detection method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: In response to receiving the error signal, a process parameter of the insulating element is adjusted.

10. A method for manufacturing a battery, comprising: preparing a battery insulator segment, the battery insulator segment having an edge along a length direction, the edge including a bent portion bent from a first surface of the battery insulator segment toward a second surface of the battery insulator segment; Wrapping the segment of the battery insulation member onto the surface of a battery cell so that the second surface faces away from the battery cell, and fixing the edge to a fixing device of a top cover of the battery cell; and The edge detection method of a battery insulator according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is performed.

11. The battery manufacturing method according to claim 10, wherein: The preparing the segment of the insulating member of the battery includes punching and cutting the insulating member so that the edge has the bent portion.

12. The battery manufacturing method according to claim 10 or 11, further comprising: Calculating a distance from the edge to an edge of the top cover away from the battery cell based on the position of the edge; as well as In response to the distance not meeting a preset threshold condition, an error signal is issued to indicate that an edge of the insulating member is abnormal.

13. The battery manufacturing method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein: In response to receiving the error signal, process parameters for punching and cutting the insulating member are adjusted.

14. The battery manufacturing method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein: The process parameters include cutting blade spacing and punching pressure.

15. The battery manufacturing method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein: The color of the segments of the battery insulation is different from the color of the fixing device of the top cover.

16. A battery production line comprising: a preparation device configured to prepare a battery insulation segment having an edge along a length direction, the edge including a curved portion curved from a first surface of the battery insulation segment toward a second surface of the battery insulation segment; an assembly device configured to wrap the segment of the battery insulation member onto a surface of a battery cell so that the second surface faces away from the battery cell and to fix the edge to a fixing device of a top cover of the battery cell; and An edge detection device, wherein the edge detection device executes the edge detection method for a battery insulation member according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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