Secondary battery inspection device using RF signals

Abstract

This secondary battery inspection device may comprise: a signal generator; an antenna radiator configured to radiate a first RF signal toward a secondary battery and receive a second RF signal caused by coupling between the first RF signal and the secondary battery; a first transmission line between an output port of the signal generator and the antenna radiator; a second transmission line between the antenna radiator and an input port of the signal generator; and a processor configured to calculate a reflection coefficient on the basis of the first RF signal on the first transmission line and the second RF signal on the second transmission line, wherein the processor is configured to compare the reflection coefficient with a reference value, and determine a normal state or an abnormal state of the secondary battery on the basis of whether a difference between the reflection coefficient and the reference value is included in a specified range.

Description

Secondary battery testing device using RF signals

[0001] The descriptions below are about inspection devices that use RF (radio frequency) signals.

[0002] A pouch-type secondary battery is a secondary battery in which battery cells are sealed inside a case (pouch), and can have a high energy density. The pouch-type secondary battery may include a lead tab for supplying power. The lead tab serves to electrically connect the electrodes (e.g., the positive and negative electrodes) of the secondary battery to an external device, and power can be supplied through the lead tab.

[0003] A lead tab can be formed by welding a tab portion extending from an electrode to a copper foil. If a defect occurs in the welding condition of the lead tab, power may leak through the lead tab, resulting in a short circuit. Therefore, an inspection of the welding condition of the lead tab may be necessary. Furthermore, if a defect exists in the secondary battery, a short circuit caused by leakage current may lead to a safety hazard. Therefore, an inspection of the secondary battery for defects may be necessary.

[0004] The above information may be provided as background art to aid in understanding the present disclosure. No claim or determination is made as to whether any of the above is applicable as prior art in connection with the present disclosure.

[0005] Inspection of secondary batteries for defects may be necessary. Conventional inspection devices, such as vision inspection or X-ray inspection, are expensive and time-consuming. Furthermore, conventional non-destructive devices are difficult to accurately inspect the condition of secondary batteries.

[0006] A secondary battery testing device is provided. The secondary battery testing device may include a signal generator configured to provide a first RF signal having a designated frequency. The secondary battery testing device may include an antenna radiator configured to radiate the first RF signal received from the signal generator toward the secondary battery and receive a second RF signal resulting from coupling between the first RF signal and the secondary battery. The secondary battery testing device may include a first transmission line between an output port of the signal generator and the antenna radiator to transmit the first RF signal provided from the signal generator to the antenna radiator. The secondary battery testing device may include a second transmission line between the antenna radiator and an input port of the signal generator to transmit the second RF signal provided from the antenna radiator to the signal generator. The secondary battery testing device may include a processor configured to calculate a reflection coefficient based on the first RF signal on the first transmission line and the second RF signal on the second transmission line. The processor may be configured to compare the reflection coefficient with a reference value and determine whether the secondary battery is in a normal or abnormal state based on whether a difference between the reflection coefficient and the reference value is within a specified range.

[0007] A secondary battery inspection device according to one embodiment can identify defects within a secondary battery without destruction. The secondary battery inspection device can quickly and accurately identify defects by detecting defects in the secondary battery using the reflection coefficient of an RF signal. The secondary battery inspection device according to one embodiment can be installed on a production line to quickly identify defective products in real time.

[0008] FIG. 1A illustrates a secondary battery according to one embodiment.

[0009] Figure 1b is an exploded view of the secondary battery of Figure 1a.

[0010] Figure 2 is a block diagram of a secondary battery inspection device according to one embodiment.

[0011] Figure 3 schematically illustrates a secondary battery inspection device according to one embodiment.

[0012] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate examples of transfer jigs of a secondary battery inspection device according to one embodiment.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an operation of determining a secondary battery state of a secondary battery inspection device according to one embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of a secondary battery inspection device according to one embodiment to adjust the position of an antenna radiator according to the size of a secondary battery.

[0015] FIG. 7A is a flowchart illustrating an operation for controlling an impedance matching circuit of a secondary battery inspection device according to one embodiment.

[0016] FIG. 7b illustrates an impedance matching circuit of a secondary battery inspection device according to one embodiment.

[0017] Figure 8a illustrates a secondary battery testing device including an impedance matching circuit.

[0018] Fig. 8b illustrates an example of the impedance matching circuit of Fig. 8a.

[0019] Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. When designating components in each drawing, it should be noted that, where possible, identical components are given the same reference numerals, even if they appear in different drawings.

[0020] FIG. 1A illustrates a secondary battery according to one embodiment. FIG. 1B is an exploded view of the secondary battery of FIG. 1A.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the secondary battery (10) is a rechargeable battery and can be used for various electronic devices. For example, the secondary battery (10) mounted in a smart phone can be configured to store power and provide the stored power to electronic components by being charged based on power provided from an external source. The secondary battery (10) can be configured to provide power to electronic components of the smart phone by being controlled by a power management module (e.g., a PMIC, power management integrated circuit) of the smart phone. For example, the secondary battery (10) can include a lithium ion battery.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the secondary battery (10) may include a case (11) defining an exterior surface and components included within the case (11). The components included within the case (11) are illustrated in FIG. 1B.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the secondary battery (10) may be electrically connected to an electrode (e.g., electrode (12) of FIG. 1B) disposed within a case (11) and may include a lead tab (13) for electrical connection with an electronic component. For example, the lead tab (13) may be coupled to an electrode tab (e.g., electrode tab (14) of FIG. 1B) extending from an electrode (e.g., a positive electrode (12-1) and a negative electrode (12-2) of FIG. 1B) within the case (11) and may be electrically connected to the electronic component. The lead tab (13) may be joined to the electrode tab (14) by a method such as resistance welding, ultrasonic welding, or laser welding.

[0024] For example, the lead tab (13) can be electrically connected to an electric circuit, such as a protection circuit module (PCM) for the secondary battery (10). Power stored in the secondary battery (10) can be provided to the outside through the lead tab (13) (discharging), and power provided from the outside to charge the secondary battery (10) can be provided to the secondary battery (10) through the lead tab (13) (charging).

[0025] The lead tab (13) can provide an electrical connection between the electrode (12) disposed within the case (11) and the electronic components outside the secondary battery (10). For example, power provided from the secondary battery (10) to each of the electronic components can be provided through the lead tab (13). For example, power provided from a charging device to the secondary battery (10) can be provided to the secondary battery (10) through the lead tab (13). The lead tab (13) can be coupled to an electrode tab of the electrode (12) disposed within the case (11) (e.g., electrode tab (14) of FIG. 1B). The lead tab (13) may include a first lead tab (13-1) that is in contact with a first electrode tab (e.g., the first electrode tab (14-1) of FIG. 1B) and a second lead tab (13-2) that is in contact with a second electrode tab (e.g., the second electrode tab (14-2) of FIG. 1B). A portion of the lead tab (13) may be exposed to the outside of the case (11). A portion of the lead tab (13) that extends from the inside of the case (11) to the outside of the case (11) may be exposed to a side of the case (11). In order to seal the case (11) to which the lead tab (13) is exposed, a terrace seal (15) including an insulating material may be formed on the side of the case (11). The case (11) may include a pouch type case or a cylindrical type case. The case (11) illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 1b is illustrated as a pouch type case, but is not limited thereto.

[0026] Referring to Fig. 1b, components of a secondary battery (10) may be arranged inside a case (11). For example, a positive electrode (12-1), a negative electrode (12-2), a separator (16), and an electrolyte may be arranged inside the case (11). The secondary battery (10) illustrated in Fig. 1b may be a stack-type battery in which positive electrodes (12-1) and negative electrodes (12-2) are alternately laminated, but is not limited thereto. Each of the positive electrode (12-1) and the negative electrode (12-2) may also be referred to as a cathode and an anode based on the discharge of the secondary battery (10).

[0027] According to one embodiment, the electrode (12) may include a cathode (12-2) and a cathode (12-1) having electrically opposite characteristics. The electrode (12) may include an electrode substrate and an electrode active material layer coated on the electrode substrate. For example, the cathode (12-2) may include an anode substrate and an anode active material layer coated on the anode substrate. The anode substrate may collect electrons generated in the anode active material layer according to the electrochemical reaction of the secondary battery (10) or provide electrons required for the electrochemical reaction to the anode active material layer. For example, the anode substrate may be electrically connected to an external circuit, and may provide electrons generated in the anode active material layer to the external circuit during discharge, or may provide electrons supplied through the external circuit to the anode active material layer during charge. For example, the anode substrate may include a second metal. For example, the second metal may include copper. The cathode substrate may be implemented in the form of a copper foil, but is not limited thereto.

[0028] In one embodiment, the negative electrode active material layer can generate or consume electrons based on an electrochemical reaction. For example, during charging, electrons transferred from the negative electrode substrate can be combined with lithium ions in the negative electrode active material layer and consumed. During discharge, electrons can be generated as lithium ions and electrons separate from the negative electrode active material layer.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the negative electrode active material layer may include a negative electrode active material involved in the electrochemical reaction of the above-described negative electrode (12-2), a conductive material for improving electrical conductivity within the negative electrode (12-2), and a binder so that the negative electrode active material layer can be easily attached to the negative electrode substrate. In one embodiment, the negative electrode active material may include, but is not limited to, graphite, lithium titanate (LTO), silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), or lithium oxide (Li2O). For example, a polymer material such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyacrylic acid (PAA), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) may be used as the binder of the negative electrode active material layer.

[0030] In one embodiment, a separator (16) may be interposed between the negative electrode (12-2) and the positive electrode (12-1). The separator (16) may provide a passage for lithium ions to pass through and may prevent physical contact (or direct electrical short-circuit) between the positive electrode (12-1) and the negative electrode (12-2).

[0031] According to one embodiment, the positive electrode (12-1) may include a positive electrode substrate and a positive electrode active material layer. For example, the positive electrode substrate may be connected to the external circuit to supply electrons generated during a charging or discharging process to the outside or inside of the positive electrode active material layer. For example, the positive electrode substrate may be electrically connected to the external circuit to provide electrons generated in the positive electrode active material layer to the external circuit during charging, or to provide electrons supplied through the external circuit to the positive electrode active material layer during discharging. For example, the positive electrode substrate may include a first metal. For example, the first metal may include aluminum. The positive electrode substrate may be implemented in the form of an aluminum foil, but is not limited thereto.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the positive electrode active material layer can generate or consume electrons according to the electrochemical reaction of the secondary battery (10). For example, when charging, electrons may be generated as lithium compounds are ionized in the positive electrode active material layer, and when discharging the secondary battery (10), electrons supplied through the external circuit may be combined with lithium ions in the positive electrode active material layer and consumed.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the positive electrode active material layer may include a positive electrode active material involved in the electrochemical reaction of the positive electrode (12-1) described above, a conductive material for improving electrical conductivity within the positive electrode (12-1), and a binder so that the positive electrode active material layer can be easily attached to the positive electrode substrate. For example, the positive electrode active material may include, but is not limited to, LiCoO2, LiNiCoMnO2, LiNiCoAlO2, LiTiS2, LiCoO2, LiNiO2, LiMnO2, LiMn2O4, LiCo2O4, LiFePO4, LiMnPO4, LiCoPO4, LiFeSO4F, or LiVPO4F. According to one embodiment, a polymer material such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) may be used as the binder of the positive electrode active material layer.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the electrolyte may provide a path through which lithium ions can move between the negative electrode (12-2) and the positive electrode (12-1). For example, the electrolyte may include a liquid electrolyte or a gel electrolyte. For example, when charging the secondary battery (10), lithium ions may be deintercalated from the positive electrode active material layer and may move to the negative electrode active material layer through the electrolyte and the separator (16). The lithium ions that have moved to the negative electrode active material layer may be intercalated into the negative electrode active material layer as a reduction reaction occurs. Electrons generated during the deintercalation of lithium ions may move to the negative electrode active material layer through the external circuit. For example, when discharging the secondary battery (10), lithium ions inserted into the negative electrode active material layer are deintercalated and ionized into the electrolyte, and the ionized lithium ions may move to the positive electrode active material layer through the electrolyte and the separator (16). Electrons generated in the negative active material layer by the desorption of lithium ions can move to the positive active material layer through the external circuit. Lithium ions can be inserted into the positive active material layer by meeting electrons and causing a reduction reaction. When the secondary battery (10) is discharged, electrons passing through the external circuit can perform work.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the electrode (12) may include an electrode tab (14). For example, the electrode tab (14) may include a first electrode tab (14-1) extending from the anode (12-1) and a second electrode tab (14-2) extending from the cathode (12-2). The first electrode tab (14-1) may be referred to as the anode (12-1) tab, and the second electrode tab (14-2) may be referred to as the cathode (12-2) tab.

[0036] The lead tab (13) may be exposed to the outside of the case (11) by extending through the terrace seal (15) of the case (11). The lead tab (13) may be electrically connected to an external circuit, or may be electrically connected to another battery to form a battery module or a battery pack. As described above, the lead tab (13) may include a conductive material so that power may be transmitted through the lead tab (13). For example, the lead tab (13) may include a metal. A portion of the lead tab (13) may be exposed to the outside of the case (11), and an electrode tab (14) extending from the electrode (12) may extend toward another portion of the lead tab (13) located within the case (11). The electrode tab (14) may be at least partially bent so as to be coupled with the lead tab (13).

[0037] The electrode tab (14) can extend from the electrode (12) and be connected to the lead tab (13). When the secondary battery (10) is discharged, power provided from the electrode (12) can be transmitted to the lead tab (13) through the electrode tab (14) and, through the lead tab (13), can be provided to an external circuit electrically connected to the lead tab (13). When the secondary battery (10) is charged, power provided from the charging device can be transmitted to the electrode tab (14) through the lead tab (13) and, through the electrode tab (14), to the electrode (12).

[0038] When a plurality of electrodes (12) are stacked, the electrode tabs (14) of each of the plurality of electrodes (12) may be coupled to a lead tab (13). According to one embodiment, the bonding force between the lead tab (13) and the electrode tab (14) may be affected by the difference in the physical properties of the lead tab (13) and the electrode tab (14). As described above, the lead tab (13) may include a conductive material (e.g., metal). If the electrode tab (14) coupled to the lead tab (13) includes a non-conductive material (e.g., polymer), the bonding force may be weakened due to the difference in the physical properties of the conductive material of the lead tab (13) and the non-conductive material of the electrode tab (14).

[0039] Since the lead tab (13) provides an electrical connection between the electronic components located on the upper portion of the secondary battery (10) and the secondary battery (10) and provides a power transmission path, it may be required that the lead tab (13) be stably connected to the electrode tab (14). For example, if a defect (e.g., a crack) occurs between the lead tab (13) and the electrode tab (14), a leakage current may be caused during charging and / or discharging of the secondary battery (10), thereby deteriorating the quality of the secondary battery (10) and causing a safety accident. If a defect occurs inside the case (11), it may be difficult to determine whether or not the defect exists because the defect is not observed from the outside.

[0040] Therefore, even if a defect (e.g., a crack) occurs inside the secondary battery (10), it may be difficult to identify the presence or absence of the crack due to the case (11). In order to identify the crack in the secondary battery (10), a non-destructive inspection device using X-ray imaging may be used. In general, secondary battery inspection devices have a long inspection time for identifying cracks and low resolution, making accurate identification difficult. In addition, since the volume of conventional secondary battery inspection devices is large, mass production is difficult, and thus they may not be suitable as inspection devices for inspecting cracks in small pouch-type secondary batteries. In addition, since cracks may occur in a specific area of ​​the secondary battery (10), X-ray photography of the entire area of ​​the secondary battery (10) may be required in order to identify the presence or absence of cracks in the secondary battery (10) as a whole.

[0041] A secondary battery inspection device according to one embodiment (e.g., a secondary battery inspection device (100) of FIG. 2) can identify a defect (e.g., a defect (30) of FIG. 3) occurring in a secondary battery (10) using RF (radio frequency) signals. Hereinafter, the secondary battery inspection device (100) will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0042] Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a secondary battery inspection device according to one embodiment. Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a secondary battery inspection device according to one embodiment.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 2, a secondary battery inspection device (100) according to one embodiment may include a signal generator (110), a signal circuit (120), a power amplifier (130), an antenna radiator (140), a processor (150), a transfer jig (160), a memory (170), and / or an impedance matching circuit (180).

[0044] According to one embodiment, the processor (150) may include an application processor (AP) and / or a communication processor (CP). The processor (150) may be configured to control the overall operation of the secondary battery inspection device (100). The processor (150) may control the signal generator (110) to radiate a first RF signal having a frequency specified by the signal generator (110) through the antenna radiator (140). The processor (150) may be configured to obtain a second RF signal, which is a coupling signal for the first RF signal, received through the antenna radiator (140). The processor (150) may control the transfer jig (160) to adjust the distance between the antenna radiator (140) and the secondary battery (10). In addition, the overall operation of the inspection device for the secondary battery (10) described in the present disclosure may be performed by the processor (150).

[0045] According to one embodiment, the signal generator (110) may be configured to generate a first RF signal having a designated frequency. The signal generator (110) may process a baseband signal provided from the processor (150) and up-convert it to a designated frequency band, thereby outputting the first RF signal. The first RF signal may be output to an output port of the signal generator (110).

[0046] According to one embodiment, the signal circuit (120) may include a plurality of transmission lines electrically connecting the signal generator (110) and the processor (150). Referring to FIG. 3, the signal circuit (120) may include a first transmission line (121) and a second transmission line (122).

[0047] According to one embodiment, a first transmission line (121) may be connected between an output port of a signal generator (110) and an antenna radiator (140) to transmit a first RF signal provided from the signal generator (110) to the antenna radiator (140). When the signal generator (110) outputs the first RF signal to the output port, the first RF signal may be provided to the first transmission line (121). The first RF signal may be provided to the antenna radiator (140) connected to the first transmission line (121) along the first transmission line (121). The antenna radiator (140) may radiate the first RF signal (310) provided through the first transmission line (121) toward the secondary battery (10).

[0048] According to one embodiment, a second transmission line (122) may be connected between the antenna radiator (140) and an input port of the signal generator (110) to transmit a second RF signal received by the antenna radiator (140). When the antenna radiator (140) receives a second RF signal (320) resulting from coupling between the first RF signal and the secondary battery (10), the second RF signal may be provided to the second transmission line (122). The second RF signal may be provided to the signal generator (110) connected to the second transmission line (122) along the second transmission line (122).

[0049] According to one embodiment, the antenna radiator (140) may be disposed around the secondary battery (10). For example, the antenna radiator (140) may be disposed above the secondary battery (10). The antenna radiator (140) may be configured to radiate a first RF signal provided through a first transmission line (121) toward the secondary battery (10). When the first RF signal is radiated to the secondary battery (10) through the antenna radiator (140), the first RF signal may electromagnetically interact with the secondary battery (10). This electromagnetic interaction may be referred to as coupling within the present disclosure. By coupling the secondary battery (10) and the first RF signal, a reflected signal for the first RF signal is radiated from the secondary battery (10), and this reflected signal may be referred to as a second RF signal. The antenna radiator (140) can receive a second RF signal radiated from the secondary battery (10).

[0050] According to one embodiment, the processor (150) may be configured to calculate a reflection coefficient based on the first RF signal and the second RF signal. Within the present disclosure, the reflection coefficient may be referred to as a ratio of a second RF signal received by the antenna radiator (140) by coupling with the secondary battery (10) to a first RF signal provided to the antenna radiator (140). For example, the reflection coefficient may be calculated as a reception power of the second RF signal to a transmission power of the first RF signal. When the amount of reflection due to coupling between the first RF signal and the secondary battery (10) increases, the reflection coefficient may increase, and when the amount of reflection due to coupling between the first RF signal and the secondary battery (10) decreases, the reflection coefficient may decrease.

[0051] In one embodiment, the processor (150) may be electrically connected to a first point of a first transmission line (121) and a second point of a second transmission line (122) to calculate a reflection coefficient. The processor (150) may be configured to calculate the reflection coefficient based on a first RF signal on the first transmission line (121) (e.g., the first point) and a second RF signal on the second transmission line (122) (e.g., the second point).

[0052] According to one embodiment, the signal circuit (120) may further include a third transmission line (123) and a fourth transmission line (124) electrically connected to the processor (150). The third transmission line (123) may extend from a first point of the first transmission line (121) and be electrically connected to the processor (150). The fourth transmission line (124) may extend from a second point of the second transmission line (122) and be electrically connected to the processor (150). The processor (150) may identify a transmission power of the first RF signal through the third transmission line (123) and may identify a reception power of the second RF signal through the fourth transmission line (124).

[0053] According to one embodiment, the power amplifier (130) may be electrically connected to the third transmission line (123), the fourth transmission line (124), and the processor (150). For example, the third transmission line (123) may extend from the first transmission line (121) to the power amplifier (130), and the fourth transmission line (124) may extend from the second transmission line (122) to the power amplifier (130). The power amplifier (130) may be electrically connected to the processor (150). For example, a coupling signal of a first RF signal provided through the third transmission line (123) may be amplified by the power amplifier (130) and provided to the processor (150), and a coupling signal of a second RF signal provided through the fourth transmission line (124) may be amplified by the power amplifier (130) and provided to the processor (150). The processor (150) may be configured to calculate a reflection coefficient based on the first RF signal and the second RF signal received from the power amplifier (130).

[0054] According to one embodiment, the transfer jig (160) may be configured to be coupled with the secondary battery inspection device (100) to adjust the distance between the antenna radiator (140) and the secondary battery (10) or to transfer the secondary battery inspection device (100). The transfer jig (160) will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the memory (170) can store information related to the sizes of the secondary battery (10). The information related to the sizes of the secondary battery (10) is information such as the width, length, and thickness of the secondary battery (10) that are determined according to the manufacturer, capacity, and other specifications of the secondary battery (10), and there may be various sizes depending on the type of the secondary battery (10). The memory (170) can be configured to store information related to the sizes of the secondary battery (10) and provide the stored information to the processor (150). For example, the information related to the sizes of the secondary battery (10) can be input in advance together with an identifier unique to the secondary battery (10). For example, for a secondary battery (10) of product B manufactured by company A, an identifier such as a numbering or product code of product B and information related to the size of the secondary battery (10) of product B can be stored in the memory (170). When a user selects one of the information related to the sizes of the secondary battery (10), the user can distinguish one of the above through an identifier.

[0056] According to one embodiment, the impedance matching circuit (180) may be configured to adjust the frequency of the first RF signal provided to the antenna radiator (140) by adjusting the impedance of the first transmission line (121). When the characteristic impedance of the first transmission line (121) is adjusted, the operating frequency of the first RF signal may change. The first transmission line (121) connects between the antenna radiator (140) and the signal generator (110) and may have a significant influence on the performance of the antenna system. The impedance of the first transmission line (121) has a unique value referred to as characteristic impedance, and the value may be determined according to the material, size, structure, etc. of the first transmission line (121). The impedance matching circuit (180) is electrically connected to the first transmission line (121) and can be used to change the frequency characteristics of the first RF signal by adjusting the impedance of the first transmission line (121).

[0057] According to one embodiment, if a defect (30) (e.g., a crack) exists in the secondary battery (10), the reflection coefficient may deviate significantly from the reference value. The processor (150) may be configured to compare the reflection coefficient with the reference value and, based on the comparison result, identify whether a defect (30) exists in the secondary battery (10), i.e., whether the secondary battery (10) is in a normal state or an abnormal state.

[0058] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate examples of transfer jigs of a secondary battery inspection device according to one embodiment.

[0059] Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the transfer jig (160) may include a first transfer jig (410) and a second transfer jig (420). The antenna radiator (140) may be accommodated in the housing (401). The first transfer jig (410) may be configured to be coupled with the housing (401) and to transfer the housing (401) along the surface of the secondary battery (10). The secondary battery (10) may be fixed while being placed on a plate (411). The second transfer jig (420) may be configured to transport the secondary battery (10). The second transfer jig (420) may be implemented as a plate (412) in the form of a transfer stage or a conveyor belt. In the case of the first transfer jig (410), the housing (401) is transferred over the surface of the secondary battery (10), and in the case of the second transfer jig (420), the secondary battery (10) can be transferred on a conveyor belt.

[0060] Referring to FIG. 4A, a first transfer jig (410) may be coupled with a housing (401) including an antenna radiator (140). The first transfer jig (410) may be configured to move the housing (401) over a secondary battery (10). The antenna radiator (140) included in the housing (401) may be configured to radiate a first RF signal and receive a second RF signal according to the first RF signal while moving over the secondary battery (10) by the first transfer jig (410).

[0061] According to one embodiment, the first transfer jig (410) may be configured to move the housing (401) containing the antenna radiator (140) in an up-and-down direction (e.g., a direction parallel to the z-axis) with respect to the secondary battery (10). For example, the first transfer jig (410) may be configured to be able to adjust the distance between the secondary battery (10) and the antenna radiator (140). The first transfer jig (410) may be configured to move the housing (401) on the same plane. For example, the first transfer jig (410) may be configured to move the housing (401) in a direction parallel to the x-axis and a direction parallel to the y-axis.

[0062] Referring to FIG. 4B, the second transport jig (420) can fix the housing (401) including the antenna radiator (140) to a designated position and move the secondary battery (10) under the housing (401). For example, the housing (401) can be fixed to a designated position on a conveyor belt along which the secondary battery (10) moves. The second transport jig (420) can drive the conveyor belt. The secondary battery (10) can be placed on the conveyor belt. When the conveyor belt is driven in one direction, the secondary battery (10) placed on the conveyor belt can be transported in the one direction. When the secondary battery (10) is transported, as it passes under the housing (401) including the antenna radiator (140), the antenna radiator (140) can be configured to receive a second RF signal.

[0063] According to one embodiment, the housing (401) can be fixed at a position corresponding to the lead tab of the secondary battery (10). The second transfer jig (420) can position the housing (401) so as to face the lead tab of the secondary battery (10) placed on the conveyor belt.

[0064] According to one embodiment, the processor (150) may be configured to control the first transfer jig (410) and the second transfer jig (420) based on information about the secondary battery (10) stored in the memory (170). For example, information related to the sizes of the secondary battery (10) and / or position information of the lead tab may be stored in the memory (170).

[0065] According to one embodiment, the processor (150) may use the information to control the first transfer jig (410). For example, in order to determine at which location of the secondary battery (10) the second signal acquired by the antenna radiator (140) is acquired, coordinates may be assigned to the location of the secondary battery (10). Based on the assigned coordinates, the secondary battery (10) may control the first transfer jig (410), thereby identifying at which location of the secondary battery (10) the second RF signal acquired through the antenna radiator (140) is acquired. For example, the processor (150) controls the first transfer jig (410) to position the antenna radiator (140) at the (a, b) position assigned to the secondary battery (10), and by obtaining the second RF signal at the (a, b) position, it can be identified that the second RF signal is a signal obtained at the (a, b) position.

[0066] According to one embodiment, the processor (150) may use the information to control the second transfer jig (420). For example, the second transfer jig (420) may be controlled so that the antenna radiator (140) can obtain a second signal at a position corresponding to the lead tab of the secondary battery (10). For example, information on the positions and sizes of the first lead tab (13-1) and the second lead tab (13-2) of the secondary battery (10) may be stored in the memory (170). The processor (150) may obtain the information corresponding to the secondary battery (10) placed on the conveyor belt (142a). The processor (150) may control the second transfer jig (420) so that when the conveyor belt (142a) drives the secondary battery (10) to pass under the housing (401), the housing (401) is placed at a position corresponding to the position of the lead tab. For example, if a secondary battery (10) placed on a conveyor belt is changed to a different type, the processor (150) can obtain the information related to the changed secondary battery (10). The processor (150) can be configured to control the second transfer jig (420) so that the housing (401) is placed at a position corresponding to the lead tab of the changed secondary battery (10).

[0067] According to one embodiment, the processor (150) may be configured to control the driving speed of the conveyor belt of the second transfer jig (420). For example, if the driving speed is too fast, the transport speed of the secondary battery (10) may be too fast, making it difficult for the secondary battery inspection device (100) to identify a defect (30) in the secondary battery (10). For example, if the driving speed is too slow, the transport speed of the secondary battery (10) may be too slow, making the antenna radiator (140) obtain too many second RF signals within a narrow area of ​​the secondary battery (10), and when the number of secondary batteries (10) to be detected is large, the sensing speed may be too slow.

[0068] In one embodiment, the processor (150) may calculate a reflection coefficient based on a second RF signal received through the antenna radiator (140). The processor (150) may be configured to adjust the driving speed of the second transfer jig (420) based on the calculated reflection coefficient.

[0069] According to one embodiment, when the area of ​​the secondary battery (10) corresponding to the interval between the measured values ​​of the reflection coefficient is less than the designated area, the processor (150) may be configured to control the second transfer jig (420) so that the driving speed is reduced. The designated area, which is the area of ​​the secondary battery (10) corresponding to the interval between the measured values ​​of the plurality of parameters, may be based on the driving speed of the conveyor belt of the second transfer jig (420). If the conveying speed is too fast, the area of ​​the secondary battery (10) is reduced, making it difficult to determine a defect (30). The processor (150) may compare the area of ​​the secondary battery (10) with the designated area and reduce the driving speed so that the area of ​​the secondary battery (10) corresponds to the designated area.

[0070] According to one embodiment, the processor (150) may be configured to control the second transfer jig (420) so that the driving speed increases when the area of ​​the secondary battery (10) corresponding to the interval between the measured values ​​of the reflection coefficient exceeds the designated area. If the transport speed is too slow, the area of ​​the secondary battery (10) increases, making it difficult to distinguish between the measured values ​​of the reflection coefficient based on the first RF signal and the second RF signal, and the sensing speed of the secondary battery (10) may be slow. The processor (150) may compare the area of ​​the secondary battery (10) with the designated area, and increase the driving speed so that the area of ​​the secondary battery (10) corresponds to the designated area.

[0071] FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an operation of determining a secondary battery state of a secondary battery inspection device according to one embodiment.

[0072] The operations described in FIG. 5 may be operations performed by the processor (150) of the secondary battery inspection device (100).

[0073] Referring to FIG. 5, in operation 501, the processor (150) may be configured to calculate a reflection coefficient based on the first RF signal and the second RF signal.

[0074] As described above, the reflection coefficient can be calculated as the reception power of the second RF signal compared to the transmission power of the first RF signal. When the amount of reflection due to coupling between the first RF signal and the secondary battery (10) increases, the reflection coefficient can increase, and when the amount of reflection due to coupling between the first RF signal and the secondary battery (10) decreases, the reflection coefficient can decrease. The processor (150) can calculate the reflection coefficient based on the coupling signal of the first RF signal received through the third transmission line (123) and the power amplifier (130) and the coupling signal of the second RF signal received through the fourth transmission line (124) and the power amplifier (130).

[0075] In operation 503, the processor (150) may be configured to compare the reflection coefficient with a reference value.

[0076] According to one embodiment, the reference value may be referred to as a reflection coefficient calculated from a secondary battery (10) in a normal state. For example, the reference value may be designated depending on the type of the secondary battery (10). The memory (170) may store reference values ​​according to each type of the secondary battery (10). For example, when an inspection is performed on a specific type of secondary battery (10), information on the specific type of secondary battery (10) may be selected by a user input. The processor (150) may identify a reference value corresponding to the selected information. The processor (150) may compare the reflection coefficient calculated in operation 501 with the reference value corresponding to the selected information.

[0077] In operation 505, the processor (150) may be configured to identify whether the difference between the reflection coefficient and the reference value falls within a specified range.

[0078] According to one embodiment, the designated range may be designated as a value within an error range with respect to a reference value. The inclusion of the reflection coefficient within the designated range may be referred to as indicating that the secondary battery (10) is in a normal state. If the reflection coefficient substantially corresponds to the reference value or is different from the reference value but the difference is within the designated range, it may indicate a secondary battery (10) in a normal state. If the reflection coefficient is outside the designated range from the reference value, it may indicate a secondary battery (10) in an abnormal state (e.g., a secondary battery (10) including a defect (30)). The designated range may be stored in advance. The memory (170) may store information on reference values ​​for each type of secondary battery (10) and designated ranges according to the reference values. For example, when an inspection is performed on a specific type of secondary battery (10), information on the specific type of secondary battery (10) can be selected by user input, and a specified range can be determined based on the selected information. If the difference is within the specified range, operation 507 can be performed. If the difference is outside the specified range, operation 509 can be performed.

[0079] In operation 507, the processor (150) may be configured to determine that the secondary battery (10) is in a normal state based on identifying that the difference falls within the specified range.

[0080] According to one embodiment, a secondary battery (10) in a normal state may be referred to as a secondary battery (10) that does not include a defect (30) (e.g., a crack). In the case of a secondary battery (10) in a normal state, since it does not include a crack, the amount of reflection for the first RF signal may be relatively small. Since the amount of reflection for the first RF signal is relatively small, the intensity of the second RF signal may be relatively small. The processor (150) may determine that the secondary battery (10) is in a normal state based on identifying that the calculated reflection coefficient is within a specified range from the reference value.

[0081] In operation 509, the processor (150) may be configured to determine that the secondary battery (10) is in an abnormal state based on identifying that the difference falls outside the specified range.

[0082] According to one embodiment, the secondary battery (10) in an abnormal state may be referred to as a secondary battery (10) that includes a defect (30) (e.g., a crack). In the case of the secondary battery (10) in an abnormal state, since it includes a crack, the reflection amount for the first RF signal may be relatively large. Since the crack is a physical defective part, the coupling amount for the first RF signal may increase, so that the reflection amount for the first RF signal may increase compared to the normal state. Since the reflection amount for the first RF signal is relatively large, the intensity of the second RF signal may be relatively large. The processor (150) may determine that the secondary battery (10) is in an abnormal state based on identifying that the calculated reflection coefficient is included outside a specified range from the reference value.

[0083] A secondary battery inspection device (100) according to one embodiment can radiate a first RF signal using an antenna radiator (140), obtain a second RF signal which is a reflection signal for the first RF signal, and calculate a reflection coefficient. The inspection device can determine whether the state of the secondary battery (10) is normal or abnormal by comparing the reflection coefficient with a reference value. The secondary battery inspection device (100) according to one embodiment can determine a defect (30) of the secondary battery (10) using a simple structure, and thus can be easily manufactured and the design can be simplified. The secondary battery inspection device (100) using an RF signal can determine the state of the secondary battery (10) and provide a result, and thus can be installed on a manufacturing line and used to improve the yield of the secondary battery (10).

[0084] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of a secondary battery inspection device according to one embodiment to adjust the position of an antenna radiator according to the size of a secondary battery.

[0085] The operations described in FIG. 6 may be operations performed by the processor (150) of the secondary battery inspection device (100).

[0086] Referring to FIG. 6, in operation 601, the processor (150) may be configured to receive a user input for selecting one piece of information from among the information stored in the memory (170).

[0087] According to one embodiment, the memory (170) can store information related to the sizes of the secondary battery (10). As described above, depending on the type of the secondary battery (10), the sizes of the secondary battery (10) can be implemented in various ways. The memory (170) can store information according to the sizes of the secondary battery (10). The information can be input in advance by a user. For example, for a secondary battery (10) of product B manufactured by company A, an identifier such as a numbering or product code of product B and information related to the size of the secondary battery (10) of product B can be stored in the memory (170). The user can provide a user input for selecting one piece of information from among the information stored in the memory (170) in order to select an object on which the secondary battery inspection device (100) performs inspection. The user input may be a user input for selecting information corresponding to the secondary battery (10) that is the object of inspection from among the information. The processor (150) can receive the user input.

[0088] In operation 603, the processor (150) may be configured to identify a size of a secondary battery (10) represented by one piece of information based on a user input.

[0089] According to one embodiment, the processor (150) may identify one piece of information selected by the user input from among information related to sizes of secondary batteries (10) based on the user input, and identify the size of the secondary battery (10) indicated by the one piece of information. For example, in operation 601, if the user input is a user input for selecting a secondary battery (10) of product B manufactured by company A, the processor (150) may be configured to identify the size of the secondary battery (10) of product B manufactured by company A based on information about the secondary battery (10) of product B manufactured by company A from among the information stored in the memory (170).

[0090] In operation 605, the processor (150) may be configured to control the transfer jig (160) to adjust the distance between the secondary battery (10) and the antenna radiator (140) based on the size of the secondary battery (10).

[0091] The secondary battery inspection device (100) may include a transfer jig (160) coupled to the plate (411) so as to position the antenna radiator (140) on the plate (411) on which the secondary battery (10) is placed. Referring again to FIG. 4A, the secondary battery inspection device (100) may include a plate (411) positioned below the housing (401) and supporting the secondary battery (10). The first transfer jig (410) may transfer the housing (401) including the antenna radiator (140) along the surface of the secondary battery (10). At this time, the first transfer jig (410) may move the housing (401) in a direction parallel to the z-axis in order to adjust the distance between the secondary battery (10) and the antenna radiator (140). For example, when the housing (401) moves in the +z direction, the distance between the secondary battery (10) and the antenna radiator (140) may increase, and when the housing (401) moves in the -z direction, the distance between the secondary battery (10) and the antenna radiator (140) may decrease. According to one embodiment, the one piece of information may include information on the optimal position of the housing (401) according to the thickness of the secondary battery (10) indicated by the identified size. The processor (150) may adjust the distance between the antenna radiator (140) and the secondary battery (10) to the optimal distance by moving the housing (401) based on the information on the optimal position.

[0092] Referring again to FIG. 4B, the secondary battery (10) may be placed on a plate (421) in the form of a conveyor belt that is positioned below the housing (401) and supports and transports the secondary battery (10). The second transport jig (420) may be coupled to the plate so that the housing (401) including the antenna radiator (140) is positioned above the secondary battery (10). The second transport jig (420) may adjust the distance between the secondary battery (10) and the antenna radiator (140) by moving the housing (401) in an up-and-down direction above the secondary battery (10).

[0093] If the position of the housing (401) (position of the antenna radiator (140)) is not adjusted according to the size (e.g., thickness) of the secondary battery (10), the accuracy of the test results may be reduced. If the distance between the secondary battery (10) and the antenna radiator (140) is too far, the second RF signal may not be properly received, which may cause an error in the calculation of the reflection coefficient. If the distance between the secondary battery (10) and the antenna radiator (140) is too close, the secondary battery (10) or the housing (401) may be damaged by contact between the housing (401) and the secondary battery (10), or the second RF signal may be received too strongly, which may cause an error in the calculation of the reflection coefficient. A secondary battery inspection device (100) according to one embodiment can enable accurate calculation of a reflection coefficient by adjusting the distance between the antenna radiator (140) and the secondary battery inspection device (100) to an optimal distance, thereby improving the accuracy of determining the state of the secondary battery (10).

[0094] FIG. 7a is a flowchart illustrating an operation for controlling an impedance matching circuit of a secondary battery inspection device according to one embodiment. FIG. 7b illustrates an impedance matching circuit of a secondary battery inspection device according to one embodiment.

[0095] The operations described in FIG. 7a may be operations performed by the processor (150) of the secondary battery inspection device (100).

[0096] Referring to FIG. 7A, the processor (150) may be configured to determine a designated frequency of the first RF signal based on one piece of information stored in the memory (170) at operation 701.

[0097] According to one embodiment, the above-described designated frequency may be referred to as the operating frequency or resonant frequency of the first RF signal. The operating frequency of the first RF signal may be determined depending on the type of the secondary battery (10). For example, depending on the size of the secondary battery (10), there may be an operating frequency suitable for measuring the reflection coefficient, and the information stored in the memory (170) may include information on the operating frequency according to each of the sizes of the secondary battery (10). The processor (150) may be configured to determine the operating frequency of the first RF signal based on one piece of information selected based on a user input. For example, if the user input is a user input for selecting a secondary battery (10) of product B manufactured by company A, the processor (150) can determine the operating frequency of the first RF signal corresponding to the secondary battery (10) of product B manufactured by company A based on the information about the secondary battery (10) of product B manufactured by company A among the information stored in the memory (170).

[0098] In operation 703, the processor (150) may be configured to control the switch circuit (710) of the impedance matching circuit (700) (e.g., the impedance matching circuit (180) of FIG. 2) based on the determined operating frequency.

[0099] To optimize the performance of the antenna system, it may be important to match the impedance of the first transmission line (121) with the input impedance of the antenna. Referring to FIG. 7b, to adjust the impedance of the first transmission line (121), the secondary battery inspection device (100) may include an impedance matching circuit (700).

[0100] Referring to FIG. 7b, in order to match impedance between the first transmission line (121) and the antenna radiator (140), an impedance matching circuit (700) electrically connected to the first transmission line (121) may be provided. The impedance matching circuit (700) may adjust the impedance of the first transmission line (121) to match the impedance of the first transmission line (121) with the input impedance of the antenna radiator (140).

[0101] According to one embodiment, the impedance matching circuit (700) may include a switch circuit (710) electrically connected to the first transmission line (121) and a plurality of passive elements (720). The plurality of passive elements (720) may include, for example, but are not limited to, a capacitor having a specified capacitance value and / or an inductor having a specified inductance value. For example, the plurality of passive elements (720) may include a first passive element (721), a second passive element (722), a third passive element (723), and a fourth passive element (724).

[0102] According to one embodiment, the switch circuit (710) can electrically connect the first transmission line (121) to any one of the plurality of passive elements (720). For example, the first port (711) of the switch circuit (710) can be electrically connected to the first transmission line (121). The first port (711) can be connected to any one of the second port (712) connected to the first passive element (721), the third port (713) connected to the second passive element (722), the fourth port (714) connected to the third passive element (723), or the fifth port (715) connected to the fourth passive element (724). If the first port (711) and the second port (712) are connected, the first transmission line (121) and the first passive element (721) are electrically connected, and the characteristic impedance of the first transmission line (121) can be changed based on the first impedance value of the first passive element (721). If the first port (711) and the third port (713) are connected, the first transmission line (121) and the second passive element (722) are electrically connected, and the characteristic impedance of the first transmission line (121) can be changed based on the second impedance value of the second passive element (722). If the first port (711) and the fourth port (714) are connected, the first transmission line (121) and the third passive element (723) are electrically connected, and the characteristic impedance of the first transmission line (121) can be changed based on the third impedance value of the third passive element (723). If the first port (711) and the fifth port (715) are connected, the first transmission line (121) and the fourth passive element (724) are electrically connected, and the characteristic impedance of the first transmission line (121) can be changed based on the fourth impedance value of the fourth passive element (724).

[0103] If the impedance of the first transmission line (121) does not match the input impedance of the antenna radiator (140), an impedance mismatch may occur in the antenna system. This mismatch may reduce the amount of power radiated from the antenna radiator (140) and cause damage to the signal generator (110) by applying a load. Therefore, in order to optimize the performance of the antenna system, it is important to match the impedance of the first transmission line (121) with the input impedance of the antenna radiator (140). According to one embodiment, the secondary battery inspection device (100) may adjust the impedance of the first transmission line (121) based on a designated frequency of the first RF signal determined according to the type of the secondary battery (10), i.e., determined by operation 701, by using an impedance matching circuit (700). As the characteristic impedance of the first transmission line (121) is matched to the input impedance of the antenna radiator (140), the calculation of the reflection coefficient can be performed accurately, so the accuracy of determining a defect (30) of the secondary battery inspection device (100) can be improved.

[0104] According to one embodiment, the impedance matching of the first transmission line (121) may change the operating frequency of the antenna radiator (140). Since the input impedance of the antenna radiator (140) changes depending on the operating frequency, by adjusting the impedance of the first transmission line (121), the operating frequency at which the input impedance of the antenna radiator (140) matches the characteristic impedance of the first transmission line (121) may be changed. According to one embodiment, the processor (150) controls the impedance matching circuit (700) based on the specified frequency of the first RF signal to provide impedance matching, and at the same time, by controlling the operating frequency of the antenna radiator (140), the accuracy of determining a defect (30) of a secondary battery (10) using an RF signal may be improved.

[0105] Fig. 8a illustrates a secondary battery inspection device including an impedance matching circuit. Fig. 8b illustrates an example of the impedance matching circuit of Fig. 8a.

[0106] Referring to FIG. 8A, the impedance matching circuit (800) may be connected to the first transmission line (121) and the second transmission line (122). As described above, the impedance matching circuit (800) may be controlled by the processor (150). The processor (150) may be configured to control the operating frequency or resonant frequency of the antenna radiator (140) by controlling the impedance matching circuit (800). The processor (150) may be configured to control the impedance matching circuit (800) so that a first RF signal of a specific frequency is radiated. The impedance matching circuit (800) may be referred to as a tuner.

[0107] Referring to FIG. 8B, the impedance matching circuit (800) may include tuner blocks (812, 822, 32) including switch circuits (811, 821, 831) and passive components. For example, the first switch circuit (811) may be connected to the first tuner (812) and configured to selectively electrically connect the first tuner (812) and the antenna radiator (140). The second switch circuit (821) may be connected to the second tuner (822) and configured to selectively electrically connect the second tuner (822) and the antenna radiator (140). The third switch circuit (813) may be connected to the third tuner (832) and configured to selectively electrically connect the third tuner (832) and the antenna radiator (140). The processor (150) may be configured to adjust the operating frequency or resonant frequency of the antenna radiator (140) by controlling the switch circuits (811, 821, 831). Each of the tuner blocks (812, 822, 832) may include one or more passive elements having a specific impedance value, thereby changing the operating frequency of the antenna radiator (140). The processor (150) may be configured to control the switch circuits (811, 821, 831) to electrically connect any one of the tuner blocks (812, 822, 832) to the antenna radiator (140) so that a first RF signal of a specific frequency is radiated. For example, when the processor (150) electrically connects the antenna radiator (140) and the first tuner (812) through the first switch circuit (811), a first RF signal of a first operating frequency (first resonant frequency) can be radiated through the antenna radiator (140). When the processor (150) electrically connects the antenna radiator (140) and the second tuner (822) through the second switch circuit (812), a first RF signal of a second operating frequency (second resonant frequency) can be radiated through the antenna radiator (140).When the processor (150) electrically connects the antenna radiator (140) and the third tuner (823) through the third switch circuit (813), a first RF signal of a third operating frequency (third resonant frequency) can be radiated through the antenna radiator (140). The processor (150) can control the impedance matching circuit (800) so that a signal of a frequency suitable for detecting a defect can be used. As the operating frequency of the first RF signal is adjusted, the accuracy of defect detection can be improved. In FIG. 8B, the impedance matching circuit (800) is illustrated as including three switch circuits (811, 821, 831) and three tuner blocks (822, 822, 832), but this is merely exemplary, and the impedance matching circuit (800) is not limited thereto. For example, the impedance matching circuit (800) may include one or more switch circuits and tuner blocks.

[0108] A secondary battery testing device is provided. The secondary battery testing device may include a signal generator configured to provide a first RF signal having a designated frequency. The secondary battery testing device may include an antenna radiator configured to radiate the first RF signal received from the signal generator toward the secondary battery and receive a second RF signal resulting from coupling between the first RF signal and the secondary battery. The secondary battery testing device may include a first transmission line between an output port of the signal generator and the antenna radiator to transmit the first RF signal provided from the signal generator to the antenna radiator. The secondary battery testing device may include a second transmission line between the antenna radiator and an input port of the signal generator to transmit the second RF signal provided from the antenna radiator to the signal generator. The secondary battery testing device may include a processor configured to calculate a reflection coefficient based on the first RF signal on the first transmission line and the second RF signal on the second transmission line. The processor may be configured to compare the reflection coefficient with a reference value and determine whether the secondary battery is in a normal or abnormal state based on whether a difference between the reflection coefficient and the reference value is within a specified range.

[0109] According to one embodiment, the processor may be configured to determine that the secondary battery is in a normal state based on identifying that the difference is within the specified range, and to determine that the secondary battery is in an abnormal state based on identifying that the difference is outside the specified range.

[0110] In one embodiment, the secondary battery inspection device may further include a power amplifier electrically connected to the processor, a third transmission line extending from the first transmission line to the power amplifier, and a fourth transmission line extending from the second transmission line to the power amplifier. The power amplifier may be configured to amplify the first RF signal and the second RF signal and provide the amplified signal to the processor. The processor may be configured to calculate the reflection coefficient based on the first RF signal and the second RF signal received from the power amplifier.

[0111] According to one embodiment, the secondary battery inspection device may further include a transfer jig coupled to a plate so as to place the antenna radiator on the plate on which the secondary battery is placed, and a memory storing information related to sizes of the secondary battery. The processor may be configured to receive a user input for selecting one piece of information from among the information stored in the memory, identify a size of the secondary battery indicated by the one piece of information selected based on the user input, and control the transfer jig to adjust a distance between the secondary battery and the antenna radiator based on the size of the secondary battery.

[0112] In one embodiment, the secondary battery inspection device may further include an impedance matching circuit electrically connected to the first transmission line. The impedance matching circuit may include a switch circuit electrically connected to the first transmission line, and a capacitor or an inductor, and may include a plurality of passive elements electrically connected to the first transmission line through the switch circuit. The processor may be configured to determine the designated frequency of the first RF signal based on the one piece of information, and to electrically connect one of the plurality of passive elements to the first transmission line by controlling the switch circuit based on the designated frequency.

[0113] The terms described in this document are not limited to specific examples, and can be readily understood by those skilled in the art to have substantially identical equivalents. For example, a specific term may be understood to include terms that are understood as equivalents by those skilled in the art. In this document, unless specifically limited to the singular, terms described in the singular should be construed to include both the singular and the plural. Furthermore, in this document, terms such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish components and do not indicate the order or importance of the components.

[0114] The devices described above may be implemented as hardware components, software components, and / or a combination of hardware components and software components. For example, the devices and components described in the embodiments may be implemented using one or more general-purpose computers or special-purpose computers, such as, for example, a processor, a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic unit (PLU), a microprocessor, or any other device capable of executing instructions and responding. For ease of understanding, the processing unit is sometimes described as being used alone, but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the processing unit may include multiple processing elements and / or multiple types of processing elements. For example, the processing unit may include multiple processors, or one processor and one controller.

[0115] The method according to the embodiment may be implemented in the form of program commands that can be executed through various computer means and recorded on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program commands, data files, data structures, etc., alone or in combination. The program commands recorded on the medium may be those specially designed and configured for the embodiment or may be those known and available to those skilled in the art of computer software. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes, optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, magneto-optical media such as floptical disks, and hardware devices specially configured to store and execute program commands, such as ROMs, RAMs, and flash memories. Examples of the program commands include not only machine language codes generated by a compiler, but also high-level language codes that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter, etc. The hardware devices described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the embodiment, and vice versa.

[0116] Although the embodiments described above have been described by way of limited examples and drawings, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations can be made based on the above teachings. For example, appropriate results can still be achieved even if the described techniques are performed in a different order than described, and / or components of the described systems, structures, devices, circuits, etc. are combined or combined in a different manner than described, or are replaced or substituted with other components or equivalents.

[0117] Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents to the claims also fall within the scope of the claims described below.

Claims

1. In the secondary battery inspection device, A signal generator configured to provide a first RF signal having a specified frequency; Antenna radiator, said antenna radiator, The first RF signal received from the signal generator is radiated toward the secondary battery, configured to receive a second RF signal resulting from coupling between the first RF signal and the secondary battery; A first transmission line between an output port of the signal generator and the antenna radiator to transmit the first RF signal provided from the signal generator to the antenna radiator; A second transmission line between the antenna radiator and an input port of the signal generator to transmit the second RF signal provided from the antenna radiator to the signal generator; and A processor configured to calculate a reflection coefficient based on the first RF signal on the first transmission line and the second RF signal on the second transmission line, The above processor, Compare the above reflection coefficient with a reference value, It is configured to determine whether the secondary battery is in a normal state or an abnormal state based on whether the difference between the reflection coefficient and the reference value is within a specified range. Secondary battery testing device.

2. In paragraph 1, The above processor, Based on identifying that the above difference is within the above specified range, the secondary battery is judged to be in a normal state, Based on identifying that the above difference is outside the above specified range, the secondary battery is determined to be in an abnormal state, Secondary battery testing device.

3. In paragraph 1, A power amplifier electrically connected to the processor; a third transmission line extending from the first transmission line to the power amplifier; and Further comprising a fourth transmission line extending from the second transmission line to the power amplifier, The above power amplifier, configured to amplify the first RF signal and the second RF signal and provide them to the processor, The above processor, configured to calculate the reflection coefficient based on the first RF signal and the second RF signal received from the power amplifier, Secondary battery testing device.

4. In paragraph 1, A transfer jig coupled to the plate so as to place the antenna radiator on the plate on which the secondary battery is placed; and Further comprising a memory for storing information related to the sizes of the secondary battery, The above processor, Receiving a user input for selecting one piece of information from among the information stored in the memory, Identifying the size of the secondary battery indicated by the selected one piece of information based on the user input; Based on the size of the secondary battery, the transfer jig is controlled to adjust the distance between the secondary battery and the antenna radiator. Secondary battery testing device.

5. In paragraph 4, Further comprising an impedance matching circuit electrically connected to the first transmission line; The above impedance matching circuit, A switch circuit electrically connected to the first transmission line, and A plurality of passive elements including a capacitor or an inductor and electrically connected to the first transmission line through the switch circuit, The above processor, Based on the above one piece of information, determining the specified frequency of the first RF signal, Based on the above-mentioned specified frequency, by controlling the switch circuit, it is configured to electrically connect one of the plurality of passive elements and the first transmission line. Secondary battery testing device.

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