Acoustic SEI Formation Scoring for Battery Cell Diagnostics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current battery manufacturing processes lack efficient and fast diagnostics methods to assess the quality of Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) formation in battery cells, leading to potential defects and increased production costs.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive acoustic signal-based approach is used to analyze the quality of SEI formation in battery cells by transmitting and receiving acoustic signals through the cells, utilizing transducers and machine learning models to determine an SEI score.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional battery manufacturing processes are used without advanced diagnostics, then production costs increase and quality decreases, but implementing advanced diagnostics increases device complexity and initial investment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical/electrical diagnostic systems with acoustic wave-based detection. Acoustic waves propagate through the battery cell and interact with internal structures, providing diagnostic information without requiring complex contact-based measurement systems. This substitution reduces device complexity while maintaining or improving diagnostic capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acoustic waves as an intermediary medium to probe battery cell internal structures. Instead of directly measuring electrical or mechanical properties that require complex sensors and contact points, acoustic waves serve as a non-invasive intermediary that carries information about SEI layer formation and internal defects back to detectors, simplifying the overall diagnostic system.
2Productivity
If fast diagnostics methods are implemented to reduce production time, then productivity increases, but measurement precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic acoustic wave transmission through the battery cell during the formation process. By sending acoustic waves at regular intervals and analyzing the reflected or transmitted signals, the system can continuously monitor SEI layer formation dynamics. This periodic measurement approach enables fast diagnostics while maintaining precision through multiple data points that can be averaged or analyzed for trends.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs acoustic measurements during the formation process itself, rather than after completion. By conducting diagnostics preliminarily during manufacturing, the system identifies SEI formation issues in real-time, allowing for immediate process adjustments. This preliminary action prevents defective cells from advancing to later stages, maintaining both speed and accuracy.
3Ease of operation
If non-invasive acoustic methods are used to monitor SEI formation, then ease of operation increases and production costs decrease, but the ability to detect subtle defects may be reduced compared to invasive methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes changes in acoustic wave parameters (frequency, wavelength, amplitude) as the SEI layer forms and evolves during battery formation. By monitoring how these acoustic parameters change over time, the system can detect subtle defects and formation anomalies. The acoustic impedance changes caused by SEI layer development provide sensitive indicators of internal structure changes without requiring invasive probing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs mechanical vibration in the form of acoustic waves to probe the battery cell interior. The vibration characteristics of acoustic waves are sensitive to the mechanical properties of internal structures, including the SEI layer. By analyzing vibration frequency shifts, damping characteristics, and resonance patterns, the system achieves high defect detection sensitivity while maintaining non-invasive operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method provides a fast and efficient means to assess SEI formation quality, reducing production costs and improving battery cell reliability by identifying defects early in the manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting acoustic signals through a battery cell via one or more first transducers
Implementation Method 2
receiving response signals in response to the acoustic signals at one or more second transducers
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a non-invasive and acoustic signal-based approach for examining a quality of SEI formation for any given battery cell and providing an objective assessment thereof. In one example, the objective assessment may be provided as a score that may be referred to as a Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) score for a given battery cell. In one aspect, a method includes transmitting acoustic signals through a battery cell via one or more first transducers, receiving response signals in response to the acoustic signals at one or more second transducers, determining a score indicative of quality of SEI formation in the battery cell based on analyzing the response signals, and outputting the score.