Battery Cell Pressure Sensor for Visual SOH Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for estimating the State of Health (SOH) of high-performance battery cells are costly, time-consuming, and require complex laboratory equipment or access to a Battery Management System (BMS, making it difficult to monitor battery aging and degradation efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A battery cell with a pressure sensor integrated into its body that changes visual appearance based on internal pressure, allowing for offline or online SOH monitoring without electrical tests or BMS access, using a pressure indicating area that correlates pressure changes with battery aging and SOH, enabling visual diagnosis and automatic estimation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional experimental methods are used for SOH estimation, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSOH estimation accuracyVSAvoidequipment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential measurement function from complex laboratory equipment by using a simple pressure sensor to detect internal cell pressure. This extracted pressure information serves as a proxy indicator for SOH estimation, eliminating the need for complex electrochemical impedance spectroscopy equipment while maintaining measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs inexpensive pressure sensors instead of expensive laboratory equipment. The pressure sensor provides a cost-effective alternative to sophisticated measurement devices, enabling SOH monitoring without requiring costly instrumented laboratory-based tests.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Measurement precision

If conventional experimental methods are used for SOH estimation, then measurement precision is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSOH estimation accuracyVSAvoidtime consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces time-consuming electrochemical measurements with a simple mechanical pressure detection system. The pressure sensor provides immediate readings of internal cell pressure, enabling rapid SOH estimation without the lengthy procedures required by conventional electrochemical impedance spectroscopy methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If pressure sensors are introduced for SOH monitoring, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSOH monitoring simplicityVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the pressure sensor with the battery cell structure itself, integrating the sensing function into the cell body. This integration eliminates the need for separate external measurement equipment and complex electrical connections, simplifying the overall system while maintaining monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure sensor system enables the battery cell to self-monitor its own state. The internal pressure changes naturally occur during battery operation and aging, and the sensor automatically detects these changes, providing self-service SOH monitoring without requiring external intervention or complex test procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Measurement precision

If space-consuming complex devices are used for SOH monitoring, then measurement precision is improved, but volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSOH estimation accuracyVSAvoidmonitoring device volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the core measurement function from bulky laboratory equipment and concentrates it into a compact pressure sensor integrated within the battery cell. This extraction reduces the monitoring device volume from space-consuming external equipment to a miniaturized internal sensor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Enables cost-effective, time-efficient, and space-saving SOH monitoring and aging estimation of battery cells, allowing for direct visual inspection and automatic assessment without the need for complex equipment or BMS access, improving battery management and extending battery life.

Implementation Method 1

at least one pressure sensor being arranged within and/or at the cell body and comprising a pressure indicating area which is configured for changing its visual appearance depending on a pressure acting on the pressure sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure sensing:

Data Source

PatentEP4220782A1Battery cell and battery arrangement
Publication Date: 2023.08.02 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP4220782A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4220782A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4220782A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A battery cell (20) is provided. The battery cell (20) comprises a cell body (21), at least two electrical terminals (30, 32) for providing and/or receiving electrical energy, and at least one pressure sensor (40) being arranged within and/or at the cell body (21) and comprising a pressure indicating area (42) which is configured for changing its visual appearance depending on a pressure (P) acting on the pressure sensor (40), wherein the pressure indicating area (42) is arranged such that it is visible from outside of the cell body (21).