Battery Cell Characterization With Temperature-Compensated Charging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining battery cell characteristics require extensive time and resources, and temperature fluctuations in potentiostats lead to inaccurate measurements, as they do not represent real-world conditions.

Innovation Solution

A method that uses an extended circuit with a temperature sensor and microcontroller to adjust charging and discharging currents based on real-time temperature measurements, allowing for precise calibration and correction of current measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If temperature control systems (heat sinks, fans, liquid cooling) are integrated into the potentiostat to maintain constant temperature, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A calibration device is introduced as an intermediary component between the potentiostat and the measurement system. This calibration device includes a calibration circuit that compensates for temperature-induced measurement errors without requiring the potentiostat itself to have active temperature control systems. The calibration device acts as a mediator that corrects the effects of temperature fluctuations in the electronic components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the approach from controlling the physical temperature parameter to controlling the electrical parameters through calibration. Instead of maintaining constant temperature through thermal management systems, the system performs calibration measurements at different temperatures and uses these calibration data to correct subsequent measurements, effectively changing the control parameter from physical temperature to electrical calibration factors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of time

If accelerated testing at higher temperatures and currents is conducted to determine battery properties, then measurement time is reduced, but the tests do not represent real-world operating conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement timeVSAvoidrepresentativeness of results
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs feedback through calibration measurements performed at multiple temperature points. The calibration device measures electrical characteristics at different temperatures and uses this feedback information to adjust and correct subsequent battery measurements, allowing accurate determination of battery properties under normal operating conditions without requiring extended measurement time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Calibration measurements are performed in advance at different temperature conditions before the actual battery testing. This preliminary calibration action establishes correction factors that can be applied during normal operation, eliminating the need for prolonged measurement periods while ensuring results represent real-world conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If high-precision coulometry is used to measure small charge quantities over short timescales, then measurement speed is improved, but temperature fluctuations in electronics cause measurement errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement speedVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The calibration device serves as an intermediary that separates the high-speed measurement function from the temperature-sensitive electronic components. By performing calibration measurements at multiple temperatures and using these calibration data to correct subsequent high-speed measurements, the system maintains both measurement speed and accuracy despite temperature fluctuations in the potentiostat electronics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 approach reduces measurement errors by compensating for temperature fluctuations, saving time and costs while maintaining high accuracy in determining battery cell properties.

Implementation Method 1

A temperature of the cycler during the charging process is determined by means of a temperature sensor of the measuring device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Implementation Method 2

The charging current value is adjusted during the charging process as a function of the determined temperature to achieve the target current value

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature compensation:

Data Source

PatentEP4624955A1Method for determining a property characterizing a battery cell by means of a measuring device, computer program product, computer-readable storage medium and measuring device
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 SIEMENS AG
  • EP4624955A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4624955A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4624955A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for determining a property characterizing a battery cell (12) by means of a measuring device (10), comprising the steps of: providing a target current value for a charging process of the battery cell (12) by means of an electronic computing device (14) of the measuring device (10); setting a charging current value for charging the battery cell (12) at a cyclizer (16) of the measuring device (10) as a function of the target current value by means of the cyclizer (16); determining a temperature of the cyclizer (16) during the charging process by means of a temperature detection device (18) of the measuring device (10); adjusting the charging current value during the charging process as a function of the determined temperature in order to achieve the target current value by means of the cyclizer (16); charging the battery cell (12) using the adjusted charging current value by means of the cyclizer (16);and determining the property characterizing the battery cell (12) based on the charging process performed by means of the electronic computing device (14). The invention further relates to a computer program product, a computer-readable storage medium, and a measuring device (10).