Battery Cell Thermal Bridge for Accurate Internal Temperature Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery cells with temperature sensors face challenges in accurately and quickly measuring the internal cell temperature due to the distance between the sensor and the cell interior, as well as interference from the housing and gas within it.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a thermal-conducting part made of heat-conducting materials, such as metals or thermal pads, within the battery cell housing, which is thermally connected to the temperature sensor, creating a direct thermal bridge between the cell interior and the sensor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the temperature sensor is arranged on the electrical connection or housing, then the sensor is easily accessible and simple to mount, but the measurement distance from the cell interior is large causing inaccurate and slow temperature detection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of sensor mountingVSAvoidtemperature measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

A heat-conducting part is introduced as an intermediary element between the cell interior and the temperature sensor. This mediator conducts heat from the cell interior to the sensor, enabling accurate temperature measurement while keeping the sensor mounted on the accessible housing exterior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The solution moves the temperature measurement function from direct contact with the cell interior to an external location on the housing, using a thermal conduction path that extends the measurement capability across spatial dimensions without requiring internal sensor placement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If the temperature sensor is placed close to the cell interior for accurate measurement, then temperature detection precision improves, but the sensor mounting becomes more complex and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature measurement accuracyVSAvoidsensor mounting complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heat-conducting part serves as a thermal intermediary that bridges the gap between the cell interior and the externally mounted sensor, achieving accurate temperature measurement without requiring complex internal sensor installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature sensor is extracted from the cell interior location and placed on the external housing, with the heat-conducting part serving as a thermal extension that maintains measurement accuracy while simplifying the mounting structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If the housing and gas are present in the battery cell, then the cell structure is complete and protective, but they impair heat transfer between the cell interior and the temperature sensor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell structure integrityVSAvoidheat transfer efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The heat-conducting part acts as a dedicated thermal intermediary that creates an efficient heat transfer path bypassing the thermal resistance of the housing and gas, while the housing maintains its protective structural function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The thermal conduction path is segmented from the general housing structure, creating a dedicated heat transfer channel that separates the structural function of the housing from the thermal measurement function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 configuration allows for precise and rapid temperature measurement of the cell interior, reducing external interference and improving the accuracy and speed of temperature detection without additional devices.

Implementation Method 1

a heat-conducting part (13), wherein the heat-conducting part (13) is different from the electrode (19) and is arranged entirely or partially within the housing (17) and is thermally connected to the temperature sensor (14)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3526852B1Battery cell comprising a temperature sensor
Publication Date: 2025.04.09 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • EP3526852B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3526852B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Disclosed is a battery cell (10) comprising an electrode (19), a housing (17), a cell interior (16) inside the housing (17), and a temperature sensor (14), characterized in that the battery cell (10) includes a heat-conducting part (13) which differs from the electrode (19), is entirely or partially disposed inside the housing (17) of the battery cell (10), and is thermally connected to the temperature sensor (14).