Automatic Battery Depassivation in Cash Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium batteries in cash and valuables containers often undergo passivation during non-use, leading to a decrease in clamp voltage and rendering the battery and associated devices non-functional, requiring manual depassivation which is time-consuming and inconvenient for applications that require immediate readiness.
Innovation Solution
A method for automatically depassivating the battery by integrating a depassivation routine into existing control procedures, utilizing a control circuit to execute depassivation before activation or deactivation of components, ensuring the battery is fully operational before starting standard procedures, and monitoring clamp voltage to confirm successful depassivation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual depassivation is performed by connecting an auxiliary load to the battery terminals, then the passivation film is removed and the battery becomes operational, but the process is time-consuming and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit automatically performs depassivation action in advance before the battery is needed for operation. By integrating the depassivation routine into the control circuit, the system proactively removes the passivation film during non-use periods or before activation, ensuring the battery is ready without requiring manual intervention at the moment of need.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery system performs its own depassivation automatically through the control circuit without external manual intervention. The control circuit monitors battery status and autonomously executes the depassivation sequence by connecting the appropriate load, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for user action.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the battery is left in stored non-use mode, then the battery maintains its charge, but a passivation film forms that reduces clamp voltage and renders the battery non-functional
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit implements periodic depassivation cycles during the battery's storage period. Rather than continuous operation, the system automatically initiates depassivation at predetermined intervals or upon detection of passivation conditions, balancing the need to maintain battery readiness with the need to preserve storage life by minimizing active discharge cycles.
3Ease of operation
If a depassivation routine is integrated into control procedures, then automatic depassivation is achieved and immediate operational readiness is ensured, but the control circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The depassivation functionality is merged with the existing control circuit that already manages battery operations. By combining the depassivation routine with the existing control logic for battery activation and monitoring, the system achieves automatic depassivation without adding a completely separate control mechanism, thus limiting the increase in overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit is designed to perform multiple functions: it monitors battery status, manages activation/deactivation sequences, and executes depassivation routines. By making the control circuit universal and multi-functional, the patent avoids the need for dedicated separate circuits for each function, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity while achieving comprehensive automatic battery management.
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
Ensures that cash and valuables containers are always ready for use by automatically checking and depassivating the battery, preventing delivery or reactivation with insufficient battery quality and maintaining operational readiness through integration with existing hardware and software.
Implementation Method 1
Due to the chemical structure of certain battery types, especially of lithium batteries, there may happen a passivation during the non-use/storage of the battery. This means that in a stored and unused battery a passivation film is formed which causes the clamp voltage of the battery to decrease under load
Implementation Method 2
Usually, a depassivation of the battery is carried out manually by connecting a certain load (auxiliary load) to the battery terminals/clamps, in order to remove the passivation film before the battery is put into normal operation
Data Source
AI summary
A method (100) for depassivation of a battery (BATT) of a cash and valuables container (10) includes at least one electronically controllable component (14) and an associated control circuit (18) being supplied by the battery (BATT). The control circuit (18) executes at least one control procedure for the at least one electronically controllable component (14). The valuables container can be transportable, e.g. a cash box (10), and includes an invalidation unit, in particular an ink dyeing system (14). The control circuit (18) then also executes the depassivation (120) of the battery (BATT) each time before activating or deactivating the at least one control procedure (130) or a sub-routine thereof, such as the sub-routine for controlling and driving the ink dyeing system. Specifically, the depassivation of the battery (BATT) is performed before each first/initial execution of the least one control procedure (130).