Battery Enclosure Impedance Sensing for Swelling Anomaly Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumer electronic devices face issues with battery swelling due to heat, which can lead to degradation, damage, or catastrophic failure, potentially causing safety hazards and device failure, and existing technologies lack effective methods to detect and mitigate these anomalies.
Innovation Solution
A battery anomaly detection system that utilizes a circuit with a switch and a microcontroller to measure impedance across a resistor, distinguishing between normal and anomalous conditions by disconnecting an electrically conductive surface from ground and connecting it to a resistance measurement channel, allowing for classification of anomalies such as battery swelling, water ingress, or loose parts, and triggering remedial actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gap is provided between the battery and other components to allow for normal swelling, then the battery can tolerate normal swelling without damage, but the system cannot distinguish between normal swelling and anomalous swelling that indicates overheating or failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or sensor-based anomaly detection systems with a simple electrical impedance measurement system. By measuring the impedance between the battery case and an electrically conductive surface, the system can distinguish between normal and anomalous swelling without requiring complex mechanical sensors or multiple components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the battery case itself as both a structural component and a sensing element. The battery case's electrical properties are leveraged to detect anomalies, eliminating the need for separate sensing components and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Measurement precision
If traditional sensing methods are used to detect battery swelling, then anomaly detection may be achieved, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes complex mechanical or optical sensing systems with a simple electrical impedance measurement approach. The circuit measures impedance between the battery case and an electrically conductive surface, providing accurate anomaly detection using basic electrical components rather than complex sensing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent detects battery anomalies by monitoring changes in electrical impedance parameters. As the battery swells abnormally, the impedance between the battery case and the electrically conductive surface changes, providing a simple yet effective measurement method that avoids complex detection systems.
3Device complexity
If no anomaly detection system is implemented, then the device structure remains simple, but the risk of catastrophic battery failure and safety hazards increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary anomaly detection by continuously monitoring battery impedance before catastrophic failure occurs. The system detects early signs of abnormal swelling or overheating and can trigger remedial actions such as alerting the user or shutting down charging, preventing safety hazards before they materialize.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where impedance measurements are continuously monitored and compared against safe thresholds. When anomalies are detected, the system provides feedback through user alerts or automated responses, creating a closed-loop safety system that actively prevents catastrophic failure while maintaining simple device structure.
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
The system effectively detects and classifies anomalies, preventing battery degradation and device failure by altering charging profiles, powering down components, or notifying users, thereby increasing safety and reducing the risk of leakage or fire.
Implementation Method 1
A battery anomaly detection system may include a circuit 302 and a microcontroller 304 to determine an impedance of a sub-circuit 324
Data Source
AI summary
For electronic devices that have an electrically conductive surface across a gap from a battery enclosure, the described circuit may be used to detect an anomalous event. The circuit may connect the battery enclosure to ground and may include a switch that operably connects the electrically conductive surface to ground or, upon actuation of the switch, to a portion of the circuit including a resistor. In an anomaly detection mode, the switch is controlled to disconnect the surface from ground and to connect the surface to a resistance measurement channel and a resistor that is connected to the sub-circuit and ground. The system may determine an impedance across the resistor and may use the measured impedance to detect and/or classify an anomalous event.