Battery Cell Infrared Temperature Sensing Through Keyhole Apertures
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery temperature measurement systems often require physical contact, which can be disruptive and less efficient in high-vibration environments, and lack the ability to quickly assess temperature across multiple surfaces of battery cells.
Innovation Solution
A contactless infrared sensor system is used to measure battery cell temperatures via line-of-sight measurements through keyholes in an integrated interconnect board frame, allowing for rapid temperature assessment across multiple surfaces without physical contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical contact measurement methods are used, then the system structure is simple, but the measurement is disruptive and less efficient in high-vibration environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based temperature measurement with optical infrared measurement. The infrared sensor measures temperature remotely through the keyhole aperture without physical contact with battery cells, eliminating the disruption caused by mechanical contact while maintaining measurement reliability in high-vibration environments.
2Area of stationary object
If contactless infrared measurement is used, then the surface area coverage is maximized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The infrared sensor is integrated into the cell monitoring unit which also performs electrical monitoring functions. This multi-functional integration allows the system to maximize surface area coverage through contactless infrared measurement while minimizing additional device complexity by combining multiple functions in a single unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The keyhole aperture serves as an intermediary structure that enables infrared measurement access to battery cell surfaces without requiring direct sensor contact. This simple architectural feature allows the infrared sensor to measure temperature across multiple surfaces while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate measurement systems.
3Productivity
If multiple infrared sensors are used to measure multiple surfaces, then the temperature assessment speed increases, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery module endwall is segmented with multiple keyhole apertures positioned to provide access to different battery cell surfaces. Each keyhole can accommodate an infrared sensor, allowing segmented measurement of different surfaces simultaneously. This segmentation approach enables rapid temperature assessment while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular aperture design.
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 accurate, rapid temperature measurement of battery cells, minimizing system disruption and maximizing surface area coverage, particularly beneficial in identifying hot spots and preventing thermal runaway events.
Implementation Method 1
The temperature measuring device may include a plurality of infrared (IR) and/or other optical or non-contacting sensors configured to quickly obtain an accurate measurement of battery temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A cell temperature measurement system for a battery module is described. The system may include a cell monitoring unit (CMU) configured to generate temperature measurements for a plurality of battery cells included as part of the battery module according to contactless, optical, or line-of-sight measurements made with one or more sensors associated with a temperature measurement device.