Battery Electrode Loading Diagnosis Without Cell Disassembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods cannot accurately determine the composition ratio of active material, conductive material, and binder in a battery's negative electrode without disassembling it, affecting battery performance consistency.

Innovation Solution

A battery diagnosis apparatus and method that uses a profile determination unit to adjust reference profiles to fit a measured full-cell profile, calculating negative electrode loading amount and comparing resistance and loading amount ranges to diagnose the condition of the battery, allowing non-destructive assessment of active material, conductive material, and binder amounts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the battery is disassembled to directly analyze the electrode composition ratio, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and loss of time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomposition ratio measurement precisionVSAvoiddisassembly process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary measurement approach by measuring the overall battery properties (internal resistance, capacity, voltage characteristics) rather than directly measuring the electrode composition. These battery-level measurements serve as mediators that correlate with the electrode composition ratio, enabling indirect but accurate diagnosis without disassembly. The method uses the relationship between battery performance parameters and electrode composition to infer the composition ratio through comparison with reference data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical disassembly process with an electrical measurement system. Instead of physically taking apart the battery to access the electrode, the method uses electrical measurements (internal resistance, capacity, voltage profiles) to diagnose the electrode composition. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical intervention while maintaining measurement accuracy through sophisticated electrical characterization techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If the battery is disassembled to analyze the electrode, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomposition ratio measurement precisionVSAvoiddiagnosis time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing reference data and diagnostic models during the battery design and manufacturing phases. Reference batteries with known compositions are characterized in advance, and the relationships between their performance parameters and composition ratios are stored as reference data. When diagnosing a production battery, these pre-established references enable rapid comparison and immediate diagnosis without requiring time-consuming analysis procedures during the actual measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the time-consuming mechanical disassembly and direct analysis process with rapid electrical measurements. The method measures battery-level parameters (internal resistance, capacity, voltage) that can be obtained quickly without physical intervention, and uses computational algorithms to infer electrode composition from these measurements, dramatically reducing diagnosis time while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If non-destructive diagnosis method is used, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnosis operation simplicityVSAvoidcomposition ratio measurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by measuring multiple battery parameters (internal resistance, capacity, voltage characteristics) and using these measurements to iteratively refine the diagnosis of electrode composition. The method compares measured values with reference data and adjusts the composition assessment based on the degree of match, providing feedback loops that enhance precision. This multi-parameter feedback approach allows the simple non-destructive measurement process to achieve high diagnostic accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies universality by using the same non-destructive measurement approach (electrical characterization) to diagnose multiple aspects of battery health and composition simultaneously. The method measures internal resistance, capacity, and voltage profiles, and uses this multi-functional measurement data to infer various electrode properties including composition ratio, active material content, and overall battery condition, thereby achieving high precision through a single versatile diagnostic system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4644928A1Apparatus and method for diagnosing battery
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4644928A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4644928A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4644928A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A battery diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a profile determination unit configured to determine a negative electrode profile of a battery by adjusting a reference positive electrode profile and a reference negative electrode profile to fit into a measured full-cell profile indicating a correspondence relationship between capacity and voltage of the battery; a loading amount calculation unit configured to calculate a negative electrode loading amount of the battery based on the negative electrode profile of the battery; and a condition diagnosis unit configured to compare a resistance of the battery with a preset resistance range and the negative electrode loading amount of the battery with a preset loading amount range, and diagnose a condition of the battery based on the resistance comparison result and the negative electrode loading amount comparison result.