Secondary Battery Protection Apparatus Preventing Swelling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods fail to effectively prevent the swelling phenomenon in secondary batteries, which can lead to electrical short circuits and explosions, especially in slim mobile products where additional space for swelling is not feasible.
Innovation Solution
A protection apparatus that monitors temperature and voltage to estimate the risk of swelling, controlling charging and discharging operations by adjusting current and voltage, and forcibly discharging the battery when necessary to prevent swelling, using a system with a measurement unit, temperature estimation unit, and charging/discharging control unit to manage swelling conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If extra space is provided in battery pack to accommodate swelling, then swelling phenomenon can be tolerated, but product thickness increases and fundamental solution is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The protection apparatus performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring temperature and voltage before swelling occurs. It estimates future temperature trends and proactively adjusts charging/discharging operations to prevent swelling, rather than merely accommodating it with extra space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of providing physical extra space with an electronic control system that monitors electrical parameters (temperature, voltage) and actively manages battery operations to prevent swelling through intelligent control algorithms.
2Measurement precision
If temperature and voltage monitoring is performed to detect swelling, then swelling can be detected, but response is delayed and fundamental prevention is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment by monitoring temperature and voltage trends to estimate future temperature. It identifies potential swelling risks before actual swelling occurs, enabling preventive action rather than reactive detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection apparatus implements continuous feedback loops where temperature and voltage measurements are constantly monitored, compared against safety thresholds, and used to adjust charging/discharging operations in real-time, creating a closed-loop control system.
3Reliability
If charging operation is interrupted when temperature-rise rate increases, then swelling risk is reduced, but charging efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of completely interrupting charging when temperature rise is detected, the system applies partial action by adjusting charging current to appropriate levels. This allows charging to continue at reduced intensity, balancing safety with charging efficiency rather than complete shutdown.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging/discharging control dynamically adjusts operating parameters based on real-time temperature and voltage conditions. The system adapts charging current and voltage levels according to battery state, optimizing both safety and charging speed under varying conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
A protection apparatus for a secondary battery includes a memory unit, a measurement unit, a temperature estimation unit and a charging/discharging control unit. The memory unit stores first and second swelling conditions of temperatures and voltages of the secondary battery. The measurement unit measures temperatures and voltages of the secondary battery according to predetermined measurement periods. The temperature estimation unit estimates a temperature after a predetermined time using the temperatures measured in the measurement unit when the measured temperatures and voltages satisfy the first swelling condition. The charging/discharging control unit controls charging/discharging of the secondary battery when the estimated temperature and the measured voltage satisfy the second swelling condition.