Battery Rest-Voltage Time Constants for Soft Short Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting battery short circuits in electronic devices are impractical due to computational heaviness, require months of data accumulation, and lack accuracy, especially for early detection of soft shorts above 300Ω, which are indistinguishable from healthy battery states.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that trigger a rest phase in the battery, determine a first time constant based on rest voltage, estimate a short-resistance value by comparing this with a second time constant, and make a short circuit determination based on temperature or charging range, allowing early detection of short circuits without requiring special equipment or historical data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing detection methods are used, then computational accuracy is improved, but device complexity and data requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential feature needed for detection - the rest voltage time constant - from the complex battery behavior. By focusing solely on measuring the time constant during rest phase rather than analyzing complete battery states or accumulating historical data, the solution achieves accurate soft short detection while dramatically reducing computational complexity and eliminating the need for extensive data accumulation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a simple, temporary rest phase measurement approach that requires no persistent storage or complex processing infrastructure. The detection uses a brief rest period with simple voltage sampling, effectively replacing complex continuous monitoring systems with a lightweight, on-demand measurement that achieves the same detection goal with minimal resources.
2Reliability
If existing detection methods are used, then detection capability is improved, but loss of time increases due to data accumulation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the detection action immediately by triggering a rest phase whenever needed, rather than waiting for predetermined data accumulation periods. The rest phase measurement can be initiated at any time to detect soft shorts, eliminating the time loss associated with accumulating months of battery data before detection becomes possible.
3Measurement precision
If existing detection methods are used, then detection range is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to special equipment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the detection system universal by using the existing battery management system's voltage measurement capabilities that are already present in all battery-operated devices. The rest phase time constant measurement uses the same voltage sensing infrastructure already required for normal battery management, eliminating the need for special detection equipment and simplifying implementation across different device types.
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 and early detection of short circuits up to 300Ω, reducing the risk of fires by identifying potential risks quickly and efficiently, applicable to existing devices without the need for additional hardware or data accumulation.
Implementation Method 1
determine a first time constant related to a rest voltage of the battery, wherein the rest voltage is determined while the battery is in the rest phase
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a method and device with battery short circuit detection. A method of detecting a short circuit in a battery includes: triggering a rest phase of the battery, determining a first time constant related to a rest voltage of the battery when the battery may be in the rest phase, estimating a first short-resistance value by comparing the first time constant with a second time constant related to a voltage of the battery, and making a short circuit determination for the battery based on a result of comparing the first short-resistance value and a second short-resistance value, wherein the first time constant and the second time constant may be determined with reference to either a temperature range or a charging range of the electronic device.