Multi-terminal Battery Sensor Terminal Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles and grid energy storage lack integrated sensing, diagnostics, and control capabilities beyond traditional current, voltage, and temperature measurements, necessitating the development of multi-terminal batteries with sensor terminals for enhanced performance, life, and safety.
Innovation Solution
A multi-terminal battery design incorporating at least one negative terminal, one positive terminal, and one sensor terminal, where the sensor terminal does not carry electrical current but is used for sensing, communication, and control, enabling the detection of thermal, mechanical, chemical, electrical, temperature, gas pressure, voltage, stress, or strain, and can be integrated with a battery management system for real-time monitoring and safety mitigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional two-terminal battery design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but sensing and diagnostics capabilities are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The battery terminal structure is segmented into distinct functional terminals: current-carrying terminals (positive and negative) and a separate sensor terminal. This segmentation allows the sensor terminal to be dedicated exclusively to sensing and diagnostics functions without interfering with current flow, thereby improving reliability through specialized sensing capability while maintaining manageable structural complexity through clear functional separation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If sensor terminal is added to battery, then sensing and control capabilities are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor terminal serves multiple functions within a single structural element: it provides mechanical support for the sensor, establishes an electrical connection path for signal transmission, and acts as a sealed interface with the battery interior. This multi-functionality approach improves adaptability and versatility by enabling sensing, communication, and control capabilities while minimizing the increase in device complexity through consolidated design.
3Measurement precision
If sensor terminal does not carry current, then sensing accuracy is improved, but current carrying capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection system is segmented into separate current-carrying pathways and sensor signal pathways. The sensor terminal is exclusively assigned to the signal pathway, isolating it from high-current operations. This segmentation ensures that sensing measurements are not contaminated by electromagnetic interference or voltage drops associated with current flow, thereby improving measurement precision while the overall battery system maintains full power capability through the dedicated current-carrying terminals.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery with three types of terminals is disclosed. The terminals include at least one negative terminal, at least one positive terminal, and at least one sensor terminal. The negative and positive terminals carry current during battery operation, while the sensor terminal is used to sense, communicate and/or control certain aspects of the battery. The sensor terminal can also be connected to external electronic units for sensing, communication and control of the battery usage.