Bipolar Collector Foil Temperature Detection via Potential Difference

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric storage devices face complexity in temperature measurement, which affects power generation efficiency and safety, due to intricate structures requiring heat-conducting members or thermocouples for temperature detection.

Innovation Solution

An electric storage device with a bipolar configuration using laminated metal plates of different metals, where the potential difference between these plates is measured to detect temperature and abnormalities, allowing for internal temperature monitoring without inserting temperature-measuring devices, thus simplifying the structure and preventing interference with chemical reactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If heat-conducting members or thermocouples are inserted into battery cells for temperature measurement, then temperature detection capability is improved, but device structure becomes complicated and interference with chemical reactions occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature detectionVSAvoidstructure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery cell itself serves as the temperature sensor by utilizing its own electrochemical potential difference in response to temperature changes. The open circuit voltage between the positive and negative electrodes changes predictably with temperature, allowing the battery to self-diagnose its temperature without external sensing components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical/physical temperature sensing devices (thermocouples, heat-conducting members) with an electrochemical measurement system. By measuring the open circuit voltage, which has a known temperature coefficient, the system substitutes direct thermal measurement with electrical measurement that indirectly indicates temperature.

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

2Measurement precision

If heat-conducting members are inserted into battery cells for temperature measurement, then temperature detection capability is improved, but the measurement structure becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature detectionVSAvoidmeasurement structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The battery cell itself serves as the temperature sensor by utilizing its own electrochemical potential difference in response to temperature changes. The open circuit voltage between the positive and negative electrodes changes predictably with temperature, allowing the battery to self-diagnose its temperature without external sensing components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If thermocouples are wrapped around stacked electrode bodies for temperature measurement, then internal temperature can be measured, but the measurement structure becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinternal temperature measurementVSAvoidmeasurement structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery cell itself serves as the temperature sensor by utilizing its own electrochemical potential difference in response to temperature changes. The open circuit voltage between the positive and negative electrodes changes predictably with temperature, allowing the battery to self-diagnose its temperature without external sensing components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the temperature measurement function from separate external components and integrates it into the inherent electrochemical properties of the battery cell itself. By removing the need for thermocouples and heat-conducting members, the solution simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 effective detection of temperature and abnormalities within the device, improving power generation efficiency and safety by simplifying the measurement process and avoiding interference with battery cell reactions.

Implementation Method 1

a potential difference measuring means for measuring a potential difference between the first and second metal plates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSeebeck effect: Seebeck Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2043188B1Electric storage device
Publication Date: 2012.12.19 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP2043188B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2043188B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2043188B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An electric storage device is provided with a battery cell (25), a collector foil (29) having a first metal plate (11) and a second metal plate (12) laminated together, and a voltmeter (13) for measuring potential difference between the first metal plate (11) and the second metal plate (12). The first metal plate (11) and the second metal plate (12) are formed of mutually different metals. The collector foil (29) is arranged to be in contact with the battery cell (25).