Cell Test Jig for Module-Like Thermal and Pressure Simulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies lack the ability to simulate an environment identical or similar to that of a battery module or pack during cell-level testing, leading to inadequate performance verification and increased test costs and duration.

Innovation Solution

A cell test jig comprising a first and second plate, a heating pad, and a cooling plate, with temperature and surface pressure sensors, designed to replicate the conditions of a battery module or pack, allowing accurate testing of a single cell.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cell-level testing is performed without environmental simulation, then test cost and duration are reduced, but test accuracy and reliability deteriorate because the results do not reflect actual battery module or pack conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetest result accuracyVSAvoidtest jig structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The test jig creates a simplified copy of the battery module or pack environment by simulating key conditions (thermal coupling, mechanical pressure, electrical connectivity) without requiring actual module or pack assembly. This allows cell-level testing to produce results that accurately reflect higher-level system behavior while maintaining test simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The test jig acts as an intermediary device between the single cell being tested and the complex battery module or pack environment. It mediates by providing simulated environmental conditions (thermal plates, pressure application, electrical connections) that bridge the gap between simple cell testing and complex system testing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If battery module or pack level testing is performed, then comprehensive performance verification is achieved, but test cost and duration increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance verificationVSAvoidtest period
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the essential environmental conditions from the complete battery module or pack system and isolates them in a simplified test jig. By taking out only the critical simulation elements (thermal plates, pressure mechanism, electrical connections) needed to replicate module/pack behavior, the test can be performed on a single cell rather than the entire assembly, dramatically reducing test time and cost while maintaining verification reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If thermal simulation components are added to the test jig, then environmental simulation accuracy improves, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental simulation accuracyVSAvoidtest jig fabrication
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The thermal simulation uses plates with locally differentiated properties - first plates provide structural support and insulation, while second plates provide active heating or cooling. This local quality differentiation achieves accurate thermal simulation only where needed (at the cell contact interfaces) rather than requiring complex thermal control throughout the entire device, simplifying manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 results similar to those obtained from testing a battery module or pack by simulating the necessary environmental conditions, reducing test costs and duration while providing objective data for automobile OEMs.

Implementation Method 1

The heating pad may be configured to generate heat, thereby heating the cell

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat generation: Heating

Implementation Method 2

a cooling fluid may flow inside the cooling plate to cool the cell

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection cooling: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4648172A1Cell test jig
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4648172A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4648172A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4648172A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention relates to a cell test jig, and more particularly, to a cell test jig, which is capable of simulating an environment that is identical or similar to that in a battery module or a battery pack, so that even when testing one cell, results that are identical or similar to those obtained by testing the battery module or the battery pack may be obtained. A cell test jig used for testing a cell according to the present invention includes a first plate configured to cover one surface of the cell, a second plate configured to cover the other surface that is a surface opposite to the one surface of the cell, a heating pad disposed between the first plate and the second plate and disposed adjacent to one side surface of the cell, which is configured to connect the one surface and the other surface of the cell to each other, and a cooling plate disposed between the first plate and the second plate and disposed adjacent to the other side surface of the cell, which is a surface opposite to the one side surface of the cell.