Force Sensor Integrated Enveloping Film for Pouch Cell Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium-ion pouch cells face challenges due to their flexible housing, which can lead to sealing issues, pressure fluctuations, and potential inflation, posing safety risks such as gas leakage and fires, necessitating effective monitoring solutions.

Innovation Solution

A flexible film with integrated force sensors that measure mechanical stress, gas pressure, and temperature, allowing for real-time monitoring of the cell's state of charge, health, and hermeticity, enabling safer operation and recycling by detecting pressure changes and mechanical deformations without exposing the sensor to the electrolyte.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sensors are integrated into the pouch cell to monitor pressure and mechanical deformation, then safety monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety monitoring capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor is integrated directly into the enveloping film of the pouch cell, merging the monitoring function with the structural component. This allows safety monitoring capability to be improved while minimizing the increase in device complexity by utilizing existing structural elements rather than adding separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The enveloping film serves multiple functions: it provides structural containment and simultaneously acts as the substrate for the sensor that monitors pressure and mechanical deformation. This multi-functionality improves safety monitoring while avoiding the need for additional separate components that would increase device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If the sensor is placed inside the pouch cell to directly measure pressure, then measurement precision is improved, but the sensor requires additional protection from electrolyte exposure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoidpackaging complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The enveloping film acts as an intermediary between the sensor and the electrolyte. The sensor is placed on the outer surface of the enveloping film, which transmits pressure and mechanical deformation from the internal environment to the sensor without requiring direct contact, thus maintaining measurement precision while eliminating the need for additional protective packaging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If conventional sensors with separate bonding processes are used, then measurement capability is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor is integrated directly into the enveloping film during the film manufacturing process, merging the sensing function with the structural component. This eliminates the need for separate bonding processes and additional manufacturing steps, thereby maintaining measurement capability while significantly improving ease of manufacture and reducing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The solution provides reliable and cost-effective monitoring of pouch cells, enabling safer operation, faster charging, and preventing potential safety hazards by integrating sensors into the manufacturing process and avoiding additional bonding steps, thus simplifying packaging and enhancing safety features.

Implementation Method 1

the enveloping film has at least one force sensor for detecting a strain state of the enveloping film

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStrain detection: Deformation

Data Source

PatentEP2850671B1Galvanic element with covering film, electrochemical storage device, electrochemical storage system and method for determining a parameter of an electrochemical storage device
Publication Date: 2020.02.26 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2850671B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~2
  • EP2850671B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4A
  • EP2850671B1 patent drawingFigure 4B~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a covering film (400) for a galvanic element (410). Said covering film (400) comprises at least one force sensor (420, 430) for sensing a state of extension of the covering film (400).