Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for mitigating distribution of metallic debris associated with a catastrophic failure of a battery pack. According to one embodiment, a battery pack includes a first lithium-ion battery cell; a first magnetic surface; and an enclosure. The first magnetic surface may be configured (e.g. positioned) to attract metallic debris associated with a catastrophic failure of the first lithium-ion battery cell. The catastrophic failure may be a result of thermal runaway of the first lithium-ion battery cell.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for providing galvanic isolation and low power wakeup of circuitry. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes first isolation circuitry, second isolation circuitry, and first control circuitry. The first isolation circuitry includes a first primary interface and a first secondary interface. The first primary interface is galvanically isolated from the first secondary interface. The second isolation circuitry includes a second primary interface and a second secondary interface. The second primary interface is galvanically isolated from the second secondary interface. The first control circuitry is electrically coupled with the first secondary interface and the second secondary interface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for supporting the transition to lithium-ion batteries and leveraging the value that lithium-ion batteries offer in double conversion uninterruptible power supply (UPS) applications. According to one embodiment, a UPS system includes an alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) rectifier configured to be electrically coupled with an AC source, a DC to AC inverter configured to be electrically coupled with an AC load, a DC bus electrically coupled between the AC to DC rectifier and the DC to AC inverter. The UPS system also includes a diode electrically coupled between the DC bus and a first battery cell of a plurality of battery cells, and a by-pass relay having a first terminal electrically coupled with an anode of the diode and a second terminal electrically coupled with a cathode of the diode.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for supporting the transition to lithium-ion batteries and leveraging the value that lithium-ion batteries offer in double conversion uninterruptible power supply (UPS) applications. In one embodiment, a battery pack includes (1) a plurality of battery cells electrically coupled between a positive terminal and a negative terminal; (2) monitoring and control circuitry electrically coupled with the plurality of battery cells; (3) a controller electrically coupled with the monitoring and control circuitry; (4) a communication interface and electrically coupled with the communication interface; and (5) a user interface. The monitoring and control circuitry includes a plurality of integrated shunt resistors and a plurality of integrated load circuits electrically coupled with the plurality of battery cells.

Abstract: An apparatus for optically monitoring a fluid level of a container comprises a light emitter(s), a plurality of optical detectors, and a control system. The light emitter(s) is configured to emit light toward a target surface when positioned, at a fluid threshold level, on the outside of the container. Upper and lower optical detectors are configured to receive light reflected from the target surface when positioned on the outside of the container above and below the fluid threshold level. The control system detects, based on measured reflectance received by the upper and lower optical detector, whether the upper optical detector is above the fluid level and whether at least a portion of the lower optical detector is above the fluid level, and determines, based on these detections, whether the level of fluid within the container has dropped below the fluid threshold level.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for determining a state-of-health (SOH) of battery systems over extended temperatures. According to one embodiment, a computer implemented method includes (1) receiving measured temperature data and measured ohmic value data associated with a battery cell; (2) determining an estimated battery cell electrolyte temperature based on the measured temperature data; (3) determining a normalized ohmic value based on the measured ohmic value data and the estimated battery cell electrolyte temperature, wherein the normalized ohmic value is related to a normalized temperature; and (4) transmitting, to at least one of a graphical user interface (GUI) and a battery log, an indication of an SOH of the battery cell based upon the normalized ohmic value being greater than a normalized maximum ohmic value, wherein the normalized maximum ohmic value is indicative of an abnormal SOH of the battery cell for the normalized temperature.

Abstract: Non-sequential monitoring of battery cells in battery monitoring systems, and related components, systems, and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a battery monitoring system control unit is provided. The battery monitoring system control unit is configured to control battery monitoring devices. Each battery monitoring device is configured to be coupled to a subset of battery cells electrically connected in series in a sequential order to form a battery. The battery monitoring system control unit is further configured to instruct the battery monitoring devices to test an ohmic value of each battery cell of the battery cells of the battery in a non-sequential order. In this manner, heat generated in the battery monitoring devices from the testing may be more effectively dissipated, which can also allow for the battery monitoring devices to be employed in higher operating temperature environments.

Abstract: Reducing or avoiding noise in measured signals of a tested battery cell(s) in a battery power system is disclosed. A battery monitoring device(s) coupled to a tested battery cell(s) applies test current pulses at a predetermined frequency to place an effective alternating current (AC) load on the tested battery cell(s). The resulting AC voltage signal generated across the tested battery cell(s) is sampled at the frequency of the test current to convert the AC voltage signal to a direct current (DC) voltage signal to be measured to determine the state-of-health of the tested battery cell(s). To avoid or reduce noise in the DC voltage signal, a noise spectrum of noise signals at defined frequencies induced on the tested battery cell(s) is determined. The battery monitoring device sets the frequency of the test current pulse at a determined reduced-noise frequency to avoid noise signals being present in the DC voltage signal.

Abstract: Reducing or avoiding noise in measured signals of a tested battery cell(s) in a battery power system is disclosed. A battery monitoring device(s) coupled to a tested battery cell(s) applies test current pulses at a predetermined frequency to place an effective alternating current (AC) load on the tested battery cell(s). The resulting AC voltage signal generated across the tested battery cell(s) is sampled at the frequency of the test current to convert the AC voltage signal to a direct current (DC) voltage signal to be measured to determine the state-of-health of the tested battery cell(s). To avoid or reduce noise in the DC voltage signal, a noise spectrum of noise signals at defined frequencies induced on the tested battery cell(s) is determined. The battery monitoring device sets the frequency of the test current pulse at a determined reduced-noise frequency to avoid noise signals being present in the DC voltage signal.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed include automatically determining alarm threshold settings for monitored battery cells in battery systems. Battery monitoring control units are provided that are configured to initiate battery performance tests (e.g., ohmic tests) on battery cells in a battery system. Failing battery cells are identified as those battery cells having battery performance characteristics outside defined battery performance threshold settings. An initial performance alarm threshold setting is established for each battery cell because of unique performance characteristics that can substantially change during initial charging cycles before the battery cells have settled. A settled performance alarm threshold setting specific to each battery cell is then established based on battery cell performance during the defined settling time period.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed include automatically determining alarm threshold settings for monitored battery cells in battery systems. Battery monitoring control units are provided that are configured to initiate battery performance tests (e.g., ohmic tests) on battery cells in a battery system. Failing battery cells are identified as those battery cells having battery performance characteristics outside defined battery performance threshold settings. An initial performance alarm threshold setting is established for each battery cell because of unique performance characteristics that can substantially change during initial charging cycles before the battery cells have settled. A settled performance alarm threshold setting specific to each battery cell is then established based on battery cell performance during the defined settling time period.

Abstract: Non-sequential monitoring of battery cells in battery monitoring systems, and related components, systems, and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a battery monitoring system control unit is provided. The battery monitoring system control unit is configured to control battery monitoring devices. Each battery monitoring device is configured to be coupled to a subset of battery cells electrically connected in series in a sequential order to form a battery. The battery monitoring system control unit is further configured to instruct the battery monitoring devices to test an ohmic value of each battery cell of the battery cells of the battery in a non-sequential order. In this manner, heat generated in the battery monitoring devices from the testing may be more effectively dissipated, which can also allow for the battery monitoring devices to be employed in higher operating temperature environments.