Abstract: In one aspect, non-invasive methods are described in which combinations of certain battery parameter values are used to identify whether metal plating (e.g., lithium plating) has occurred during charging of a battery. In response to the detection of metal plating and/or conditions associated with metal plating, one or more characteristics of a charge process may be adjusted or adapted to maintain battery parameter values within a specified range. In some cases, after detection of metal plating, a battery charge process may be adjusted or adapted to remove metal plating from a battery's anode by a discharge pulse.

Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to applying a charge pulse to the terminals of the battery during a charging operation, measure a plurality of voltages of the battery which are in response to the first charge pulse, determine a charge pulse voltage (CPV) of the battery, wherein the charge pulse voltage is a peak voltage which is in response to the first charge pulse, determine whether the CPV of the battery is within a predetermined range or greater than a predetermined upper limit value and adapt one or more characteristics of a charge packet if the CPV is outside the predetermined range or is greater than a predetermined upper limit value.

Abstract: Systems and apparatus may carry out analysis of battery physical phenomena, and characterize batteries based on phenomena occurring in particular time and/or frequency domains. These systems may be additionally responsible for charging and/or monitoring a rechargeable battery. Examples of battery physical phenomena include mass transport (e.g., diffusion and/or migration) in battery electrolytes, mass transport in battery electrodes, and reactions on battery electrodes.

Abstract: Systems and apparatus may carry out analysis of battery physical phenomena, and characterize batteries based on phenomena occurring in particular time and/or frequency domains. These systems may be additionally responsible for charging and/or monitoring a rechargeable battery. Examples of battery physical phenomena include mass transport (e.g., diffusion and/or migration) in battery electrolytes, mass transport in battery electrodes, and reactions on battery electrodes.

Abstract: Batteries and associated charging conditions or other operating conditions are evaluated by a computational model that classifies or characterizes the battery and associated conditions. Such battery model may classify batteries according to any of many different considerations such as whether the conditions are safe or unsafe or whether the conditions are likely to unnecessarily degrade the future performance of the battery. In some cases, the battery model executes while the battery is installed in an electronic device such as a smart phone or a vehicle. In some cases, the battery model executes and provides results (e.g., a classification of the battery) in real time while the battery is installed and being charged.

Abstract: In one aspect, non-invasive methods are described in which combinations of certain battery parameter values are used to identify whether metal plating (e.g., lithium plating) has occurred during charging of a battery. In response to the detection of metal plating and/or conditions associated with metal plating, one or more characteristics of a charge process may be adjusted or adapted to maintain battery parameter values within a specified range. In some cases, after detection of metal plating, a battery charge process may be adjusted or adapted to remove metal plating from a battery's anode by a discharge pulse.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for identifying a battery type and/or a battery user. Measuring circuitry may be used to collect battery parameters that may be analyzed by control circuitry to create an adaptive charge profile that is applied to a battery by charging circuitry. Battery parameters may be recorded in a battery use signature. Logic may be used to process a battery use signature and identify a single user across multiple battery operated devices and/or discriminate between multiple users of a device. In some cases, battery use signature may be used to identify battery information including the make, model, and lot from which the battery was manufactured.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for measuring and managing swelling of rechargeable batteries in situ. Some implementations involve using capacity fade or state of health of rechargeable batteries to estimate swelling of the rechargeable batteries. Some implementations provide methods and systems for measuring battery swelling based on inductive or capacitive coupling between sensors and the battery. Some implementations provide means to manage or reduce swelling of rechargeable batteries by applying adaptive charging with consideration of battery swelling.

Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to applying a charge pulse to the terminals of the battery during a charging operation, measure a plurality of voltages of the battery which are in response to the first charge pulse, determine a charge pulse voltage (CPV) of the battery, wherein the charge pulse voltage is a peak voltage which is in response to the first charge pulse, determine whether the CPV of the battery is within a predetermined range or greater than a predetermined upper limit value and adapt one or more characteristics of a charge packet if the CPV is outside the predetermined range or is greater than a predetermined upper limit value.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for measuring and managing swelling of rechargeable batteries in situ. Some implementations involve using capacity fade or state of health of rechargeable batteries to estimate swelling of the rechargeable batteries. Some implementations provide methods and systems for measuring battery swelling based on inductive or capacitive coupling between sensors and the battery. Some implementations provide means to manage or reduce swelling of rechargeable batteries by applying adaptive charging with consideration of battery swelling.

Abstract: A wireless charging system for charging a battery may include wireless charging circuitry based on inductive coupling, where the wireless charging circuitry includes: control circuitry for adaptively charging or charging a battery/cell; and an output of the charging circuitry configured to apply an adapted, unregulated current and/or voltage to the battery. In certain embodiments, the adaptation of the unregulated current and/or voltage is based on the charging and/or operating conditions of the battery.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to charge a battery are disclosed. The method comprises applying a first charge signal to the battery, wherein the first charge signal is calculated to charge the battery as required by a first charge time parameter, the first charge-time parameter specifying a time to reach (i) a state of charge of the battery or (ii) a charge storage level corresponding to a usage time of the battery. The method further includes determining a second charge signal using feedback information and applying the second charge signal to the battery, wherein an adjustment from the first charge signal to the second charge signal improves a cycle life of the battery. An apparatus for charging the battery implementing the method is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for identifying a battery type and/or a battery user. Measuring circuitry may be used to collect battery parameters that may be analyzed by control circuitry to create an adaptive charge profile that is applied to a battery by charging circuitry. Battery parameters may be recorded in a battery use signature. Logic may be used to process a battery use signature and identify a single user across multiple battery operated devices and/or discriminate between multiple users of a device. In some cases, battery use signature may be used to identify battery information including the make, model, and lot from which the battery was manufactured.

Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to applying a charge pulse to the terminals of the battery during a charging operation, measure a plurality of voltages of the battery which are in response to the first charge pulse, determine a charge pulse voltage (CPV) of the battery, wherein the charge pulse voltage is a peak voltage which is in response to the first charge pulse, determine whether the CPV of the battery is within a predetermined range or greater than a predetermined upper limit value and adapt one or more characteristics of a charge packet if the CPV is outside the predetermined range or is greater than a predetermined upper limit value.

Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to applying a charge pulse to the terminals of the battery during a charging operation, measure a plurality of voltages of the battery which are in response to the first charge pulse, determine a charge pulse voltage (CPV) of the battery, wherein the charge pulse voltage is a peak voltage which is in response to the first charge pulse, determine whether the CPV of the battery is within a predetermined range or greater than a predetermined upper limit value and adapt one or more characteristics of a charge packet if the CPV is outside the predetermined range or is greater than a predetermined upper limit value.

Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to determining data which is representative of the state of health, or a change therein, of the battery using the data which is representative of (i) the relaxation time of the battery and/or (ii) the overpotential of the battery. In another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adapt one or more characteristics of a charge signal using data which is representative of the state of health, or a change therein, of the battery. In yet another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to determine a state of charge of the battery using data which is representative of the state of health, or a change therein, of the battery.

Abstract: A system to recharge a battery including a first current-voltage source to generate a first signal, a second current-voltage source to generate a second signal, a first inductor-capacitor circuit to generate the first DC current-voltage signal using the first signal, a second inductor-capacitor circuit to generate the second DC current-voltage signal using the second signal, wherein the first and second inductor-capacitor circuits are spaced apart by a predetermined distance. The system also includes a temperature sensor adapted to generate temperature data during the charging operation, and control circuitry configured to: (i) determine whether the first temperature data is out-of-specification, and (ii) generate one or more control signals to adjust the first and second DC current-voltage signals, in response to the first temperature data being out-of-specification.

Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adjust, correct and/or compensate a state of charge of the battery using the data which is representative of the relaxation time (e.g., full relaxation time) of the battery. The techniques and/or circuitry may determine the data which is representative of a relaxation time based on or using: (i) the rate of decay of the voltage at the terminals of the battery after terminating application of the charge current to the battery, (ii) a voltage which is constant or substantially constant after termination of the charge current and/or (iii) an amount of time associated with the decay of the voltage at the terminals of the battery to at least a measured or predetermined voltage. Notably, the charge signal or current may include a plurality of pulses.

Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to applying a charge pulse to the terminals of the battery during a charging operation, measure a plurality of voltages of the battery which are in response to the first charge pulse, determine a charge pulse voltage (CPV) of the battery, wherein the charge pulse voltage is a peak voltage which is in response to the first charge pulse, determine whether the CPV of the battery is within a predetermined range or greater than a predetermined upper limit value and adapt one or more characteristics of a charge packet if the CPV is outside the predetermined range or is greater than a predetermined upper limit value.

Abstract: Techniques and circuitry, in one embodiment, determine a temperature of a battery by applying a calibration packet to the battery's terminals and at the battery's first SOC, wherein the calibration packet includes a first pulse (charge or discharge) which temporally precedes a rest period. In one embodiment, measurement circuitry measures a first terminal voltage at a time immediately prior to or at a beginning of the first pulse of the calibration packet, and a second terminal voltage, in response to the calibration packet, at a time during the partial relaxation time period of a battery. Control circuitry determines a partial relaxation time voltage (VPRT) at the battery's first SOC using the first and second terminal voltages and determines a temperature of the battery by correlating the VPRT at the first SOC to a temperature of the battery at the battery's current SOH.