Abstract: A vehicle can comprise a battery cell, a monitoring device, and a controller. The monitoring device can comprise an ultrasound source and an ultrasound sensor. The ultrasound source can direct ultrasound at the battery cell, and the ultrasound sensor can detect ultrasound transmitted through or reflected from at least a portion of an interior of the battery cell. The ultrasound sensor can generate one or more signals responsive to the detected ultrasound. The controller can process the one or more signals from the ultrasound sensor and can output an indication of an internal state of the first battery cell.

Abstract: A monitoring device for a battery pack, which includes a plurality of battery cells, has at least one ultrasound source and at least one ultrasound sensor. The ultrasound source can be configured to generate and direct ultrasound at one or more battery cells of the battery pack. The ultrasound sensor can be configured to detect ultrasound reflected from or transmitted through one or more cells of the battery pack. A battery management unit receives one or more signals from the ultrasound sensor responsive to the detected ultrasound. The battery management unit can be configured to determine a state of the battery pack based at least in part on the detected ultrasound.

Abstract: A vehicle can comprise a battery cell, a monitoring device, and a controller. The monitoring device can comprise an ultrasound source and an ultrasound sensor. The ultrasound source can direct ultrasound at the battery cell, and the ultrasound sensor can detect ultrasound transmitted through or reflected from at least a portion of an interior of the battery cell. The ultrasound sensor can generate one or more signals responsive to the detected ultrasound. The controller can process the one or more signals from the ultrasound sensor and can output an indication of an internal state of the first battery cell.

Abstract: A system for assessment of a battery cell comprises a testing platform, a conveying system, one or more ultrasound sources, and one or more ultrasound sources, and a control unit. The conveying system can move the battery cell to the testing platform for assessment and from the testing platform after the assessment. The control unit can control the one or more ultrasound sources and the one or more ultrasound sensors to perform the assessment. The assessment can comprise determining a state of the battery cell based on the one or more signals generated by the one or more ultrasound sensors. The control unit can control the conveying system to direct the battery cell from the testing platform responsive to the assessment.

Abstract: A monitoring device for a battery pack, which includes a plurality of battery cells, has at least one ultrasound source and at least one ultrasound sensor. The ultrasound source can be configured to generate and direct ultrasound at one or more battery cells of the battery pack. The ultrasound sensor can be configured to detect ultrasound reflected from or transmitted through one or more cells of the battery pack. A battery management unit receives one or more signals from the ultrasound sensor responsive to the detected ultrasound. The battery management unit can be configured to determine a state of the battery pack based at least in part on the detected ultrasound.

Abstract: A monitoring device for a battery pack, which includes a plurality of battery cells, has at least one ultrasound source and at least one ultrasound sensor. The ultrasound source can be configured to generate and direct ultrasound at one or more battery cells of the battery pack. The ultrasound sensor can be configured to detect ultrasound reflected from or transmitted through one or more cells of the battery pack. A battery management unit receives one or more signals from the ultrasound sensor responsive to the detected ultrasound. The battery management unit can be configured to determine a state of the battery pack based at least in part on the detected ultrasound.

Abstract: A monitoring device for a battery pack, which includes a plurality of battery cells, has at least one ultrasound source and at least one ultrasound sensor. The ultrasound source can be configured to generate and direct ultrasound at one or more battery cells of the battery pack. The ultrasound sensor can be configured to detect ultrasound reflected from or transmitted through one or more cells of the battery pack. A battery management unit receives one or more signals from the ultrasound sensor responsive to the detected ultrasound. The battery management unit can be configured to determine a state of the battery pack based at least in part on the detected ultrasound.

Abstract: A monitoring device for a battery pack, which includes a plurality of battery cells, has at least one ultrasound source and at least one ultrasound sensor. The ultrasound source can be configured to generate and direct ultrasound at one or more battery cells of the battery pack. The ultrasound sensor can be configured to detect ultrasound reflected from or transmitted through one or more cells of the battery pack. A battery management unit receives one or more signals from the ultrasound sensor responsive to the detected ultrasound. The battery management unit can be configured to determine a state of the battery pack based at least in part on the detected ultrasound.

Abstract: A health monitoring device includes an ultrasound source and an ultrasound sensor. The ultrasound source can be configured to generate and direct ultrasound at an energy storage device. The ultrasound sensor can be configured to detect ultrasound reflected from or transmitted through the energy storage device and to generate a signal responsive to the detected ultrasound from the energy storage device. A control unit can be configured to determine a state of health of the energy storage device based on the signal from the ultrasound sensor.

Abstract: This invention provides two methods for detecting mechanical or electrical faults in a solenoid valve. In the first method, a force sensor is placed in the valve in such a way as to detect changes in the impact force of the plunger against the solenoid valve body or coil housing (depending upon the direction of movement of the plunger upon application of the electric current/magnetic field). A second method is provided which makes use of an accelerometer placed in such a way as to detect changes in the response of the plunger to the application of the magnetic field.

Abstract: A method for determining the maximum capacity a battery to store charge for the benefit of state of charge and state of health determinations, otherwise known as the maximum capacity estimator, is described. In an embodiment, a memory storage unit is used to collect input data from a battery or battery pack over the life cycle of the battery. As the battery operates, discharge cycles are analyzed to determine the similarity between different cycles throughout the operational phase. The maximum capacity at a given time for storing charge is then determined by comparing the trend of capacity loss in similar cycles and then applying that trend to the reduction of the maximum capacity of the battery. This method allows state of health and state of charge measurements to be made and updated with respect to battery degradation without the need for scheduled maintenance checks-ups such as mandatory discharge cycles or impedance/resistance measurements.

Abstract: A computer-aided health monitoring method is described for thermal monitoring of a battery pack that consists of using modeling to determine temperature distributions representative of safe battery operating conditions and a technique is described for comparing sensor measurements to a look-up table of the pre-modeled temperature profiles under various operating conditions. In one embodiment a simplified model of temperature distribution is described.

Abstract: A strain gauge sensor system is disclosed for monitoring changes in stain of a battery surface, said change in strain indicative of internal changes in the battery. The sensor system comprises a wire grid based sensor, the sensor electrically connected though for example a Wheatstone bridge to an RFID tag. In the presence of an RFID reader, the sensor system is activated, a signal representative of the resistance of the wire grid (and thus grid strain) transmitted to the reader, and the resistance value compared to resistance values for the healthy state of the battery.

Abstract: A health monitoring device includes an ultrasound source and an ultrasound sensor. The ultrasound source can be configured to generate and direct ultrasound at an energy storage device. The ultrasound sensor can be configured to detect ultrasound reflected from or transmitted through the energy storage device and to generate a signal responsive to the detected ultrasound from the energy storage device. A control unit can be configured to determine a state of health of the energy storage device based on the signal from the ultrasound sensor.

Abstract: A label-free RF MEMS-based biosensor is described for detecting biomarkers in a given environment. The biosensor is capable of sensing the presence of biomarkers by exploiting both its mechanical and electrical characteristics. In addition, the method employed for detecting mechanical deflections due to antigen-antibody binding uses a simple electrical circuitry which allows the sensor to be used at any location and time. Such a sensor, when placed in a matrix like structure allows for the detection of multiple biomarkers simultaneously.

Abstract: A biodegradable, bio-compatible material is described for use in wireless biosensors for point-of-care applications. The biosensor made from this biomaterial is capable of sensing environmental effects and as well as presence of bio-logical entities in the environment of concern simultaneously. Such a sensor can be used for evaluating point-of-care environmental preparedness for a specific patient through continuous monitoring of patient health performance due to environmental exposure. A two-tier network architecture is established for real-time monitoring (static case) that also provides warning of accumulated exposure. Wavelet analysis can be used to identify anomalies in the sensed data to initiate a warning.

Abstract: Described herein is an energy harvesting device and a method for its fabrication for the harvesting of solar energy. Solar energy is absorbed using a photosensitive material which is coated upon a flexible membrane, which is suspended over a metal signal line of an RF MEMS structure. By controlling the discharge sequence the stored electrical charge can be transferred as high voltage pulses to an external load or rechargeable batteries. The output voltage can be adjusted by controlling the on/off frequency of operation of the switch.

Abstract: A label-free RF MEMS-based biosensor is described for detecting biomarkers in a given environment. The biosensor is capable of sensing the presence of biomarkers by exploiting both its mechanical and electrical characteristics. In addition, the method employed for detecting mechanical deflections due to antigen-antibody binding uses a simple electrical circuitry which allows the sensor to be used at any location and time. Such a sensor, when placed in a matrix like structure allows for the detection of multiple biomarkers simultaneously.

Abstract: Through the methods of this invention, prognostics tools are provided to more efficiently and more accurately predict when a component product may fail. In a first embodiment a method is described whereby a number of environmental factors are monitored, the provided sensors obtaining raw data, variations in said raw data measured, the parameters of interest extracted and binned according to predetermined criteria, with the raw data thereafter discarded. In a second embodiment of the invention, the same sensor readings are recorded along with the performance characteristics for the component/product and compared to estimated performance for the product. The performance drift is then observed, whereby in monitoring said drift, trends may be determined and time or cycles to failure predicted.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to implement prognostics and health management (PHM) in individual electronic products (such as parts, components, boards, assemblies, devices, systems, and systems of systems). The PHM algorithm is performed during product screening tests, diagnostic processes, or after the manufacturer process. Certain performance, signal values and parameters, environmental and operational loads, or their correlations are recorded, extracted, and stored in electronic memory for that particular product. The stored data represents a the healthy baseline reference of that particular product at the initial point of its life. In one embodiment, where the healthy baseline is stored in the product, it can be updated according to different usage conditions. In one embodiment with the data is stored within the product, the PHM analysis can be performed in the field under conditions of use.