Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and methods for charging a battery. An example embodiment includes receiving information about an initial state of charge of a battery. If an initial state of charge is less than a predetermined threshold and if a charger is electrically coupled to the battery, a charger may be configured to charge the battery according to a preferred charge rate higher than a default charge rate. A charging duration is determined based on a type of the battery, the initial state of charge, a target state of charge, and the charge rate. A controller may determine a partial charge condition based on at least one of: providing electrical current to the battery at the charge rate for the charging duration or receiving information indicative of a state of charge of the battery reaching the target state of charge.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that manages use of a battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system uses a reference electrode in the battery to monitor an anode potential of an anode in the battery during charging of the battery in the portable electronic device. If the anode potential falls below an anode potential threshold, the system modifies a charging technique for the battery to extend a cycle life of the battery. For example, the system may reduce a charge current of the battery if the anode potential falls below the anode potential threshold to prevent degradation caused by a negative anode potential during charging of the battery.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and methods for charging a battery. An example embodiment includes receiving information about an initial state of charge of a battery. If an initial state of charge is less than a predetermined threshold and if a charger is electrically coupled to the battery, a charger may be configured to charge the battery according to a preferred charge rate higher than a default charge rate. A charging duration is determined based on a type of the battery, the initial state of charge, a target state of charge, and the charge rate. A controller may determine a partial charge condition based on at least one of: providing electrical current to the battery at the charge rate for the charging duration or receiving information indicative of a state of charge of the battery reaching the target state of charge.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery incorporating a hybrid gel/solid electrolyte. In an example embodiment, a battery may include a copper anode current collector, a lithium metal anode, a lithium phosphorous oxynitride (LiPON) anode protector, an electrolyte, a lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) cathode, and an aluminum cathode current collector. The electrolyte may include a gel electrolyte, a solid electrolyte, and a separator. The separator includes an insulating material layer disposed between a first gel electrolyte layer and a second gel electrolyte layer. In some embodiments, the insulating material may include polyethylene and the gel electrolyte layer may include a liquid and a polymer. Alternatively or additionally, the solid material may include a filler material, which may include silica and a polymer.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a battery cell. The battery cell includes a set of layers including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a pouch enclosing the layers, wherein the pouch is flexible. The resistance of the battery cell to mechanical stress may be improved by removing material from one or more of the layers to form one or more apertures within the battery cell and placing a mechanical support in each of the apertures.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to the manufacture of a battery cell. The battery cell includes a first set of layers including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The separator may include a ceramic coating and a binder coating over the ceramic coating. During manufacturing of the battery cell, the layers are stacked, and the binder coating is used to laminate the first set of layers within the first sub-cell by applying at least one of pressure and temperature to the first set of layers.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to the manufacture of a battery cell. The battery cell includes a first set of layers including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The separator may include a ceramic coating and a binder coating over the ceramic coating. During manufacturing of the battery cell, the layers are stacked, and the binder coating is used to laminate the first set of layers within the first sub-cell by applying at least one of pressure and temperature to the first set of layers. One or more fiducials are also disposed on each electrode from a set of electrodes for the battery cell and/or a fixture for the electrodes. The one or more fiducials may be used to align the electrodes during stacking of the set of electrodes.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to the manufacture of a battery cell. The battery cell includes a first set of layers including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The separator may include a ceramic coating and a binder coating over the ceramic coating. During manufacturing of the battery cell, the layers are stacked, and the binder coating is used to laminate the first set of layers within the first sub-cell by applying at least one of pressure and temperature to the first set of layers. In addition, uniform pressure is applied to the cell stack to laminate the first and second sets of layers.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to the manufacture of a battery cell. The battery cell includes a set of layers including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a pouch enclosing the layers, wherein the pouch is flexible. The layers may be wound to create a jelly roll and/or stacked prior to sealing the layers in the flexible pouch. A side fold is also formed in the pouch by producing a target temperature in the range of 55° C. to 75° C. at a side seal of the pouch prior to folding the side seal against the battery cell.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to the manufacture of a battery cell. The battery cell includes a set of layers including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a pouch enclosing the layers, wherein the pouch is flexible. The layers may be wound to create a jelly roll prior to sealing the layers in the flexible pouch. The stiffness of the battery cell may be increased by applying a pressure of at least 0.13 kilogram-force (kgf) per square millimeter and a temperature of about 85° C. to the layers.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a battery cell. The battery cell includes an electrode containing an active material and a continuous substrate. The continuous substrate includes a first thickness to maintain a tensile strength of the continuous substrate and a second thickness that is less than the first thickness to accommodate the active material. The first and second thicknesses may thus improve the energy density and/or rate capability of the battery cell without producing manufacturing defects associated with the use of thinner electrode substrates in battery cells.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for monitoring a battery in an electronic device. In the described embodiments, a discharge current pulse is applied to a battery and the voltage change of the battery due to the discharge current pulse is determined. The impedance of the battery is then determined based on the voltage change and the discharge current pulse. An alert is then selectively generated based on the impedance.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a battery cell. The battery cell includes a set of layers including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a pouch enclosing the layers, wherein the pouch is flexible. The resistance of the battery cell to mechanical stress may be improved by removing material from one or more of the layers to form one or more apertures within the battery cell and placing a mechanical support in each of the apertures.

Abstract: A battery assembly includes at least a plurality of battery cells that includes at least a first and a second battery cell each attached to a distributed battery monitoring unit, the second battery cell being associated with an external circuit, the second battery cell connected to a battery management unit (BMU) by way of a pre-formed battery contact shaped to accommodate the external circuit. The plurality of battery cells are electrically connected to at least the BMU such that each of the plurality of battery cells are substantially aligned with each other thereby preserving a battery profile corresponding to unconnected battery cells.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to the manufacture of a battery cell. The battery cell includes a set of layers including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a pouch enclosing the layers, wherein the pouch is flexible. The layers may be wound to create a jelly roll prior to sealing the layers in the flexible pouch. The stiffness of the battery cell may be increased by applying a pressure of at least 0.13 kilogram-force (kgf) per square millimeter and a temperature of about 85° C. to the layers.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that manages use of a battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system uses a reference electrode in the battery to monitor an anode potential of an anode in the battery during charging of the battery in the portable electronic device. If the anode potential falls below an anode potential threshold, the system modifies a charging technique for the battery to extend a cycle life of the battery. For example, the system may reduce a charge current of the battery if the anode potential falls below the anode potential threshold to prevent degradation caused by a negative anode potential during charging of the battery.

Abstract: A battery assembly includes at least a plurality of battery cells that includes at least a first and a second battery cell each attached to a distributed battery monitoring unit, the second battery cell being associated with an external circuit, the second battery cell connected to a battery management unit (BMU) by way of a pre-formed battery contact shaped to accommodate the external circuit. The plurality of battery cells are electrically connected to at least the BMU such that each of the plurality of battery cells are substantially aligned with each other thereby preserving a battery profile corresponding to unconnected battery cells.

Abstract: A battery assembly includes at least a plurality of battery cells that includes at least a first and a second battery cell each attached to a distributed battery monitoring unit, the second battery cell being associated with an external circuit, the second battery cell connected to a battery management unit (BMU) by way of a pre-formed battery contact shaped to accommodate the external circuit. The plurality of battery cells are electrically connected to at least the BMU such that each of the plurality of battery cells are substantially aligned with each other thereby preserving a battery profile corresponding to unconnected battery cells.