BATTERY DAMAGE INDICATOR
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for indicating battery damage. A battery may comprise an odorant and/or visible indicator material configured to be released in response to battery damage. The battery may be configured to release the odorant and/or visible indicator in response to damage to the battery housing, a cell or cells in the battery, a seal of the battery, or any other specific component of the battery. The odorant and/or visible indicator may be stored in free space in the battery housing, a battery cell, or other battery component. The battery may be configured to emit an audible and/or visible indication of battery damage in addition to releasing the odorant and/or visible indicator.
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The present application claims the benefit of the earliest available effective filing date(s) from the following listed application(s) (the “Priority Applications”), if any, listed below (e.g., claims earliest available priority dates for other than provisional patent applications or claims benefits under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) for provisional patent applications, for any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc. applications of the Priority Application(s)).
PRIORITY APPLICATIONSThis application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/837,720 titled “BATTERY DAMAGE INDICATOR”, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
If an Application Data Sheet (ADS) has been filed on the filing date of this application, it is incorporated by reference herein. Any applications claimed on the ADS for priority under 35 U.S.C. §§119, 120, 121, and/or 365(c), and any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc. applications of such applications, are also incorporated by reference, including any priority claims made in those applications and any material incorporated by reference, to the extent such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith.
If the listings of applications provided above are inconsistent with the listings provided via an ADS, it is the intent of the Applicant to claim priority to each application that appears in the Priority Applications section of the ADS and to each application that appears in the Priority Applications section of this application.
All subject matter of the Priority Applications and the Related Applications and of any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc. applications of the Priority Applications and the Related Applications, including any priority claims, is incorporated herein by reference to the extent such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith.
TECHNICAL FIELDThis disclosure relates to systems and methods for indicating battery damage. More specifically, this disclosure relates to odorants, visible indicators, and/or audible signals that indicate a battery has been damaged.
SUMMARYBatteries, particularly high energy rechargeable batteries, are in widespread use in consumer electronics and electric or hybrid-electric vehicles. As electric and hybrid-electric vehicles become more prevalent, an increase in the number and size of high energy rechargeable batteries is expected. One concern with high energy rechargeable batteries is the safety of a battery. For example, reports of fires caused by damaged lithium ion batteries have been increasing as batteries become more widespread. Similarly, damaged batteries are of particular concern to emergency response personnel responding to an accident involving an electric vehicle. Accordingly, it is advantageous to provide a system and method for indicating battery damage without having to physically inspect the battery or its components.
In some embodiments, a battery may comprise a battery damage indicator configured to release an odorant in response to battery damage. The battery damage indicator may be configured to release the odorant in response to damage to the battery housing, a cell or cells in the battery, a seal of the battery, or any other specific component of the battery. In some embodiments, the odorant may be stored in free space in the battery housing, a battery cell, or other battery component. In other embodiments, the damage indicator may comprise a dedicated container configured to store the odorant. In some embodiments, the battery damage indicator may be configured to emit an audible and/or visible indication of battery damage in addition to releasing the odorant.
In some embodiments, a battery may comprise a battery damage indicator configured to release a visible indicator in response to battery damage. The battery damage indicator may be configured to release the visible indicator in response to damage to the battery housing, a cell or cells in the battery, a seal of the battery, or any other specific component of the battery. In some embodiments, the visible indicator material may be stored in free space in the battery housing, a battery cell, or other battery component. In other embodiments, the damage indicator may comprise a dedicated container configured to store the visible indicator material. In some embodiments, the battery damage indicator may be configured to emit an audible indication of battery damage and/or an odorant in addition to releasing the visible indicator.
Some of the infrastructure that can be used with embodiments disclosed herein is already available, such as general-purpose computers, computer programming tools and techniques, digital storage media, and communication networks. A computing device may include a processor such as a microprocessor, microcontroller, logic circuitry, or the like. The processor may include a special purpose processing device such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), programmable array logic (PAL), programmable logic array (PLA), programmable logic device (PLD), field programmable gate array (FPGA), or other customizable and/or programmable device. The computing device may also include a machine-readable storage device such as non-volatile memory, static RAM, dynamic RAM, ROM, CD-ROM, disk, tape, magnetic, optical, flash memory, or other machine-readable storage medium. Various aspects of certain embodiments may be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.
The embodiments of the disclosure will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The components of the disclosed embodiments, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Furthermore, the features, structures, and operations associated with one embodiment may be applicable to or combined with the features, structures, or operations described in conjunction with another embodiment. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of this disclosure.
Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the systems and methods of the disclosure is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, as claimed, but is merely representative of possible embodiments. In addition, the steps of a method do not necessarily need to be executed in any specific order, or even sequentially, nor do the steps need to be executed only once.
The example battery of
In some embodiments, the odorant 202 may be stored as a liquid. In other embodiments, the odorant 202 may be stored as a gas or in combination with an inert carrier gas. In some embodiments the odorant 202 may be stored under pressure. In some embodiments, the odorant 202 may be stable until exposed to particular conditions. For example, the odorant 202 may be stable until exposed to ambient air or to a specific temperature that may indicate battery damage. In other embodiments, the odorant 202 may be volatile prior to being released or exposed to any defined conditions. In other embodiments, the battery may include two or more precursor chemicals that are configured to be released in response to battery damage, to react, when mixed, and create the odorant 202. In other embodiments, the battery may include one or more precursor chemicals configured to react to defined conditions, such as exposure to ambient air or humidity, or heat above a threshold temperature, and create the odorant 202.
In some embodiments, the visible indicator material 204 may comprise a liquid. The liquid may include a permanent dye, a removable dye, a pigment, a fluorescent material, a luminescent material, and/or a fire retardant. In some embodiments, the visible indicator material 204 may comprise a powder. The powder may include a permanent dye, a removable dye, a pigment, a fluorescent material, a luminescent material, and/or a fire retardant. In some embodiments, the visible indicator material 204 may comprise a foam. In some embodiments, the visible indicator material 204 may comprise a foaming agent that produces foam when released. In some embodiments, the foaming agent may be an additive (e.g., CO2) that produces bubbles in a liquid visible indicator material and/or an additive that causes the bubbles that reach the surface of the liquid visible indicator material to be stable and form a foam (e.g., as in a detergent or glycerin). The foam may include a permanent dye, a removable dye, a pigment, a fluorescent material, a luminescent material, and/or a fire retardant.
In some embodiments, the visible indicator material 204 may be stored as a liquid. In other embodiments, the visible indicator material 204 may be stored as a gas or in combination with an inert carrier gas. In some embodiments the visible indicator material 204 may be stored under pressure, e.g., the visible indicator material may be stored under pressure using a dissolved or discrete propellant. In some embodiments, the visible indicator material 204 may be stable until exposed to particular conditions. For example, the visible indicator material 204 may be stable until exposed to ambient air or to a specific temperature that may indicate battery damage. In other embodiments, the visible indicator material 204 may be volatile prior to being released or exposed to any defined conditions. In other embodiments, the battery may include two or more precursor chemicals that are configured to be released in response to battery damage, to react, when mixed, and create the visible indicator material 204. In other embodiments, the battery may include one or more precursor chemicals configured to react to defined conditions, such as exposure to ambient air or humidity, or heat above a threshold temperature, and create the visible indicator material 204.
In some embodiments, the vent 108 may release an odorant 202 and a visible indicator material 204 in combination. In some embodiments, the vent 108, or multiple vents, may release an odorant 202 and a visible indicator 204 separately, but in response to a single instance of battery damage. In some embodiments, a plurality of precursors may create both the odorant 202 and the visible indicator material 204 when mixed in response to battery damage.
In various embodiments, the battery may be configured to release the odorant 202 and/or visible indicator material 204 in response to damage to the battery housing 102. Damage to the battery housing 102 may include, for example, a puncture, a crack, excessive heat, deformation, etc. In other embodiments, the battery vent 108 may be configured to allow an odorant 202 and/or visible indicator material 204 to escape the battery housing in response to damage to a battery cell 104. Damage to the battery cell 104 may include, for example, a puncture, a crack, excessive heat, deformation, etc. In other embodiments, the battery may be configured to release the odorant 202 and/or visible indicator material 204 in response to damage to a seal 106. Damage to the battery seal 106 may include, for example, a puncture, a crack, excessive heat, deformation, etc.
In various embodiments, the battery may include passive elements configured to indicate battery damage. For example, the battery may comprise a dedicated container or containers (as described in more detail below) configured to store the odorant 202 and/or visible indicator material 204. When the battery is damaged, the dedicated container storing the odorant 202 and/or visible indicator material 204 may also be damaged thereby releasing its contents to indicate damage to the battery.
In other embodiments, the battery may include active elements configured to detect certain conditions and trigger a release of the odorant 202 and/or visible indicator material 204. For example, in one embodiment, the battery may include an accelerometer configured to detect the acceleration and deceleration of the battery. In response to detecting an acceleration or deceleration of the battery above a certain threshold that may indicate damage, the accelerometer may trigger a release of the odorant 202 and/or visible indicator material 204. In another embodiment, the battery may include a force meter, a strain sensor, and/or a fracture sensor configured to measure a mechanical force applied to the battery and trigger a release of the odorant 202 and/or visible indicator material in response to a force greater than a defined threshold. In some embodiments, the battery may include an electrolyte sensitive actuator or chemical sensor configured detect electrolyte and to release the odorant 202 and/or visible indicator material 204 in response to detecting electrolyte outside of the battery cell 104. In various embodiments, the active elements of the battery may be located on or within the battery. In other embodiments, the active elements may be located remotely from the battery and may indicate battery damage by transmitting electrical or other signals.
This disclosure has been made with reference to various example embodiments, including the best mode. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made to the example embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. While the principles of this disclosure have been shown in various embodiments, many modifications of structure, arrangements, proportions, elements, materials, and components may be adapted for a specific environment and/or operating requirements without departing from the principles and scope of this disclosure. These and other changes or modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.
The foregoing specification has been described with reference to various embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, this disclosure is to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope thereof. Likewise, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to various embodiments. However, benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, a required, or an essential feature or element. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined by the following claims.
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. A battery comprising:
- a battery housing;
- a battery cell disposed in the battery housing; and
- an audible alarm producing element configured to emit an audible alarm in response to damage to the battery housing or battery cell.
3. The battery of claim 2, wherein the audible alarm producing element comprises a speaker.
4. The battery of claim 3, wherein the speaker is disposed on the battery housing.
5. The battery of claim 2, wherein the battery comprises an aerophone, and wherein the audible alarm is generated when material escaping from a damaged battery cell is vented through the aerophone.
6. The battery of claim 2, wherein the battery is further configured to provide an electrical signal in response to battery damage.
7. The battery of claim 6, wherein the electrical signal is provided through a contact that is closed in response to battery damage.
8. The battery of claim 6, wherein the electrical signal is provided by a sensor configured to detect material leaking from a damaged battery cell.
9. The battery of claim 6, wherein the electrical signal comprises a digital signal.
10. The battery of claim 2, wherein the battery is further configured to provide a light signal in response to battery damage.
11. The battery of claim 10, further comprising a light emitter disposed on the battery housing to generate the light signal.
12. The battery of claim 10, wherein the light signal is displayed remotely from the battery.
13. The battery of claim 2, wherein the battery is further configured to provide a radio signal in response to battery damage.
14. The battery of claim 2, wherein the battery is further configured to provide an electrical signal during normal operation of the battery and stop sending the electrical signal in response to battery damage.
15. The battery of claim 2, wherein battery is configured to provide power to a vehicle.
16. The battery of claim 15, wherein the vehicle is one of an electric vehicle (EV) or a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV).
17. The battery of claim 2, wherein battery is configured to power a portable computing device.
18. The battery of claim 2, wherein battery is configured to be incorporated into a personal electronic device.
19. The battery of claim 2, wherein the battery is further configured to release a detectable material in response to damage to the battery housing or battery cell.
20. The battery of claim 2, wherein the battery comprises an accelerometer configured to detect when the battery is damaged based on a measured acceleration of the battery.
21. The battery of claim 2, wherein the battery comprises a sensor to detect battery damage selected from the group consisting of a force meter, a strain sensor, and a fracture sensor.
22. The battery of claim 2, wherein the battery comprises an electrolyte sensor configured to detect when the battery is damaged based on a presence of an electrolyte outside of the battery cell.
23. The battery of claim 2, wherein the battery is further configured to release a visible indicator material in response to damage to the battery housing or battery cell.
24. The battery of claim 23, wherein the visible indicator material comprises at least one of a liquid, a powder, a foam, a dye, a fluorescent material, and a luminescent material.
25. The battery of claim 2, wherein the battery is further configured to release an odorant in response to damage to the battery housing or battery cell.
26. A system comprising:
- a battery including a battery housing and a battery cell disposed in the battery housing;
- a sensor configured to generate a signal in response to detecting damage to the battery housing or battery cell; and
- an indicator configured to display an indication of battery damage in response to the signal.
27. The system of claim 26, wherein the indicator is disposed on the battery housing.
28. The system of claim 26, wherein the indicator is disposed remotely to the battery.
29. The system of claim 26, wherein the indicator is further configured to display information concerning a condition of the battery.
30. The system of claim 26 further comprising an audible alarm producing element configured to generate an audible alarm responsive to the signal.
31. The battery of claim 30, wherein the audible alarm producing element comprises a speaker.
32. The battery of claim 31, wherein the speaker is disposed on the battery housing.
33. The battery of claim 26, wherein the electrical signal is provided through a contact that is closed in response to battery damage.
34. The battery of claim 26, wherein the signal is provided by a sensor configured to detect material leaking from the damaged battery cell.
35. The battery of claim 26, wherein the signal comprises an analog signal.
36. The battery of claim 26, wherein the signal comprises a digital signal.
37. The battery of claim 26, wherein the signal comprises a radio signal.
38. The battery of claim 26, wherein the indicator comprises a light signal.
39. The battery of claim 26, wherein the battery is further configured to provide an electrical signal during normal operation of the battery and stop sending the electrical signal in response to battery damage.
40. The battery of claim 26, wherein battery is configured to provide power to a vehicle selected from the group consisting of an electric vehicle (EV) and a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV).
41. The battery of claim 26, wherein battery is configured to power a portable computing device.
42. The battery of claim 26, wherein the sensor comprises one or more of an accelerometer, a force meter, a strain sensor, a fracture sensor, and a chemical sensor.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 6, 2016
Publication Date: Mar 30, 2017
Applicant:
Inventors: William David Duncan, JR. (Sammamish, WA), Roderick A. Hyde (Redmond, WA), Jordin T. Kare (San Jose, CA), David B. Tuckerman (Lafayette, CA)
Application Number: 15/257,710