Systems and methods for measuring real time battery dilation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12553701-B2
Application number	US-202218087452-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2022
Priority date	Dec 22, 2022
Publication date	Feb 17, 2026
Grant date	Feb 17, 2026

Abstract

A system for measuring battery dilation. The system includes a battery cell, a magnet, and a magnetic force sensor. One of the magnet and the magnetic force sensor moves in response to expansion of the battery cell during dilation of the battery cell. The other of the magnet and the magnetic force sensor is stationary relative to the battery cell. The magnetic force sensor is configured to sense a change in magnetic force strength between the magnet and the magnetic force sensor. A control module is in communication with the magnetic force sensor. The control module is configured to measure degree of dilation of the battery cell based on the change in the magnetic force strength between the magnet and the magnetic force sensor. The magnetic force strength between the magnet and the magnetic force sensor changes as the battery cell expands during dilation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for measuring battery dilation, the system comprising:
a battery cell, the battery cell is a coin cell including a housing, within the housing is a first electrode, a second electrode and a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode; a magnet and a magnetic force sensor, one of the magnet and the magnetic force sensor moves in response to expansion of the battery cell during dilation of the battery cell, the other of the magnet and the magnetic force sensor is stationary relative to the battery cell, the magnetic force sensor configured to sense a change in magnetic force strength between the magnet and the magnetic force sensor; a biasing member is between the magnet and an inner surface of the housing, the biasing member holds the magnet against the second electrode and is flexible to accommodate movement of the magnet as at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode expands during dilation; and a control module in communication with the magnetic force sensor, the control module configured to measure degree of dilation of the battery cell based on the change in the magnetic force strength between the magnet and the magnetic force sensor; wherein:
the magnetic force strength between the magnet and the magnetic force sensor changes as the battery cell expands during dilation;
the magnetic force sensor is external to the housing; and
the magnet is adjacent to the second electrode and configured to move away from the magnetic force sensor as at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode expands during dilation.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic force sensor includes one of a spherical magnet, a hemispherical magnet, and a conical magnet.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the magnetic force sensor further includes one of a load sensor, a strain gauge, a pressure sensor, an electromagnetic force restoration sensor.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic force sensor includes one of a Hall sensor, a magnetoresistor, a fluxgate sensor, a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) sensor, a resonant sensor, an induction magnetometer, a reed contact sensor, and Wiegand wire sensor.

5 . A system for measuring dilation in a coin cell battery, the system comprising:
a coin cell holder configured to hold the coin cell battery; a magnet mounted adjacent to the coin cell holder such that the magnet is spaced apart from the coin cell battery seated in the coin cell holder; a force sensor in cooperation with the magnet and configured to measure magnetic force strength between the magnet and a magnetic spacer within the coin cell battery; a translation stage configured to support the force sensor; and a control module in communication with the force sensor, the control module configured to measure degree of dilation of the coin cell battery based on change in the magnetic force strength measured by the sensor between the magnet and the magnetic spacer; wherein the magnetic force strength between the magnet and the magnetic spacer changes as an electrode of the coin cell battery expands during dilation and moves the magnetic spacer relative to the magnet.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the magnet is one of a spherical magnet, a hemispherical magnet, and a conical magnet.

7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the force sensor includes one of a load cell, a strain gauge, and a pressure sensor.

8 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the coin cell holder is configured to hold the coin cell battery as the coin cell battery actively discharges energy; and
wherein the control module is configured to measure the degree of dilation of the electrode as the coin cell battery is actively discharging energy.

9 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising a micrometer configured to adjust a height of the translation stage, which adjusts position of the magnet relative to the coin cell battery.

10 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising a stand including the coin cell holder, the magnet, the force sensor, and the translation stage.

11 . A system for measuring dilation in a coin cell battery, the system comprising:
a housing of the coin cell battery; a first electrode within the housing; a second electrode within the housing; a separator in the housing between the first electrode and the second electrode; a magnetic spacer within the housing adjacent to the second electrode, expansion of at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode during dilation moves the magnetic spacer within the housing; a biasing member in the housing between the magnetic spacer and an inner surface of the housing, the biasing member holds the magnetic spacer against the second electrode and is flexible to accommodate movement of the magnetic spacer during dilation; an external magnet outside of the housing and spaced apart from the housing; a sensor configured to measure magnetic force strength between the external magnet and the magnetic spacer; and a control module in communication with the sensor, the control module configured to measure degree of dilation of the coin cell battery based on change in the magnetic force strength measured by the sensor between the external magnet and the magnetic spacer; wherein the magnetic force strength between the external magnet and the magnetic spacer changes as at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode expands during dilation and moves the magnetic spacer relative to the external magnet.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the external magnet is one of a spherical magnet, a hemispherical magnet, and a conical magnet.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the sensor is a force sensor.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the force sensor includes one of a load cell, a strain gauge, and a pressure sensor.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the sensor and the external magnet are included with one of a Hall sensor, a magnetoresistor, a fluxgate sensor, a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) sensor, a resonant sensor, an induction magnetometer, a reed contact sensor, Wiegand wire sensor, and a magnetic force sensor.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the magnetic spacer includes a ferritic stainless steel magnet or a permanent magnet.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the control module is configured to measure the degree of dilation of the coin cell battery as the coin cell battery is actively discharging energy.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Balogh Michael P
• Osad William
• Galant Andrew J
• Jimenez Niccolo
• Millerman Alexander

Classifications

• H01M10/48

  Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte (constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569) · CPC title

• G01R31/382

  Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC · CPC title

• H01M50/109 Primary

  of button or coin shape · CPC title

• G01B7/16

  for measuring the deformation in a solid, e.g. by resistance strain gauge · CPC title

• G01B7/24 Primary

  using change in magnetic properties · CPC title