Battery cell full life tracking system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020233034-A1
Application number	US-202016839010-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 2, 2020
Priority date	Sep 30, 2016
Publication date	Jul 23, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

Certain embodiments are described that provide a method and computer readable media for testing battery cells. A unique identifier (e.g., barcode) is affixed to a battery cell which allows it to be tracked across separate tests as a cell, in a module, string, pack, etc. Using a GUI, the unique identifier is recorded in a database along with at least a battery cell manufacturer and a battery cell model. A designation of the particular tester channel or module or string location is entered into the database in association with the unique identifier. Test results of the first test are electronically transferred from the first tester to the database along with the corresponding channel designations.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for testing battery cells comprising:
assigning a unique identifier to an individual battery cell; recording the unique identifier in a database along with at least a battery cell manufacturer and a battery cell model; providing to a first tester at least one individual cell test for the individual battery cell in a particular channel of the first tester; receiving a designation of the particular channel in association with the unique identifier; electronically receiving test results of the individual cell test from the first tester for storage in the database along with the corresponding channel designations; storing the test results of the individual cell test from the first tester in the database in association with the unique identifier; providing at least one module test on the individual battery cell and other battery cells in a module; electronically receiving test results of the module test; and storing the test results of the module test in the database.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
mounting the module into a particular string location in a string; providing at least one string test for the individual battery cell and other battery cells; transferring test results of the string test to the database; and storing the test results of the string test in the database in association with the unique identifier; mounting the string into a particular pack location in a pack; providing at least one pack test for the battery cell and other battery cells; transferring test results of the pack test to the database; and storing the test results of the string test in the database in association with the unique identifier.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the database is a NoSQL database with a dynamic structure.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the unique identifier is a bar code.

5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
identifying a test abnormality from the module test;
comparing the test results of the module test with the test results of the individual cell test; and
determining whether the test abnormality is caused by the individual cell or the module.

6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
storing a digital representation of a test profile of the individual cell test and of a test profile of the module test in the database; and
loading the digital representation of the individual cell test from the database into the first tester.

7 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
providing in a GUI a display chart of test results, including at least charge and discharge characteristics.

9 . The method of claim 8 further comprising:
providing a filter module in the GUI; and
changing the chart of test results in real time in response to changes in filter parameters in the filter module.

10 . A non-transitory, computer readable media containing computer readable instructions for testing battery cells, comprising instructions for:
assigning a unique identifier to an individual battery cell; recording the unique identifier in a database along with at least a battery cell manufacturer and a battery cell model; providing to a first tester at least one individual cell test for the individual battery cell in a particular channel of the first tester; receiving a designation of the particular channel in association with the unique identifier; electronically receiving test results of the individual cell test from the first tester for storage in the database along with the corresponding channel designations; storing the test results of the individual cell test from the first tester in the database in association with the unique identifier; providing at least one module test on the individual battery cell and other battery cells in a module; electronically receiving test results of the module test; and storing the test results of the module test in the database.

11 . The non-transitory, computer readable media of claim 10 , further comprising instructions for:
mounting the module into a particular string location in a string; providing at least one string test for the individual battery cell and other battery cells; transferring test results of the string test to the database; and storing the test results of the string test in the database in association with the unique identifier; mounting the string into a particular pack location in a pack; providing at least one pack test for the battery cell and other battery cells; electronically transferring test results of the pack test to the database; and storing the test results of the string test in the database in association with the unique identifier.

12 . The non-transitory, computer readable media of claim 10 wherein the database is a NoSQL database with a dynamic structure.

13 . The non-transitory, computer readable media of claim 10 wherein the unique identifier is a bar code.

14 . The non-transitory, computer readable media of claim 10 further comprising instructions for:
identifying a test abnormality from the module test;
comparing the test results of the module test with the test results of the individual cell test; and
determining whether the test abnormality is caused by the individual cell or the module.

15 . The non-transitory, computer readable media of claim 10 further comprising instructions for:
storing a digital representation of a test profile of the individual cell test and of a test profile of the module test in the database; and
loading the digital representation of the individual cell test from the database into the first tester.

16 . The non-transitory, computer readable media of claim 10 further comprising:
providing in a GUI a display chart of test results, including at least charge and discharge characteristics.

17 . The non-transitory, computer readable media of claim 16 further comprising instructions for:
providing a filter module in the GUI; and
changing the chart of test results in real time in response to changes in filter parameters in the filter module.

18 . A method for testing an object comprising:
affixing a first unique identifier to a test object, to associate the test object with the first unique identifier; affixing a second unique identifier to a test apparatus, to associate the test apparatus with the second unique identifier; generating a third unique identifier corresponding to a test, to associate the test with the third unique identifier; scanning the first, second and third unique identifiers to produce scanned codes; sending the scanned codes to a program; and downloading, by the program, the test associated with the third unique identifier to the test apparatus associated with the second unique identifier for testing the object associated with the first unique identifier.

19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the second unique identifier is affixed to a channel of the test apparatus.

20 . The method of claim 18 wherein the identifiers are barcodes.

Assignees

• Faraday&Future Inc

Inventors

• Velev Omourtag Alexandrov
• Rong Jiepeng
• Deng Shan

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

• G01R31/385 Primary

  Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables (for monitoring G01R31/382) · CPC title

• G01R1/025 Primary

  concerning dedicated user interfaces, e.g. GUI, or dedicated keyboards (G01R31/31912 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title

• H01M10/4285

  Testing apparatus · CPC title