Battery damage indicator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9373870-B2
Application number	US-201313837695-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2013
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jun 21, 2016
Grant date	Jun 21, 2016

Abstract

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A battery comprising:
a battery housing;
an external set of battery terminals coupled to the battery housing;
a battery cell disposed in the battery housing; and
an odorant stored within the battery housing having the external set of battery terminals coupled thereto and stored separately from an electrolytic solution of the battery cell, wherein the battery is configured to release the odorant from inside of the battery housing to the atmosphere in response to battery housing damage, damage to the battery cell, deformation of the battery, or damage to one or more seals within the battery.

2. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the battery is further configured to release a visible indicator in response to battery damage.

3. The battery of claim 2 , wherein the visible indicator comprises the odorant.

4. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the odorant comprises a liquid.

5. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the battery is configured to store the odorant under pressure.

6. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the battery comprises a dedicated container configured to store the odorant.

7. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the battery comprises a sealed wrapper configured to store the odorant, and wherein the sealed wrapper at least partially surrounds the battery cell.

8. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the battery comprises a plurality of storage compartments for storing the odorant.

9. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the odorant comprises a plurality of precursor chemicals.

10. The battery of claim 9 , wherein the precursor chemicals are configured to react in response to being mixed.

11. A battery comprising:
a battery housing;
an external set of battery terminals coupled to the battery housing;
a battery cell disposed in the battery housing;
an odorant stored within the battery housing having the external set of battery terminals coupled thereto and stored separately from an electrolytic solution of the battery cell; and
a damage sensor configured to release the odorant from inside of the battery housing to the atmosphere in response to battery damage.

12. The battery of claim 11 , wherein the damage sensor comprises an accelerometer configured to detect when the battery is damaged based on a measured acceleration of the battery.

13. The battery of claim 11 , wherein the damage sensor comprises a force meter configured to detect when the battery is damaged based on a measured force applied to the battery.

14. The battery of claim 11 , wherein the damage sensor comprises a strain sensor configured to detect when the battery is damaged based on a measured strain on the battery.

15. The battery of claim 11 , wherein the damage sensor comprises an electrolyte sensitive actuator configured to detect when the battery is damaged based on the presence of electrolyte outside of the battery cell.

16. The battery of claim 11 , wherein the damage sensor comprises a chemical sensor configured to detect when the battery is damaged based on the presence of electrolyte outside of the battery cell.

17. The battery of claim 11 , wherein the battery damage is a battery temperature that exceeds a threshold temperature for the battery.

18. The battery of claim 11 , wherein the damage sensor is further configured to emit an audible alarm in response to detecting the battery damage.

19. The battery of claim 18 , wherein the battery comprises an aerophone, and wherein the audible alarm is created by the odorant venting through the aerophone.

20. The battery of claim 11 , wherein the damage sensor is further configured to provide an electrical signal in response to the battery damage.

21. The battery of claim 11 , wherein the damage sensor is further configured to provide a radio signal in response to the battery damage.

22. The battery of claim 11 , wherein the battery comprises a sealed wrapper configured to store the odorant, and wherein the sealed wrapper at least partially surrounds the battery cell.

23. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the battery comprises a plurality of storage compartments for storing the odorant, and wherein the plurality of storage compartments comprises microsphere compartments.

24. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the battery housing comprises a honeycomb battery housing and wherein chambers of the honeycomb battery housing are filled with the odorant.

25. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the battery comprises a plurality of storage compartments storing a visible indicator material and the odorant.

26. The battery of claim 25 , wherein each of the plurality of storage compartments comprises a pliable material including a sealed volume, and wherein the plurality of storage compartments are regularly spaced.

Assignees

• Elwha Llc
• Elwha Llc

Inventors

• Duncan William David
• Hyde Roderick A
• Kare Jordin T
• Tuckerman David B

Classifications

• H01M10/48 Primary

  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

• H01M10/488

  Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density · CPC title

• H01M50/209

  adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells (H01M50/216 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M2/08

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01M2220/20

  Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title