Patent information
IP India · live recordAbstract
The disclosure relates to a system for rapid, non-contact testing of batteries using ultrasound capable of producing real-time feedback. The system includes an array of transducers connected to an edge computing node capable of receiving the signals from the transducers and analyzing the data to identify the condition of the battery being tested. A user may view the battery parameters obtained from the test either onsite or remotely. This system facilitates real-time in-screening of batteries during manufacture or assembly. The systems and methods may also be used during formation of the battery/cell or during any electrical testing for the battery/cell. The system would allow rapid, non-destructive testing of batteries in a cost-effective manner. The invention complements the existing electrical and/or temperature testing methods that are currently used, for real-time effective inspection, with potential to improve current manufacturing methods.
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1Inventors
3Claims
14Specification
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DESC:(see attached) ,CLAIMS:We claim: 1. A system (100) for rapid, non-contact testing of batteries using ultrasound configured for real-time feedback, comprising: a pair of identical 2-dimensional ultrasound transducer arrays (102a,102b) placed on either side of a battery (114) to be tested and to cover a surface area thereof, the transducer arrays configured to have n x m array elements, wherein one of the arrays (102a) is a transmit array to transmit ultrasound through the battery and the other (102b) is a receive array configured to receive attenuated ultrasound on the other side; an ultrasound driver-receiver module (104) comprising circuitry to transmit electrical impulses to the elements of the transmit array (102a) for generating the ultrasound pulses, and to receive voltage signals from the receive array (102b), characteristic of the attenuated ultrasound; and a visualization module comprising a display (108) to render information on the integrity of the battery over the surface area thereof, using the signals characteristic of the attenuated ultrasound.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, comprising an edge computing node (106) configured to connect the ultrasound driver-receiver module (104) to the visualization module, or to a remote server (112), or both.
3. The system as claimed in claim 2, comprising multiple ultrasound arrays (102a,102b), ultrasound driver-receiver modules (104) and edge computing nodes (106), wherein the edge computing nodes are connected to the remote server (112) for monitoring a battery production line.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arrays (102a,102b), include ultrasound transducers 121-1, 121-2… 121-n, in m rows of elements 122-1, 123-1… 12m-1.
5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the transducers are selected from one of piezoelectric transducers, electromagnetic or magnetostrictive transducers.
6. A method (200) for real time non-contact testing of a battery for internal defects, comprising: providing (201) a first 2-dimensional ultrasound transducer array covering one side of the battery, the transducer array configured to transmit pulses from one or more transducers in the array; transmitting (202) pulses from at least one transducer in the array across a thickness of the battery; receiving attenuated ultrasound pulses characteristic of an integrity of the battery over an area covered by the array, wherein the receiving comprises: receiving (203) attenuated ultrasound pulses transmitted through the cell at a second 2-dimensional ultrasound transducer array placed on the other side of the battery, wherein the method comprises transmitting a single pulse from each element of the first array and receiving an attenuated signal at a corresponding receive element at the second array, or receiving (205) ultrasound pulses transmitted through the cell and reflected from a back wall of the cell at the first transducer array wherein the method comprises transmitting from one or more array elements and receiving attenuated signals at all the elements 121-1, 121-2…- 12m-n of the m x n array.. 7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the receiving (205) comprises receiving multiple transmitted signals separated in time.
8. The method as claimed in claim 6, comprising visualizing an integrity of the battery cell across an area thereof, in a display.
9. The method as claimed in claim 6, comprising visualizing an integrity of the battery cell at intervals during a manufacturing cycle thereof.
10. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the battery is a pouch battery, a prismatic or a cylindrical battery cell.
11. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the ultrasonic transducer array is operated at frequency between 20 kHz to 2 MHz.
12. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the method comprises analyzing (206) attenuated ultrasonic pulses using one or more parameters selected from peak signal amplitude, time of arrival, dominant frequency, ring down time and zero crossing rate.
13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the analyzing comprises identifying (207) swelling, dendrite formation, electrolyte fill level, or gas formation within the battery.
14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the analyzing comprises computing SoC, or SoH of the battery using the attenuated ultrasonic pulses.