DESC:
FORM 2

THE PATENT ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10, and rule 13)

FAIL-SAFE OVERCHARGE PROTECTION OF SOLID SATE LI ION BATTERY AGAINST CHARGING TIMEOUT

JLNPHENIX ENERGY PRIVATE LIMITED, an Indian company of D9, Sector 80, Phase - II, Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to Li-Ion batteries and specifically the solid-state Li-Ion batteries which are made fail-safe and are protected from the over charged conditions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Li-Ion batteries are one of the key energy storage devices which are being used in majority of the products running on battery power. Few examples are mobiles, Electric Vehicles etc. Unlike the commonly used Lead Acid Batteries, the Li-Ion batteries are unstable when they are completely charged and when they are completely discharged as well. During full charge condition any further charging results in sudden rise of voltage, which may result into hazardous situation if not controlled immediately and effectively. Similarly, in case of fully discharged condition, any further discharge results in steep drop in voltage resulting into completely damaging of the cell. It is extremely dangerous to overcharge a Li-Ion battery particularly the solid-state one, which may cause overheating and results into hazardous situation. When charging continues longer than charging timeout limit, it tends to overheat the cells which may cause overheating and result in fire and unsafe conditions.

US5519302A discloses by sensing battery voltage and temperature, a battery charger fully charges a battery even when a load is attached during charging. A control circuit suspends charging by detecting a change in battery voltage near a peak voltage. A charge restart section restarts charging depending on computations performed on the output from a temperature detection section. After charging is stopped, it is restarted if battery temperature is less than a set value, or if the rate of battery temperature rise is less than a set rate.

US5497067A discloses a timer control circuit is coupled with a battery charger to control on a timed basis the charging, shut-off and reset operations of the battery charger. The timer control circuit includes a timer, a D.C. power supply connected to the timer, and an auxiliary relay connected to the timer and connected between a battery and the battery charger. The timer is operable to repetitively and automatically turn on for a first preset timing period, turn off for a second preset timing period, and then turn on again for the first preset timing period. During each second preset timing period, when the timer is turned off, the auxiliary relay is normally deactuated so as to open a feedback path from the battery to the battery charger permitting the battery charger to reset in preparation for initiating a new charging cycle. Then, during each first preset timing period, when the timer is turned on, the auxiliary relay is actuated so as to close the feedback path causing the battery charger to initiate the new charging cycle.

US20050029989A1 discloses a battery charger that has a first mode that charges the battery and a second mode that maintains a charge on the battery. The battery charger switches from the first mode to the second mode after expiration of a predetermined period of time. The battery charger prevents over charging of the battery.

CN102709530A discloses a power lithium ion battery with an over-charge and over discharge protection function and a preparation method thereof. The power lithium ion battery comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a diaphragm, electrolyte and an outer package, wherein the positive electrode comprises 90-95wt% of modified positive active substance and the balance of conductive additive and bonding agent; the modified positive active substance comprises 90-99wt% of positive active substances and 1-10wt% of blended electrode material; and the voltage platforms of the positive active substance and the blended electrode material are different. When the charge voltage platform of the selected electrode material is higher than the voltage platform of the positive active substance, a protection effect can be taken for an over-charge behavior. When the discharge voltage platform of the selected blended electrode material is lower than the voltage platform of the positive active substance, a protection effect can be taken for an over-discharge behavior. The positive electrode containing the blended electrode material as well as the negative electrode, the diaphragm, the electrolyte and the outer package are assembled to form the lithium-ion battery, and the over-charge and over-discharge safety of a lithium-ion battery pack is protected by a charge/discharge protection circuit device.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The prime object of the present invention is to overcome the limitations and drawbacks of the prior arts referred above.

An object of the present invention is to prevent the Li-Ion solid state batteries from overcharge condition.

Another major object of the present invention is to provide a fail-safe protection against the overcharging and results in the safe operation during complete charging cycle. This fail-safety is achieved through dual protections from the Battery Management System (BMS) and a hardwired timer in the charging circuit. These failsafe redundant protections against the overcharging results in the safe operation of battery during complete charging cycle and prevents it from going into fire hazardous situation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

The embodiment of the present invention provides a Fail-Safe overcharge protection of Solid Sate Li Ion Battery against charging timeout by using both the protections from BMS and through hardwired timer. These failsafe redundant protections against the overcharging results in the safe operation of solid-state batteries during complete charging cycles and prevents it from the fire hazardous situation.

The embodiment of the present invention provides a Fail-Safe overcharge protection of Solid Sate Li-Ion Battery against charging timeout comprising a charging unit for charging the standard Li-Ion as well as the solid state Li-Ion batteries wherein the power is generated and stored for running the devices using Li-Ion batteries, a conversion unit for converting Alternating Current (AC) to Direct Current (DC) and an output unit for providing power to devices using Li-Ion batteries, a BMS used with the Li-Ion batteries which monitors voltage of each cell, cell temperature of all or some with clubbed cells, battery current to continuously monitor the battery characterized in that the BMS is equipped with a RTC (real time clock) which continuously monitors the charge time and a physical hardwired timer is inserted into the charging circuit which is operated in a worst-case scenario of failing of the primary protections by BMS.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a Fail-Safe overcharge protection of Solid Sate Li-Ion Battery against charging timeout wherein the BMS used with the Li-Ion batteries, monitors each voltage of each cell, cell temperature of all or some with clubbed cells, battery current to continuously monitor the battery.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a Fail-Safe overcharge protection of Solid Sate Li-Ion Battery against charging timeout wherein the BMS used with the Li-Ion batteries takes protective actions to stop charging when the battery is fully charged.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a Fail-Safe overcharge protection of Solid Sate Li-Ion Battery against charging timeout wherein the BMS used with the Li-Ion batteries allows the battery to charge as per the set C rates without any intervention for any duration.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a Fail-Safe overcharge protection of Solid Sate Li-Ion Battery against charging timeout wherein the BMS is equipped with RTC (real time clock).

Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a Fail-Safe overcharge protection of Solid Sate Li-Ion Battery against charging timeout wherein the BMS equipped with RTC (real time clock) continuously monitors the charge time and in case of charging not completed by the charging timeout limit, it stops charging by issuing a command to charger.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a Fail-Safe overcharge protection of Solid Sate Li-Ion Battery against charging timeout wherein a physical hardwired timer is inserted into the charging circuit which is operated in a worst-case scenario of failing of the primary protections by BMS.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a Fail-Safe overcharge protection of Solid Sate Li-Ion Battery against charging timeout wherein a timer implemented in the charger circuit intervene and stop the charging in case charging does not terminate normally within charging timeout limit.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides protection by using both the protections from BMS and through hardwired timer, a failsafe protection against the overcharging timeout limit results in the safe operation of solid-state batteries during complete charging cycles and prevents it from the fire hazardous situation.

The embodiment of the present invention provides protection by using both the protections from BMS and through hardwired timer. A failsafe protection against the overcharging timeout limit results in the safe operation of solid-state batteries during complete charging cycles and prevents it from the fire hazardous situation.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrative exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and/or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates the charge discharge curve for Li-Ion battery when they are completely charged and also when they are completely discharged.

Figure 2 illustrates the BMS used with the Li-Ion batteries which monitors voltage of each cell, cell temperature of all or some with clubbed cells, battery current to continuously monitor the battery.

Figure 3 illustrates along with performing standard voltage, temperature and current measurement, monitoring and control, this BMS is equipped with a RTC (real time clock). It continuously monitors the charge time, in case of charging not completed by the charging timeout limit, it stops charging by issuing a command to charger.

Figure 4 illustrates a physical hardwired timer which is inserted into the charging circuit and is operated in a worst-case scenario of failing of the primary protections by BMS.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any block diagrams represent conceptual views of illustrative systems embodying the principles of the present subject matter. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow chart, flow diagrams, state transition diagram, pseudo code, and the like readable medium and executed by a computer or processor, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herefin is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments: on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

In addition, the description of “first”, “second”, “third”, and the like in the present invention are used for the purpose of description only, and are not to be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number f technical features indicated. Thus, features defining “first” and “second” may include at least one of the features, either explicitly or implicitly.

It should be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.

Unless otherwise defines, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Figure 1 illustrates the charge discharge curve for Li-Ion battery when they are completely charged and also when they are completely discharged. Unlike the commonly used Lead Acid Batteries, the Li-Ion batteries are unstable when they are completely charged and when they are completely discharged as well. During full charge condition any further charging results in sudden rise of voltage, which may result into hazardous situation if not controlled immediately and effectively. Similarly, in case of fully discharged condition, any further discharge results in steep drop in voltage resulting into completely damaging of the cell.

Other than these known hazardous conditions of standard Li-Ion batteries (liquid electrolytes), the new solid state Li-Ion batteries needs protection against the continuous charging. It is recommended to prevent these batteries from overcharge. It is extremely dangerous to overcharge a solid-state battery cell which may cause overheating and results into fire hazards. Multiple level of overcharge protection should be implemented in the BMS. When charging continues longer than charging timeout limit, it tends to overheat the cells which may cause overheating and fire hazards.

Figure 2 illustrates the BMS used with the Li-Ion batteries which monitors voltage of each cell, cell temperature of all or some with clubbed cells, battery current to continuously monitor the battery. It takes protective actions to stop charging when the battery is fully charged and similarly stops discharging when it is fully discharged. It allows the battery to charge and discharge as per the set C rates without any intervention for any duration. However, the new solid-state batteries required additional overcharge protection against timeout limit.

Figure 3 illustrates along with performing standard voltage, temperature and current measurement, monitoring and control, this BMS is equipped with a RTC (real time clock). It continuously monitors the charge time, in case of charging not completed by the charging timeout limit, it stops charging by issuing a command to charger.

Figure 4 illustrates a physical hardwired timer which is inserted into the charging circuit and is operated in a worst-case scenario of failing of the primary protections by BMS. A physical hardwired timer is inserted into the charging circuit. This is operated in a worst-case scenario of failing of the primary protections by BMS. In such a scenario this timer shuts down the charging power to battery. It requires a hardware resent to begin the operation. A timer should be implemented in the charger circuit and set up properly. In case charging does not terminate normally within charging timeout limit, the timer will intervene and stop the charging.

By using both the protections from BMS and through hardwired timer, a failsafe protection against the overcharging timeout limit results in the safe operation of solid-state batteries during complete charging cycles and prevents it from the fire hazardous situation.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

The above description does not provide specific details of the manufacture or design of the various components. Those of skill in the art are familiar with such details, and unless departures from those techniques are set out, techniques, known, related art or later developed designs and materials should be employed. Those in the art can choose suitable manufacturing and design details.

It should be understood, however that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the discussion herein, it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussion utilizing terms such as “receiving” or “determining”, or “retrieving” or “controlling” or the like refer to the action and processes of an control unit or similar electronic device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the control unit’s registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the control unit memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.

Further, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. It will be appreciated that several of the above-described and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into other systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may subsequently be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as encompassed by the following claims.

The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teaching described herein, including those that re presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others. ,CLAIMS:We claim:

1.A Fail-Safe overcharge protection of Solid Sate Li-Ion Battery against charging timeout comprising :
- a charging unit for charging the standard Li-Ion as well as the solid state Li Ion batteries wherein the power is generated and stored for running the devices using Li-Ion batteries;
- a conversion unit for converting Alternating current (AC) to Direct current (DC) and an output unit for providing power to devices using Li-Ion batteries;
- a BMS used with the Li-Ion batteries which monitors voltage of each cell, cell temperature of all or some with clubbed cells, battery current to continuously monitor the battery;
characterized in that the BMS is equipped with a RTC (real time clock) which continuously monitors the charge time and a physical hardwired timer is inserted into the charging circuit which is operated in a worst-case scenario of failing of the primary protections by BMS.

2. A Fail-Safe overcharge protection of Solid Sate Li-Ion Battery against charging timeout as claimed in claim 1 wherein the BMS used with the Li-Ion batteries, monitors each voltage of each cell, cell temperature of all or some with clubbed cells, battery current to continuously monitor the battery.

3.A Fail-Safe overcharge protection of Solid Sate Li-Ion Battery against charging timeout as claimed in claim 1 wherein the BMS used with the Li-Ion batteries takes protective actions to stop charging when the battery is fully charged.

4.A Fail-Safe overcharge protection of Solid Sate Li-Ion Battery against charging timeout as claimed in claim 1 wherein the BMS used with the Li-Ion batteries allows the battery to charge and discharge as per the set C rates without any intervention for any duration.

5.A Fail-Safe overcharge protection of Solid Sate Li-Ion Battery against charging timeout as claimed in claim 1 wherein the BMS is equipped with RTC (real time clock).

6.A Fail-Safe overcharge protection of Solid Sate Li-Ion Battery against charging timeout as claimed in claim 1 wherein the BMS equipped with RTC (real time clock) which continuously monitors the charge time and in case of charging not completed by the charging timeout limit, it stops charging by issuing a command to charger.

7.A Fail-Safe overcharge protection of Solid Sate Li-Ion Battery against charging timeout as claimed in claim 1 wherein a physical hardwired timer is inserted into the charging circuit which is operated in a worst-case scenario of failing of the primary protections by BMS.

8.A Fail-Safe overcharge protection of Solid Sate Li-Ion Battery against charging timeout as claimed in claim 1 wherein a timer implemented in the charger circuit intervene and stop the charging in case charging does not terminate normally within charging timeout limit.

Dated this 6th day of September 2022.

Rahul Salhotra
Agent for the Applicant [IN/PA-522]