Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100304197 | Flexible foil prismatic battery having improved volumetric efficiency - A (e.g., 12-volt) lead acid battery having prismatic and wound prismatic battery cells that are arranged relative to one another within a standard battery casing to avoid wasted space whereby to improve the overall volumetric efficiency of the battery relative to conventional batteries having thick grids or cylindrical cell configurations. According to a first preferred embodiment, each battery cell includes a plurality of cathode and anode electrode plates, wherein each plate is manufactured from an electrically-conductive flexible foil covered on opposite sides thereof by one of a positively or negatively charged material. According to a second preferred embodiment, each battery cell includes flexible, electrically-conductive cathode and anode electrodes that are prismatically wound in an oval (i.e., flat) configuration, such that the battery cell is longer along the major axis thereof than along the minor axis. The batteries of this invention are capable of increasing their stored energy capability and maximizing their power performance by avoiding unused or wasted volume within the battery casing so as to improve the stored energy capacity and cold-cranking power. | 12-02-2010 |
20110037438 | MODULATED, TEMPERATURE-BASED MULTI-CC-CV CHARGING TECHNIQUE FOR LI-ION/LI-POLYMER BATTERIES - Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that charges a battery. During operation, the system obtains a set of charging currents {I | 02-17-2011 |
20110037439 | INCREASING ENERGY DENSITY IN RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM BATTERY CELLS - Some embodiments of the present invention provide an improved rechargeable lithium battery. This rechargeable lithium battery includes a cathode current collector with a coating of cathode active material. It also includes an electrolyte separator, and an anode current collector with a coating of anode active material. Within this rechargeable battery, the thickness of the coating of cathode active material and the thickness of the coating of anode active material are selected so that the battery will charge in a predetermined maximum charging time with a predetermined minimum cycle life when the battery is charged using a multi-step constant-current constant-voltage (CC-CV) charging technique. Note that using the multi-step CC-CV charging technique instead of a conventional charging technique allows the thickness of the cathode active material and the thickness of the anode active material to be increased while maintaining the same predetermined maximum charging time and the same predetermined minimum cycle life. This increase in the thickness of the active materials effectively increases both the volumetric and gravimetric energy density of the battery cell. | 02-17-2011 |
20110089907 | IN-SITU BATTERY HEALTH DETECTOR AND END-OF-LIFE INDICATOR - Some embodiments provide a system that monitors a battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system applies a pulse load to the battery and determines an impedance of the battery by measuring a voltage of the battery during the pulse load. Next, the system assesses a health of the battery based on the impedance. Finally, the system uses the assessed health to manage use of the battery in the portable electronic device. | 04-21-2011 |
20110123844 | PRESSURE-RELIEF MECHANISM TO IMPROVE SAFETY IN LITHIUM-POLYMER BATTERY CELLS - The disclosed embodiments relate to a battery cell which includes a weakness for relieving pressure. This battery cell includes a jelly roll comprising layers which are wound together, including a cathode with an active coating, a separator and an anode with an active coating. The jelly roll also includes a first conductive tab coupled to the cathode and a second conductive tab coupled to the anode. The jelly roll is enclosed in a flexible pouch, wherein the first and second conductive tabs extend through seals in the pouch to provide terminals for the battery cell. This pouch includes a weakness which yields when internal pressure in the pouch exceeds a threshold to create a hole which releases the internal pressure. | 05-26-2011 |
20110183169 | BATTERY WITH MULTIPLE JELLY ROLLS IN A SINGLE POUCH - The disclosed embodiments provide a battery cell which includes a set of jelly rolls enclosed in a pouch. Each jelly roll includes layers which are wound together, including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a first set of conductive tabs and a second set of conductive tabs. Each of the first set of conductive tabs is coupled to the cathode of one of the jelly rolls, and each of the second set of conductive tabs is coupled to the anode of one of the jelly rolls. At least one of the first set and one of the second set of conductive tabs extend through seals in the pouch to provide terminals for the battery cell. | 07-28-2011 |
20120015223 | BATTERY PACK WITH CELLS OF DIFFERENT CAPACITIES - The disclosed embodiments provide a battery pack for use with a portable electronic device. The battery pack includes a first set of cells with different capacities electrically coupled in a parallel configuration. Cells within the first set of cells may also have different thicknesses and/or dimensions. The first set of cells is arranged within the battery pack to facilitate efficient use of space within a portable electronic device. For example, the first set of cells may be arranged to accommodate components in the portable electronic device. | 01-19-2012 |
20120025771 | SWELLING MANAGEMENT IN BATTERIES FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES - The disclosed embodiments provide a system that manages use of a battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system monitors a cycle number of the battery during use of the battery with the portable electronic device, wherein the cycle number corresponds to a number of charge-discharge cycles of the battery. If the cycle number exceeds a first cycle number threshold, the system modifies a charging technique for the battery to manage swelling in the battery. | 02-02-2012 |
20120107654 | RECHARGEABLE BATTERY WITH A JELLY ROLL HAVING MULTIPLE THICKNESSES - The disclosed embodiments relate to the design of a battery cell with multiple thicknesses. This battery cell includes a jelly roll enclosed in a pouch, wherein the jelly roll includes layers which are wound together, including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The jelly roll also includes a first conductive tab coupled to the cathode and a second conductive tab coupled to the anode. The jelly roll is enclosed in a flexible pouch, and the first and second conductive tabs are extended through seals in the pouch to provide terminals for the battery cell. Furthermore, the battery cell has two or more thicknesses, wherein the different thicknesses are created by removing material from one or more of the layers before winding the layers together. | 05-03-2012 |
20120177953 | BATTERIES WITH VARIABLE TERRACE POSITIONS - The disclosed embodiments provide a battery cell. The battery cell includes a jelly roll enclosed in a pouch, wherein the jelly roll includes layers which are wound together, including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. To create the pouch, a first cup and a second cup are formed in a flexible sheet of pouch material based on a terrace position in the battery cell that facilitates efficient use of space within a portable electronic device. The second cup is folded over the first cup, and a terrace seal is formed at the terrace position by sealing the jelly roll in the pouch along a rim of the first and second cups. | 07-12-2012 |
20130009604 | USING REFERENCE ELECTRODES TO MANAGE BATTERIES FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES - The disclosed embodiments provide a system that manages use of a battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system uses a reference electrode in the battery to monitor an anode potential of an anode in the battery during charging of the battery in the portable electronic device. If the anode potential falls below an anode potential threshold, the system modifies a charging technique for the battery to extend a cycle life of the battery. For example, the system may reduce a charge current of the battery if the anode potential falls below the anode potential threshold to prevent degradation caused by a negative anode potential during charging of the battery. | 01-10-2013 |
20130095357 | INCREASING THE STIFFNESS OF BATTERY CELLS FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES - The disclosed embodiments relate to the manufacture of a battery cell. The battery cell includes a set of layers including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a pouch enclosing the layers, wherein the pouch is flexible. The layers may be wound to create a jelly roll prior to sealing the layers in the flexible pouch. The stiffness of the battery cell may be increased by applying a pressure of at least 0.13 kilogram-force (kgf) per square millimeter and a temperature of about 85° C. to the layers. | 04-18-2013 |
20130095389 | GRAPHENE CURRENT COLLECTORS IN BATTERIES FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES - The disclosed embodiments provide a battery cell. The battery cell includes a cathode current collector containing graphene, a cathode active material, an electrolyte, an anode active material, and an anode current collector. The graphene may reduce the manufacturing cost and/or increase the energy density of the battery cell. | 04-18-2013 |
20130108906 | NON-RECTANGULAR BATTERIES FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES | 05-02-2013 |
20130108907 | CURVED BATTERY CELLS FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES | 05-02-2013 |
20130115491 | PRESSURE-RELIEF MECHANISM TO IMPROVE SAFETY IN LITHIUM-POLYMER BATTERY CELLS - The disclosed embodiments relate to a battery cell which includes a weakness for relieving pressure. This battery cell includes a jelly roll comprising layers which are wound together, including a cathode with an active coating, a separator and an anode with an active coating. The jelly roll also includes a first conductive tab coupled to the cathode and a second conductive tab coupled to the anode. The jelly roll is enclosed in a flexible pouch, wherein the first and second conductive tabs extend through seals in the pouch to provide terminals for the battery cell. This pouch includes a weakness which yields when internal pressure in the pouch exceeds a threshold to create a hole which releases the internal pressure. | 05-09-2013 |
20130136966 | GRAPHENE HEAT DISSIPATORS IN PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES - The disclosed embodiments relate to techniques for facilitating thermal transfer in a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device includes a battery pack, which further includes a battery cell. The battery pack may supply power to a set of components in the portable electronic device. The portable electronic device also includes a heat dissipator composed of graphene. The heat dissipator may be in thermal contact with one or more of the components. The heat dissipator may also be disposed over a surface of the battery pack. | 05-30-2013 |
20130136967 | CURVED BATTERY CELLS FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES - The disclosed embodiments relate to the manufacture of a battery cell. The battery cell includes a set of layers including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a pouch enclosing the layers, wherein the pouch is flexible. The layers may be wound to create a jelly roll prior to sealing the layers in the flexible pouch. A curve may also be formed in the battery cell by applying a pressure of at least 0.13 kilogram-force (kgf) per square millimeter to the layers using a set of curved plates applying a temperature of about 85° C. to the layers. | 05-30-2013 |
20130187614 | CHARGING TECHNIQUES FOR SOLID-STATE BATTERIES IN PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES - The disclosed embodiments provide a system that manages use of a solid-state battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system monitors a temperature of the solid-state battery during use of the solid-state battery with the portable electronic device. Next, the system modifies a charging technique for the solid-state battery based on the monitored temperature to increase a capacity or a cycle life of the solid-state battery. To modify the charging technique based on the monitored temperature, the system may increase a charge rate of the solid-state battery if the temperature exceeds a first temperature threshold. On the other hand, the system may maintain the charge rate of the solid-state battery if the temperature does not exceed the first temperature threshold. | 07-25-2013 |
20130241494 | IN-SITU BATTERY HEALTH DETECTOR AND END-OF-LIFE INDICATOR - Some embodiments provide a system that monitors a battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system applies a pulse load to the battery and determines an impedance of the battery by measuring a voltage of the battery during the pulse load. Next, the system assesses a health of the battery based on the impedance. Finally, the system uses the assessed health to manage use of the battery in the portable electronic device. | 09-19-2013 |
20130337303 | INCREASING THE ENERGY DENSITY OF BATTERY CELLS FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES - The disclosed embodiments relate to the manufacture of a battery cell. The battery cell includes a set of layers including a cathode and an anode. The cathode includes a cathode substrate with a thickness in the range of 8-10 microns and a cathode active material. The anode includes an anode substrate with a thickness in the range of 4-6 microns and an anode active material. The cathode active material is coated on the cathode substrate at a rate of 2 mm/min to 3 mm/min, and the anode active material is coated on the anode substrate at a rate of 2 mm/min to 3.8 mm/min. Such substrate thicknesses and coating speeds may increase the energy density of the battery cell over that of a conventional battery cell with thicker cathode and anode substrates while avoiding manufacturing defects associated with the use of thinner substrates in battery cells. | 12-19-2013 |
20140019789 | MONITORING A BATTERY IN AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A method and apparatus are described for monitoring a battery in an electronic device. In the described embodiments, a discharge current pulse is applied to a battery and the voltage change of the battery due to the discharge current pulse is determined. The impedance of the battery is then determined based on the voltage change and the discharge current pulse. An alert is then selectively generated based on the impedance. | 01-16-2014 |
20140019790 | MONITORING A BATTERY IN AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A method and apparatus are described for monitoring a battery in an electronic device. In the described embodiments, a battery is charged to a predetermined state of charge. The float current for the battery is then determined, and an alert is selectively generated based on the float current. | 01-16-2014 |
20140045023 | RECHARGEABLE BATTERY WITH A JELLY ROLL HAVING MULTIPLE THICKNESSES - The disclosed embodiments relate to the design of a battery cell with multiple thicknesses. This battery cell includes a jelly roll enclosed in a pouch, wherein the jelly roll includes layers which are wound together, including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The jelly roll also includes a first conductive tab coupled to the cathode and a second conductive tab coupled to the anode. The jelly roll is enclosed in a flexible pouch, and the first and second conductive tabs are extended through seals in the pouch to provide terminals for the battery cell. Furthermore, the battery cell has two or more thicknesses, wherein the different thicknesses are created by removing material from one or more of the layers before winding the layers together. | 02-13-2014 |
20140065457 | MULTIPLE ELECTRODE SUBSTRATE THICKNESSES IN BATTERY CELLS FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES - The disclosed embodiments provide a battery cell. The battery cell includes an electrode containing an active material and a continuous substrate. The continuous substrate includes a first thickness to maintain a tensile strength of the continuous substrate and a second thickness that is less than the first thickness to accommodate the active material. The first and second thicknesses may thus improve the energy density and/or rate capability of the battery cell without producing manufacturing defects associated with the use of thinner electrode substrates in battery cells. | 03-06-2014 |
20140106190 | PRESSURE-RELIEF MECHANISM TO IMPROVE SAFETY IN LITHIUM-POLYMER BATTERY CELLS - The disclosed embodiments relate to a battery cell which includes a weakness for relieving pressure. This battery cell includes a jelly roll comprising layers which are wound together, including a cathode with an active coating, a separator and an anode with an active coating. The jelly roll also includes a first conductive tab coupled to the cathode and a second conductive tab coupled to the anode. The jelly roll is enclosed in a flexible pouch, wherein the first and second conductive tabs extend through seals in the pouch to provide terminals for the battery cell. This pouch includes a weakness which yields when internal pressure in the pouch exceeds a threshold to create a hole which releases the internal pressure. | 04-17-2014 |
20140106194 | BATTERY WITH MULTIPLE JELLY ROLLS IN A SINGLE POUCH - The disclosed embodiments provide a battery cell which includes a set of jelly rolls enclosed in a pouch. Each jelly roll includes layers which are wound together, including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a first set of conductive tabs and a second set of conductive tabs. Each of the first set of conductive tabs is coupled to the cathode of one of the jelly rolls, and each of the second set of conductive tabs is coupled to the anode of one of the jelly rolls. At least one of the first set and one of the second set of conductive tabs extend through seals in the pouch to provide terminals for the battery cell. | 04-17-2014 |
20140109397 | HEATED FOLDING OF SEALS IN BATTERY CELLS - The disclosed embodiments relate to the manufacture of a battery cell. The battery cell includes a set of layers including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating. The battery cell also includes a pouch enclosing the layers, wherein the pouch is flexible. The layers may be wound to create a jelly roll and/or stacked prior to sealing the layers in the flexible pouch. A side fold is also formed in the pouch by producing a target temperature in the range of 55° C. to 75° C. at a side seal of the pouch prior to folding the side seal against the battery cell. | 04-24-2014 |