Back in 2020 StoreDot received two co-dependent patents for optical communication through transparent pouches of lithium ion batteries.
This innovation covers the co-dependent topics of transparent Li-ion pouch cells and optical communications enabled by their unique transparent construction.
United States Patent and Trademark Office >>
and
United States Patent and Trademark Office >>
Taken together, these two patents define a novel approach to safer Li-ion batteries in electric vehicle applications.
StoreDot’s patents describe a transparent pouch that allows monitoring the battery in operation. In addition, during the complex development process of the battery formulation and cell design, the see-through technology offers manufacturers an innovative alternative to the traditional wired monitoring and management of the battery.
Utilizing the transparent pouch, the patent outlines how indicators may be introduced into various cell components such as the electrodes and electrolyte to indicate their operational status and condition.
Moreover, using bi-directional electromagnetic (e.g., optical) communication enabled by the transparent pouch, external sensors can be used to analyze the data coming from the indicators. This eliminates the traditional need for physical electrical connections and wiring, thereby saving weight and reducing battery pack complexity.
Electromagnetic sensors are configured for direct sensing in order to receive data about the condition of one or more cell components, such as the anode, cathode, and electrolyte. These direct sensing systems could comprise FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy), cameras using CCD (charge-coupled device), CMOS complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor, optical microscopy, confocal micros copy, interferometry, ellipsometry, holography, speckle and Moire techniques, as well as various technologies implementing optical fibers, possibly with enhanced resolution.
By so doing, the transparent pouch can be used to monitor battery safety by, for instance, enabling easy tracking of lithium metallization on an anode (either directly or via the indicators), or monitor battery health – allowing for a non-destructive development and analysis process.
In addition the materials and structure of the transparent pouch may be selected to enable sensing in a specific wave length range, including one or more bands in any of the optical range - infrared, ultraviolet, X-ray or even particle beams within specified energy ranges (e.g., electron beams).
By following the innovative methodology of this see-through technology, manufacturers can configure the BMS to utilize real time sensing and monitoring through communication with at least one electro-magnetic sensor, to improve battery safety in EV applications.
