IP Library Granted Patent US 12695325
Granted Patent B2
US 12695325 · App. 19/200,193 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Method and system for optimal charging process of lithium-ion batteries to mitigate cell degradation in real time

Inventors: Zhong Wang (Sugar Land, TX); Daniel A. Konopka (Denver, CO); Ruzhou Yang (Hayward, CA); Lang Xia (Boyds, MD); Alan Ghazarians (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: Iontra Inc
H02J7/933G01R31/382G01R31/392H01M10/44H01M10/48H02J7/84G01R31/3648G01R31/367G01R31/374H01M10/0525H01M10/443H02J7/80H02J7/92H02J7/96H02J7/977
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12695325
App. No.
19/200,193
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and system for optimizing the charging process of lithium-ion batteries by utilizing a determined parameter as a cell degradation indicator are disclosed. The system and method enable intelligent charging, which may involve integrating a controller that adjusts the charging current in real-time based on the cell degradation indicator, calculated from probing the battery. This approach has various possible benefits to which the method and system may be tuned including extending battery lifespan, charge timing, and safety.

Claims (21)

1 . A method of charging a battery comprising:

applying a first charging current to the battery at a first state of charge; and

altering the first charging current to a second charging current at a second state of charge,

wherein the second charging current is based on a Lyapunov exponent correlated to anode overpotential meeting a threshold level indicative of electrode plating.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold level indicative of electrode plating is a Lyapunov exponent value of 0 or a Lyapunov exponent value less than 0.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second charging current is further based on a battery temperature.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first charging current and the second charging current are dynamically selected based on real-time feedback from the battery.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a change between the first state of charge and the second state of charge is a fixed state of charge interval.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first charging current and the second charging current are charging steps within a multi-step charging protocol.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising altering the second charging current to a third charging current at a third state of charge, wherein the third charging current is based on the Lyapunov exponent approaching the threshold level indicative of electrode plating.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the third charging current is less than the second current.

9 . A method of charging a battery comprising:

applying a first charging current to the battery; and

altering the first charging current to a second charging current, different from the first charging current,

wherein altering the first charging current to the second charging current is based on a Lyapunov exponent correlated to anode overpotential meeting a threshold level indicative of electrode plating.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the threshold level indicative of electrode plating is a Lyapunov exponent value of 0 or a Lyapunov exponent value less than 0.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the second charging current is further based on a battery temperature.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first charging current and the second charging current are dynamically selected based on real-time feedback from the battery.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first charging current and the second charging current are charging steps within a multi-step charging protocol.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising altering the second charging current to a third charging current different from the first and second charging current, wherein the third charging current is based on the Lyapunov exponent approaching the threshold level indicative of electrode plating.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the third charging current is less than the second charging current.