IP Library › Granted Patent US 12704559
Granted Patent B2
US 12704559 · App. 18/095,287 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Depth of discharge determination of alkaline batteries

Inventors: Martin D. Donakowski (Minneapolis, MN); Kaimin Chen (Shoreview, MN)
Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
G01R31/392G01R31/3647G01R31/378G01R31/387G01R31/389
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12704559
App. No.
18/095,287
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for determining a depth of discharge of an electrochemical cell includes (i)) providing one or more alkaline electrochemical cells comprising Ag 2 O—Zn; (ii) applying a varying voltage potential to the one or more alkaline electrochemical cells, (iii) measuring an output current response of the one or more alkaline electrochemical cells, the output current response comprising a phase response as a function of frequency; and (iv) determining a depth of discharge of the one or more alkaline electrochemical cells based on a linear relationship of the depth of discharge with the phase response.

Claims (31)

1 . A method, comprising:

providing one or more alkaline electrochemical cells comprising Ag 2 O—Zn;

applying a varying voltage potential to the one or more alkaline electrochemical cells at a single frequency;

measuring an output current response of the one or more alkaline electrochemical cells, the output current response comprising a phase response as a function of the single frequency;

determining a linear relationship of a depth of discharge of the one or more alkaline electrochemical cells and the phase response as a function of the single frequency, the linear relationship based on one or more parameters of the alkaline electrochemical cell, the one or more parameters corresponding to one of a plurality of initial phase responses; and

determining the depth of discharge of the one or more alkaline electrochemical cells based on the linear relationship.

2 . The method as in claim 1 , wherein measuring the output current response of the one or more alkaline electrochemical cells comprises measuring the phase response of the one or more alkaline electrochemical cells using impedance spectroscopy.

3 . The method as in claim 1 , further comprising determining whether the depth of discharge is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold.

4 . The method as in claim 3 , wherein if it is determined that the depth of discharge is not less than or equal to the predetermined threshold, determining that the one or more alkaline electrochemical cells are defective.

5 . The method as in claim 3 , wherein the predetermined threshold is 50%.

6 . The method as in claim 1 , further comprising determining whether the one or more alkaline electrochemical cells have enough power for a predetermined application based on the depth of discharge.

7 . The method as in claim 1 , wherein a phase angle decreases as a function of depth of discharge at frequencies in a predetermined range.

8 . The method as in claim 7 , wherein the predetermined range is about 0.001 Hz to about 10 Hz.

9 . A system, comprising:

one or more alkaline electrochemical cells comprising Ag 2 O—Zn;

a supply configured to provide a varying voltage potential to the one or more alkaline electrochemical cells at a single frequency;

a detector configured to measure an output current response of the one or more alkaline electrochemical cells, the output current response comprising a phase response as a function of the single frequency; and

an analyzer configured to:

determine a linear relationship of a depth of discharge of the one or more alkaline electrochemical cells and the phase response as a function of the single frequency, the linear relationship based on one or more parameters of the alkaline electrochemical cell, the one or more parameters corresponding to one of a plurality of initial phase responses; and

determine the depth of discharge of the one or more alkaline electrochemical cells based on the linear relationship.

10 . The system as in claim 9 , wherein the detector is configured to measure the phase response of the one or more alkaline electrochemical cells using impedance spectroscopy.

11 . The system as in claim 9 , wherein the analyzer is further configured to determine whether the depth of discharge is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the analyzer is configured to provide an offset to the linear relationship based on the one or more parameters.

13 . A system, comprising:

one or more alkaline electrochemical cells comprising Ag 2 O—Zn;

a supply configured to provide a varying voltage potential to the one or more alkaline electrochemical cells at a single frequency;

a detector configured to measure an output current response of the one or more alkaline electrochemical cells, the output current response comprising a phase response as a function of the single frequency; and

an analyzer configured to:

determine a linear relationship of a depth of discharge of the one or more alkaline electrochemical cells and the phase response as a function of the single frequency, the linear relationship based on one or more parameters of the alkaline electrochemical cell;

determine the depth of discharge of the one or more alkaline electrochemical cells based on the linear relationship; and

provide an offset to the linear relationship based on the one or more parameters.