IP Library Granted Patent US 8,754,614
Granted Patent B2
US 8,754,614 · App. 12/505,256 · Granted Jun 17, 2014

Fast charging of battery using adjustable voltage control

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,754,614
App. No.
12/505,256
Granted
Jun 17, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A battery cell charger for rapidly charging a lithium ion battery cell (or string of series-parallel connected cells) having a maximum battery cell voltage the battery cell charging system including: a circuit for charging the battery cell using an adjustable voltage charging-profile to apply a charging voltage and a charging current to the battery cell wherein the adjustable voltage charging-profile includes: a first charging stage with a constant first stage charging current and an increasing battery cell voltage with the first stage charging current provided until the first stage charging voltage is about equal to a first stage complete voltage less than the maximum battery cell voltage; one or more intermediate charging stages, each intermediate stage selected from the group consisting of one or more of an intermediate constant voltage stage that provides a decreasing charging current, an intermediate constant current stage that produces an increasing battery cell voltage, and combinations thereof; and a final charging stage with a constant final stage charging voltage about equal to an intermediate stage complete voltage and a decreasing final stage charging current with the final stage charging voltage provided until the final stage charging current reaches a desired charge complete level.

Claims (16)

1. A battery cell charging system for rapidly charging a lithium ion battery cell, the battery cell charging system comprising:

a circuit for charging the battery cell using a variable charge-profile to apply a charging voltage (V cell ) and a charging current to the battery cell wherein said charge-profile is determined responsive to an imaginary R Bad resistance included in series with an R Nominal resistance of a DC model for the battery cell wherein said R Bad includes a function component responsive to one or more of said R Nominal , a state-of-charge (SOC) of the battery cell, and a temperature of the battery cell such that V cell is about equal to a maximum battery cell voltage minus charging current times R Bad , wherein R Bad decreases during a constant-current stage of a charging session and increases when the SOC rises toward an end of the charging session.

2. The battery cell charging system of claim 1 wherein said R Bad includes a component that is about equal to a first constant k1 times R Nominal minus a second constant k2 times SOC wherein said first constant k1 is about between 0 and 1 and wherein said second constant k2 is about 0.001/SOC %.

3. The battery cell charging system of claim 2 wherein said first constant k1 is about equal to 0.1.

4. The battery cell charging system of claim 1 wherein said R Nominal is determined from a lookup table responsive to cell temperature, age, and SOC.

5. The battery cell charging system of claim 1 wherein said R Nominal is estimated in real-time or over time.

6. The battery cell charging system of claim 1 wherein said R Bad is determined from a lookup table responsive to cell temperature, age, and SOC.

7. The battery cell charging system of claim 1 wherein said R Bad is estimated in real-time or over time.

8. A battery cell charging method for rapidly charging a lithium ion battery cell, the battery cell charging method comprising:

(a) applying, responsive to a variable charge-profile, a varying charging voltage (V cell ) and a varying charging current to the battery cell wherein said charge-profile is determined responsive to an imaginary R Bad resistance included in series with an R Nominal resistance of a DC model for the battery cell wherein said R Bad includes a function component responsive to one or more of said R Nominal , a state-of-charge (SOC) of the battery cell, and a temperature of the battery cell such that V cell is about equal to a maximum battery cell voltage minus charging current times R Bad , wherein R Bad decreases during a constant-current stage of a charging session and increases when the SOC rises toward an end of the charging session.

9. The battery cell charging method of claim 8 wherein said R Bad includes a component about equal to a first constant k1 times R Nominal minus a second constant k2 times SOC wherein said first constant k1 is about between 0 and 1 and wherein said second constant k2 is about 0.001/SOC %.

10. The battery cell charging method of claim 8 wherein said first constant k1 is about equal to 0.1.

11. The battery cell charging method of claim 8 wherein said R Nominal is determined from a lookup table responsive to cell temperature, age, and SOC.

12. The battery cell charging method of claim 8 wherein said R Nominal is estimated in real-time or over time.

13. The battery cell charging method of claim 8 wherein said R Bad is determined from a lookup table responsive to cell temperature, age, and SOC.

14. The battery cell charging method of claim 8 wherein said R Bad is estimated in real-time or over time.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 19, 2020
From: TESLA MOTORS, INC.
To: TESLA, INC.
Reel/Frame 053549/0236 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 25, 2010
From: TESLA MOTORS, INC.
To: MIDLAND LOAN SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 023843/0661 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2009
From: PARYANI, ANIL; KISHIYAMA, CLAY H.; KOHN, SCOTT I.; MEHTA, VINEET H.
To: TESLA MOTORS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023309/0796 →