ELECTRONIC CURRENT INTERRUPT DEVICE FOR BATTERY
The present invention provides a protection circuit disposed in a lithium-ion cell for protection of the lithium-ion cell. The protection circuit includes a first protection module, a second protection module, an integrated circuit module, a thermal sensor or thermocouple, a switch, a fuse and/or a resistor.
1 . A protection circuit disposed within a lithium-ion cell assembly, wherein the lithium-ion assembly includes a lithium-ion cell in electrical communication with said protection circuit, said circuit comprising:
a first and a second connection terminals for connecting to a charging device for charging the lithium-ion cell and/or a load device driven by a discharge current from the lithium-ion cell assembly;
a first protection module coupled between the lithium-ion cell and the first terminal for conducting or cutting off a first circuit loop between the lithium-ion cell and the first terminal or second terminal;
a second protection module coupled between the first protection module and the first terminal for conducting or cutting off a second circuit loop between the lithium-ion cell and the first terminal or second terminal;
an integrated circuit module coupled with the first protection module, the second protection module, the lithium-ion cell, the first terminal and the second terminal for monitoring the parameters of the lithium-ion cell and controlling the first and the second protection module to conduct or cut off the first circuit loop, the second circuit loop, or both, between the lithium-ion cell and the first and the second terminals;
a thermal sensor coupled to the integrated circuit, wherein the thermal sensor is in contact with the lithium-ion cell for detecting the temperature of the cell; and
a resistor coupled between the second protection module and the first terminal for measuring and controlling the current of the lithium-ion cell.
2 . The protection circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first protection module comprises a switch, wherein the switch is coupled to the integrated circuit module and cuts off the first circuit loop between the lithium-ion cell and the first terminal when the temperature of the lithium-ion cell is above a predetermined temperature or the rate of change of temperature is deviated from a predetermined value.
3 . The protection circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first protection module comprises a switch, wherein the switch is coupled to the integrated circuit module and cuts off the first circuit loop between the lithium-ion cell and the first terminal when the operation current of the integrated circuit is greater than a predetermined current or there is a short circuit.
4 . The protection circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first protection module comprises a switch, wherein the switch is coupled to the integrated circuit module and cuts off the first circuit loop between the lithium-ion cell and the first terminal when the voltage of the lithium-ion cell is greater than or lower than a predetermined voltage.
5 . The protection circuit of claim 1 , wherein the second protection module comprises a fuse, wherein the fuse is coupled to the integrated circuit module and cuts off the second circuit loop between the lithium-ion cell and the first terminal when the operation current of the integrated circuit is greater than a predetermined current or there is a short circuit.
6 . The protection circuit of claim 1 , wherein the integrated circuit is pre-programmed.
7 . The protection circuit of claim 1 , wherein said lithium-ion cell comprising a current collector and an electrolyte.
8 . The protection circuit of claim 7 , the electrolyte solution comprises a salt selected from the group consisting of LiPF 6 , LiBF 4 , LiClO 4 and a compound having the formula:
(R a SO 2 )N − Li + (SO 2 R a ),
wherein each R a is independently C 1-8 perfluoroalkyl or perfluoroaryl.
9 . The protection circuit of claim 8 , wherein the electrolyte solution comprises a salt selected from CF 3 SO 2 N − (Li + )SO 2 CF 3 , CF 3 CF 2 SO 2 N − (Li + )SO 2 CF 3 , CF 3 CF 2 SO 2 N − (Li + )SO 2 CF 2 CF 3 , CF 3 SO 2 N − (Li + )SO 2 CF 2 OCF 3 , CF 3 OCF 2 SO 2 N − (Li + )SO 2 CF 2 OCF 3 , C 6 F 5 SO 2 N − (Li + )SO 2 CF 3 , C 6 F 5 SO 2 N − (Li + )SO 2 C 6 F 5 or CF 3 SO 2 N − (Li + )SO 2 PhCF 3 .
10 . The protection circuit of claim 7 , wherein the current collector is selected from the group consisting of a metal foil and a carbon sheet selected from a graphite sheet, a carbon fiber sheet, a carbon foam, a carbon nanotube film or a mixture thereof.
11 . A lithium-ion cell assembly, comprising:
a lithium-ion cell;
a protection circuit; and
wherein the lithium-ion cell is in electrical communication with said protection circuit.
12 . The lithium-ion cell assembly of claim 11 , wherein the protection circuit comprises a first protection module comprising a switch.
13 . The lithium-ion cell assembly of claim 11 , wherein the protection circuit comprises a second protection module comprising a fuse.
14 . The lithium-ion cell assembly of claim 11 , wherein the protection circuit comprises a thermal sensor comprising a thermocouple.
15 . The lithium-ion cell assembly of claim 11 , wherein the lithium-ion cell comprises a carbon sheet current collector.
16 . A lithium-ion battery, comprising:
one or more lithium-ion cell assemblies, each lithium-ion assembly comprises a lithium-ion cell in electrical communication with a protection circuit.
17 . The battery of claim 16 , wherein the protection circuit comprises a first protection module comprising a switch.
18 . The battery of claim 16 , wherein the protection circuit comprises a second protection module comprising a fuse.
19 . The battery of claim 16 , wherein the protection circuit comprises a thermal sensor comprising a thermocouple.
20 . The battery of claim 16 , wherein the lithium-ion cell comprises a carbon sheet current collector.