Methodology for charging batteries safely

1. A fault-detection apparatus for a charging system that charges a collection of interconnected battery cells, the apparatus comprising:

a) a data-acquisition system for receiving a set of data parameters from the collection while the charging system is actively charging the collection;

b) a monitoring system evaluating said set of data parameters to identify a set of anomalous conditions; and

c) a controller comparing said set of anomalous conditions against a set of predetermined profiles indicative of an internal short in one or more cells of the collection, said controller establishing an internal-short state for the collection when said comparing has a predetermined relationship to said set of predetermined profiles,

wherein the set of data parameters is measured during a charge cycle that begins with V<V max and deltaT<(deltaT) max , wherein deltaT is a maximum difference in temperature between the cells throughout the collection and an ambient temperature, wherein (deltaT) max is a maximum acceptable difference in temperature that affects a change in voltage or current during charging, (deltaT) max being determined through testing and contained in a look-up table, and wherein the controller verifies that a charge current has not decreased or been interrupted, and that no additional load has been introduced, before establishing the internal-short state.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charging system is responsive to said internal-short state to modify further charging while in said internal-short state.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the modified further charging includes one or more of suspending/inhibiting further charging, limiting charging behavior, and applying tighter charging controls during any further charging.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charging system includes a charging phase, said charging phase including one or more of a constant current, a constant voltage, and a constant power, applied to the collection and wherein said set of data parameters includes a battery voltage across the collection that declines during said charging phase and wherein said set of anomalous conditions includes said declining battery voltage with respect to time without a corresponding decline in a charging current.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charging system includes a charging phase, said charging phase including one or more of a constant current, a constant voltage, and a constant power, applied to the collection and wherein said set of data parameters includes a battery voltage across the collection that declines during said charging phase and wherein said set of anomalous conditions includes said declining battery voltage with respect to charge capacity without a corresponding decline in a charging current.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said set of data parameters further includes a battery voltage across the collection that increases after said internal-short state and wherein said set of anomalous conditions includes said increasing battery voltage with respect to charge capacity so as to become substantially non-anomalous indicative of a clearing of said internal short wherein said controller sets an internal-short cleared state for the collection.

7. A fault-detection method for a charging system that charges a collection of interconnected battery cells, the method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a set of data parameters from the collection while the charging system is actively charging the collection;

b) evaluating said set of data parameters to identify a set of anomalous conditions;

c) comparing said set of anomalous conditions against a set of predetermined profiles indicative of an internal short in one or more cells of the collection; and

d) establishing an internal-short state for the collection when said comparing step identifies a predetermined relationship of said set of data parameters to said set of predetermined profiles, wherein the set of data parameters is measured during a charge cycle that begins with V<V max and deltaT<(deltaT) max , wherein deltaT is a maximum difference in temperature between the cells throughout the collection and an ambient temperature wherein (deltaT) max is a maximum acceptable difference in temperature that affects a change in voltage or current during charging, (deltaT) max being determined through testing and contained in a look-up table, and wherein it is verified that a charge current has not decreased or been interrupted, and that no additional load has been introduced, before establishing the internal-short state.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the charging system is responsive to said internal-short state to modify further charging while in said internal-short state.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said modified further charging includes one or more of suspending/inhibiting further charging, limiting charging behavior, and applying tighter charging controls during any further charging.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the charging system includes a charging phase, said charging phase including one or more of a constant current, a constant voltage, and a constant power, applied to the collection and wherein said set of data parameters includes a battery voltage across the collection that declines during said charging phase and wherein said set of anomalous conditions includes said declining battery voltage with respect to time without a corresponding decline in a charging current.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the charging system includes a charging phase, said charging phase including one or more of a constant current, a constant voltage, and a constant power, applied to the collection and wherein said set of data parameters includes a battery voltage across the collection that declines during said charging phase and wherein said set of anomalous conditions includes said declining battery voltage with respect to charge capacity without a corresponding decline in a charging current.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said set of data parameters further includes a battery voltage across the collection that increases after said internal-short state and wherein said set of anomalous conditions includes said increasing battery voltage with respect to charge capacity so as to become substantially non-anomalous indicative of a clearing of said internal short wherein an internal-short cleared state is set for the collection.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to monitor for the false trip due to a step change from one constant-current level or constant-power level to another.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to monitor for the false trip due to a reduction in charge rate due to a limitation on grid power or charger power.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to monitor for the false trip due to external heating of the battery causing a reduction in impedance.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to monitor for the false trip due to a reduction in impedance at a rate that causes a loaded voltage to decrease more quickly than an open-circuit voltage rises.

17. The fault-detection method of claim 7 wherein monitoring for a false trip comprises monitoring for a false trip due to a step change from one constant-current level or constant-power level to another.

18. The fault-detection method of claim 7 wherein monitoring for a false trip comprises monitoring for a false trip due to a reduction in charge rate due to a limitation on grid power or charger power.

19. The fault-detection method of claim 7 wherein monitoring for a false trip comprises monitoring for a false trip due to external heating of the battery causing a reduction in impedance.

20. The fault-detection method of claim 7 wherein monitoring for a false trip comprises monitoring for a false trip due to a reduction in impedance at a rate that causes a loaded voltage to decrease more quickly than an open-circuit voltage rises.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is also configured so as to monitor for a false trip.

22. The fault-detection method of claim 7 wherein comparing said set of anomalous conditions against said set of predetermined profiles includes monitoring for a false trip.