IP Library Granted Patent US 11,249,055
Granted Patent B2
US 11,249,055 · App. 16/141,166 · Granted Feb 15, 2022

Acoustic testing of batteries in portable devices

Inventors: Andrew Gaheem Hsieh (Berkeley, CA); Anne Wilkinson (Seattle, WA); Robert Charles Mohr (Berkeley, CA); Shaurjo Biswas (El Cerrito, CA); Barry James Van Tassell (El Cerrito, CA); Daniel Artemis Steingart (Princeton, NJ)
Assignees: Feasible, Inc.; The REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
G01N29/4436G01N29/07G01N29/343G01N29/4454G01N29/46G01R31/382G01R31/385H01M10/48G01N2291/048G01N2291/102G01N2291/2697H01M2220/30H04B11/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,249,055
App. No.
16/141,166
Granted
Feb 15, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for testing a component, such as a battery, of a host device include transmitting one or more input acoustic signals into at least a portion of the host device, through input transducers coupled to the host device. One or more response signals generated in response to the one or more input acoustic signals are detected through recording transducers coupled to the host device. The one or more response signals are stored and compared with reference signals or datasets. One or more physical characteristics of the component or battery are analyzed based on the comparison.

Claims (30)

1. A method comprising:

transmitting one or more input acoustic signals into at least a portion of a battery while the battery is housed within an electronic device;

detecting one or more response signals generated in response to the one or more input acoustic signals; and

analyzing one or more physical characteristics of the battery based on the one or more response signals.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating the one or more input acoustic signals via a sound source external to the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising generating the one or more input acoustic signals via a sound source housed within the electronic device, wherein analyzing the one or more physical characteristics of the battery comprises determining the one or more physical characteristics of the battery based on the one or more response signals and without removing the battery from the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is powered by the battery.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the one or more input acoustic signals comprises transmitting the one or more input acoustic signals through a casing of the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting the one or more response signals using one or more recording transducers.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the detected one or more response signals and comparing the one or more response signals to a reference set of signals, and wherein analyzing the one or more physical characteristics of the battery is based on the comparison.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more physical characteristics of the battery comprise charge level, battery quality, authenticity of the battery, physical condition including tampering of the battery, or combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing one or more tests comprising measurement of a weight or distribution of weight within the electronic device, measurement of a shape or dimensions of the battery, measurement of chemical residue, or combinations thereof.

10. A method comprising:

transmitting one or more input acoustic signals into at least a portion of a host device;

detecting one or more response signals generated in response to the one or more input acoustic signals;

comparing the one or more response signals with one or more predetermined response signals of one or more internal components associated with the host device; and

based on a difference between the one or more response signals and the one or more predetermined response signals, detecting a modification to internal contents of the host device, the modification including one or more of removing one or more objects from the internal contents of the host device, replacing one or more of the internal contents with one or more different objects, or adding one or more new objects to the internal contents of the host device.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a signal source configured to transmit one or more input acoustic signals into at least a portion of a host device;

one or more sensor devices configured to detect one or more response signals generated in response to the one or more input acoustic signals; and

one or more processors configured to:

compare the one or more response signals with one or more predetermined response signals of one or more internal components associated with the host device; and

based on a difference between the one or more response signals and the one or more predetermined response signals, detect a modification to internal contents of the host device, the modification including one or more of removing one or more objects from the internal contents of the host device, replacing one or more of the internal contents with one or more different objects, or adding one or more new objects to the internal contents of the host device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a control device configured to the signal source to generate the one or more input acoustic signals, the control device being external to the host device.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , comprising a control device configured to the signal source to generate the one or more input acoustic signals, wherein the control device being internal to the host device.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a transmitter device that transmits the one or more input acoustic signals into at least the portion of the host device.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the one or more input acoustic signals are transmitted into at least the portion of the host device through a casing of the host device.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the internal content of the host device comprises at least one of a battery or a portable electronic device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine one or more physical characteristics of the internal contents of the host device, and wherein the physical characteristics comprise charge level, battery quality, authenticity of the battery, physical condition including tampering of the battery, or combinations thereof.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to perform one or more tests comprising measurement of a weight or distribution of weight within the host device, measurement of a shape or dimensions of the battery, measurement of chemical residue, or combinations thereof.

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 13, 2022
From: FEASIBLE, INC.
To: LIMINAL INSIGHTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060349/0958 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE TWO INVENTORS ADDED AND SECOND RECEIVING PARTY ADDED PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 049943 FRAME: 0679. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 2, 2022
From: HSIEH, ANDREW GAHEEM; WILKINSON, ANNE; MOHR, ROBERT CHARLES; BISWAS, SHAURJO; VAN TASSELL, BARRY JAMES; STEINGART, DANIEL ARTEMIS; AJO-FRANKLIN, JONATHAN
To: FEASIBLE, INC.; THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Reel/Frame 059696/0238 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2019
From: HSIEH, ANDREW GAHEEM; MOHR, ROBERT CHARLES; BISWAS, SHAURJO; VAN TASSELL, BARRY JAMES; STEINGART, DANIEL ARTEMIS
To: FEASIBLE, INC.
Reel/Frame 049943/0679 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2019
From: HSIEH, ANDREW GAHEEM; WILKINSON, ANNE; MOHR, ROBERT CHARLES; BISWAS, SHAURJO; VAN TASSELL, BARRY JAMES; STEINGART, DANIEL ARTEMIS; AJO-FRANKLIN, JONATHAN
To: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Reel/Frame 049946/0929 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2018
From: HSIEH, ANDREW GAHEEM; WILKINSON, ANNE; MOHR, ROBERT CHARLES; BISWAS, SHAURJO; VAN TASSELL, BARRY; STEINGART, DANIEL ARTEMIS
To: FEASIBLE, INC.
Reel/Frame 047692/0111 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62564016 · Sep 27, 2017
Related Publication 20190094189A1 · Mar 28, 2019