IP Library Granted Patent US 12,100,130
Granted Patent B2
US 12,100,130 · App. 17/885,671 · Granted Sep 24, 2024

Apparatus and method for detecting tab folding, and image analyzer

Inventors: Liangjin Hu (Ningde, CN); Jinghua Huang (Ningde, CN); Kunming Zhang (Ningde, CN); Guannan Jiang (Ningde, CN); Lin Ma (Ningde, CN)
Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
G06T7/0004G06T7/60H04N23/56H04N23/69G06T2207/20221G06T2207/30242
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,100,130
App. No.
17/885,671
Granted
Sep 24, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

This application provides an apparatus and method for detecting tab folds, and an image analyzer. The apparatus for detecting tab folds includes: a first image obtaining module, configured to obtain a first image of a first lateral face of tabs of a battery cell; a second image obtaining module, configured to obtain a second image of a second lateral face of the tabs, where the second lateral face is different from the first lateral face; and an image analyzer, configured to obtain, based on the first image, a first number of layers of the tabs corresponding to the first lateral face, and obtain, based on the second image, a second number of layers of the tabs corresponding to the second lateral face, and determine, based on at least one of the first number of layers or the second number of layers, whether the tabs are in a folded state.

Claims (55)

1. An apparatus for detecting tab folds, comprising:

a first imaging device, configured to obtain a first image of a first lateral face of tabs of a battery cell;

a second imaging device, configured to obtain a second image of a second lateral face of the tabs, wherein the second lateral face is different from the first lateral face;

an image analyzer, configured to:

obtain, based on the first image, a first number of layers of the tabs corresponding to the first lateral face, and obtain, based on the second image, a second number of layers of the tabs corresponding to the second lateral face; and

determine, based on at least one of the first number of layers or the second number of layers, whether the tabs are in a folded state,

wherein

the first imaging device comprises a first photographing device, a first zoom lens adjacent to the first photographing device, and a first light source located between the first zoom lens and the first lateral face of the tabs, and the first photographing device is configured to shoot a plurality of first initial images of the first lateral face at different focal lengths in a case that the first zoom lens is zoomed for a plurality of times, and send the plurality of first initial images to the image analyzer;

the second imaging device comprises a second photographing device, a second zoom lens adjacent to the second photographing device, a prism disposed on the side of the second lateral face of the tabs, and a second light source, and the second photographing device is configured to shoot a plurality of second initial images of the second lateral face at different focal lengths in a case that the second zoom lens is zoomed for a plurality of times, and send the plurality of second initial images to the image analyzer; and

the image analyzer is configured to synthesize the plurality of first initial images into one first image and synthesize the plurality of second initial images into one second image by using a multi-frame image synthesis algorithm;

wherein a first mirror face of the prism is oriented toward the second lateral face of the tabs, and a second mirror face of the prism is oriented toward the second zoom lens; and

wherein the second light source is disposed between the second zoom lens and the second mirror face of the prism, and light emitted by the second light source enters the prism through the second mirror face, exits from the first mirror face, and strikes the second lateral face of the tabs.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image analyzer is configured to

analyze the first image to obtain characteristic parameters of a plurality of lines in the first image,

obtain the first number of layers of the tabs based on the characteristic parameters of the plurality of lines in the first image,

analyze the second image to obtain characteristic parameters of a plurality of lines in the second image, and

obtain the second number of layers of the tabs based on the characteristic parameters of the plurality of lines in the second image.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the characteristic parameters comprise at least one of curvature, thickness, direction change trend, or length of the lines.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the image analyzer is further configured to determine, based on the length of the lines, whether the tabs are folded over to a coating region.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image analyzer is configured to

determine, in a case of at least one of inequality between the first number of layers and a preset value or inequality between the second number of layers and a preset value, that the tabs are in the folded state.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the image analyzer is configured to compare the first number of layers in a first tab root region in the first image with the preset value, and/or compare the second number of layers in a second tab root region in the second image with the preset value,

wherein, the first tab root region is a region adjacent to a coating region of the battery cell on the first lateral face of the tabs, and the second tab root region is a region adjacent to the coating region on the second lateral face of the tabs.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein

the image analyzer is configured to determine, based on an appearance and a number of lines in a first tab top region in the first image, whether the tabs are in the folded state;

and/or determine, based on an appearance and a number of lines in a second tab top region in the second image, whether the tabs are in the folded state,

wherein, the first tab top region is a region farther from the coating region than the first tab root region on the first lateral face of the tabs, and the second tab top region is a region farther from the coating region than the second tab root region on the second lateral face of the tabs.

8. A method for detecting tab folds, performed by an apparatus for detecting tab folds, wherein the apparatus comprises a first imaging device, a second imaging device and an image analyzer, the first imaging device comprises a first photographing device, a first zoom lens adjacent to the first photographing device, and a first light source located between the first zoom lens and a first lateral face of the tabs, the second imaging device comprises a second photographing device, a second zoom lens adjacent to the second photographing device, a prism disposed on the side of the second lateral face of the tabs, and a second light source, a first mirror face of the prism is oriented toward a second lateral face of the tabs, and a second mirror face of the prism is oriented toward the second zoom lens; the second light source is disposed between the second zoom lens and the second mirror face of the prism, and light emitted by the second light source enters the prism through the second mirror face, exits from the first mirror face, and strikes the second lateral face of the tab; the method comprising:

obtaining, by the first imaging device, a first image of the first lateral face of tabs of a battery cell;

obtaining, by the second imaging device, a second image of the second lateral face of the tabs, wherein the second lateral face is different from the first lateral face;

obtaining, by the image analyzer based on the first image, a first number of layers of the tabs corresponding to the first lateral face, and obtaining, by the image analyzer based on the second image, a second number of layers of the tabs corresponding to the second lateral face; and

determining, by the image analyzer based on at least one of the first number of layers or the second number of layers, whether the tabs are in a folded state;

wherein the step of obtaining the first image of the first lateral face of tabs comprises:

shooting, by the first photographing device, a plurality of first initial images of the first lateral face at different focal lengths in a case that the first zoom lens is zoomed for a plurality of times, and sending the plurality of first initial images to the image analyzer;

wherein the step of obtaining the second image of the second lateral face comprises:

shooting, by the second photographing device, a plurality of second initial images of the second lateral face at different focal lengths in a case that the second zoom lens is zoomed for a plurality of times, and sending the plurality of second initial images to the image analyzer;

and the method further comprising:

synthesizing, by the image analyzer before obtaining the first number of layers based on the first image and obtaining the second number of layers based on the second image, the plurality of first initial images into one first image and synthesizing the plurality of second initial images into one second image by using a multi-frame image synthesis algorithm.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the step of obtaining the first number of layers based on the first image and obtaining the second number of layers based on the second image comprises:

analyzing the first image to obtain characteristic parameters of a plurality of lines in the first image, and obtaining the first number of layers of the tabs based on the characteristic parameters of the plurality of lines in the first image; and

analyzing the second image to obtain characteristic parameters of a plurality of lines in the second image, and obtaining the second number of layers of the tabs based on the characteristic parameters of the plurality of lines in the second image.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the characteristic parameters comprise at least one of curvature, thickness, direction change trend, or length of the lines.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

determining, based on the length of the lines, whether the tabs are folded over to a coating region.

12. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the step of determining, based on at least one of the first number of layers or the second number of layers, whether the tabs are in a folded state, comprises:

determining, in a case of at least one of inequality between the first number of layers and a preset value or inequality between the second number of layers and a preset value, that the tabs are in the folded state.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the step of comparing the first number of layers with the preset value and/or comparing the second number of layers with the preset value comprises:

comparing the first number of layers in a first tab root region in the first image with the preset value, and/or comparing the second number of layers in a second tab root region in the second image with the preset value,

wherein, the first tab root region is a region adjacent to a coating region of the battery cell on the first lateral face of the tabs, and the second tab root region is a region adjacent to the coating region on the second lateral face of the tabs.

14. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising:

determining, based on an appearance and a number of lines in a first tab top region in the first image, whether the tabs are in the folded state; and/or

determining, based on an appearance and a number of lines in a second tab top region in the second image, whether the tabs are in the folded state,

wherein, the first tab top region is a region farther from the coating region than the first tab root region on the first lateral face of the tabs, and the second tab top region is a region farther from the coating region than the second tab root region on the second lateral face of the tabs.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, on which a computer program instruction is stored, wherein, when executed, the computer program instruction implements a method for detecting tab folds according to claim 8 .

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2024
From: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
To: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 068338/0402 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 11, 2022
From: HU, LIANGJIN; HUANG, JINGHUA; ZHANG, KUNMING; JIANG, GUANNAN; MA, LIN
To: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
Reel/Frame 061145/0093 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTCN2021114622 · Aug 26, 2021
Related Publication 20230064943A1 · Mar 2, 2023