Granted Patent B2

US 12,562,409 · App. 18/647,510 · Granted Feb 24, 2026

Inventors: Dania Ghantous (Walnut Creek, CA); Fred Berkowitz (Los Gatos, CA); Nadim Maluf (Los Altos, CA)

Assignee: Qnovo Inc.

H01M10/44G01R31/392H02J7/0047G01R31/3835H01M10/48H02J7/00H02J7/007H02J7/00711H02J7/007182

Abstract

Claims (50)

1 . A method of monitoring a battery, the method comprising:

(a) applying a periodic stimulus to a battery;

(b) obtaining a first measurement obtained from the battery in response to a first portion of the periodic stimulus applied to the battery;

(c) obtaining a second measurement obtained from the battery in response to a second portion of the periodic stimulus applied to the battery;

(d) calculating a characteristic of the battery based on the first and second measurements of the battery; and

(e) modifying a charging process of the battery based on the calculated characteristic of the battery.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first measurement comprises a current and/or a voltage produced by the battery in response to the first portion of the periodic stimulus.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the second measurement comprises a current and/or a voltage produced by the battery in response to the second portion of the periodic stimulus.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising averaging the first measurement and second measurement.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the battery is a relaxation time, a partial relaxation time, a charge pulse voltage (CPV), an impedance, or any combination thereof.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the battery comprises real and/or imaginary parts of the battery's impedance.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the battery comprises a frequency-specific characteristic of the battery and/or a spectral profile associated with the battery.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic comprises an impedance of the battery.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the charging process of the battery comprises modifying a charge signal applied to the battery.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein modifying the charging process of the battery comprises modifying one or more current steps or current pulses that are used in the charging process.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the charging process of the battery comprises: (i) modifying an amount of charge removed by a discharge pulse utilized in the charging process; (ii) modifying a rate or shape of a decay of a terminal voltage of the battery; and/or (iii) modify a rate or amount of charge injected during charging of the battery.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the charging process of the battery comprises adjusting a charge current applied to the battery during the charging process for the battery.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the charging process of the battery comprises changing an amplitude and/or duration of a charge current applied to the battery during the charging process.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the charging process of the battery comprises adjusting a peak charging current.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the periodic stimulus to the battery comprises applying a rectangular, triangular, square, or sinusoidal stimulus to the battery.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the periodic stimulus to the battery comprises applying pulses to the battery.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the periodic stimulus to the battery comprises applying the periodic stimulus at a plurality of frequencies.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the periodic stimulus to the battery comprises applying an oscillating signal at a fixed frequency, a plurality of discrete frequencies, or a continuum of frequencies.

19 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising repeating operations (a) to (d).

20 . A system comprising:

charging and/or monitoring circuitry designed or configured to cause:

applying a periodic charge signal to a battery,

obtaining a first measurement obtained from the battery in response to a first portion of the periodic charge signal applied to the battery, and

obtaining a second measurement obtained from the battery in response to a second portion of the periodic charge signal applied to the battery; and

control circuitry, coupled to the charging and/or monitoring circuitry designed or configured to cause:

calculating a characteristic of the battery based on the first and second measurements of the battery, and

modifying a charging process of the battery by modifying the periodic charge signal applied to the battery based on the characteristic of the battery.

21 . The system of claim 20 , further comprising multiple modules and/or circuits configured to collect the first measurement and the second measurement.

22 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the first measurement comprises a current and/or a voltage produced by the battery in response to the first portion of the periodic charge signal.

23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the second measurement comprises a current and/or a voltage produced by the battery in response to the second portion of the periodic charge signal.

24 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the charging and/or monitoring circuitry is further configured to cause: averaging the first measurement and second measurement.

25 . The system of claim 20 , wherein applying the periodic charge signal to the battery comprises applying a rectangular, triangular, square, or sinusoidal stimulus to the battery.

26 . The system of claim 20 , wherein applying the periodic charge signal to the battery comprises applying pulses to the battery.

27 . The system of claim 20 , wherein applying the periodic charge signal to the battery comprises applying the periodic charge signal at a plurality of frequencies.

28 . The system of claim 20 , wherein applying the periodic charge signal to the battery comprises applying an oscillating signal at a fixed frequency, a plurality of discrete frequencies, or a continuum of frequencies.

29 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the characteristic of the battery is a relaxation time, a partial relaxation time, a charge pulse voltage (CPV), an impedance, or any combination thereof.

30 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the characteristic of the battery comprises real and/or imaginary parts of the battery's impedance.

31 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the characteristic of the battery comprises a frequency-specific characteristic of the battery and/or a spectral profile associated with the battery.

32 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the characteristic comprises an impedance of the battery.

33 . The system of claim 20 , wherein modifying the charging process of the battery comprises modifying a charge signal applied to the battery.

34 . The system of claim 20 , wherein modifying the periodic charge signal applied to the battery comprises modifying one or more current steps or current pulses that are used in the charging process.

35 . The system of claim 20 , wherein modifying the charging process of the battery comprises: (i) modifying an amount of charge removed by a discharge pulse utilized in the charging process; (ii) modifying a rate or shape of a decay of a terminal voltage of the battery; and/or (iii) modify a rate or amount of charge injected during charging of the battery.

36 . The system of claim 20 , wherein modifying the charging process of the battery comprises adjusting a charge current applied to the battery during a charging process for the battery.

37 . The system of claim 20 , wherein modifying the charging process of the battery comprises changing an amplitude and/or duration of a charge current applied to the battery during the charging process.

38 . The system of claim 20 , wherein modifying the charging process of the battery comprises adjusting a peak charging current.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (14)

References Cited (400)