BATTERY SWELLING SENSOR
In an embodiment of the techniques presented herein, a device has a battery with a conductive surface, an inductive sensor, a spacer between the inductive sensor and the conductive surface, and a processing unit connected to the inductive sensor and configured to apply an excitation signal to the inductive sensor, determine a battery swelling metric based on a response, in the conductive surface, to the excitation signal, and control the device based on the battery swelling metric. In an embodiment of the techniques presented herein, a method includes applying an excitation signal to an inductive sensor spaced apart from a conductive surface of a battery, determining a battery swelling metric based on a response, in the conductive surface, to the excitation signal, and controlling a device comprising the battery based on the battery swelling metric.
1 . A device, comprising:
a battery comprising a conductive surface;
an inductive sensor;
a spacer between the inductive sensor and the conductive surface; and
a processing unit connected to the inductive sensor and configured to:
apply an excitation signal to the inductive sensor;
determine a battery swelling metric based on a response, in the conductive surface, to the excitation signal; and
control the device based on the battery swelling metric.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the processing unit is configured to control the device to generate an alert message based on the battery swelling metric.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the processing unit is configured to control the device to set a charging parameter for the battery based on the battery swelling metric.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the processing unit is configured to control the device to shut down the device based on the battery swelling metric.
5 . The device of claim 1 , comprising:
a stiffening layer adjacent the inductive sensor to inhibit movement of the inductive sensor.
6 . The device of claim 1 , comprising:
a stiffening layer adjacent the battery to inhibit movement of the battery.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the inductive sensor comprises:
an inductive coil; and
a tank circuit connected in parallel with the inductive coil.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the conductive surface comprises one of a conductive shell or a conductive film.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the processing unit is configured to:
control the device to generate an alert message responsive to the battery swelling metric exceeding a first threshold; and
control the device to modify an operating parameter of the device responsive to the battery swelling metric exceeding a second threshold.
10 . A method, comprising:
applying an excitation signal to an inductive sensor spaced apart from a conductive surface of a battery;
determining a battery swelling metric based on a response, in the conductive surface, to the excitation signal; and
controlling a device comprising the battery based on the battery swelling metric.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein:
controlling the device based on the battery swelling metric comprises generating an alert message.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein:
controlling the device based on the battery swelling metric comprises setting a charging parameter for the battery.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein:
controlling the device based on the battery swelling metric comprises shutting down the device.
14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein applying the excitation signal comprises:
applying the excitation signal to an inductive coil connected in parallel to a tank circuit.
15 . A device, comprising:
a battery comprising a conductive surface;
an inductive sensor;
a spacer between the inductive sensor and the conductive surface; and
a processing unit connected to the inductive sensor and configured to:
apply an excitation signal to the inductive sensor;
determine a distance between the inductive sensor and the battery based on a response, in the conductive surface, to the excitation signal; and
control the device based on the distance, wherein controlling the device comprises:
generating an alert message responsive to the distance being less than a first threshold; and
changing an operating parameter of the device responsive to the distance being less than a second threshold that is less than the first threshold.
16 . The device of claim 15 , wherein:
the operating parameter comprises a charging parameter for the battery.
17 . The device of claim 15 , wherein:
the processing unit is configured to shut down the device responsive to the distance being less than a third threshold that is less than the second threshold.
18 . The device of claim 15 , comprising:
a stiffening layer adjacent the inductive sensor to inhibit movement of the inductive sensor.
19 . The device of claim 15 , comprising:
a stiffening layer adjacent the battery to inhibit movement of the battery.
20 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the inductive sensor comprises:
an inductive coil; and
a tank circuit connected in parallel with the inductive coil.