초록 ▼

An apparatus and method of recognizing a shunt caused by formation of dendrites in a rechargeable lithium battery which comprises charging the battery with a charging current, sampling the charging current voltage of the battery at pre-determined time intervals in order to identify one or more point

An apparatus and method of recognizing a shunt caused by formation of dendrites in a rechargeable lithium battery which comprises charging the battery with a charging current, sampling the charging current voltage of the battery at pre-determined time intervals in order to identify one or more point indicating onset of shunting, and terminating charging if the shunt or dendrite is indicated. If a shunt is not recognized charging is continued. Dendrite formation or the beginning of shunting due to such formation is indicated by any one of the following conditions: a negative gradient in sampled voltage values; a negative gradient in sampled steady open circuit values; and a negative gradient in the chemical polarization voltage values which may be calculated by sampling both the open circuit voltage soon after current interruption and steady open circuit voltages during a plurality of currentless phases.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of recognizing a shunt in a rechargeable lithium battery comprising:charging the battery with a charging current;sampling the voltage of the battery at pre-determined time intervals, wherein the step of sampling the voltage of the battery includes interrupting th

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of recognizing a shunt in a rechargeable lithium battery comprising:charging the battery with a charging current;sampling the voltage of the battery at pre-determined time intervals, wherein the step of sampling the voltage of the battery includes interrupting the charging current to sample an open circuit voltage, said open circuit voltage being sampled in a range of 5-5,000 ms after the charging current has been interrupted in order to obtain a steady open circuit voltage;identifying one or more points indicating onset of shunting, wherein the point indicating onset of shunting is identified by a drop in the steady open circuit voltage of the battery;continuing charging if the point is not identified; andterminating charging if the point indicating shunting is identified.