Patent ID: 9231416
Filing Date: 2016-01-05
CPC Classification: H01M,H02J,Y02E

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus for detecting a failure of a battery, comprising: a plurality of cell internal pressure sensors, each provided in a corresponding one of a plurality of battery cells included in a battery, the cell internal pressure sensors each being configured to measure internal pressure of a corresponding one of the plurality of battery cells and generate and transmit pressure signals including internal pressure data corresponding to the measured internal pressure; a sensing unit configured to receive the pressure signals from the plurality of cell internal pressure sensors to sense the internal pressure of each of the plurality of battery cells and configured to sense a cell voltage and a cell temperature of each of the plurality of battery cells; and a control logic unit configured to receive the internal pressure data, the cell voltage, and the cell temperature of each of the plurality of battery cells sensed by the sensing unit and determine whether or not a battery cell from among the plurality of battery cells is a failed cell, wherein, the control logic unit is configured to determine a corresponding battery cell from among the plurality of battery cells as the failed cell having a mechanical defect when the internal pressure of the corresponding battery cell is below a lower limit of a normal range, and when the cell voltage and the cell temperature of the corresponding battery cell are respectively in normal ranges, and wherein the lower limit is atmospheric pressure and the mechanical defect is a leak.