Patent ID: 9281544
Filing Date: 2016-03-08
CPC Classification: B60L,G01R,H01M,Y02E,Y02T

Claim Text:
1. A battery pack test system for testing a vehicle battery pack, comprising: a first battery charging device configured to supply a first electrical current to the vehicle battery pack until the vehicle battery pack has a state-of-charge substantially equal to a desired state-of-charge; a second battery charging device configured to supply a second electrical current to a battery cell in the vehicle battery pack such that a state-of-charge of the battery cell is greater than a threshold state-of-charge, after the vehicle battery pack has the state-of-charge substantially equal to a desired state-of-charge; a data acquisition computer configured to measure an output voltage level of the battery cell; an electrically-actuated igniter disposed in the vehicle battery pack; a switch electrically coupled between the electrically-actuated igniter and a voltage source, the switch having a closed operational state in which a voltage is applied to the electrically-actuated igniter to induce the igniter to generate an electrical spark, the switch further having an open operational state; a first video camera configured to generate a first plurality of images of an interior of the vehicle battery pack; and the switch being transitioned from the open operational state to the closed operational state at a first time if either the output voltage level of the battery cell is greater than a threshold voltage level or the first plurality of images indicate gases escaping from the battery cell, to induce the igniter to generate the electrical spark to generate a fire within an interior region of the vehicle battery pack.