# Patent

## Title
Vehicle and method of diagnosing battery condition of same

## Abstract

A method for diagnosing a battery may include applying a generally constant current to the battery for a period of time, measuring a response voltage of the battery to the applied current, determining battery impedance parameters based on at least one of the applied current, period of time, and response voltage, and determining a degradation condition of the battery based on the battery impedance parameters.

## Background
BACKGROUND
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles may include a high voltage traction battery and a low voltage auxiliary battery. Each of the batteries may be charged with energy from an electrical grid.
SUMMARY
A generally constant current may be applied to a battery for a period of time. A response voltage of the battery to the applied current may be measured. Battery impedance parameters may be determined based on at least one of the applied current, period of time, and response voltage. A condition of the battery may be determined based on the battery impedance parameters.
While example embodiments in accordance with the invention are illustrated and disclosed, such disclosure should not be construed to limit the invention. It is anticipated that various modifications and alternative designs may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an alternatively powered vehicle.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an equivalent circuit representing cells of the auxiliary battery of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an example plot of charge current versus time.
FIG. 4 is an example plot of cell voltage versus time.
FIG. 5 is an example plot of cell resistance versus time.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle 10 may include a traction battery 12, low voltage auxiliary battery 14, control module(s) and/or battery charger 16, and driver interface 17 (e.g., display screen/panel, speaker system, etc.) As known in the art, the traction battery 12 may be arranged to provide energy to move the vehicle 10; the auxiliary battery 14 may be arranged to provide energy to auxiliary loads such as lighting, etc.
The vehicle 10, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). (Other vehicle configurations such as battery electric, etc., however, are also contemplated.) The controller/charger 16, therefore, may be electrically connected with a power grid 18 (e.g., it may be plugged-in to a wall outlet) and permit energy to flow from the grid 18 to either of the batteries 12, 14 to charge the batteries 12, 14.
An auxiliary battery may be charged to a fixed voltage or a voltage that is a function of ambient temperature. If an auxiliary battery contains a cell with relatively low capacity (due to aging) or a cell that is shorted, an attempt to charge the battery to a fixed voltage may result in an overcharge condition of the low capacity cell or an overcharge condition of non-shorted cells. Overcharging can result in cell heating and release of hydrogen (gassing), which may adversely affect the auxiliary battery.
In a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine, cell heating and/or gassing may be of little concern as the auxiliary battery is charged during driving. The effects of cell heating and/or gassing may be mitigated by the airflow experienced during driving. Additionally, because the auxiliary battery provides energy to start the engine, a weak or shorted cell is likely to result in poor or no engine starting. The auxiliary battery will likely be replaced before the heating or gassing condition occurs.
In alternatively powered vehicles, such as the PHEV 10, the auxiliary battery 14 does not provide starting energy. It may thus continue to be operated with a weak or shorted cell. Also, the power line from the grid 18 may have a limited amount of power it can provide to the controller/charger 16. Excessive charging of the auxiliary battery 14 can increase the amount of time (and cost) it takes to complete a vehicle charge.
An auxiliary battery may be found to be “good” or “bad” by connecting a relatively small resistance (e.g., 50 mΩ) across its terminals to draw a rather large load current. Under these circumstances, the voltage of a “good” 12 V battery, for example, may drop to 9 V while the voltage of a “bad” 12 V battery may drop to 4 V. This technique, however, cannot be performed during battery charge and may not reveal why the battery is “bad.”
Certain embodiments disclosed herein may assess a condition of the auxiliary battery 14 during charge, select a charge voltage and maximum current based on the condition, select a set point voltage and current based on the condition, and/or notify a vehicle operator of the condition and/or selections. The age and/or state of plate deterioration, for example, may be assessed based on the behavior of cell voltages when the auxiliary battery 14 is exposed to certain charge profiles. Once the condition of the auxiliary battery 14 is determined, the charge and operating profiles may be tailored to the specific conditions detected. A driver may also be informed, via the interface 17, as to the condition of the auxiliary battery 14 (e.g., age), the capability of the auxiliary battery 14 to hold charge, whether the auxiliary battery 14 has a bad cell, whether a modified charge profile has been implemented, whether a new battery is needed, etc. Other scenarios are also possible.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an equivalent circuit representation of the auxiliary battery 14 includes a state of charge (SOC) dependent voltage source, VSOC, a cell capacitance, Ccell, incorporating both electrical and active material activation energy requirements, a chemical process resistance, Rchem, a cell resistance, Rcell, a leakage resistance, Rleak, and terminals 20, 22. Pulses of generally constant current from the controller/charger 16, ichg, may be applied to the terminals 20, 22.
When the controller/charger 16 applies ichg, to the terminals 20, 22, Ccell will begin to acquire charge (until the activation energy component of Ccell is met, however, little energy will flow through Rchem and Rleak). Its voltage will thus change according to the equation




  
    
      
        
          
            v
            SOC
          
          ⁡
          
            (
            t
            )
          
        
        =
        
          
            
              1
              
                C
                cell
              
            
            ⁢
            
              ∫
              
                
                  (
                  
                    
                      i
                      chg
                    
                    -
                    
                      
                        V
                        SOC
                      
                      
                        R
                        leak
                      
                    
                  
                  )
                
                ⁢
                
                  d
                  t
                
              
            
          
          +
          
            
              i
              chg
            
            *
            
              R
              cell
            
          
          +
          
            
              V
              SOC
            
            ⁡
            
              (
              0
              )
            
          
        
      
    
    
      
        (
        1
        )
      
    
  




When Ccell is charged, energy will flow through Rchem for storage in VSOC. The change in VSOC during charge is proportional to the ratio of added energy stored in the auxiliary battery 14 to its total energy storage capability. In addition, the change in VSOC is small compared to the total value of VSOC, resulting in the change in VSOC being a linear representation of A−hrs stored during the charge. The equation for vSOC(t) during this storage phase is

vSOC(t)=ichg*(Rcell+Rchem)+VSOC(0)  (2)

When the charge is stopped, ichg=0 and Ccell will discharge into VSOC through Rchem according to the equation




  
    
      
        
          
            v
            SOC
          
          ⁡
          
            (
            t
            )
          
        
        =
        
          
            
              1
              
                C
                cell
              
            
            ⁢
            
              ∫
              
                
                  i
                  cell
                
                ⁢
                
                  d
                  t
                
              
            
          
          =
          
            
              
                i
                cell
              
              *
              
                R
                chem
              
            
            +
            
              V
              SOC
            
          
        
      
    
    
      
        (
        3
        )
      
    
  




where icell is the current associated with Ccell.

The controller/charger 16 (or other suitable controller) may monitor the above described change in voltage. As explained below, this change in voltage along with other parameters may be used to assess the condition of the auxiliary battery 14.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the controller/charger 16 may apply one or more current pulses to the auxiliary battery 14 using known techniques, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,857,087 to Jones. For example, the duration of the pulses of FIG. 3 are sufficiently long (e.g., 30 sec.) such that Ccell is able to charge and a small amount of energy is transferred into VSOC. Each pulse is followed by a rest period sufficiently long (e.g., 30 sec.) such that Ccell is able to discharge to the value of VSOC. Other suitable profiles, however, may be used.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the cell voltage, vSOC(t), changes according to (1), (2) and (3) as the current pulses are applied and removed. Several voltages of interest, V0, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, are labeled. These voltages along with the charge current magnitude and duration may be used to determine the following impedance parameters:




  
    
      
        
          R
          cell
        
        =
        
          
            (
            
              
                V
                1
              
              -
              
                V
                0
              
            
            )
          
          
            i
            chg
          
        
      
    
    
      
        (
        4
        )
      
    
  
  
    
      
        
          R
          chem
        
        =
        
          
            (
            
              
                (
                
                  
                    V
                    3
                  
                  -
                  
                    V
                    4
                  
                
                )
              
              
                i
                
                  chg
                  @
                  
                    V
                    3
                  
                
              
            
            )
          
          -
          
            R
            cell
          
        
      
    
    
      
        (
        5
        )
      
    
  




Ccell can be determined from Rchem and the rate of decay in voltage from V4 to V5. During this interval, (3) can be rewritten as

VSOC=(V4−V5)*e−t/RC+V5  (6)

or,





  
    
      
        
          C
          cell
        
        =
        
          
            -
            t
          
          
            
              R
              chem
            
            *
            
              ln
              ⁡
              
                (
                
                  
                    
                      V
                      SOC
                    
                    -
                    
                      V
                      5
                    
                  
                  
                    
                      V
                      4
                    
                    -
                    
                      V
                      5
                    
                  
                
                )
              
            
          
        
      
    
    
      
        (
        7
        )
      
    
  




(Of course, Ccell may also be calculated based on V1 and V2.) These impedance parameters change with the condition of the auxiliary battery 14 of FIG. 1 and may be used to determine how the auxiliary battery 14 should be charged as well as when it should be replaced.

A typical battery is rated in A−hrs for a charge/discharge cell voltage range. That is,

A−hrs=∫ichgdt  (8)

The difference in A−hrs during a cell charge compared with a cell discharge is due to the electrical and electro-chemical parameters of the cell and will result in less A−hrs during discharge of a fixed A−hr charge due to the cell energy loss via Rcell and Rchem. The ratio of A−hrs out to A−hrs in may be given by





  
    
      
        
          Health_Term
          ⁢
          _
          ⁢
          1
        
        =
        
          
            
              
                I
                chg
              
              *
              time
            
            
              
                d
                
                  V
                  SOC
                
              
              
                d
                t
              
            
          
          =
          
            
              
                I
                chg
              
              *
              
                time
                
                  (
                  
                    
                      V
                      4
                    
                    -
                    
                      V
                      0
                    
                  
                  )
                
              
            
            
              
                V
                5
              
              -
              
                V
                0
              
            
          
        
      
    
    
      
        (
        9
        )
      
    
  




The total A−hrs stored by the battery 14 may be given by





  
    
      
        
          Health_Term
          ⁢
          _
          ⁢
          2
        
        =
        
          
            A
            -
            hrs
          
          
            
              (
              
                
                  V
                  5
                
                -
                
                  V
                  0
                
              
              )
            
            *
            K
          
        
      
    
    
      
        (
        10
        )
      
    
  




where K is a constant that may be determined via testing, etc.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, the cell resistance, Rcell, of the auxiliary battery 14 is expected to increase as it ages. This information may be determined in any suitable fashion including testing, simulation, etc. The controller/charger 16 may store information related to such an expected aging curve and compare determined values of Rcell against it to assess battery age/condition. For example, the controller/charger 16 may periodically (e.g., once each day) determine several Rcell values using the algorithms described above. The controller/charger 16 may average these Rcell values and place the average value along the aging curve according to the number of days that have passed since the battery was new (i.e., the first time the controller/charger 16 determined Rcell). As subsequent Rcell values are determined, they may be stored and used to determine whether the auxiliary battery 14 is at its end of life as discussed below.
The rate of change of Rcell over time (i.e., the slope of the curve illustrated in FIG. 5) becomes steeper as the auxiliary battery 14 approaches its end of life. A slope of at least a certain value may thus indicate that the auxiliary battery 14 is at its end of life. If the difference between a current value of Rcell and a previously recorded value of Rcell divided by the time passed between the two measurements is greater than a predetermined threshold (e.g., a slope that is 3 times greater than the slope around the new battery region), the controller/charger 16 may determine that the auxiliary battery 14 is at its end of life and needs to be replaced.
Rcell values below the allowable variation region of the aging curve are indicative of a new battery. (The allowable variation region, for example, may represent ±5% of a mean value, and be determined via testing, simulation, etc.) In these circumstances, the controller/charger 16 may reinitialize/clear its record of any stored Rcell values.
Rcell values above the allowable variation region of the aging curve may be indicative of battery defects. In these circumstances, the controller/charger 16 may determine the likely cause of the battery defects and whether the auxiliary battery 14 is recoverable based on, for example, the values of the parameters from (7), (9) and (10).
The Ccell, Health_Term_1 and Health_Term_2 impedance parameters each have ranges of values that may be considered normal. That is, these parameters may be expected to take on values within these ranges under normal operating circumstances. Example normal ranges include, for Ccell, the new battery Ccell value to 110% of that value, for Health_Term_1, 0.9 to 1.0, and for Health_Term_2, the new battery Health_Term_2 value to 60% of that value. Other ranges are also possible depending on the type of battery, etc.
Values less than the above ranges may be indicative of defect conditions (e.g., a shorted cell, battery dry out, a sulphated plate) as detailed in Table 1.











TABLE 1







Shorted Cell
Dry Out
Sulphation





















Ccell
Normal
Low
Normal



Health_Term_1
Low
Normal
Low



Health_Term_2
Normal
Normal
Low










The extent to which a parameter is “Low” may determine whether a defective battery is recoverable. As an example, if any of the parameters are 50% to 99% of their lower threshold normal values, the battery may be considered recoverable (through application of a proper charging profile as explained below). If any of the parameters are less than 50% of their lower threshold normal values, the battery may be considered unrecoverable. These recoverable/unrecoverable ranges depend on the type of battery and other design considerations. As a result, they may be determined based on testing, simulation, etc.
To extend the life of the auxiliary battery 14, the controller/charger 16 may tailor charging and/or operating profiles for the auxiliary battery 14 based on the above information. A charge profile may be defined by a charge voltage and maximum current. Absent any of the above battery diagnosis information (or under normal operating circumstances), the controller/charger 16 may select a default charge voltage and default maximum current at which to charge the auxiliary battery 14. These default values, however, may be altered based on battery age. For example, the default charge voltage may be increased based on the battery age. (Herein, age may be defined by the time that has passed, e.g., 389 days, from a “new battery” determination or age may be defined by the value of the slope of the aging curve, etc.) If, for example, the battery is 400 days old, the charge voltage may be increased by 10% relative to the default (or “new battery”) charge voltage. Alternatively, if the current slope of the aging curve is 0.8, the charge voltage may be increased by 15% relative to the default charge voltage, etc. The optimum amount by which to alter the charge voltage may be determined via testing, simulation, etc.
The default charge parameters may also be altered based on whether the auxiliary battery 14 exhibits a defect as detailed in Table 2.











TABLE 2







Shorted Cell
Dry Out
Sulphation





















Charge
Decrease
Increase
Increase



Voltage



Maximum
No Change
Decrease
No Change



Current










If, for example, the controller/charger 16 detects a shorted battery cell, the charge voltage may be decreased 10% relative to the “new battery” charge voltage. If, for example, the controller/charger 16 detects a dry out condition, the age adjusted charge voltage may be increased by 12% and the maximum current may be decreased by 18%. If, for example, the controller/charger 16 detects a plate sulphation condition, the age adjusted charge voltage may be increased by 10%. Again, the optimum amount by which to alter the charge voltage and/or maximum current may be determined via testing, simulation, etc.

An operating profile may be defined by a set point voltage and set point current. Absent any of the above battery diagnosis information (or under normal operating circumstances), the controller/charger 16 may select a default set point voltage and set point current at which to operate the battery 14. These default values, however, may be altered based on battery age. That is, the set points are a function of battery age. For example, the default set point voltage and default set point current may be increased based on the battery age. The optimum amount by which to alter the set points may be determined via testing, simulation, etc.
The default operating parameters may also be altered based on whether the auxiliary battery 14 exhibits a defect as detailed in Table 3.











TABLE 3







Shorted Cell
Dry Out
Sulphation





















Set Point
Decrease
Increase
Increase



Voltage



Set Point
No Change
No Change
No Change



Current










If, for example, the controller/charger 16 detects a shorted cell, the set point voltage may be decreased by 6%. If, for example, the controller/charger 16 detects a dry out condition, the set point voltage may be increased by 5%. If, for example, the controller/charger 16 detects a plate sulphation condition, the set point voltage may be increased by 15%. Again, the optimum amount by which to alter the set points may be determined via testing, simulation, etc.

As apparent to those of ordinary skill, the algorithms disclosed herein may be deliverable to a processing device, which may include any existing electronic control unit or dedicated electronic control unit, in many forms including, but not limited to, information permanently stored on non-writable storage media such as ROM devices and information alterably stored on writeable storage media such as floppy disks, magnetic tapes, CDs, RAM devices, and other magnetic and optical media. The algorithms may also be implemented in a software executable object. Alternatively, the algorithms may be embodied in whole or in part using suitable hardware components, such as Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), state machines, controllers or other hardware components or devices, or a combination of hardware, software and firmware components.
While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

## Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:
a battery disposed within the vehicle; and
a battery charger disposed within the vehicle and configured to
receive power from a wall outlet and transfer the power to the battery to charge the battery, and
while operating to charge the battery, identify a degradation condition of the battery defined by a battery cell capacitance, that incorporates electrical and active material activation energy requirements, being less than a predefined range of capacitance values, a ratio of battery amp-hours out to battery amp-hours in falling within a predefined range of ratio values, and a total battery amp-hours stored falling within a predefined range of amp-hour values.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the degradation condition is a dry out condition.

3. A method comprising:
while charging a battery, detecting a degradation of a battery responsive to a cell capacitance, that incorporates electrical and active material activation energy requirements, being below a predefined range of capacitance values, a ratio of battery amp-hours out to battery amp-hours in falling within a predefined range of ratio values, and a total battery amp-hours stored falling within a predefined range of amp-hour values; and
altering the charging responsive to the detecting.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein altering the charging includes discontinuing the charging.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein altering the charging includes altering a charge voltage or maximum current associated with the charging.