Patent Description:
Battery short circuit not only causes a reduction in efficiency of a battery but is also a safety issue that may cause battery explosion, which is a cause of a battery thermal runaway. Thus, there is a need to ensure safety of the battery by effectively detecting a short circuit before a physical or thermal deformation of the battery increases due to the battery short circuit. To detect the short circuit of the battery, a change in current, voltage, capacity, temperature, and the like may be measured, and a method of using a change in various parameters in an electric circuit model are used. Further, a method for detecting the short circuit for a multi-cell battery pack includes a method of using various deviation values between unit cells of multiple cells. <CIT> refers to real time condition monitoring of chemical batteries and more particularly to online estimation of state-of-health in chemical batteries using a battery impulse response. It is the object of the present invention to provide a method and an electronic device for effectively detecting a short circuit in a battery.

In one general aspect, there is provided a processor-implemented method of detecting an internal short circuit in a battery, the method including acquiring values of one or more basic parameters of the battery, acquiring values of one or more degradation parameters used in a battery model indicating an internal state of the battery based on the values of the one or more basic parameters, determining whether the internal short circuit occurs in the battery based on a first value of a first degradation parameter and a second value of a second degradation parameter from among the one or more degradation parameters, and performing an operation in response to the internal short circuit occurring in the battery.

The basic parameters may include any one or any combination of a voltage of the battery, a current supplied by the battery, and a temperature of the battery.

The battery model may include an electro-chemical model or an equivalent-circuit model to which the degradation parameters are applied.

The degradation parameters may include any one or any combination of an electrode balance shift, a capacity of a cathode active material, and a surface resistance of an anode.

The internal state of the battery may include any one or any combination of sate of health (SOH), a state of charge (SOC), a cell voltage, a cathode lithium ion concentration distribution, an anode lithium ion concentration distribution, an electrolyte lithium ion concentration distribution, a cathode potential, and an anode potential of the battery.

The first degradation parameter may be an electrode balance shift, and the second degradation parameter may be a surface resistance of an anode.

The first value of the first degradation parameter may be based on converting a value of the electrode balance shift into a state of health (SOH).

The determining of whether the internal short circuit occurs in the battery may include determining a normal range of a value of the second degradation parameter with respect to the first value of the first degradation parameter, determining whether the second value of the second degradation parameter may be a value within the normal range, and determining that the internal short circuit occurs in the battery in response to the second value of the second degradation parameter not being the value within the normal range.

The first degradation parameter may be a surface resistance of an anode, and the second degradation parameter may be an electrode balance shift.

The determining of the normal range of the value of the second degradation parameter with respect to the first value of the first degradation parameter may include determining a minimum normal value of the second degradation parameter with respect to the first value of the first degradation parameter.

The determining of the minimum normal value of the second degradation parameter with respect to the first value of the first degradation parameter may include determining a minimum normal value of the second degradation parameter based on a pre-generated table for a value of the first degradation parameter and a value of the second degradation parameter.

The determining of the minimum normal value of the second degradation parameter with respect to the first value of the first degradation parameter may include determining a minimum normal value of the second degradation parameter based on a pre-defined equation for a value of the first degradation parameter and a value of the second degradation parameter.

The pre-defined equation may define a boundary line between a normal range and an abnormal range of a battery state, and wherein the internal short circuit does not occur in the normal range, and the internal short circuit occurs in the normal range.

The boundary line may be based on a policy of controlling a charge and a discharge of the battery.

The determining of whether the second value of the second degradation parameter may be the value within the normal range may include determining that the second value of the second degradation parameter may not be the value within the normal range in response to the second value of the second degradation parameter being less than the minimum normal value of the second degradation parameter.

The performing of the operation may include outputting a message or signal, in response to the internal short circuit occurring in the battery.

The battery may be included in a mobile terminal.

The battery may be included in a vehicle.

In another general aspect, there is provided an electronic device for detecting an internal short circuit in a battery, the electronic device including a processor configured to acquire values of one or more basic parameters of the battery, acquire values of one or more degradation parameters used in a battery model indicating an internal state of the battery based on the values of the one or more basic parameters, determine whether the internal short circuit occurs in the battery based on a first value of a first degradation parameter and a second value of a second degradation parameter from among the one or more degradation parameters, and perform an operation in response to the internal short circuit occurring in the battery.

In another general aspect, there is provided a vehicle including a sensor configured to capture one or more basic parameters of a battery, a processor configured to execute instructions stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium to configure the processor to acquire the one or more basic parameters from the sensor, acquire values of one or more degradation parameters used in a battery model indicating an internal state of the battery based on the values of the one or more basic parameters, determine whether an internal short circuit occurs in the battery based on a first value of a first degradation parameter and a second value of a second degradation parameter from among the one or more degradation parameters, and output a message to a vehicle control unit (VCU) of the vehicle, in response to the internal short circuit occurring in the battery.

The processor may be configured to suspend charging or discharging of the battery and the VCU may be configured to notify a user, in response to the internal short circuit occurring in the battery.

The processor may be configured to control charging or discharging of the battery based on a level of the internal short circuit, in response to the internal short circuit occurring in the battery.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular examples only and is not to be limiting of the examples. As used herein, the terms "include," "comprise," and "have" specify the presence of stated features, numbers, operations, elements, components, and/or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, operations, elements, components, and/or combinations thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein including technical or scientific terms have the same meanings as those generally understood consistent with and after an understanding of the present disclosure. Terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be construed to have meanings matching with contextual meanings in the relevant art and the present disclosure, and are not to be construed as an ideal or excessively formal meaning unless otherwise defined herein.

The use of the term "may" herein with respect to an example or embodiment (e.g., as to what an example or embodiment may include or implement) means that at least one example or embodiment exists where such a feature is included or implemented, while all examples are not limited thereto.

When describing the examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals refer to like components and a repeated description related thereto will be omitted. When it is determined detailed description related to a related known function or configuration they may make the purpose of the examples unnecessarily ambiguous in describing the examples, the detailed description will be omitted here.

In addition, terms such as first, second, third, A, B, C, (a), (b), (c), and the like may be used herein to describe components. It should be noted that if it is described in the specification that one component is "connected", "coupled", or "joined" to another component, a third component may be "connected", "coupled", and "joined" between the first and second components, although the first component may be directly connected, coupled or joined to the second component.

The same name may be used to describe an element included in the examples described above and an element having a common function. Unless otherwise mentioned, the descriptions on the examples may be applicable to the following examples and thus, duplicated descriptions will be omitted for conciseness.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a configuration of a battery system <NUM>.

According to an example, a battery <NUM> may be one or more battery cells, battery modules or battery packs. The battery <NUM> may include a condenser, a secondary cell or a lithium-ion cell that stores power by a charging. An apparatus with the battery <NUM> may receive power supplied from the battery <NUM>.

A battery management system (BMS) <NUM> may charge the battery <NUM> using a battery model. For example, the BMS <NUM> may fast charge the battery <NUM> using a multi-step charging scheme for minimizing a charging degradation by using a value obtained by estimating an internal state of the battery based on the battery model. In this example, the battery model may estimate state information of the battery <NUM> by modeling an internal physical phenomenon, such as a potential of the battery <NUM> or an ion concentration distribution, and may be an electro-chemical model or an equivalent-circuit model to which degradation parameters of the battery <NUM> are applied. Further, the internal state of the battery <NUM> may include one or more of a cathode lithium ion concentration distribution, an anode lithium ion concentration distribution, an electrolyte lithium ion concentration distribution, a cathode potential and an anode potential of the battery <NUM>. For example, the degradation parameters may include one or more of an electrode balance shift (hereinafter, referred to as an "EBS"), a capacity of a cathode active material, and a surface resistance of an anode of the battery <NUM>, and there is no limitation thereto.

The BMS <NUM> may divide a charging process into a plurality of charging sections (or steps), and charge the battery <NUM> with a charging current corresponding to each of the charging sections. A charging limit condition for limiting a charging of the battery <NUM> may be set in each of the plurality of charging sections, in order to prevent a degradation of the battery <NUM> and to charge the battery <NUM> to a target charging capacity during a target charging time.

For example, the charging limit condition may include internal state conditions of the battery <NUM> for each of the charging sections. An internal state condition may be defined from the electro-chemical model based on at least one internal state that has an influence on the degradation of the battery <NUM>. The internal state condition may include any one or any combination of an anode overpotential condition, a cathode overpotential condition, an anode surface lithium ion concentration condition, a cathode surface lithium ion concentration condition, a cell voltage condition, and a state of charge (SOC) condition.

The degradation of the battery <NUM> may be derived if the battery <NUM> reaches one of the internal state conditions in response to the battery <NUM> being changed, and thus the BMS <NUM> may control a charging of the battery <NUM> based on the internal state conditions. For example, when it is determined that the battery <NUM> is degraded in response to an anode overpotential of the battery <NUM> falling to <NUM> volt (V) or less, the anode overpotential condition may be set based on <NUM> V. A degradation condition may be a condition that causes a degradation in response to the internal state of the battery <NUM> reaching the degradation condition. An anode overpotential of <NUM> V may be a degradation condition that causes the degradation if the anode overpotential reaches <NUM> V. However, the internal state condition is not limited to the above examples, and various expressions that quantify an internal state having an influence on the degradation of the battery <NUM> may be used.

An overpotential may be a voltage drop due to a deviation from an equilibrium potential associated with intercalation/de-intercalation reactions at each electrode of the battery <NUM>. The above-described lithium ion concentration may be a concentration of lithium ions used as a material in an active material of each electrode of the battery <NUM>, and materials other than the lithium ions may be used as materials in the active material.

The SOC may be a parameter indicating a charging state of the battery <NUM>. Since the SOC indicates a level of energy stored in the battery <NUM>, an amount of the SOC may be expressed as <NUM> to <NUM>% using a percentage unit. For example, <NUM>% may be a fully discharged state, and <NUM>% may be a fully charged state. Such expressions may be variously modified and defined depending on a design intent or examples. Various schemes may be employed to estimate or measure the SOC.

The battery <NUM> may include two electrodes (e.g., a cathode and an anode) from which lithium ions are intercalated/de-intercalated, an electrolyte that is a medium in which the lithium ions may move, a separator that physically separates the cathode from the anode to prevent electrons from flowing directly and to allow ions to pass, and a collector that collects electrons generated by an electrochemical reaction or supplies electrons required for an electrochemical reaction. The cathode may include an active material of the cathode, and the anode may include an active material of the anode. For example, LiCoO<NUM> may be used as the active material of the cathode, and a graphite (C<NUM>) may be used as the active material of the anode. During charging of the battery <NUM>, lithium ions may move from the cathode to the anode, and during discharging of the battery <NUM>, lithium ions may move from the anode to the cathode, and thus a concentration of lithium ions included in the active material of the cathode and a concentration of lithium ions included in the active material of the anode may change depending on the charging and discharging.

To express the internal state of the battery <NUM>, an electro-chemical model may be employed using various schemes. For example, various application models as well as a single particle model (SPM) may be employed as an electro-chemical model, and parameters that define the electro-chemical model may be variously modified depending on a design intent. The internal state condition may be derived from the electro-chemical model of the battery <NUM>, or may be experimentally or heuristically derived. A scheme of defining the internal state condition is not limited.

According to an example, the BMS <NUM> may control charging and discharging of the battery <NUM>, and determine (or estimate) a state of the battery <NUM>. For example, the BMS <NUM> may determine whether an internal short circuit occurs in the battery <NUM>. If the battery <NUM> is repeatedly used, the degradation may be gradually increased, and an internal short circuit may occur in the battery <NUM> due to the degradation of the battery <NUM>. For example, if the separator is pierced by dendrites piled up on a surface of the anode, the internal short circuit may occur in the battery <NUM>. For example, a short circuit may be a micro resistance having a resistance value of <NUM> ohm (Ω) or less.

For example, if it is determined that a short circuit occurs in the battery <NUM>, the BMS <NUM> may suspend charging or discharging of the battery <NUM>, and notify a user of the state of the battery <NUM>. In another example, if it is determined that a short circuit occurs in the battery <NUM>, the BMS <NUM> may control charging or discharging of the battery <NUM> based on a level of the short circuit.

Hereinafter, a method of determining whether an internal short circuit occurs in a battery will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates an example of an EBS due to a degradation of a battery.

As a battery is degraded, one or more degradation parameters used in a battery model may change. For example, a change in a degradation parameter may be an EBS due to a side reaction on a surface of an anode. In another example, a change in a degradation parameter may be an increase in a direct current (DC) resistance value. The increase in the DC resistance value may be caused by an increase in a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) on an anode surface, an increase in a cathode-electrolyte interface (CEI) on a cathode surface, an increase in an ionic resistance caused by a decrease in a porosity in an electrode layer and an increase in a tortuosity due to byproducts of a side reaction on an electrode surface, or an oxidation of a collector in an electrode. In another example, a change in a degradation parameter may be a decrease in a cathode capacity. The degradation parameters are not limited to the above examples.

According to an example, the EBS may have a greatest influence on a decrease in a capacity of the battery, among the degradation parameters. The EBS may be a phenomenon in which a charge balance between the cathode and the anode changes because ions fail to move from a cathode to an anode due to an occurrence of a side reaction such as an SEI generation reaction on the anode surface.

For example, a potential graph <NUM> of a cathode, a potential graph <NUM> of an anode, and a battery voltage <NUM> according to a capacity of a battery before a degradation of the battery are illustrated, and a potential graph <NUM> of a cathode, a potential graph <NUM> of an anode, and a battery voltage <NUM> according to a capacity of a battery after a degradation of the battery are illustrated. If the battery is degraded, a potential of the anode may change relatively greatly in comparison to a potential of the cathode. As the potential of the anode changes, a point of an electrode balance may change from a first point <NUM> to a second point <NUM> in terms of a battery capacity.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a trajectory of a charging voltage and a trajectory of a discharging voltage of a battery according to an increase in resistance of an anode.

According to an example, a trajectory of a charging voltage and a trajectory of a discharging voltage of a battery may vary depending on a level of a degradation of the battery. For example, a trajectory <NUM> of a charging voltage and a trajectory <NUM> of a discharging voltage in response to a state of health (SOH) of the battery being "<NUM>" are illustrated, and a trajectory <NUM> of a charging voltage and a trajectory <NUM> of a discharging voltage of a battery in response to an SOH of the battery being "<NUM>" are illustrated. The SOH may be a parameter that quantitatively indicates a change in a life time characteristic of a battery due to a degradation phenomenon, and may indicate a level of degradation in a life time or a capacity of the battery. For example, the SOH may have a value between "<NUM>" and "<NUM>", and a value of "<NUM>" may represent a maximum life time or a maximum capacity of the battery. Various schemes may be employed to estimate or measure the SOH.

For example, a surface resistance R_film (or, a DC resistance) of an anode may change in response to the battery being degraded. An increase in the surface resistance of the anode may have the same influence as a decrease in a capacity of the battery by allowing an output voltage to reach a cut-off voltage earlier during discharging of the battery.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a value of an EBS and a value of a surface resistance of an anode that are represented for a resistance value of a battery.

According to an example, an increase in a DC resistance value may be differently expressed as an increase in a value of a surface resistance of an anode, an increase in a value of a surface resistance of a cathode, an increase in a value of an electric resistance, a decrease in a porosity of an anode, an increase in a tortuosity, or an increase in a level of oxidation of a collector.

According to an example, an increase in a value of an electrode balance shift (hereinafter, referred to as an "EBS"), may be differently expressed as a decrease in a value of an SOH, or a decrease in a battery capacity.

An x-axis of a graph illustrated in <FIG> may represent a value obtained by converting the EBS into the SOH. If SOH_EBS is "<NUM>", a value of the EBS may be "<NUM>". The EBS with the value of "<NUM>" may indicate a state in which the battery is not degraded. As the battery is degraded, a value of SOH_EBS may decrease. A y-axis of the graph illustrated in <FIG> may represent a value obtained by converting a variation of a DC resistance value into a variation of a value of a surface resistance of an anode. If the variation (ΔR_film) of the value of the surface resistance of the anode is "<NUM>", the variation of the DC resistance value may be "<NUM>".

According to an example, if a short circuit with a resistance value of <NUM>Ω or greater occurs in the battery, points indicating a value of SOH_EBS and a value of ΔR_film of the battery for a corresponding resistance value may be located in a first area <NUM>. Each of ∞ Ω and ∞ Ω (All) may indicate a state in which the short circuit does not occur in the battery, and may be expressed separately depending on a difference between algorithms that derive a degradation parameter used in a simulation or an experiment for reproducing the short circuit in the battery.

If a short circuit with a resistance value of <NUM>Ω or less occurs in the battery, points indicating a value of SOH_EBS and a value of ΔR_film of the battery for a corresponding resistance value may be located in a second area <NUM>. A boundary line <NUM> that may distinguish between the first area <NUM> and the second area <NUM> may be represented.

According to the graph of <FIG>, when a short circuit (e.g., a short circuit having a resistance value of <NUM>Ω or less) occurs in the battery, the value of the EBS may be relatively great in comparison to when a short circuit does not occur in the battery, even though a DC resistance value increases by the same amount. In another example, when a short circuit (e.g., a short circuit having a resistance value of <NUM>Ω or less) occurs in the battery, an amount of increase in the DC resistance value may be relatively less in comparison to when a short circuit does not occur in the battery, even though values of the EBS are the same.

According to an example, if a value of SOH_EBS (or an EBS) and a value of ΔR_film (or a DC resistance) are acquired in a current state of the battery, whether a short circuit occurs in a battery may be determined based on the value of SOH_EBS and the value of ΔR_film. Hereinafter, an example of a method of determining whether a short circuit occurs in a battery will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a configuration of an electronic device.

An electronic device <NUM> for controlling a battery may include a communicator <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, and a memory <NUM>. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may correspond to the BMS <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>.

According to an example, the electronic device <NUM> may be included in a mobile communication terminal.

According to an example, the electronic device <NUM> may be included in a vehicle.

The communicator <NUM> may be connected to the processor <NUM> and the memory <NUM> to transmit and receive data. The communicator <NUM> may be connected to another external device to transmit and receive data. Hereinafter, the expression "transmitting and receiving 'A‴ may represent "transmitting and receiving 'information or data indicating A"'.

The communicator <NUM> may be implemented as a circuitry in the electronic device <NUM>. For example, the communicator <NUM> may include an internal bus and an external bus. In another example, the communicator <NUM> may be a component that connects the electronic device <NUM> and an external device. The communicator <NUM> may be an interface. The communicator <NUM> may receive data from the external device, and transmit data to the processor <NUM> and the memory <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> may control an overall operation of the electronic device <NUM> and may execute corresponding processor-readable instructions for performing operations of the electronic device <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may execute, for example, software, to control one or more hardware components of the electronic device <NUM> connected to the processor <NUM> and may perform various data processing or operations, and control of such components.

In an example, as at least a part of data processing or operations, the processor <NUM> may store instructions or data in the memory <NUM>, execute the instructions and/or process data stored in the memory <NUM>, and store resulting data obtained therefrom in the memory <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may process data received by the communicator <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may be a data processing device implemented by hardware including a circuit having a physical structure to perform desired operations. For example, the desired operations may include code or instructions included in a program.

The processor <NUM> may be a data processing device implemented by hardware including a circuit having a physical structure to perform desired operations. For example, the desired operations may include code or instructions included in a program.

The hardware-implemented data processing device may include, for example, a main processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or an application processor (AP)) or an auxiliary processor (e.g., a GPU, a neural processing unit (NPU), an image signal processor (ISP), a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor (CP)) that is operable independently of, or in conjunction with the main processor. Further details regarding the processor <NUM> is provided below.

The processor <NUM> may execute a computer-readable code (e.g., software) stored in a memory (e.g., the memory <NUM>), and instructions triggered by the processor <NUM>.

The memory <NUM> may store data received by the communicator <NUM>, and data processed by the processor <NUM>. For example, the memory <NUM> may store a program (or an application or software). For example, the stored program may be a set of syntaxes that may be coded to generate a charging path of a battery and executable by the processor <NUM>. In another example, the stored program may be a set of syntaxes that may be coded to determine a charging limit condition of a battery and executable by the processor <NUM>.

According to an aspect, the memory <NUM> may include any one or any combination of a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory.

The volatile memory device may be implemented as a dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), a static random-access memory (SRAM), a thyristor RAM (T-RAM), a zero capacitor RAM (Z-RAM), or a twin transistor RAM (TTRAM).

The non-volatile memory device may be implemented as an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a flash memory, a magnetic RAM (MRAM), a spin-transfer torque (STT)-MRAM, a conductive bridging RAM(CBRAM), a ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), a phase change RAM (PRAM), a resistive RAM (RRAM), a nanotube RRAM, a polymer RAM (PoRAM), a nano floating gate Memory (NFGM), a holographic memory, a molecular electronic memory device), or an insulator resistance change memory. Further details regarding the memory <NUM> is provided below.

The memory <NUM> may store an instruction set (e.g., software) to operate the electronic device <NUM>. The instruction set to operate the electronic device <NUM> may be executed by the processor <NUM>.

The communicator <NUM>, the processor <NUM>, and the memory <NUM> will be described in detail with reference to <FIG> and <FIG> below.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of a method of detecting a short circuit in a battery. The operations in <FIG> may be performed in the sequence and manner as shown, although the order of some operations may be changed or some of the operations omitted without departing from the scope of the illustrative examples described. Many of the operations shown in <FIG> may be performed in parallel or concurrently. One or more blocks of <FIG>, and combinations of the blocks, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based computer, such as a processor, that perform the specified functions, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions. For example, operations <NUM> through <NUM> below may be performed by the electronic device <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>. In addition to the description of <FIG> below, the descriptions of <FIG> are also applicable to <FIG>, and are incorporated herein by reference. Thus, the above description may not be repeated here.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may acquire values of one or more basic parameters of a battery. For example, the basic parameters may include one or more of a voltage of the battery, a current supplied by the battery, and a temperature of the battery. The temperature of the battery may be a temperature of a surface of the battery or a temperature of an electrode of the battery, and is not limited to the examples described above.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may acquire values of one or more degradation parameters used in a battery model indicating an internal state of the battery based on the values of the basic parameters. For example, the battery model may be an electro-chemical model or an equivalent-circuit model.

According to an example, the degradation parameters may include one or more of an EBS, a capacity of a cathode active material, and a surface resistance of an anode. For example, a value of the EBS may be converted into a state of health (SOH) and expressed. For example, a value (or a variation) of a surface resistance R_film of an anode may be expressed based on a DC resistance value.

According to an example, an internal state of a battery that is estimated by a battery model may change by adjusting one or more parameters of a model based on degradation parameters. For example, the internal state of the battery that may be estimated by the battery model may include one or more of a cathode lithium ion concentration distribution, an anode lithium ion concentration distribution, an electrolyte lithium ion concentration distribution, a cathode potential, and an anode potential of the battery.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine whether an internal short circuit occurs in the battery based on a first value of a first degradation parameter and a second value of a second degradation parameter from among the degradation parameters.

In an example, the first degradation parameter may be the EBS, and the second degradation parameter may be the surface resistance of the anode. In another example, the first degradation parameter may be the surface resistance of the anode, and the second degradation parameter may be the EBS.

According to an example, whether an internal short circuit occurs in the battery may be determined based on a pre-defined equation or graph for values of first degradation parameter and values of second degradation parameter. For example, whether the battery is normal or whether the short circuit occurs may be determined based on a result of an equation that defines a first value and a second value as variables. Hereinafter, the pre-defined equation or graph will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

According to an example, whether an internal short circuit occurs in the battery may be determined based on a pre-generated table for the values of the first degradation parameter and the values of the second degradation parameter. For example, a table in which a state of the battery corresponding to the first value of the first degradation parameter and the second value of the second degradation parameter is defined may be pre-generated. The state of the battery may include a normal state and a short circuit state.

According to an example, whether the internal short circuit occurs in the battery may be determined by determining whether the second value of the second degradation parameter with respect to the first value of the first degradation parameter is within a normal range. An example of a normal range for a value of a degradation parameter will be described in detail with reference to <FIG> and <FIG> below.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may perform a preset operation in response to the internal short circuit occurring in the battery.

According to an example, the preset operation may be an operation of outputting a preset message or signal. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may output a message through a speaker or a display of the electronic device <NUM> to notify a user of the short circuit of the battery. The user may recognize a state of the battery based on the output message, and take a follow-up action such as exchanging the battery and the like.

According to an example, the preset operation may be an operation of disconnecting the battery from the electronic device <NUM> such that the short circuit of the battery does not progress. If the battery and the electronic device <NUM> are disconnected due to the short circuit, the electronic device <NUM> may be powered off until the battery is replaced.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a normal range and an abnormal range of a battery state determined by a relationship between values of degradation parameters.

According to an example, a two-dimensional (2D) plane on which an x-axis represents SOH_EBS as a degradation parameter and a y-axis represents ΔR_film as a degradation parameter may be defined. For example, a boundary line <NUM> for distinguishing between a normal range and an abnormal range of a battery state may be defined on the 2D plane. For example, the boundary line <NUM> may correspond to the boundary line <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>.

According to an example, based on the boundary line <NUM>, a first area <NUM> may indicate that the battery state is in the normal range, and a second area <NUM> may indicate that the battery state is in the abnormal range. For example, if a point <NUM> that indicates a first value (e.g., "<NUM>") of SOH_EBS and a second value (e.g., "<NUM>") of ΔR_film are in the second area <NUM>, the battery state may be determined to be abnormal (e.g., an occurrence of an internal short circuit). In another example, if a point <NUM> that indicates a first value (e.g., "<NUM>") of SOH_EBS and a second value (e.g., "<NUM>") of ΔR_film are in the first area <NUM>, the battery state may be determined to be normal (e.g., a non-occurrence of an internal short circuit).

The boundary line <NUM> may be differently defined for each of batteries. In an example, the boundary line <NUM> may be defined by a manufacturer of the battery. In another example, the boundary line <NUM> may be defined by a manufacturer of an electronic device. In another example, the boundary line <NUM> may change based on a policy of controlling a battery.

According to an example, a table may be pre-generated such that each of pairs (e.g., (x, y)) between values of the x-axis and values of the y-axis illustrated in <FIG> may represent a normal state or an abnormal state. For example, the table may be pre-generated such that (<NUM>, <NUM>) corresponding to the point <NUM> may represent the abnormal state and that (<NUM>, <NUM>) corresponding to the point <NUM> may represent the normal state.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a method of determining whether an internal short circuit occurs in a battery based on a first value of a first degradation parameter and a second value of a second degradation parameter. The operations in <FIG> may be performed in the sequence and manner as shown, although the order of some operations may be changed or some of the operations omitted without departing from the scope of the illustrative examples described. Many of the operations shown in <FIG> may be performed in parallel or concurrently. One or more blocks of <FIG>, and combinations of the blocks, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based computer, such as a processor, that perform the specified functions, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions. For example, operations of the method may be performed by a computing apparatus (e.g., the electronic device <NUM> in <FIG>). In addition to the description of <FIG> below, the descriptions of <FIG> are also applicable to <FIG>, and are incorporated herein by reference. Thus, the above description may not be repeated here.

According to an example, operation <NUM> described with reference to <FIG> may include operations <NUM> through <NUM> below.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine a normal range of a value of a second degradation parameter with respect to a first value of a first degradation parameter.

According to an example, the electronic device <NUM> may determine a minimum normal value of the second degradation parameter with respect to the first value of the first degradation parameter. In an example, the minimum normal value of the second degradation parameter may be determined based on a pre-generated table for the value of the first degradation parameter and the value of the second degradation parameter. In another example, the minimum normal value of the second degradation parameter may be determined based on a pre-defined equation for the value of the first degradation parameter and the value of the second degradation parameter. For example, the pre-defined equation may be an equation that represents the boundary line <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine whether the second value of the second degradation parameter is a value within the normal range. For example, referring to the 2D plane of <FIG>, points indicating the first value and the second value may be located in the first area <NUM> if the second value of the second degradation parameter is equal to or greater than a minimum normal value, and points indicating the first value and the second value may be located in the second area <NUM> if the second value of the second degradation parameter is less than the minimum normal value.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine that the internal short circuit occurs in the battery, if the second value of the second degradation parameter is not a value in the normal range.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a normal range of a value of ΔR_film with respect to a target value of SOH_EBS, and a normal range of SOH_EBS with respect to a target value of a value of ΔR_film.

According to an example, a 2D plane on which an x-axis represents SOH_EBS as a degradation parameter and a y-axis represents ΔR_film as a degradation parameter may be defined. For example, a boundary line <NUM> for distinguishing between a normal range and an abnormal range of a battery state may be defined on the 2D plane. For example, the boundary line <NUM> may correspond to the boundary line <NUM> of <FIG> or the boundary line <NUM> of <FIG>.

In an example, if a target value <NUM> (e.g., a first value of a first degradation parameter) of SOH_EBS is "<NUM>", a minimum normal value <NUM> of ΔR_film for the target value <NUM> may be determined. For example, if the target value <NUM> is a value of the x-axis, the minimum normal value <NUM> of ΔR_film may be a value of the y-axis that satisfies an equation representing the boundary line <NUM>. Based on the minimum normal value <NUM>, values of ΔR_film may be divided into an abnormal range <NUM> and a normal range <NUM>. If a value (e.g., a second value of a second degradation parameter) of ΔR_film is less than the minimum normal value <NUM>, that is, is a value within the abnormal range <NUM>, an internal short circuit may be determined to occur in a battery.

In another example, if a target value <NUM> (e.g., the first value of the first degradation parameter) of ΔR_film is "<NUM>", a minimum normal value <NUM> of SOH_EBS may be determined for the target value <NUM>. For example, if the target value <NUM> is a value of the y-axis, the minimum normal value <NUM> of SOH_EBS may be a value of the x-axis that satisfies the equation representing the boundary line <NUM>. Based on the minimum normal value <NUM>, values of SOH_EBS may be divided into an abnormal range <NUM> and a normal range <NUM>. If a value (e.g., the second value of the second degradation parameter) of SOH_EBS is less than the minimum normal value <NUM>, that is, is a value within the abnormal range <NUM>, the internal short circuit may be determined to occur in the battery.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a vehicle.

Referring to <FIG>, a vehicle <NUM> may include a battery pack <NUM>. The vehicle <NUM> may be a vehicle that uses the battery pack <NUM> as a power source. The vehicle <NUM> may be, for example, an electric vehicle, a smart vehicle, an autonomous vehicle, or a hybrid vehicle.

The battery pack <NUM> may include a BMS and battery cells (or battery modules). The BMS may include a memory, a processor, and a communication interface (not shown). As a non-limiting example, these memory, processor, and communication interface of the BMS may correspond to the memory <NUM>, processor <NUM>, and communicator <NUM> of <FIG>. Thus, the above description may not be repeated here.

A sensor of the vehicle <NUM> or the BMS may acquire values of one or more basic parameters of a battery. For example, the basic parameters may include one or more of a voltage of the battery, a current supplied by the battery, and a temperature of the battery.

The BMS may monitor whether an abnormality occurs in the battery pack <NUM>, and may prevent the battery pack <NUM> from being over-charged or over-discharged. Further, if a temperature of the battery pack <NUM> exceeds a first temperature (e.g., <NUM>) or is less than a second temperature (e.g., -<NUM>), the BMS may perform a thermal control on the battery pack <NUM>. Also, the BMS may perform cell balancing to equalize charging states between battery cells in the battery pack <NUM>.

According to an example, the BMS of the battery pack <NUM> may monitor whether an internal short circuit occurs in the battery cells. In an example, the BMS may perform a preset operation in response to the internal short circuit occurring in the battery. According to an example, the preset operation may be an operation of outputting a preset message or signal.

According to an example, the BMS may output the preset message through a display or audio system of the vehicle <NUM>, or be sent to an electronic control unit (ECU) or a vehicle control unit (VCU) of the vehicle <NUM>. In an example, the ECU or VCU of the vehicle <NUM> may output the preset message through a display of the vehicle <NUM>.

In an example, if it is determined that a short circuit occurs in the battery pack <NUM>, the BMS may suspend charging or discharging of the battery pack <NUM>, and the VCU may notify a user of the state of the battery pack <NUM>. In another example, if it is determined that a short circuit occurs in the battery pack <NUM>, the BMS may control charging or discharging of the battery pack <NUM> based on a level of the short circuit.

The description provided with reference to <FIG> may be applicable to the description provided with reference to <FIG>, and thus further description is not repeated herein.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a mobile terminal.

Referring to <FIG>, a mobile terminal <NUM> may include a battery pack <NUM>. The mobile terminal <NUM> may be a device that uses the battery pack <NUM> as a power source. In an example, the mobile terminal <NUM> may be a wearable device, smart home device, or a portable terminal, for example, a smartphone. The battery pack <NUM> may include a BMS and battery cells (or battery modules).

According to an example, the BMS of the battery pack <NUM> may monitor whether an internal short circuit occurs in the battery cells.

The electronic device <NUM>, and other devices, apparatuses, units, modules, and components described herein are implemented by hardware components. Examples of hardware components that may be used to perform the operations described in this application where appropriate include controllers, sensors, generators, drivers, memories, comparators, arithmetic logic units, adders, subtractors, multipliers, dividers, integrators, and any other electronic components configured to perform the operations described in this application. In other examples, one or more of the hardware components that perform the operations described in this application are implemented by computing hardware, for example, by one or more processors or computers. A processor or computer may be implemented by one or more processing elements, such as an array of logic gates, a controller and an arithmetic logic unit, a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a programmable logic controller, a field-programmable gate array, a programmable logic array, a microprocessor, or any other device or combination of devices that is configured to respond to and execute instructions in a defined manner to achieve a desired result. In one example, a processor or computer includes, or is connected to, one or more memories storing instructions or software that are executed by the processor or computer. Hardware components implemented by a processor or computer may execute instructions or software, such as an operating system (OS) and one or more software applications that run on the OS, to perform the operations described in this application. The hardware components may also access, manipulate, process, create, and store data in response to execution of the instructions or software. For simplicity, the singular term "processor" or "computer" may be used in the description of the examples described in this application, but in other examples multiple processors or computers may be used, or a processor or computer may include multiple processing elements, or multiple types of processing elements, or both. For example, a single hardware component or two or more hardware components may be implemented by a single processor, or two or more processors, or a processor and a controller. One or more hardware components may be implemented by one or more processors, or a processor and a controller, and one or more other hardware components may be implemented by one or more other processors, or another processor and another controller. One or more processors, or a processor and a controller, may implement a single hardware component, or two or more hardware components. A hardware component may have any one or more of different processing configurations, examples of which include a single processor, independent processors, parallel processors, single-instruction single-data (SISD) multiprocessing, single-instruction multiple-data (SIMD) multiprocessing, multiple-instruction single-data (MISD) multiprocessing, multiple-instruction multiple-data (MIMD) multiprocessing, a controller and an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a DSP, a microcomputer, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic unit (PLU), a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a neural processing unit (NPU), or any other device capable of responding to and executing instructions in a defined manner.

The methods that perform the operations described in this application are performed by computing hardware, for example, by one or more processors or computers, implemented as described above executing instructions or software to perform the operations described in this application that are performed by the methods.

Instructions or software to control a processor or computer to implement the hardware components and perform the methods as described above are written as computer programs, code segments, instructions or any combination thereof, for individually or collectively instructing or configuring the processor or computer to operate as a machine or special-purpose computer to perform the operations performed by the hardware components and the methods as described above. In one example, the instructions or software include machine code that is directly executed by the processor or computer, such as machine code produced by a compiler. In an example, the instructions or software includes at least one of an applet, a dynamic link library (DLL), middleware, firmware, a device driver, an application program storing the method of detecting an internal short circuit in a battery. In another example, the instructions or software include higher-level code that is executed by the processor or computer using an interpreter. Programmers of ordinary skill in the art can readily write the instructions or software based on the block diagrams and the flow charts illustrated in the drawings and the corresponding descriptions in the specification, which disclose algorithms for performing the operations performed by the hardware components and the methods as described above.

The instructions or software to control a processor or computer to implement the hardware components and perform the methods as described above, and any associated data, data files, and data structures, are recorded, stored, or fixed in or on one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media. Examples of a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium include read-only memory (ROM), random-access programmable read only memory (PROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), random-access memory (RAM), magnetic RAM (MRAM), spin-transfer torque(STT)-MRAM, static random-access memory (SRAM), thyristor RAM (T-RAM), zero capacitor RAM (Z-RAM), twin transistor RAM (TTRAM), conductive bridging RAM(CBRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), phase change RAM (PRAM), resistive RAM(RRAM), nanotube RRAM, polymer RAM (PoRAM), nano floating gate Memory(NFGM), holographic memory, molecular electronic memory device), insulator resistance change memory, dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), flash memory, non-volatile memory, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, CD+Rs, CD-RWs, CD+RWs, DVD-ROMs, DVD-Rs, DVD+Rs, DVD-RWs, DVD+RWs, DVD-RAMs, BD-ROMs, BD-Rs, BD-R LTHs, BD-REs, blue-ray or optical disk storage, hard disk drive (HDD), solid state drive (SSD), flash memory, a card type memory such as multimedia card micro or a card (for example, secure digital (SD) or extreme digital (XD)), magnetic tapes, floppy disks, magneto-optical data storage devices, optical data storage devices, hard disks, solid-state disks, and any other device that is configured to store the instructions or software and any associated data, data files, and data structures in a non-transitory manner and providing the instructions or software and any associated data, data files, and data structures to a processor or computer so that the processor or computer can execute the instructions. In an example, the instructions or software and any associated data, data files, and data structures are distributed over network-coupled computer systems so that the instructions and software and any associated data, data files, and data structures are stored, accessed, and executed in a distributed fashion by the one or more processors or computers.

While this disclosure includes specific examples, it will be apparent after an understanding of the disclosure of this application that various changes in form and details may be made in these examples without departing from the scope of the claims. The examples described herein are to be considered in a descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects in each example are to be considered as being applicable to similar features or aspects in other examples. Suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order, and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different manner, and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents.

Claim 1:
A processor-implemented method of detecting an internal short circuit in a battery (<NUM>), the method comprising:
acquiring (<NUM>) values of one or more basic parameters of the battery (<NUM>);
acquiring (<NUM>) values of two or more degradation parameters used in a battery model indicating an internal state of the battery (<NUM>) based on the values of the one or more basic parameters;
determining (<NUM>) whether the internal short circuit occurs in the battery (<NUM>) based on a first value of a first degradation parameter and a second value of a second degradation parameter from among the two or more degradation parameters, comprising:
determining (<NUM>) a normal range of a value of the second degradation parameter with respect to the first value of the first degradation parameter,
determining (<NUM>) whether the second value of the second degradation parameter is a value within the normal range, and
determining (<NUM>) that the internal short circuit occurs in the battery (<NUM>) in response to the second value of the second degradation parameter not being the value within the normal range; and
performing (<NUM>) an operation in response to the internal short circuit occurring in the battery (<NUM>).