US RE50,385 E1
System and method for maximizing battery capacity while in long term storage
Benjamin Theodore Odegaard, Santa Cruz, CA (US); Bryan Scott Cady, Boulder Creek, CA (US); and Nathan Glenn Knight, Santa Cruz, CA (US)
Assigned to Zero Motorcycles, Inc., Scotts Valley, CA (US)
Filed by Zero Motorcycles, Inc., Scotts Valley, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/710,275.
Application 17/710,275 is a reissue of application No. 16/135,937, filed on Sep. 19, 2018, granted, now 10,608,446, issued on Mar. 31, 2020.
Int. Cl. H01M 10/48 (2006.01); G01R 31/36 (2020.01); G01R 31/392 (2019.01); H01M 10/42 (2006.01); H01M 10/44 (2006.01); H02J 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC H01M 10/48 (2013.01) [G01R 31/3648 (2013.01); G01R 31/392 (2019.01); H01M 10/425 (2013.01); H01M 10/44 (2013.01); H02J 7/00302 (2020.01); H02J 7/0048 (2020.01); H02J 7/0071 (2020.01); H01M 2010/4271 (2013.01)] 37 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of avoiding battery degradation, the method comprising:
determining a representative discharge rate for a battery;
determining a voltage level where a change in the battery's voltage divided by a change in the battery's storage capacity is at a minimum;
determining a representative long term storage time period for the battery;
determining a minimum long term storage voltage value and a maximum long term storage voltage value, [ each as a predetermined function of the determined voltage level where the change in the battery's voltage divided by the change in the battery's storage capacity is at the minimum and ] each corresponding to limits of a range of Depth of Discharge (DOD) values;
determining that the battery is in long term storage;
measuring, by a processor, a depth of discharge of the battery;
determining that the measured depth of discharge is at or below the minimum tong [ long ] term storage voltage value; and,
charging the battery to the maximum long term storage voltage value [ in response to the determination that the measured depth of discharge is at or below the minimum long term storage voltage value] .