US 12,422,403 B2
Device and method for inspecting lithium precipitation in battery cell
Su Hyun Yun, Daejeon (KR); Hyo Sun An, Daejeon (KR); and Bum Young Jung, Daejeon (KR)
Assigned to LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD., Seoul (KR)
Appl. No. 18/567,604
Filed by LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD., Seoul (KR)
PCT Filed Mar. 21, 2023, PCT No. PCT/KR2023/003715
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 6, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/182769, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 28, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2022-0035169 (KR), filed on Mar. 22, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0280539 A1, Aug. 22, 2024
Int. Cl. G01N 27/90 (2021.01); G01N 27/02 (2006.01); G01R 31/392 (2019.01); H01M 10/0525 (2010.01); H01M 10/42 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 27/9006 (2013.01) [G01N 27/021 (2013.01); G01R 31/392 (2019.01); H01M 10/0525 (2013.01); H01M 10/4285 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for inspecting lithium plating in at least one battery cell using eddy current, the apparatus comprising:
an inspection module including a first sensor for inducing an eddy current in the at least one battery cell and a second sensor for measuring impedance of the at least one battery cell in which the eddy current is induced; and
a controller configured to determine whether or not lithium plating has occurred in the at least one battery cell by comparing a measured value of the impedance measured by the second sensor with standard data;
wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are provided in a form in which a coil is wound,
wherein the first sensor is configured to induce the eddy current in the at least one battery cell by applying an alternating current (AC) of a specific frequency to the coil to form a magnetic field,
wherein the second sensor is configured to measure an impedance at the specific frequency for the at least one battery cell,
wherein the standard data is pre-verified data obtained by measuring impedance at the specific frequency for a battery cell in which lithium is deposited or for a battery cell in which lithium is not deposited,
wherein controller is configured to compare a position of an impedance value of the at least one battery cell measured by the second sensor on a complex plane with positions of first cluster data and second cluster data based on a dividing line which divides the standard data expressed on the complex plane into the first cluster data and the second cluster data, so as to determine whether lithium is deposited in the at least one battery cell,
wherein the first cluster data is at least one piece of data measured in at least a battery cell in which lithium is deposited, and
wherein the second cluster data is at least one data measured in at least a battery cell in which lithium is not deposited.