US 12,456,765 B2
Method for replacing rechargeable battery
Tamotsu Fukuma, Kosai (JP); and Juni Yasoshima, Toyota (JP)
Assigned to TOYOTA BATTERY CO., LTD., Kosai (JP); and TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Toyota (JP)
Filed by PRIMEARTH EV ENERGY CO., LTD., Kosai (JP); and TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Toyota (JP)
Filed on Aug. 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/879,632.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-129714 (JP), filed on Aug. 6, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0044496 A1, Feb. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. H01M 10/48 (2006.01); G01R 31/3835 (2019.01); G01R 31/392 (2019.01); H01M 10/42 (2006.01); H01M 50/204 (2021.01); H02J 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC H01M 10/482 (2013.01) [G01R 31/3835 (2019.01); G01R 31/392 (2019.01); H01M 10/425 (2013.01); H01M 50/204 (2021.01); H02J 7/0013 (2013.01); H02J 7/0048 (2020.01); H02J 7/005 (2020.01); H01M 2010/4271 (2013.01); H01M 2010/4278 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for replacing a rechargeable battery that is considered as an unsatisfactory rechargeable battery that needs replacing, when at least one of battery parameters of the rechargeable battery does not satisfy a criterion of the at least one of battery parameters, in an assembled battery in which rechargeable batteries are stacked and restrained in a row and electrically connected in series or in parallel, the method comprising:
identifying at least one of the rechargeable batteries to be the unsatisfactory rechargeable battery in the assembled battery and removing the unsatisfactory rechargeable battery;
shifting the rechargeable batteries remaining in the assembled battery to form a space on at least one end of the row of the rechargeable batteries, in a row direction, in the assembled battery from which the unsatisfactory rechargeable battery has been removed; and
installing a satisfactory rechargeable battery, battery parameters of which each satisfy the criterion, on the at least one end of the row of the rechargeable batteries, in the row direction, in the assembled battery from which the unsatisfactory rechargeable battery has been removed,
wherein each of the rechargeable batteries has a battery container that is formed from resin, and
two end plates are disposed at opposite ends in the row direction of the stacked rechargeable batteries to sandwich the stacked rechargeable batteries in the row direction,
wherein:
in the row of rechargeable batteries in the assembled battery from which the unsatisfactory rechargeable battery has been removed, the installing includes selecting and installing a satisfactory rechargeable battery so as to be disposed adjacent to one of the rechargeable batteries in the assembled battery from which the unsatisfactory rechargeable battery has been removed so that a difference in capacity between the satisfactory rechargeable battery and the adjacent on of the rechargeable batteries is less than a predetermined threshold value, and
the selecting and installing includes:
determining whether the difference in capacity between the satisfactory rechargeable battery, which is an unused rechargeable battery, and the adjacent on of the rechargeable batteries is less than the predetermined threshold value;
installing the satisfactory rechargeable battery, which is the unused rechargeable battery, when the difference in capacity between the satisfactory rechargeable battery, which is the unused rechargeable battery, and the adjacent one of the rechargeable batteries is less than the predetermined threshold value; and
determining that the satisfactory rechargeable battery, which is the unused rechargeable battery, is unsuitable when the difference in capacity between the satisfactory rechargeable battery, which is the unused rechargeable battery, and the adjacent of the rechargeable batteries is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value.