BAE Systems Controls Inc.

A battery assembly includes an enclosure, and a plurality of battery modules within the enclosure. Each battery module includes an array of battery cells, one or more first sensors configured to measure one or more first parameters of the corresponding battery module, and a first processor configured to receive sense signals from the one or more first sensors of the corresponding battery module. One or more second sensors are within the enclosure, but external to the battery modules, and configured to measure one or more second parameters of the battery assembly. A second processor within the enclosure is to receive data from each of first processors and the one or more second sensors, and transmit controller input data to a controller external to the battery assembly, the controller input data based on the data received from the first processors and the one or more second sensors.

A method includes forming a cold plate including conductive material and having a plurality of openings, and coating the cold plate with dielectric coating. The method further includes placing the cold plate proximal to a metal plate including one or more metals, and exposing the cold plate to moisture and/or water. In an example, a minimum lateral distance between the cold plate and the metal plate is at most 0.5 inch. The method further includes, while the cold plate is exposed to the moisture and/or the water, applying a voltage across the cold plate and the metal plate, and measuring a resultant leakage current through the cold plate. A thickness of the dielectric coating on an edge of an opening of the plurality of openings is at least 0.003 inch.

A battery assembly includes a first plurality of battery cells, a second plurality of battery cells, and a switch between the first plurality of battery cells and the second plurality of battery cells. In an example, the first plurality of battery cells, the switch, and the second plurality of battery cells are connected in series to a load. In an example, the first plurality of battery cells, the second plurality of battery cells, and the switch are within an enclosure, which is within a pressure regulated section of an aircraft. The load may be external to the enclosure. The battery assembly further includes a controller configured to open the switch and the disconnect the first plurality of battery cells from the second plurality of battery cells, in response to an air pressure proximal to the first and second pluralities of battery cells falling below a threshold level.

A battery assembly includes an enclosure including a plurality of battery cells, and a sensor within the enclosure. The sensor is configured to measure a parameter within the enclosure, and generate a sense signal. The battery assembly further includes a processor within the enclosure, wherein the processor is configured to process the sense signal and generate information associated with the sense signal. A first communication link is configured to transmit, from the enclosure to a system that is external to the enclosure, a discrete signal indicative of whether the sense signal indicates a fault condition. A second communication link is configured to transmit, from the enclosure to the system, a digital signal including the information. Thus, transmitting the discrete signal over the first communication link and the information associated with the sense signal over the second communication link provides redundancy and improves reliability of the battery assembly.

A battery assembly includes an enclosure, an outgas sensor within the enclosure, a pressure relief device within the enclosure, a pressure relief sensor within the enclosure, and a processor within the enclosure. The outgas sensor is configured to sense an outgas event of one or more battery cells within the enclosure and output a first sense signal. The pressure relief device is configured to release gas pressure from the enclosure, in response to pressure within the enclosure exceeding a threshold value. The pressure relief sensor is configured to sense a pressure release event caused by the pressure relief device and output a second sense signal. The processor is configured to receive the first sense signal and the second sense signal, and to transmit information associated with the first and second sense signals to a system that is external to the enclosure.

A battery system, battery packs and battery modules are disclosed. The battery module comprises a plurality of cells mounted within a housing. The housing has a plurality of openings respectively for a corresponding cell. The module has a plurality of groups of cells. Each group comprises a plurality of parallel connected cells from among the plurality of cells. The plurality of groups is connected in series. The module has a plurality of current limiting elements. Each current limiting element are electrically connected in a parallel path to one or both terminals of cells which are parallelly connected. The current limiting elements may be passive or active elements. The current limiting elements may be integrated in or separate from busbars which are connected to terminals of the cells.

A battery system, battery packs and battery modules are disclosed. The battery module comprises a plurality of cells mounted within a housing. The module has a plurality of groups of cells. Each group comprises a plurality of parallel connected cells from among the plurality of cells. The plurality of groups is connected in series. The module has a plurality of current limiting elements. Each current limiting element are electrically connected in a parallel path to one or both terminals of cells which are parallelly connected. The current limiting elements may be integrated in or separate from busbars which are connected to terminals of the cells. Impedance balancing is provided to the parallel fusing scheme to improve the overall reliability of the battery module. The battery module configuration allows for continuity assurance testing of the parallel connections to ensure detection of blown fuses or broken connections in the module.

A lithium-ion battery assembly includes a plurality of battery cells in a spaced-apart and generally parallel arrangement, each cell of the battery cells extending along a central axis and having a first end portion with a negative terminal and a second end portion with a positive terminal. The assembly includes a first capture plate and a second capture plate, where at least the first capture plate defines capture plate openings corresponding to the plurality of battery cells, the first capture plate spaced from and oriented generally parallel to the second capture plate. Each of the plurality of battery cells extends between the first and second capture plates and is coaxially arranged with one of the capture plate openings in the first capture plate. The assembly optionally includes a body between the capture plates, the body defining a void for each battery cell.

The present disclosure includes a battery test assembly. The battery test assembly includes a container forming an enclosed cavity having sides, a top and a bottom with an opening in the top, a first electrode having a first non-electrically active coating material, a second electrode having a second non-electrically active coating material, a separator disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode the separator including an insulator material and a non-ionic liquid within the cavity, wherein the first electrode, separator and second electrode are wound in a spiral configuration within the container.

A battery cell module includes a housing having a stack of a plurality of battery cells. The stack includes a plurality of battery cells sequentially stacked within the housing. Each of the battery cells has first and second opposed faces. The stack further includes a plurality of heat sink plates sequentially interleaved between the plurality of battery cells. Each of the plurality of heat sink plates has a body extending in a first plane surrounded by an outer edge. The body has a plurality of mounting tabs arranged to support a respective battery cell in the sequential stack within the housing such that the plurality of battery cells are maintained in alignment within the housing. A method includes sequentially interleaving battery cells and heat sink plates within a housing, where mounting tabs in the heart sink plates maintain the battery cells in alignment within the housing.