Battery cell with integrated sensing platform

Abstract

A battery cell that comprises a sensing platform with sensing elements configured to provide information about in-situ characteristics and parameters of the battery cell. Embodiments of the battery cell can have the sensing platform integrated into the structure of the battery cell, as a separate structure incorporated in the battery cell, and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the battery cell comprises a sensing platform having sensing elements proximate a localized measurement region, where the sensing platform comprises a substrate with material layers disposed thereon. The material layers comprise at least one sensing layer that forms the sensing elements so that the sensing elements are responsive to properties of the battery cell.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A battery cell comprising
 a first electrode;   a second electrode positioned relative to the first electrode in a manner generating electrochemical activity between the first electrode and the second electrode;   an active region responsive to the electrochemical activity, the active region comprising a localized measurement region exhibiting a cell property; and   a sensing platform proximate the localized measurement region, the sensing platform comprising a sensing element for collecting data corresponding to the cell property in the localized measurement region.   
     
     
         2 . A battery cell according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of localized measurement regions, wherein the sensing platform comprises one or more of the sensing elements for each of the localized measurement regions. 
     
     
         3 . A battery cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the localized measurement region is proximate one or more of the first electrode and the second electrode. 
     
     
         4 . A battery cell according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cell wall in surrounding relation to the first electrode and the second electrode, the cell wall comprising an outer surface, and an inner surface forming a cell volume, wherein the localized measurement region is enclosed inside of the cell volume. 
     
     
         5 . A battery cell exhibiting a cell property, said battery cell comprising:
 a first electrode;   a second electrode positioned relative to the first electrode in a manner generating electrochemical activity between the first electrode and the second electrode;   a cell wall in surrounding relation to the first electrode and the second electrode, the cell wall comprising an outer surface, and an inner surface forming a cell volume;   an active region responsive to the electrochemical activity, the active region comprising a localized measurement region exhibiting the cell property; and   a sensing platform proximate the localized measurement region, the sensing platform comprising a sensing element substantially enclosed inside of the cell volume, the sensing element for collecting data corresponding to the cell property in the localized measurement region.   
     
     
         6 . A battery cell according to  claim 5 , wherein the sensing platform comprises a plurality of the sensing elements. 
     
     
         7 . A battery cell according to  claim 5 , wherein the sensing platform comprises a plurality of the sensing elements, and wherein each of the sensing elements are spaced from each other so as to form a sensing array that substantially covers the active region. 
     
     
         8 . A battery cell according to  claim 5 , wherein the sensing platform comprises a plurality of material layers, and wherein the material layers comprise a sensing layer responsive to the cell property. 
     
     
         9 . A battery cell according to  claim 8 , wherein the cell property comprises one or more of temperature, pressure, strain, pH, conductivity, electrical impedance, and properties related to the electrochemical activity. 
     
     
         10 . A battery cell according to  claim 9 , wherein the sensing platform comprises a polymer film, wherein the plurality of layers are disposed on the polymer film, and wherein the polymer film is bonded to the inner surface. 
     
     
         11 . A battery cell according to  claim 9 , wherein the material layers comprise a first layer disposed on the inner surface. 
     
     
         12 . A battery cell according to  claim 5 , further comprising a data transmitting device coupled to the sensing element, the data transmitting device for transmitting data from the sensing elements to the outside of the cell wall. 
     
     
         13 . A battery cell according to  claim 12 , wherein the data transmitting structure comprises a wireless device for transmitting data to the outside of the cell wall. 
     
     
         14 . A battery cell for use in a battery pack, said battery cell comprising:
 a first electrode;   a second electrode positioned relative to the first electrode in a manner generating electrochemical activity between the first electrode and the second electrode;   a cell wall in surrounding relation to the first electrode and the second electrode, the cell wall comprising an outer surface, and an inner surface forming a cell volume;   an active region responsive to the electrochemical activity, the active region comprising a localized measurement region exhibiting the cell property; and   a sensing platform proximate the localized measurement region, the sensing platform comprising a sensing element disposed on the outer surface of the cell wall, the sensing element for collecting data corresponding to the cell property in the localized measurement region.   
     
     
         15 . A battery cell according to  claim 14 , wherein the sensing clement comprises a sensing layer responsive to the cell property, and wherein the cell property comprises one or more of temperature, pressure, strain, pH, conductivity, electrical impedance, and properties related to the electrochemical processes. 
     
     
         16 . A battery cell according to  claim 15 , wherein the sensing platform comprises a plurality of material layers, and wherein the plurality of layers comprise a polymer film bonded to the outer surface, and a conductive layer for interconnecting the sensing elements. 
     
     
         17 . A battery cell according to  claim 15 , the material layers having a first layer of material disposed on the outer surface. 
     
     
         18 . A battery cell according to  claim 14 , wherein the sensing platform comprises a plurality of sensing elements, and wherein the sensing elements arc spaced from each other so as to form a sensing array that substantially covers the measurement region. 
     
     
         19 . A battery cell according to  claim 14 , further comprising a data transmitting structure device coupled to the sensing element, the data transmitting device for transmitting data from the sensing element to the outside of the cell wall. 
     
     
         20 . A battery cell according to  claim 14 , wherein the localized measurement region comprises the cell wall.