US 11,811,036 B1
Apparatus and method for fault detection in a battery module
Grayson King, South Burlington, VT (US); Cullen Jemison, South Burlington, VT (US); Miles Tallada, South Burlington, VT (US); and Stuart Schreiber, South Burlington, VT (US)
Assigned to BETA AIR, LLC, South Burlington, VT (US)
Filed by BETA AIR, LLC, South Burlington, VT (US)
Filed on Oct. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/966,632.
Int. Cl. H01M 10/613 (2014.01); H01M 10/42 (2006.01); H01M 10/48 (2006.01); H01M 10/6555 (2014.01); H01M 10/658 (2014.01); H01M 10/6557 (2014.01)
CPC H01M 10/613 (2015.04) [H01M 10/425 (2013.01); H01M 10/482 (2013.01); H01M 10/658 (2015.04); H01M 10/6555 (2015.04); H01M 10/6557 (2015.04); H01M 2010/4271 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for fault detection in a battery module, the apparatus comprising:
a battery module comprising a plurality of battery cells;
a plate extending along a first row of the plurality of battery cells, wherein the plate has a first side and a second side opposed to the first side, wherein the first side comprises a flat surface extending along the first row and the second side comprises a contoured surface with peaks and valleys;
an insulation disposed between the first row of the plurality of battery cells and the plate, wherein the insulation is configured to electrically insulate the plate from the plurality of battery cells, wherein:
the flat surface of the plate contacts the insulation; and
the contoured surface of the plate contacts a second row of the plurality of battery cells spaced from the first row of the plurality of battery cells by the plate and the insulation;
a sensor configured to detect a potential signal as a function of a potential between the plate and a reference potential; and
a controller communicatively connected to the sensor, wherein the controller configured to:
receive the potential signal from the sensor; and
determine a fault as a function of the potential signal.