# How Batteries Charge Fast in the Cold Without Damage > This patent describes a smart battery system that uses an internal heater to warm itself up for quick, safe charging, even when it's freezing outside. - **Patent:** US 10186887 - **Original title:** Systems and methods for fast charging batteries at low temperatures - **Owner:** EC Power - **Granted:** 2019 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 11 - **Field:** consumer_electronics, automotive, telecommunications, energy, semiconductors, software ## What it does This patent describes a system for fast charging batteries, especially in cold environments, without damaging them. It uses a special "ohmically modulated battery" (Claim 1) which has an internal heating element, called a "resistor sheet" (Claim 1), built right into or between its cells. The system includes a "temperature sensor" (Claim 1) that constantly checks the battery's temperature. A "controller" (Claim 1) then uses this temperature information to decide whether to charge the battery normally through its "low-resistance terminal" or to activate the internal heater by routing current through a "high-resistance terminal" (Claim 1). For example, if the temperature sensor detects the battery is too cold, the controller switches to the high-resistance terminal, which warms the battery using the resistor sheet before or during charging, allowing for faster and safer charging. ## What it does NOT cover - Charging systems that do not use a battery with a dedicated "high-resistance terminal" and an internal "resistor sheet" for heating. - Battery heating methods that rely solely on external heaters or ambient temperature control, rather than an internal, switchable resistor. - Charging protocols that do not dynamically switch between a low-resistance path and a high-resistance path based on temperature input. - Batteries without the specific internal resistor sheet configuration, where one tab connects to the high-resistance terminal and the other to a low-resistance terminal (Claim 1). - Systems where the controller does not determine the charging path based on temperature sensor input. ## The clever bit The innovation lies in integrating a dedicated "resistor sheet" directly into the battery cell or between cells, accessible via a separate "high-resistance terminal." This allows the battery to intelligently self-heat using its own charging current, controlled by a switch and temperature sensor, rather than relying on less efficient external heating or simply slowing down charging in the cold. ## Real-world examples 1. Electric vehicle battery packs 2. Electric bus batteries 3. Industrial robots and drones operating outdoors 4. Power tools used in cold environments 5. Consumer electronics (smartphones, laptops) in extreme cold ## Why it matters Fast charging is essential for electric vehicles and portable electronics. However, charging lithium-ion batteries too quickly at low temperatures can cause "lithium plating," which permanently damages the battery and reduces its lifespan. This patent offers a solution to safely enable fast charging in cold conditions, which is critical for user convenience and battery longevity in many applications, such as electric cars operating in winter climates. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How Batteries Charge Fast in the Cold Without Damage cover? This patent describes a smart battery system that uses an internal heater to warm itself up for quick, safe charging, even when it's freezing outside. ### Who owns patent US 10186887? EC Power owns this patent, granted in 2019. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on July 27, 2035, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 10186887 cited by? This patent has been cited by 11 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? Fast charging is essential for electric vehicles and portable electronics. However, charging lithium-ion batteries too quickly at low temperatures can cause "lithium plating," which permanently damages the battery and reduces its lifespan. This patent offers a solution to safely enable fast charging in cold conditions, which is critical for user convenience and battery longevity in many applications, such as electric cars operating in winter climates. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Charging systems that do not use a battery with a dedicated "high-resistance terminal" and an internal "resistor sheet" for heating. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10186887/systems-and-methods-for-fast-charging-batteries-at-low-temperatures **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US10186887 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How to Fast-Charge Lithium Batteries Without Damaging Them](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10700376/methods-for-fast-charging-and-detecting-lithium-plating-in-lithium-ion-batteries) — This patent describes a three-phase method for quickly charging lithium-ion batteries while carefully controlling voltages to prevent harmful lithium metal buildup and electrolyte damage. - [How NAND Flash Memory Adjusts to Cold Temperatures](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10019188/storage-devices-memory-systems-and-operating-methods-to-suppress-operating-error) — This patent describes a method for NAND flash memory systems to prevent errors by automatically adjusting their operating conditions, like data speed or voltage, when the temperature drops too low. - [How Electric Cars Adjust Charging Speed to Available Power](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20120091953/ac-current-control-of-mobile-battery-chargers) — This patent describes how an electric vehicle's onboard charger intelligently adjusts its charging speed based on the real-time electrical power available from the wall outlet or charging station, preventing overloads and optimizing charge time. - [How a Hybrid Layer Stops Metal Growths in Lithium Batteries](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10566652/lithium-metal-battery-with-hybrid-electrolyte-system) — This patent describes a special multi-layered electrolyte system for lithium metal batteries that uses a stiff, hybrid material to block dangerous metal growths, aiming for safer, higher-energy batteries. - [How a Battery Automatically Disconnects Itself During Overheating](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12288901/draco-thrusters) — A safety system for battery packs that uses a heat-sensitive material to physically break the electrical connection between cells if they get too hot, preventing thermal runaway.