{
  "patent_number": "US 10700376",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How to Fast-Charge Lithium Batteries Without Damaging Them",
  "original_title": "Methods for fast-charging and detecting lithium plating in lithium ion batteries",
  "summary": "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.",
  "what_it_does": "The patent outlines a method for fast-charging lithium batteries, like those in electric vehicles, by carefully managing the charging process in three phases to avoid damage. In a first phase, the battery is charged as fast as possible, limited only by the battery or charger's capabilities (Claim 1). Next, in a second phase, the charging current is gradually reduced to ensure the \"anode potential\" (the voltage of the negative battery terminal) stays above a specific safe level, preventing \"lithium plating\" (Claim 1). Lithium plating is when lithium metal forms on the anode, which can damage the battery. Finally, in a third phase, the charging continues while keeping the overall \"cell potential\" (the battery's total voltage) below a maximum limit to stop the electrolyte from breaking down (Claim 1). The patent also describes a way to detect lithium plating by looking for sudden changes in the charging current's rate of change (its derivative), which helps fine-tune the safe charging limits (Claim 8). For example, an electric car could use this method to quickly charge its battery without shortening its lifespan.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover fast-charging methods that do not specifically manage the anode potential to prevent lithium plating (Claim 1).",
    "Does not cover fast-charging methods that do not control the cell potential to prevent electrolyte oxidation (Claim 1).",
    "Does not cover lithium plating detection methods that do not involve analyzing the derivative of the charging current for discontinuities (Claim 8).",
    "Does not cover charging methods that use only a single constant current or constant voltage phase without the specific three-phase approach (Claim 1).",
    "Does not cover batteries that are not lithium-ion based, as the claims specifically refer to \"lithium battery\" and \"lithium ion-containing electrolyte\" (Claim 1)."
  ],
  "filed": "2017-07-31",
  "granted": "2020-06-30",
  "expires": "2037-07-31",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "GM Global Technology Operations",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/gm-global-technology-operations",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Brian J. Koch",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/brian-j-koch"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 8,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics",
    "automotive",
    "telecommunications",
    "energy",
    "software"
  ],
  "abstract": "Methods for fast-charging batteries while minimizing lithium plating (LP) comprise charging the battery in a first phase at a near-maximum charging current, subsequently charging the battery in a second phase by decreasing the charging current while charging in order to maintain the anode potential equal to or above an anode potential threshold, and subsequently charging the battery in a third phase at constant cell potential such that the cathode potential remains below a cathode potential threshold. LP can be detected by determining the derivative of the charging current and examining the derivative for smooth curves or local discontinuities, wherein a smooth curve indicates the absence of LP and a curve with a local discontinuity indicates the presence of LP. A fast-charging profile can be defined by plotting the cell potential vs. the charging current from the first phase, the second phase, and the third phase to define a fast-charging profile.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10700376/methods-for-fast-charging-and-detecting-lithium-plating-in-lithium-ion-batteries",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10700376/methods-for-fast-charging-and-detecting-lithium-plating-in-lithium-ion-batteries/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US10700376",
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}