# How a Battery Heats Itself in the Cold for Better Performance > This patent describes a rechargeable battery that can warm itself up in freezing temperatures by temporarily increasing its internal electrical resistance, then switching back to normal operation for full power. - **Patent:** US 9882197 - **Original title:** All climate battery and manufacturing and using the same - **Owner:** EC Power - **Granted:** 2018 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 8 - **Field:** automotive, consumer_electronics, energy, telecommunications, semiconductors ## What it does The patent details a rechargeable battery designed to work well in all climates. It includes a standard internal resistance (R1) for normal operation and a second, higher internal resistance (R2) created by a special "resistor sheet" located inside or next to a battery cell (Claim 1, 2). When the battery is cold, below a certain temperature (T1), a "switch" connects this resistor sheet to the battery's terminals (Claim 1, 13). This causes current to flow through the higher resistance (R2), generating heat internally to warm the battery quickly (Abstract). Once the battery reaches a normal operating temperature (T2), the switch disconnects the resistor sheet, and the battery operates with its lower, normal resistance (R1), delivering full power and energy (Abstract). For example, an electric vehicle battery could use this to rapidly warm itself on a freezing morning, ensuring optimal range and acceleration from the start. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover battery heating systems that use external heating elements, rather than an internal resistor sheet (Claim 1 specifies the resistor sheet is "within or adjacent a cell"). - Does not cover batteries that generate heat through chemical reactions without an additional, switchable high-resistance electrical circuit (Claim 1 defines R1 and R2 electrically). - Does not cover systems that lack a switch to change between a high-resistance heating mode and a lower-resistance operating mode (Claim 1 requires "a switch configured to electrically connect or disconnect"). - Does not cover batteries where the high-resistance element is not connected via an additional terminal (Claim 1 specifies "at least one high resistance terminal"). - Does not cover batteries that only have a single, fixed internal resistance, regardless of temperature. ## The clever bit The innovation lies in integrating a dedicated, switchable heating element directly inside the battery cell. This allows the battery to use its own electrical power to rapidly and efficiently warm itself from within, rather than relying on external heaters, and then seamlessly switch to optimal performance once warm. ## Real-world examples 1. Electric vehicle battery packs designed for cold climates 2. Drones operating in arctic or high-altitude environments 3. Outdoor energy storage systems in regions with harsh winters 4. Portable electronic devices used in subfreezing temperatures ## Why it matters Batteries, especially lithium-ion types, perform poorly in cold weather, losing capacity and power. This patent offers a solution by allowing the battery to quickly warm itself from the inside, significantly improving performance in subfreezing conditions. This is crucial for electric vehicles, drones, and other battery-powered devices that need reliable operation across diverse climates, extending their usability and lifespan. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How a Battery Heats Itself in the Cold for Better Performance cover? This patent describes a rechargeable battery that can warm itself up in freezing temperatures by temporarily increasing its internal electrical resistance, then switching back to normal operation for full power. ### Who owns patent US 9882197? EC Power owns this patent, granted in 2018. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on April 17, 2034, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 9882197 cited by? This patent has been cited by 8 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? Batteries, especially lithium-ion types, perform poorly in cold weather, losing capacity and power. This patent offers a solution by allowing the battery to quickly warm itself from the inside, significantly improving performance in subfreezing conditions. This is crucial for electric vehicles, drones, and other battery-powered devices that need reliable operation across diverse climates, extending their usability and lifespan. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover battery heating systems that use external heating elements, rather than an internal resistor sheet (Claim 1 specifies the resistor sheet is "within or adjacent a cell"). **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9882197/all-climate-battery-and-manufacturing-and-using-the-same **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US9882197 --- _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 Batteries Charge Fast in the Cold Without Damage](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10186887/systems-and-methods-for-fast-charging-batteries-at-low-temperatures) — 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. - [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. - [Improving Lithium Battery Life with a Built-in Lithium Source](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10593988/electrochemical-cell-for-lithium-based-batteries) — This patent describes a method for building rechargeable lithium-based batteries with a special extra lithium source electrode inside that helps the main battery parts work better and last longer by giving them an initial charge of lithium ions. - [How a Two-Layer Coating Protects Lithium Battery Anodes](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11271251/battery-cell-with-anode-protective-layer) — This patent describes a lithium battery cell design that uses two special protective layers on the anode to stop harmful growths called dendrites and make the battery last longer and work better, especially in solid-state batteries. - [Making Solid-State Battery Electrodes That Don't Swell and Crack](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11239459/low-expansion-composite-electrodes-for-all-solid-state-batteries) — This patent describes a special design for solid-state battery electrodes that uses tiny internal holes and spaces between particles to prevent them from expanding and cracking during charging and discharging.