Circuits and methods for determination and control of signal transition rates in electrochemical cells

摘要

A charge/discharge input is for respectively supplying charge to, or drawing charge from, an electrochemical cell. A transition modifying circuit is coupled between the charge/discharge input and a terminal of the electrochemical cell and includes at least one of an inductive constituent, a capacitive constituent and a resistive constituent selected to generate an adjusted transition rate on the terminal sufficient to reduce degradation of a charge capacity characteristic of the electrochemical cell. A method determines characteristics of the transition modifying circuit. A degradation characteristic of the electrochemical cell is analyzed relative to a transition rate of the charge/discharge input applied to the electrochemical cell. An adjusted transition rate is determined for a signal to be applied to the electrochemical cell that will reduce the degradation characteristic. At least one of an inductance, a capacitance, and a resistance is selected for the transition modifying circuit to achieve the adjusted transition rate.

主权项

1. A circuit, comprising:
one or more electrochemical cells; a charge/discharge circuit configured to respectively generate charge pulses and discharge pulses to the one or more electrochemical cells, wherein the charge pulses and discharge pulses include a first transition rate; and a transition modifying circuit operably coupled between the charge/discharge circuit and a terminal of the one or more electrochemical cells, the transition modifying circuit comprising at least one circuit element configured to receive and modify the charge pulses and discharge pulses to exhibit an adjusted transition rate on the terminal that is slower than the first transition rate and sufficient to reduce degradation of one or more charge capacity characteristics of the one or more electrochemical cells, wherein the first transition rate and the adjusted transition rate include rise and fall times for their respective pulses.