A method of evaluating a power storage device includes at least [a] to [f] below. [a] A power storage device is prepared. [b] A charge level of the power storage device is adjusted to produce a first potential difference between a positive electrode and a negative electrode. [c] The positive electrode or the negative electrode is selected as a reference electrode. [d] After the charge level is adjusted, an operation to insert a conductive rod-shaped member into a stack portion along a direction of stack of the positive electrode and the negative electrode is performed while a second potential difference between the reference electrode and the rod-shaped member is measured. [e] The rod-shaped member is stopped. [f] The power storage device is evaluated based on a state of the power storage device after the rod-shaped member is stopped.

In accordance with at least selected embodiments, the present disclosure or invention is directed to novel or improved testing apparatus for testing lead acid batteries and/or their components, and/or the efficacy of their components, testing tables, testing systems, and/or related methods. In accordance with at least certain embodiments, the present disclosure or invention is directed to novel or improved methods for testing lead acid batteries and/or their components, and/or the efficacy of their components. In accordance with at least certain selected embodiments, the present disclosure or invention is directed to novel or improved systems for testing lead acid batteries and/or their components, and/or the efficacy of their components. In accordance with at least particular selected embodiments, the present disclosure or invention is directed to novel or improved apparatus and methods for testing a lead acid battery or batteries whereby the battery or batteries are subjected to motion typical of that experienced by the battery or batteries in use or in the field.

A battery inspection system includes a controller configured to perform: group control of managing a predetermined number of batteries taken in by a take-in conveyor as a same group; inspection control of controlling a conveying device to bring the batteries taken in by the take-in conveyor into an inspection device that is not performing inspection, and also controlling the conveying device to retrieve the batteries that have been inspected from the inspection device; and storage control of controlling the conveying device to store at least some of the batteries retrieved from the inspection device into the storage device, and also controlling the conveying device to continuously deliver a set of batteries of the same group from the inspection device or the storage device to the take-out conveyor.

The disclosure relates to accurately determining a DC energy signal, such as a DC current or DC voltage, which may be particularly useful when controlling a formation/testing current of a battery cell during formation and/or testing. In the battery formation/testing context, a current sensor is used to measure the current of the battery cell, which is used as a feedback signal for controlling the current to achieve a target current. The transfer function of the current sensor is used to improve the accuracy of the current measurement. Because the transfer function can be regularly determined during formation/testing, a lower-cost current sensor with relatively poor temperature coefficient may be used. Any change in the gain of the current sensor may be detected by the transfer function determination and corrected for. Therefore, high current control accuracy may be achieved at lower cost.

A plurality of batteries is stacked, together with spacers, in a compressed state. Charging and discharging units are arranged facing lead terminals protruding from the batteries and are independently operable for the respective batteries. The charging and discharging units each independently include substantially V-like shaped power-side and measurement-side contact elements elastically supported by compression coil springs and having floating freedom. When the batteries are moved all together toward the charging and discharging units, front end surfaces of the lead terminals are pressed against and electrically connected to flat surfaces of the power-side and measurement-side contact elements. By this, it is possible to smoothly perform charging and discharging inspection on the batteries even when the lead terminals protruding from the battery package are subjected in advance to surface treatment.

An automatic test system and method are provided. The automatic test system includes at least one formation apparatus and a test fixture. The formation apparatus receives a first control command from a network and executes a test procedure according to the first control command. The test procedure includes a charging mode and a discharging mode. The test fixture is selectively coupled to the formation apparatus. During the test procedure, when the test fixture is coupled to the formation apparatus, the test fixture generates a first measurement result. The test fixture transmits the first measurement result to the formation apparatus via a wireless communication interface of the test fixture.

Described herein are methods and systems for detecting variation in minor total-impedance contributors in sets of electrochemical cells. For example, a method comprises maintaining a substantially constant current through the set of electrochemical cells and obtaining multiple voltage readings of the cells while the substantially constant current is maintained. The method then proceeds with determining multiple differential capacity values from the multiple voltage readings, characterizing one or more peaks in the multiple differential capacity values, and determining the variation in the minor total-impedance contributor based on one or more peaks. More specifically, partial capacitance values can be assigned to different impedance channels based on these peaks or, more specifically, based on the separation of adjacent peaks. The variation in the minor total-impedance contributor can be attributed to one or more of a tap-weld quality, electrolyte wetting, tape damage, active material activation energy variations, and diffusion variation of the ion-conducting material.

The present invention provides a classification method and system for rechargeable batteries based on stable charging current or current leakage. A charging current should be zero theoretically when a rechargeable battery is fully charged, however, due to self-discharging effect, there exists a current leakage even after the battery is fully charged. Rechargeable batteries can be classified based on their stable charging current after being fully charged. Different classified rechargeable batteries can be adopted for different purposes.

An inspecting step includes a first period after a cooling step ends and a second period after the first period ends. Variations in a voltage drop value per unit time in a nonaqueous electrolyte rechargeable battery are smaller in the second period than in the first period. The cooling step cools the battery in a state where the electrode body is directly or indirectly pressurized and restrained in a thickness direction with a smaller pressure than that in the inspecting step or in a state where the electrode body is not restrained. The voltage value of the battery is measured when a specified time has passed after the voltage value of the battery was measured in the second period. The battery is determined as being normal when the voltage drop value per unit time based on the measured voltage value is less than or equal to a threshold value.

A method and a test fixture for evaluating a battery cell composed of a cell body having a plurality of electrode foils, a positive terminal and a negative terminal, wherein the positive terminal and the negative terminal are each joined to the cell body at weld junctions. This includes retaining the cell body of the battery cell in a first clamping device. The terminal is grasped in a terminal gripper. A dynamic stress end effector coupled to the terminal gripper applies a vibrational excitation load to the terminal. A static stress end effector applies a static load to the terminal. Integrity of the weld junction is evaluated based upon the applied static load.