Name: Apple researching battery swell detection with internal sensors on iPhone | AppleInsider
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Apple researching battery swell detection with internal sensors on iPhone | AppleInsider

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;AppleInsider is supported by its audience and may earn commission as an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner on qualifying purchases. These affiliate partnerships do not influence our editorial content.Apple is researching how to use new sensing methods to detect the early signs of a swelling battery, and how to not just tell the user that it's happening, but how to prevent it. Apple filed two patents pertaining to battery technology that will reduce device size and allow the device to detect battery swelling. These technologies go hand-in-hand for creating ever-smaller devices while keeping them safe for the user. Both of these patents are important for Apple's goal of achieving smaller devices that users carry or wear on a daily basis. For example, the battery casing was too small on Samsung Galaxy Note 7, which resulted in the eventual expansion and violent destruction of these devices. If Apple seeks to reduce the battery casing size, it also needs to account for possible battery swelling. Even Apple's is not immune to since it is a side-effect of the battery chemistry in lithium-ion. Detecting and preventing battery expansion, or at least warning users of an exhausted battery, would go a long way for user safety. The describes a system for positioning components internally surrounding a battery. This new system will allow for larger batteries in the device enclosure without damaging components. Currently, batteries must be physically separated from the rest of the components since the external battery container may contain an electrical charge. This results in wasted space and a smaller battery. The patent says that using a new system in which a metal shell is placed around the battery housing, then grounded, would allow for components to be packed closer to the battery. In some cases, components could come into contact with the metal shell and not be damaged. The drawing represents the old battery container (figure 1) and the patent's new design (figure 2). The old battery had wasted space to separate components represented by the dotted line, the new battery's external casing can more safely touch components. The patent lists seventeen inventors, several of which were with working on Apple Watch technology. It was originally filed on May 26, 2020 and came to the attention of AppleInsider on March 11, 2021. The describes multiple solutions to detecting and mitigating battery expansion. The need to determine if a battery is expanding is present regardless of the device, be it a car or smartphone. Once an expansion has been detected a processor coupled to the sensor would determine how to slow expansion or prevent it. This would be accomplished by adjusting charge or discharge of the battery depending on the cause of expansion. One detection method would use a capacitor to determine the physical distance between the battery case and the device case. If this distance shrinks, the capacitance will change and alert the battery processor. Distance could be measured between several different surfaces like the internal and external battery casing using capacitance. The patent also describes using several different sensors that determine strain, acoustic resonance, photo interruption, contact, or pressure. Regardless of the sensor used any change in the physical boundaries of the battery would result in triggering a sensor. This in turn would tell the battery processor to alter charge or discharge to extend battery life and mitigate swelling. The patent lists twelve inventors and was originally filed on November 16, 2020, and came to the attention of AppleInsider on March 11, 2021. Apple files numerous patent applications on a weekly basis. While the existence of a patent filing indicates areas of interest for Apple's research and development efforts, they do not guarantee the concepts will appear in a future product or service.Detecting battery swell seems like a trivial problem to solve. Just put a load cell between the battery and the chassis.&nbsp;Preventing battery swelling would be an extremely welcome change. I've lost 4 Apple devices (2 iPod Touch, 1 iPhone 6+, and 1 iPad Mini) &nbsp;to battery swelling.&nbsp;Detecting the swell was not difficult, the case fit started looking wonky and the screen started peeling up. &nbsp;My gut feeling is that this problem will only be solved by changing the chemical and physical composition of the batteries themselves. Maybe conductive polymers will be part of the solution.Please enable JavaScript to comment&nbsp;High demand for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max led to Apple server crashes in China as consumers placed over two million preorders in 24 hours.In iOS 16 Apple introduced Haptic Feedback to the iPhone keyboard. Here's how to use it.Apple made considerable upgrades to the iPhone 14 Pro while making fewer than usual to the iPhone 14. Here's how the two similar-sized flagship iPhone models differ.Apple released the Apple Watch Series 8 alongside an updated Apple Watch SE on September 7. Here's how they compare with one another.Apple made considerable upgrades to the iPhone 14 Pro while making fewer than usual to the iPhone 14. Here's how the two similar-sized flagship iPhone models differ.Apple's iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have arrived. Here's how they stack up versus the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max.Apple's iPhone 14 is aimed at about the same market that the iPhone SE targets. Here's how it compares to the third-generation iPhone SE.Apple announced the second generation of AirPods Pro at its "Far Out" event on September 7. Here's how it compares to the first generation.&nbsp;B&amp;H is throwing an epic MacBook Pro sale, with markdowns of up to $400 off and no interest financing for 24 months on select models when you shop with Payboo. Hurry, though, as this September savings event ends soon.Adobe has released its 2022 Emoji Report, showing that the popularity and acceptance of emoji for communication is only growing.New in iOS 16 is the ability to add widgets to your Lock Screen. We've curated the top third-party apps that have already added support for these highly-visible widgets that you can download now.LG's professional-grade UltraFine OLED Pro displays are heavily discounted this week, offering content professionals true 10-bit color and 99% Adobe RGB color gamut coverage in your choice of 27-inch or 32-inch sizes.Apple released the Apple Watch Series 8 alongside an updated Apple Watch SE on September 7. Here's how they compare with one another.High demand for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max led to Apple server crashes in China as consumers placed over two million preorders in 24 hours.In iOS 16 Apple introduced Haptic Feedback to the iPhone keyboard. Here's how to use it.On Tuesday, Amazon released a pair of Kindles with USB-C, a new high-resolution display, and twice the storage of older models.High demand for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max led to Apple server crashes in China as consumers placed over two million preorders in 24 hours.In iOS 16 Apple introduced Haptic Feedback to the iPhone keyboard. Here's how to use it.Apple made considerable upgrades to the iPhone 14 Pro while making fewer than usual to the iPhone 14. Here's how the two similar-sized flagship iPhone models differ.New in iOS 16 is the ability to add widgets to your Lock Screen. We've curated the top third-party apps that have already added support for these highly-visible widgets that you can download now.Apple's iOS 16 makes the iPhone more customizable than ever. This is the ultimate guide on how to make the iPhone a more personal device.It's been a rocky road to the iOS 16 launch. Here are the high-profile features that didn't debut in the initial release of Apple's operating system.Apple's annual update to its operating system brings new features and much-needed changes. Here are the stand-out features in iOS 16.Apple's "Far Out" event is on September 7. Beyond the new iPhone 14, here's what to expect from September's Apple event — and beyond.Less an overhaul and more refining what's already in place, iOS 16 is all about personalization on top of a retained solid foundation.With the SwitchEasy four-in-one MagPower multi-charger, you can power up all your gear with a single device — including your Apple Watch with an Apple-certified puck.The Benks Grand Pro Headphone Stand for AirPods Max is a welcome upgrade over the original. However, it introduces complexity where there was none before — while also ignoring an obvious problem.Keep tabs on the air quality of your home — including potentially deadly radon levels — with the Airthings View Plus.Apple didn't make a Magic Keyboard for iPad mini 6, and Lululook's Magnetic Keyboard perhaps acts as a testament to why.{{ summary }}{{{ reviewStars.html }}}

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;AppleInsider is supported by its audience and may earn commission as an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner on qualifying purchases. These affiliate partnerships do not influence our editorial content.Apple is researching how to use new sensing methods to detect the early signs of a swelling battery, and how to not just tell the user that it's happening, but how to prevent it. Apple filed two patents pertaining to battery technology that will reduce device size and allow the device to detect battery swelling. These technologies go hand-in-hand for creating ever-smaller...

Apple researching battery swell detection with internal sensors on iPhone | AppleInsider

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