Last year we talked several times about iPhone 4 terminals that caught fire probably because of the batteries. Well, the reason for these instant ignitions is simple: a cell inside the battery overheats and it starts a chain reaction that has the effect of igniting the entire battery, all taking place in just a few seconds. This kind of problems could be avoided in the future thanks to a new type of sensor that could detect the moment when an energy cell overheats and could close the battery before it actually catches fire.
Ultimately, the new sensor enables battery-management systems to more closely manage battery performance and, more importantly, detect unsafe thermal conditions at the critical moment when they occur and before the cell vents or sets itself and the battery on fire. By integrating this technology into their products, manufacturers of batteries and battery-management systems, and battery solution providers can increase both the safety and performance of their products.
Of course, for now everything is just a project of the John Hopkins University, so nothing is ready to be implemented in mobile terminals, but at least we know that there are solutions to prevent possible problems of this kind.
