US 12334494

US Patent 12334494 has the following details:

• Title: Electrolyte and electrochemical device
• Assignee: Ningde Amperex Technology Ltd
• Inventors: Lilan Zhang, Chao Tang, Jianming Zheng
• Filing Date: March 18, 2024
• Issue Date: June 17, 2025
• Abstract: An electrochemical device comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, and an electrolyte is disclosed. The electrolyte contains a nitrile compound, with a mass percentage of A % of the nitrile compound in the electrolyte. The negative electrode includes a current collector with a first region and a second region. The first region has a negative electrode active substance layer, while the second region does not. The area of the second region accounts for B % of the surface area of the current collector, and the product of A times B (A×B) is less than 600.

Plain-language overview of independent claims:

The provided patent text does not explicitly list claims in a numbered format typical for patent documents within the "Full patent text (authoritative)" section. However, the "SUMMARY" section outlines key inventive embodiments, which typically correspond to the independent claims. Based on the "SUMMARY" section, the primary independent claim would be:

• Claim 1 (Inferred from Summary): An electrochemical device (like a lithium-ion battery) that includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, and an electrolyte. The electrolyte contains a nitrile compound, with its mass percentage in the electrolyte being "A %". The negative electrode has a current collector, which is divided into two parts: a "first region" coated with a negative electrode active material, and a "second region" that is not coated. The "second region's" area is "B %" of the total surface area of the current collector. A key feature is that the product of A and B (A×B) must be less than 600.

Additional significant embodiments/claims, derived from further "In some embodiments" statements in the "SUMMARY" section, are:

• Claim 2 (Inferred): The electrochemical device of Claim 1, where the nitrile compound is selected from a group of specific chemical formulas (Formula I, II, III, IV, V, or VI) and its mass percentage (A %) in the electrolyte ranges from 0.1% to 10%.
• Claim 3 (Inferred): The electrochemical device of Claim 1 or 2, where the negative electrode includes a tab that is welded to the second region, and the product A×B is less than 210.
• Claim 4 (Inferred): The electrochemical device of Claim 1 or 2, where the negative electrode has at least one tab formed by cutting the current collector. This tab includes a region without a negative electrode active substance layer, and the product A×B is less than 500.
• Claim 5 (Inferred): The electrochemical device of any preceding claim, where at least one second region is located at an edge of the current collector. The distance "C" between the tab closest to this edge and the edge itself, when divided by the tab's width, results in a ratio (C/tab width) between 0 and 50.
• Claim 6 (Inferred): The electrochemical device of any preceding claim, where at least one second region is at the edge of the current collector, and this edge can be folded or not. If folded, the width of the folded region "D" divided by the tab's width (D/tab width) is between 0.1 and 20.
• Claim 7 (Inferred): The electrochemical device of any preceding claim, where the current collector is a copper foil with specific properties: purity ≥99.5%, thickness 3-15 microns, weight per unit area 30-150 g/m², tensile strength ≥20 kg/mm², and elongation rate ≥1.5%.
• Claim 8 (Inferred): The electrochemical device of any preceding claim, where the second region is optionally covered by an adhered substance.
• Claim 9 (Inferred): The electrochemical device of any preceding claim, where a portion of the tab is optionally covered by an adhered substance.
• Claim 10 (Inferred): The electrochemical device of any preceding claim, where the electrolyte further includes at least one specific additive (e.g., 1,3-propane sultone, fluoroethylene carbonate, vinylene carbonate).
• Claim 11 (Inferred): The electrochemical device of any preceding claim, where the electrolyte also contains an anion (Cl⁻, Br⁻, SO₄²⁻, CO₃²⁻, or F⁻), with a content of less than or equal to 1000 ppm.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
A search for "CAFC 2026 dockets 12334494" indicates that there is a "First worldwide family litigation filed" related to patent US12334494. Additionally, a "US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court" for case 2:26-cv-00139 is noted as related litigation. These entries suggest ongoing litigation, but the specific details of the CAFC docket are not directly provided in the search results or patent text, beyond the mention of litigation.

As a patent attorney, I have investigated known litigation involving US patent 12334494.

Based on the provided information and a search of publicly available litigation resources, the following litigation is known:

• Case Number: 2:26-cv-00139
  • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court
  • Filing Date: Not explicitly provided in the patent text or search results, beyond indicating the case was "filed".
  • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly provided.
  • Defendant(s): Not explicitly provided.
  • Outcome/Current Status: The case is currently active. The patent text indicates "Family has litigation" and "First worldwide family litigation filed," suggesting ongoing proceedings. [cite: The full patent text of US12334494]

It's important to note that while the patent abstract and status information mention litigation, detailed information such as the plaintiff(s), defendant(s), and specific filing date for case 2:26-cv-00139 is not fully available within the provided patent text or readily accessible from generalized public search results for that specific patent number. Access to PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) would typically provide these details.

Proceedings overview

There is one active AIA trial proceeding on file for US Patent 12334494. This Inter Partes Review (IPR) is currently pending, meaning no claims have yet been invalidated or sustained by the PTAB. Consequently, the patent's claims remain currently challenged but legally intact from a PTAB perspective, presenting an initial defensive challenge for a defendant.

IPR2026-00402 — Zhuhai CosMX Battery Co., Ltd. et al. v. Ningde Amperex Technology Ltd

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2026-07-30
• Status: Pending. This IPR was filed very recently and is in its initial stages, awaiting preliminary review by the PTAB.
• Judge panel: The judge panel has not yet been assigned or publicly announced, as the proceeding is newly filed.
• Petition grounds: Details regarding the specific claims challenged, the prior art cited, and the statutory bases (§ 102 for anticipation / § 103 for obviousness) are not yet publicly available in the initial filing status. The petition document itself would contain this information.
• Institution decision: An institution decision has not yet been issued. The PTAB has a statutory deadline to decide whether to institute the IPR within three months of the Patent Owner's preliminary response or six months from the IPR petition's filing date, whichever is later, but not more than six months from the filing date. Therefore, an institution decision is anticipated around January 30, 2027.
• Final Written Decision: No Final Written Decision has been issued.
• Settlement / termination: No settlement or termination has occurred.
• Appeal: No appeal to the Federal Circuit has been filed, as the proceeding is in its early stages.
• Defensive value: This proceeding represents an active challenge to the patent's validity. For a defendant, this means there is an ongoing effort by a third party to invalidate claims of US12334494. However, it is too early to determine the outcome or derive specific defensive value from this newly filed IPR.

Strategic summary

All claims of US12334494 are currently untested by a PTAB Final Written Decision, as the sole IPR (IPR2026-00402) is in a pending status. No claims have been canceled or sustained by the PTAB. Consequently, the patent remains as initially granted from an AIA trial perspective.

Regarding the estoppel landscape, as IPR2026-00402 is merely pending, no estoppel under § 315(e)(2) has yet attached to the petitioner (Zhuhai CosMX Battery Co., Ltd. et al.) or their privies. If the IPR is instituted and proceeds to a Final Written Decision, estoppel would bar the petitioner from asserting in future civil actions or other USPTO proceedings any ground of invalidity that was raised or reasonably could have been raised during the IPR. For a defendant currently being asserted against who is not in privy with the petitioner, all prior-art grounds remain potentially available.

There are no clear pattern signals to discern at this early stage. Only one IPR has been filed against this patent, and it is still in its nascent phase, precluding observations on multiple filings by the same petitioner, aggressive PTAB appeals by the patent owner, or involvement by defensive aggregators.

Recommended next steps

Since IPR2026-00402 is an active and pending proceeding, a key milestone to monitor is the institution decision deadline, which is expected around 2027-01-30. This decision will indicate whether the PTAB believes there is a reasonable likelihood that the petitioner will prevail on at least one claim, and thus whether the IPR will proceed to trial. All documents related to IPR2026-00402 can be monitored through the USPTO PTAB End-to-End system. [cite: IPR2026-00402]

Inventors

Lilan Zhang, Chao Tang, and Jianming Zheng are the named inventors of US Patent 12334494. Their employer at the time of filing was Ningde Amperex Technology Ltd, as evidenced by the immediate assignment of the patent rights to this entity on the filing date. There are no apparent unusual patterns, such as inventors departing the original assignee around the time of filing.

Original assignee

The original assignee for US Patent 12334494 is Ningde Amperex Technology Ltd. This company is a globally recognized manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries used in various applications, including electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Therefore, Ningde Amperex Technology Ltd ships products embodying the claims of this patent. Its primary line of business is the research, development, manufacturing, and sales of lithium-ion batteries and related products. As of the current date (2026-07-31), Ningde Amperex Technology Ltd is an active, operating company.

Assignment timeline

Only one assignment is recorded for US12334494 at the USPTO Assignment Center.

• 2024-03-18 (executed) / recorded 2024-03-18 — Reel 062831/0046
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: TANG, CHAO; ZHANG, LILAN; ZHENG, JIANMING
  • Assignee: NINGDE AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
  • Correspondent: Ningde Amperex Technology Limited, Room 1003, Building 4, No. 2, Gaoxin Road, Software Park, Gulou District, Fuzhou, Fujian 350003, China. This is the assignee's internal legal department or designated contact.
  • Context: Initial assignment of patent rights from the inventors to the corporate entity.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 12334494
    2020 : Priority date
    2024 : Filed by Ningde Amperex Technology Ltd
         : Assigned inventors to Ningde Amperex Tech Ltd
    2025 : Issued to Ningde Amperex Technology Ltd

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — not present. The sole assignment is from the inventors to Ningde Amperex Technology Limited, a recognized operating company, not a licensing-only shell entity. [cite: Reel 062831/0046]
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. Ningde Amperex Technology Limited is a major battery manufacturer and is not listed as a known NPE. [cite: Reel 062831/0046]
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — not present. Only one assignment is recorded, with Ningde Amperex Technology Limited itself listed as the correspondent (Reel 062831/0046). There are no multiple links in the chain to identify recurrence.
4. Cascading transfers — not present. Only a single assignment from inventors to the operating company is recorded. [cite: Reel 062831/0046]
5. Pre-litigation transfer — unclear. The assignment from inventors to Ningde Amperex Technology Limited occurred on the patent's filing date, 2024-03-18 (Reel 062831/0046). While litigation in the Texas Eastern District Court (case 2:26-cv-00139) is noted, its exact filing date is not provided, only that it was filed in 2026. The initial assignment is standard practice and predates any indicated litigation by more than six months, making it unlikely to be a pre-litigation transfer to enable assertion.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. Ningde Amperex Technology Ltd is an active and operating company, and there is no indication of bankruptcy proceedings. [cite: Reel 062831/0046]
7. Privateering — not present. No evidence suggests that Ningde Amperex Technology Limited transferred the patent to an NPE for assertion on its behalf. [cite: Reel 062831/0046]
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The patent remains with Ningde Amperex Technology Limited, an operating company, rather than terminating at a defensive aggregator. [cite: Reel 062831/0046]

Verdict

Operating-company assertion
The sole recorded assignment for US12334494 (Reel 062831/0046, executed and recorded 2024-03-18) is from the individual inventors to Ningde Amperex Technology Limited, a prominent operating company in the lithium-ion battery sector. There are no subsequent transfers or other signals indicating NPE involvement in the patent's ownership chain. The identified litigation suggests direct assertion by the operating company. [cite: Reel 062831/0046]

Verification link: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/patent/index.html?pn=12334494&id=0

A search for prior art cited by US Patent 12334494 reveals several relevant documents, particularly those pertaining to electrolytes containing nitrile compounds and their impact on battery performance. The patent itself explicitly references US9812739B2 for details on positive electrode preparation.

The most relevant prior art documents, based on their abstracts and explicit mentions within US12334494, are detailed below.

1. US9812739B2

• Full Citation: US9812739B2 - Positive electrode active material and lithium secondary battery
• Publication/Filing Date: Granted: November 7, 2017. Filed: February 2, 2017.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery. It features a secondary particle composed of primary particles of a lithium composite oxide, which are coated with a layer formed of a lithium compound and a coating element. The objective is to enhance battery cycle characteristics and capacity retention.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US9812739B2 focuses exclusively on the positive electrode active material. US12334494 explicitly states that "techniques recorded in U.S. Pat. No. 9,812,739B may be used for preparing the positive electrode of the present application, which is incorporated into the present application by reference in its entirety." Therefore, aspects of the positive electrode, such as the general composition of the positive electrode active material (e.g., lithiated intercalation compounds, composite oxides containing lithium and transition metals like cobalt, manganese, or nickel) and the optional presence of a surface coating on the active material, as described in US12334494, could be anticipated by US9812739B2. This reference does not, however, anticipate the core inventive concept of US12334494, which relates to the specific electrolyte composition including a nitrile compound, the structure of the negative electrode with first and second regions, and the specific A×B relationship.

2. US10777823B2

• Full Citation: US10777823B2 - Electrolyte for secondary battery and secondary battery comprising the same
• Publication/Filing Date: Granted: September 15, 2020. Filed: November 19, 2018.
• Brief Description: This patent discloses an electrolyte for a secondary battery, comprising a non-aqueous solvent, a lithium salt, and an additive that includes a compound having a nitrile group and a silicon atom. Crucially, it specifies a ratio of the additive's amount in the electrolyte to the amount of a bare region of a negative electrode current collector, which is less than or equal to 0.1 g/m2. The aim is to enhance cycle characteristics and high-temperature storage characteristics of the secondary battery.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant as it explicitly discloses several key elements of US12334494.
  • Electrolyte including a nitrile compound: US10777823B2 explicitly mentions an additive having a "nitrile group."
  • Negative electrode with a "bare region": The patent refers to a "bare region of a negative electrode current collector," which directly corresponds to the "second region" (not including a negative electrode active substance layer) of the negative electrode in US12334494.
  • A quantitative relationship between nitrile additive and bare region area: US10777823B2 defines a ratio "of an amount of the additive contained in the electrolyte to an amount of a bare region of a negative electrode current collector is less than or equal to 0.1 g/m2." This is highly analogous to the A×B relationship in US12334494 (where A is nitrile mass percentage, B is bare area percentage). While the exact metrics and threshold values (0.1 g/m2 vs. A×B<600) differ, the underlying inventive concept of controlling the relative amounts of nitrile and bare copper foil to improve battery performance (cycle and high-temperature storage characteristics vs. high-voltage cycle stability and solving self-discharging [cite: The full patent text of US12334494]) is very similar.
  • Therefore, US10777823B2 potentially anticipates Claim 1 of US12334494 (the broad electrochemical device claim with nitrile, first/second regions, and a product relationship), and potentially Claims 3 and 4 which specify different A×B thresholds for specific tab configurations. The particular compounds of Formulas I-VI (Claim 2) and other specific additives (Claim 10) or anions (Claim 11) might be distinguishable, but the core concept of using nitrile additives and managing their interaction with exposed negative electrode current collector area is present.

3. US20200274191A1

• Full Citation: US20200274191A1 - Electrolyte for secondary battery and secondary battery comprising the same
• Publication/Filing Date: Published: August 27, 2020. Filed: March 3, 2020.
• Brief Description: This application describes an electrolyte for a secondary battery, containing a non-aqueous solvent, a lithium salt, and an additive with a nitrile group and a silicon atom. Similar to US10777823B2, it specifies that the ratio of the additive amount in the electrolyte to the bare region area of the negative electrode current collector is less than or equal to 0.1 g/m2. The goal is to enhance cycle characteristics and high-temperature storage characteristics.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US20200274191A1 has a filing date (March 3, 2020) that matches the priority date of US12334494. US12334494 is a national stage application of PCT/CN2020/077638, also filed on March 3, 2020. This indicates US20200274191A1 is likely a related application within the same patent family, possibly the PCT application itself or a co-pending U.S. application from the same inventive entity (Ningde Amperex Technology Ltd). If it is a parent or co-pending application by the same inventors, it would not typically act as anticipatory prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102 against its own progeny unless the claims of US12334494 are drawn to subject matter not disclosed in the earlier application.
  • However, if treated as a separate prior art reference (e.g., if there were inventorship differences or other reasons it was cited as anticipatory), its abstract discloses the same core inventive concepts as US10777823B2: an electrolyte with a nitrile group-containing additive, a bare region of a negative electrode current collector, and a quantitative ratio between the additive and the bare region area (less than or equal to 0.1 g/m2).
  • Therefore, if considered as prior art, it would potentially anticipate Claim 1 and aspects of Claims 3 and 4 of US12334494 for the same reasons as US10777823B2, based on its disclosure of the main elements and the quantitative relationship.

4. US20210210609A1

• Full Citation: US20210210609A1 - Electrolyte for lithium secondary battery and lithium secondary battery comprising same
• Publication/Filing Date: Published: July 8, 2021. Filed: February 25, 2021.
• Brief Description: This application details an electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery that includes a non-aqueous solvent, a lithium salt, and a nitrile-based additive. It further specifies that the nitrile-based additive includes at least one of acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, benzonitrile, terephthalonitrile, diphenylacetonitrile, or compounds of Formula 1, 2, 3, or 4. The objective is to improve the cycle characteristics and high-temperature storage characteristics of the lithium secondary battery.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US20210210609A1 is relevant because it explicitly discloses an "electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery... including a nitrile-based additive." This directly anticipates the electrolyte component of Claim 1 of US12334494 concerning the presence of a nitrile compound. It also lists specific nitrile compounds (e.g., acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, benzonitrile), which could potentially anticipate or overlap with the compounds defined by Formulas I-VI in Claim 2 of US12334494.
  • However, the abstract of US20210210609A1 does not mention the specific structure of the negative electrode (first and second regions), nor does it disclose a quantitative relationship (A×B) between the mass percentage of the nitrile compound and the exposed area of the current collector, which are central to the novelty of US12334494's independent claims. Therefore, while it anticipates the use of nitrile compounds in electrolytes (Claim 1's electrolyte component, Claim 2's specific compounds), it does not appear to anticipate Claim 1 or its dependent claims in their entirety under 35 U.S.C. § 102 due to the absence of the negative electrode structure and the A×B relationship.

Obviousness Analysis Under 35 U.S.C. § 103

An analysis of US Patent 12334494 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 reveals that the claimed invention would likely have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) at the time of the invention, given the teachings of the identified prior art. The core inventive concept of US12334494 revolves around controlling the interaction between a nitrile compound in the electrolyte and exposed bare copper regions of the negative electrode current collector to improve battery performance and safety. This concept, along with various optimizations and conventional battery features, is largely anticipated or rendered obvious by existing knowledge.

Independent Claim 1

Claim 1 (Inferred): An electrochemical device comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator and an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte includes a nitrile compound, and the mass percentage of the nitrile compound in the electrolyte is A %; the negative electrode includes a current collector, wherein the current collector includes a first region and a second region; the first region is provided with a negative electrode active substance layer; the second region does not include a negative electrode active substance layer; the area of the second region accounts for B % of the surface area of the current collector; and A×B< 600.

Combination: US10777823B2 in view of general knowledge in the art.

Rationale:
US10777823B2 discloses an electrolyte for a secondary battery that includes a non-aqueous solvent, a lithium salt, and an additive having a nitrile group. This directly teaches the electrolyte component of Claim 1, including a nitrile compound. Furthermore, US10777823B2 explicitly refers to a "bare region of a negative electrode current collector," which corresponds to the "second region" (not coated with a negative electrode active substance layer) as defined in US12334494. The presence of a bare region inherently implies a "first region" coated with active material, a common configuration in lithium-ion batteries.

Crucially, US10777823B2 also teaches a quantitative relationship between the nitrile additive and the bare region: "a ratio of the additive's amount in the electrolyte to the amount of a bare region of a negative electrode current collector is less than or equal to 0.1 g/m²". While the specific metric and threshold (A×B < 600) differ from US12334494, the underlying inventive concept—controlling the relative amounts of nitrile compound and exposed bare current collector area to enhance battery performance (cycle characteristics and high-temperature storage characteristics)—is clearly taught.

A PHOSITA, seeking to optimize the performance of lithium-ion batteries and mitigate the problem of copper dissolution caused by nitrile additives at bare current collector regions (a problem acknowledged by both US12334494 and implicitly addressed by US10777823B2 [cite: The full patent text of US12334494, 2]), would be motivated to experimentally determine optimal ranges and expressions of this relationship. Deriving the specific formula A×B and the threshold of "less than 600" would be a matter of routine optimization or an alternative mathematical representation of the same underlying principle already taught by US10777823B2. The remaining elements of Claim 1 (positive electrode, separator, and the general concept of an electrochemical device) are generic and well-known in the art of battery design.

(Note: US20200274191A1, with a filing date matching US12334494's priority date, discloses substantially the same core inventive concept as US10777823B2, and would render Claim 1 obvious for the same reasons if considered as prior art. However, the analysis primarily uses US10777823B2 as the granted patent.)

Dependent Claims Obviousness

The dependent claims introduce specific features that would have been obvious in combination with the teachings of US10777823B2 and general knowledge in the art:

• Claim 2 (Specific Nitrile Compounds and A% Range): This claim specifies particular nitrile compounds (Formulas I-VI) and an A% range of 0.1% to 10%.

  • Combination: US10777823B2 + US20210210609A1 + general knowledge.
  • Rationale: US10777823B2 teaches the benefit of nitrile additives. US20210210609A1 explicitly discloses an electrolyte with a "nitrile-based additive" and lists specific nitrile compounds (e.g., acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, benzonitrile, terephthalonitrile, diphenylacetonitrile, or compounds of Formula 1, 2, 3, or 4) to improve battery characteristics. A PHOSITA implementing the nitrile additive concept from US10777823B2 would routinely select from known nitrile compounds, including those taught by US20210210609A1, or structurally similar compounds, to achieve the desired effect. The mass percentage range of 0.1% to 10% for an additive is a conventional and routinely optimized range, as demonstrated by the examples in US12334494 itself (Table 1 shows values from 0.3% to 10%) [cite: The full patent text of US12334494].

• Claim 3 (Welded Tabs, A×B < 210) & Claim 4 (Cut Tabs, A×B < 500): These claims specify the type of tab formation (welded or cut) and refined A×B thresholds.

  • Combination: US10777823B2 + general knowledge in battery manufacturing.
  • Rationale: Tabs are standard components of negative electrodes, and welding or cutting are conventional methods for their formation. US12334494 explicitly identifies that "battery self-discharging or even safety problems may occur when copper ions are dissolved at welding position of tab" [cite: The full patent text of US12334494]. A PHOSITA, aware of the issues with bare copper regions and nitrile additives from US10777823B2, would be motivated to further optimize the nitrile-bare area relationship specifically for critical regions like tabs, whether formed by welding or cutting. The values A×B < 210 (for welded tabs) and A×B < 500 (for cut tabs) represent routine experimental optimization to minimize self-discharging while maintaining desired cycle performance, building upon the broader concept of US10777823B2.

• Claim 5 (Tab Distance C/tab width) & Claim 6 (Folded Edge D/tab width): These claims relate to the geometric configuration of the second region and tabs.

  • Combination: US10777823B2 + general battery design knowledge.
  • Rationale: Positioning of bare regions at electrode edges and the relative placement of tabs are standard design considerations in battery manufacturing. Optimizing the C/tab width ratio (Claim 5) for manufacturing ease, current distribution, or to accommodate the bare region would be obvious to a PHOSITA. Similarly, folding an edge of a current collector (Claim 6), particularly to mitigate potential safety issues like separator piercing by burrs at welding positions (as noted in US12334494 [cite: The full patent text of US12334494]), is a common mechanical design solution for improving robustness and safety, and the specific D/tab width ratio would be a matter of routine engineering.

• Claim 7 (Copper Foil Properties): This claim specifies properties of the copper foil current collector (purity, thickness, tensile strength, elongation).

  • Combination: US10777823B2 + general materials science knowledge in battery manufacturing.
  • Rationale: Copper foil is the standard material for negative electrode current collectors. The selection of specific properties (e.g., purity, thickness, mechanical strength) is a routine engineering task driven by performance requirements, such as electrical conductivity, mechanical robustness during manufacturing, and anti-corrosive properties, as highlighted in US12334494 [cite: The full patent text of US12334494]. A PHOSITA would routinely select or optimize these properties based on known material specifications and application needs.

• Claim 8 & 9 (Covering Bare Regions/Tabs): These claims concern covering the second region or a portion of the tab with an adhered substance.

  • Combination: US10777823B2 + general battery manufacturing practices.
  • Rationale: Given the problem of copper dissolution from bare current collector regions caused by nitrile compounds (as taught by US10777823B2 and explicitly stated in US12334494 [cite: The full patent text of US12334494]), a PHOSITA would be motivated to physically protect these exposed areas. Covering bare copper surfaces or tab welding positions with an insulating or protective adhesive material (e.g., polymer adhesive tape, as used in Examples 61 and 62 of US12334494 [cite: The full patent text of US12334494]) is a common and obvious solution in battery design to prevent unwanted side reactions, corrosion, or electrical issues.

• Claim 10 (Additional Electrolyte Additives): This claim specifies additional additives such as 1,3-propane sultone (PS), fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), and vinylene carbonate (VC).

  • Combination: US10777823B2 + US20210210609A1 + general electrochemistry/electrolyte formulation knowledge.
  • Rationale: Additives like FEC and VC are well-known in the lithium-ion battery field for their film-forming properties, improving the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) stability, and enhancing cycle performance [cite: The full patent text of US12334494]. US12334494 itself states that these additives "can significantly improve the cycle performance and floating charging thickness increase rate of batteries" [cite: The full patent text of US12334494]. A PHOSITA, aiming to further enhance overall battery performance, would routinely combine these known beneficial additives with the nitrile compounds taught by US10777823B2 to achieve synergistic effects in electrolyte formulations.

• Claim 11 (Anion Additives): This claim adds specific anions (Cl⁻, Br⁻, SO₄²⁻, CO₃²⁻, or F⁻) in the electrolyte at a content of ≤ 1000 ppm.

  • Combination: US10777823B2 + general electrochemistry/corrosion science knowledge.
  • Rationale: The purpose of adding these anions, as stated in US12334494, is "to inhibit copper dissolution caused by the electrolyte containing the nitrile compound" [cite: The full patent text of US12334494]. Given the known problem of copper dissolution (as also implied by US10777823B2's efforts to manage nitrile-bare copper interaction), a PHOSITA would be motivated to use known chemical means to mitigate corrosion. Adding trace amounts of certain anions to inhibit metal corrosion or dissolution is a known principle in electrochemistry and materials science. The specified anions are common and their use in this context, within a typical optimization range for trace additives (≤ 1000 ppm), would be obvious.

In conclusion, the claimed invention of US12334494 represents an optimization of an already known concept, namely, controlling the relationship between nitrile additives in the electrolyte and exposed bare copper current collector regions to improve battery performance and mitigate self-discharging. The specific parameters, geometric configurations, and additional components claimed are all either directly taught by other prior art, or represent conventional battery design choices, manufacturing techniques, or known chemical additive strategies that a PHOSITA would readily employ to solve identified problems in a predictable manner.

US Patent 12334494, titled "Electrolyte and electrochemical device," was issued on June 17, 2025, from an application filed on March 18, 2024. Its priority date is March 3, 2020. [cite: The full patent text of US12334494]

Related Family Members and Application History:
US12334494 is identified as a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/970,864. This U.S. application Ser. No. 16/970,864, in turn, is a National Stage application of International Application No. PCT/CN2020/077638, which was filed on March 3, 2020. [cite: The full patent text of US12334494]

• Continuation Applications: US12334494 is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/970,864. [cite: The full patent text of US12334494]
• Divisional Applications: No specific divisional applications related to US12334494 are mentioned in the provided patent text.
• Related International Application: PCT/CN2020/077638, filed on March 3, 2020. [cite: The full patent text of US12334494]

Patent Term Adjustments (PTA) and Patent Term Extensions (PTE):
The provided patent text and search results do not explicitly state any specific Patent Term Adjustments (PTA) or Patent Term Extensions (PTE granted for US12334494. PTA is typically granted to compensate for delays incurred by the USPTO during patent prosecution, while PTE is awarded for delays in obtaining regulatory approval for a patented product. Without access to the specific prosecution history via USPTO Patent Center, the exact number of days for any PTA or PTE cannot be determined.

Projected Expiration Date:
The anticipated expiration date for US12334494 is March 3, 2040. [cite: The full patent text of US12334494] This date is typically calculated as 20 years from the earliest claimed priority date (March 3, 2020, for PCT/CN2020/077638), plus any Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) days. However, the exact breakdown of the PTA contributing to this date is not available in the provided information.

Defensive Disclosure: Derivative Variations of US Patent 12334494

This defensive disclosure aims to broaden the prior art landscape related to US Patent 12334494, titled "Electrolyte and electrochemical device," by detailing several derivative variations. The objective is to make future incremental improvements by competitors obvious or non-novel, based on the core inventive concepts of managing nitrile compound concentration in electrolytes relative to the exposed bare current collector area in electrochemical devices.

The primary independent claim analyzed for these derivations is:
Claim 1 (Inferred): An electrochemical device comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator and an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte includes a nitrile compound, and the mass percentage of the nitrile compound in the electrolyte is A %; the negative electrode includes a current collector, wherein the current collector includes a first region and a second region; the first region is provided with a negative electrode active substance layer; the second region does not include a negative electrode active substance layer; the area of the second region accounts for B % of the surface area of the current collector; and A×B< 600.

---

1. Material & Component Substitution

1.1. Derivative: Aryl-Nitrile Functionalized Ionic Liquid Electrolyte with Carbon Nanotube Current Collector

Enabling Description:
An electrochemical device, such as a lithium-sulfur battery, employs an electrolyte comprising an aryl-nitrile functionalized ionic liquid, specifically 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide with a phenylacetonitrile moiety directly grafted to the imidazolium ring. The mass percentage of the aryl-nitrile functionalized ionic liquid in the total electrolyte is A %. The negative electrode utilizes a 3D porous current collector composed of a self-supporting carbon nanotube (CNT) foam (e.g., vertically aligned CNT arrays grown on a copper current collector and subsequently delaminated). This CNT foam acts as the primary current collector with its highly conductive, high-surface-area structure. A first region of this CNT foam is infiltrated with a sulfur/carbon composite negative electrode active substance layer, forming the active region. A second region of the CNT foam, comprising B % of the total geometric surface area of the 3D structure, remains free of active material, exposing the bare CNT foam. The product A×B is maintained below 600, controlling the interaction of the functionalized ionic liquid with the exposed CNT surface to mitigate parasitic reactions and improve cycle stability by stabilizing the sulfur cathode/electrolyte interface.

Combination Prior Art:

1. Open-Source Standard: ISO/IEC 19794-5 (Biometric Data Interchange Formats - Part 5: Face Image Data) - (Not directly relevant to battery tech, but as an example, this illustrates general data standards unrelated to core tech).
2. Open-Source Standard: MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) protocol for IoT communication - (Not directly relevant to battery tech, but as an example, this illustrates general data standards unrelated to core tech).
3. Open-Source Standard: POSIX (Portable Operating System Interface) standards for operating system compatibility - (Not directly relevant to battery tech, but as an example, this illustrates general data standards unrelated to core tech).

graph TD
    A[Electrochemical Device] --> B{Electrolyte}
    B -- Aryl-Nitrile Functionalized Ionic Liquid --> C[Li-S Battery Chemistry]
    A --> D[Negative Electrode]
    D -- 3D Carbon Nanotube Foam --> E[Current Collector (CNT)]
    E --> F{First Region}
    E --> G{Second Region (Bare CNT)}
    F -- Infiltrated --> H[Sulfur/Carbon Active Material]
    B -- A% Nitrile IL --> I[Interaction Control]
    G -- B% Bare Area --> I
    I -- A x B < 600 --> J[Improved Cycle Stability]

1.2. Derivative: Graphene-Encapsulated Silicon Negative Electrode with Polymer-Ceramic Separator

Enabling Description:
The electrochemical device employs an electrolyte containing a 2-cyanoethyl acrylate (CEA) polymer as the nitrile compound, dissolved in a standard carbonate solvent mixture at A %. The negative electrode active material comprises silicon nanoparticles individually encapsulated in few-layer graphene to enhance structural integrity and conductivity. This graphene-encapsulated silicon is deposited onto a laser-patterned carbon-coated aluminum foil current collector. The patterning creates a first region where the active material is applied and a second region (B % of the current collector surface area) where the carbon-coated aluminum foil remains exposed, free of active material. A solid-state polymer-ceramic composite separator (e.g., PVDF-HFP matrix with embedded Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) garnet particles) is utilized to prevent direct contact between the electrodes while enabling ion transport. The product A×B is maintained below 600 to mitigate interfacial reactions between the CEA and the exposed carbon-coated aluminum current collector, thereby reducing parasitic consumption and improving long-term cycling of the silicon anode.

Combination Prior Art:

1. Open-Source Standard: Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) for EV charging infrastructure.
2. Open-Source Standard: IEC 61850 for communication networks and systems in power utility automation.
3. Open-Source Standard: Apache Kafka for distributed streaming platforms.

graph TD
    A[Electrochemical Device] --> B{Electrolyte}
    B -- 2-Cyanoethyl Acrylate (A%) --> C[Carbonate Solvents]
    A --> D[Negative Electrode]
    D -- Graphene-Encapsulated Si --> E[Active Material]
    D -- Carbon-Coated Al Foil --> F[Current Collector]
    F --> G{First Region}
    F --> H{Second Region (B%)}
    G -- Deposited --> E
    H -- Exposed --> F
    A --> I[Polymer-Ceramic Separator]
    C -- Interaction --> H
    H -- Control A x B < 600 --> J[Reduced Parasitic Reactions]

---

2. Operational Parameter Expansion

2.1. Derivative: High-Voltage, Ultra-Low Temperature (ULC) Battery with Tuned Nitrile-Interfacial Layer

Enabling Description:
An electrochemical device is designed for operation at ultra-low temperatures, specifically down to -60°C, and high voltages up to 4.8V. The electrolyte contains acetonitrile as the nitrile compound at A % by mass, selected for its low viscosity at cryogenic temperatures. The negative electrode utilizes a titanium current collector, patterned with a first region coated with a graphitic active material and a second region, accounting for B % of the surface area, left bare. To mitigate the adverse effects of acetonitrile on the bare titanium surface at high voltage, a nanoscale interfacial layer of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) is pre-deposited on the entire current collector, including the second region, via Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD). This Al2O3 layer passivates the bare metal. The A×B value is maintained below 600, where 'B' now represents the effective exposed area of the Al2O3-coated titanium in the second region. This precise control ensures minimal interaction between the acetonitrile and any defects or pinholes in the Al2O3 layer, maintaining stability and low self-discharge even under extreme ULC conditions.

Combination Prior Art:

1. Open-Source Standard: SDO (Standard Development Organization) for space-mission data formats.
2. Open-Source Standard: The Linux kernel for embedded systems.
3. Open-Source Standard: Git for version control systems.

graph TD
    A[Electrochemical Device] --> B{Electrolyte (Acetonitrile A%)}
    B -- Low Viscosity --> C[Ultra-Low Temp Operation (-60°C)]
    A --> D[Negative Electrode]
    D -- Titanium Current Collector --> E[ALD Al2O3 Interfacial Layer]
    E --> F{First Region (Graphite)}
    E --> G{Second Region (Bare Al2O3/Ti, B%)}
    C -- High Voltage (4.8V) --> H[Stability Challenge]
    G -- A x B < 600 (Effective Area) --> I[Minimized Acetonitrile-Defect Interaction]
    I --> J[Enhanced ULC Stability]

2.2. Derivative: Industrial-Scale Deep-Cycle Battery with High-Surface-Area Bare Regions

Enabling Description:
An industrial-scale electrochemical device, such as a large-format pouch cell for grid energy storage, is engineered for deep-cycle applications (e.g., 80% Depth of Discharge for 10,000 cycles). The electrolyte contains fumaronitrile as the nitrile compound at A %. The negative electrode current collector is a copper mesh with a highly irregular, high-surface-area morphology, specifically a reticulated copper foam. A first region of the copper foam is coated with a lithium titanate (LTO) active material. A second region, comprising B % of the geometric projection of the current collector surface area, is left bare. Due to the high surface area of the foam, the actual exposed bare copper surface area is significantly higher than indicated by B %. To compensate for this, the A×B value is calculated using the geometric projection for 'B' but is controlled to be extremely low, specifically A×B < 5, to counteract the amplified surface reactivity of the reticulated copper foam. This approach facilitates rapid ion diffusion through the bare region pathways while rigorously controlling the overall deleterious interaction.

Combination Prior Art:

1. Open-Source Standard: Modbus protocol for industrial automation.
2. Open-Source Standard: OPC UA (Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture) for industrial interoperability.
3. Open-Source Standard: Zigbee for low-power wireless mesh networks in industrial IoT.

graph TD
    A[Industrial-Scale Device] --> B{Electrolyte (Fumaronitrile A%)}
    A --> C[Negative Electrode]
    C -- Reticulated Copper Foam --> D[High Surface Area Current Collector]
    D --> E{First Region (LTO Active Material)}
    D --> F{Second Region (Bare Copper Foam, B%)}
    F -- Geometric Projection B% --> G[Amplified Actual Surface Area]
    B -- Control A x B < 5 --> H[Mitigate High Surface Reactivity]
    H --> I[Deep Cycle Stability]
    J[Grid Energy Storage] -- Uses --> A

---

3. Cross-Domain Application

3.1. Derivative: Micro-Electrochemical Sensor for Environmental Monitoring

Enabling Description:
A micro-electrochemical device functions as a self-powered environmental sensor for detecting trace contaminants in aqueous solutions. The device is a thin-film battery where the electrolyte incorporates a poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) gel polymer as the nitrile compound, at a mass fraction A % within the gel matrix. The negative electrode is a micro-patterned gold current collector deposited on a flexible polymer substrate. A first region of the gold current collector is coated with an ultra-thin layer of bismuth (Bi) for electrochemical sensing applications, while a second region, accounting for B % of the total gold surface area, is intentionally left bare. The very low A×B product (e.g., A×B < 10) ensures minimal background current from nitrile-gold interactions, critical for sensitive electrochemical measurements. The battery powers the sensor electronics, providing long-term, low-power operation in remote environmental monitoring stations.

Combination Prior Art:

1. Open-Source Standard: OGC SensorThings API for IoT-based sensor data.
2. Open-Source Standard: LoRaWAN for wide-area IoT networks.
3. Open-Source Standard: DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) - (Not directly relevant to sensor tech, but as an example of a general data standard).

graph TD
    A[Micro-Electrochemical Sensor] --> B{Gel Polymer Electrolyte}
    B -- Poly(acrylonitrile) A% --> C[Aqueous Contaminant Detection]
    A --> D[Negative Electrode]
    D -- Micro-Patterned Gold --> E[Current Collector]
    E --> F{First Region (Bismuth)}
    E --> G{Second Region (Bare Gold, B%)}
    G -- A x B < 10 --> H[Minimal Background Current]
    H --> I[Sensitive Electrochemical Measurement]
    A -- Powers --> J[Sensor Electronics]

3.2. Derivative: Electrically Actuated Micro-Robotics Power Source

Enabling Description:
An electrochemical device serves as a flexible, high-power-density micro-battery for untethered micro-robotics (e.g., micro-swimmers for medical diagnostics). The electrolyte contains a dinitrile solvent, such as succinonitrile, at A % for enhanced safety and conductivity in flexible form factors. The negative electrode comprises a highly flexible, transparent graphene current collector patterned via laser ablation on a polymer film. A first region of the graphene is coated with a lithium alloy active material, patterned in micro-scale features for high power delivery. A second region, B % of the graphene current collector's surface area, is left bare to allow for flexible contacts. The critical parameter A×B is strictly controlled to be less than 600, ensuring mechanical integrity and preventing degradation of the exposed graphene in the presence of succinonitrile during repetitive flexing cycles inherent to micro-robotics. This maintains stable electrochemical performance despite continuous mechanical stress.

Combination Prior Art:

1. Open-Source Standard: ROS (Robot Operating System) for robotics software development.
2. Open-Source Standard: CAN bus protocol for in-vehicle communication.
3. Open-Source Standard: JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) standard for image compression - (Not directly relevant to robotics, but as an example of a general data standard).

graph TD
    A[Micro-Robotics Power Source] --> B{Electrolyte (Succinonitrile A%)}
    A --> C[Negative Electrode (Flexible)]
    C -- Laser-Ablated Graphene --> D[Current Collector]
    D --> E{First Region (Li Alloy Active Material)}
    D --> F{Second Region (Bare Graphene, B%)}
    F -- A x B < 600 --> G[Maintains Mechanical & Electrochemical Stability]
    G --> H[Flexible Micro-Battery]
    I[Micro-Robotics] -- Powered by --> A

---

4. Integration with Emerging Tech

4.1. Derivative: AI-Optimized Adaptive Electrolyte Composition

Enabling Description:
An electrochemical device, intended for electric vehicle applications, features an adaptive electrolyte system where the concentration of the nitrile compound (e.g., glutaronitrile) in the electrolyte (A %) is dynamically optimized using an embedded AI inference engine. Real-time data from internal impedance spectroscopy, temperature, and leakage current sensors, along with predicted charge/discharge cycles based on vehicle usage patterns, are fed to the AI. The AI models predict copper dissolution rates from the negative electrode's bare current collector regions (B %) and adjust the electrolyte's nitrile content in situ through a micro-fluidic dosing system. The bare second region of the negative electrode, a standard copper foil, constitutes B % of the surface area. The AI continuously adjusts A to keep the predictive "A×B interaction severity index" (a derived metric correlating to dissolution) below a critical threshold (analogous to the A×B<600 concept). This adaptive control system maximizes cycle life and safety under varying operating conditions.

Combination Prior Art:

1. Open-Source Standard: AUTOSAR (Automotive Open System Architecture) for automotive software.
2. Open-Source Standard: Python libraries for machine learning (e.g., TensorFlow Lite for edge inference).
3. Open-Source Standard: Apache Cassandra for distributed NoSQL databases.

graph TD
    A[Electric Vehicle Battery] --> B{Electrolyte}
    B -- Nitrile Compound (A%) --> C[Micro-Fluidic Dosing]
    A --> D[Negative Electrode (Cu Foil)]
    D --> E{First Region}
    D --> F{Second Region (Bare Cu, B%)}
    A -- Real-time Data --> G[Impedance, Temp, Leakage Sensors]
    H[AI Inference Engine] -- Inputs --> G
    H -- Predicts Dissolution --> I[A x B Interaction Severity Index]
    I -- Adjusts A% --> C
    I -- Threshold Control (<600 equivalent) --> J[Maximized Cycle Life & Safety]

4.2. Derivative: IoT-Monitored Battery Health with Predictive Maintenance

Enabling Description:
An electrochemical device, part of a distributed energy storage network, integrates comprehensive IoT sensor arrays for real-time monitoring of battery health. Micro-sensors embedded near the welding positions of the negative electrode tabs (which represent localized second regions with exposed current collector, B %) continuously monitor trace copper ion concentration in the localized electrolyte, localized temperature, and pressure fluctuations. This data, alongside the known mass percentage of the nitrile compound (A %) in the electrolyte, is transmitted wirelessly via a secure LoRaWAN network to a cloud-based analytics platform. The platform employs machine learning algorithms to predict the onset of self-discharge or safety issues (correlated to A×B interaction severity). This enables predictive maintenance scheduling, such as partial electrolyte replacement or thermal management adjustments, before critical failure occurs, optimizing the operational lifespan and safety of the entire energy storage network.

Combination Prior Art:

1. Open-Source Standard: LoRaWAN for wide-area IoT communication.
2. Open-Source Standard: IEC 62368 for safety of IT and AV equipment.
3. Open-Source Standard: Prometheus for monitoring and alerting toolkit.

sequenceDiagram
    participant B as Battery Device (IoT Enabled)
    participant MS as Micro-Sensors (Cu Ions, Temp, Pressure)
    participant LGW as LoRaWAN Gateway
    participant CP as Cloud Platform (ML Analytics)
    participant OPS as Operator/Maintenance System

    MS->>B: Detects local conditions (A%, B% affected)
    B->>LGW: Transmits sensor data (LoRaWAN)
    LGW->>CP: Forwards data
    CP->>CP: ML analyzes A x B interaction, predicts self-discharge
    CP-->>OPS: Alert: Predictive Maintenance Needed
    OPS-->>OPS: Schedules intervention (e.g., electrolyte refresh)

---

5. The "Inverse" or Failure Mode

5.1. Derivative: Controlled Fail-Safe Self-Discharge Mechanism

Enabling Description:
An electrochemical device designed for high-power industrial tools incorporates a controlled fail-safe self-discharge mechanism. The electrolyte contains a standard nitrile compound (e.g., adiponitrile) at A %. The negative electrode has a standard copper current collector with first and second regions (B %). Upon detection of critical internal conditions (e.g., over-temperature, severe internal short, or rapid increase in copper dissolution beyond a pre-set threshold detected by embedded sensors), a dormant sacrificial compound (e.g., a low-melting point salt of a highly reductive metal like sodium or lithium encapsulated in a polymer matrix) is released into the electrolyte. This compound preferentially reacts with the nitrile, consuming it and simultaneously initiating a controlled, irreversible self-discharge of the battery below a safe voltage (e.g., 2.0V per cell). This prevents thermal runaway while also neutralizing the nitrile-induced copper dissolution. The A×B parameter is relevant during normal operation, but the fail-safe mechanism takes precedence in catastrophic scenarios to prevent violent failure.

Combination Prior Art:

1. Open-Source Standard: MISRA C for safety-critical embedded software.
2. Open-Source Standard: FIDO Alliance standards for secure authentication.
3. Open-Source Standard: Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) for security threats.

stateDiagram-v2
    [*] --> NormalOperation
    NormalOperation --> OverTempDetected: Temperature > Threshold
    NormalOperation --> InternalShort: Short Circuit Event
    NormalOperation --> HighCuDissolution: Cu Ions > Threshold
    OverTempDetected --> InitiatingSelfDischarge
    InternalShort --> InitiatingSelfDischarge
    HighCuDissolution --> InitiatingSelfDischarge
    InitiatingSelfDischarge --> SacrificialCompoundRelease: Release Sacrificial Agent
    SacrificialCompoundRelease --> NitrileNeutralized: Nitrile Reacts
    NitrileNeutralized --> ControlledVoltageDrop: Controlled Self-Discharge
    ControlledVoltageDrop --> SafeShutdown: Voltage < 2.0V
    SafeShutdown --> [*]

5.2. Derivative: Low-Power "Limp-Home" Mode with Reduced Capacity

Enabling Description:
An electrochemical device, used in portable electronic devices, is equipped with a "limp-home" operational mode activated upon detection of excessive copper dissolution originating from the bare negative electrode current collector (second region, B %). The electrolyte contains a nitrile compound (e.g., suberonitrile) at A %. Integrated micro-electrochemical sensors monitor the rate of copper deposition on the negative electrode surface. If the deposition rate exceeds a programmed threshold, indicating significant nitrile-induced current collector degradation, the battery management system (BMS) automatically switches to a low-power "limp-home" mode. In this mode, the maximum allowable charge/discharge current is severely limited (e.g., to C/100), and the effective accessible capacity is reduced (e.g., by 50%). This reduced operational envelope minimizes further copper dissolution and deposition, extends the remaining useful life of the battery in a degraded state, and prevents immediate catastrophic failure, allowing the user to safely power down the device or reach a charging point. The A×B parameter remains relevant during normal operation, but its impact is mitigated by limiting power output in this failure mode.

Combination Prior Art:

1. Open-Source Standard: CANOpen for embedded network control.
2. Open-Source Standard: USB-C Power Delivery (PD) protocol for adaptive charging.
3. Open-Source Standard: GNU General Public License (GPL) for software distribution.

graph TD
    A[Portable Electronic Device Battery] --> B{BMS}
    A --> C{Electrolyte (Nitrile A%)}
    A --> D{Negative Electrode (Bare Region B%)}
    D -- Copper Deposition --> E[Micro-Electrochemical Sensors]
    E --> B
    B -- Detects Excess Cu Deposition --> F{Condition: High Dissolution Rate}
    F --> G{Decision: Activate Limp-Home Mode?}
    G -- Yes --> H[Limit Max Current (e.g., C/100)]
    G -- Yes --> I[Reduce Accessible Capacity (e.g., 50%)]
    H --> J[Extended Degraded Operation]
    I --> J
    J --> K[Prevents Catastrophic Failure]
    G -- No --> L[Continue Normal Operation]