However, charging the battery below 32 degrees Fahrenheit is a major problem. While other batteries can be charged in cold temperatures at reduced charge rates, the Lithium Ion battery currently used in most hybrid vehicles cannot be charged below freezing without damaging the battery.

The biggest problem with charging the Lithium Ion battery below freezing is that Lithium ends up being deposited on the internal anode of the battery, which significantly reduces the lifetime of the battery

In other words, don’t attempt to charge the battery when internal temperatures are below freezing.  Contact a Heatron engineer about ways to maintain the temperature within operating ranges.

If you are designing products, whether hybrid cars, or other electronic products for use below freezing, you should contact a Heatron engineer who is an expert at designing heating elements and temperature controllers.

Especially for hybrid cars where a FAST charge is desirable not only environmental temperatures, but internal battery temperatures must be considered. Tenable fast-charging at all temperatures, some industrial batteries include a thermal blanket that heats the battery to an acceptable temperature; other chargers adjust the charge rate to prevailing temperatures. Consumer chargers do not have these provisions and users should make all attempts to only charge batteries at room temperatures.

As you design Lithium-ion batteries for applications that require extreme temperature ranges contact a Heatron engineer to help you develop the appropriate temperature control system for your battery.

Some battery temperature vs charge/discharge rates

Here are the answers to your extreme temperature problems:

Also, you need to be aware of the type of backlighting and control circuitry selected can influence the overall temperature range of the environment.

If your design operates over wide temperature ranges, and especially in cold situations you’ll need to compensate for the temperature range.

One approach to that is Heatron’s Clearview Transparent heaters that can be placed over LCD displays without disturbing the clarity of the display.

Here are some limitations of different types of LCD displays.

Twisted Neumatic (TN) Temperature Ranges

The operational and storage   temperature range of a Twisted Nematic (TN) Liquid Crystal Display is   dependant on the drive and voltage of a part. The following parameters are for   general reference.

• TN Standard Temperature Range

Operating   Temperature: -10°C to +60°C
Storage Temperature: -20°C to +60°C

• TN Wide Temperature Range

Operating Temperature: -30°C to +80°C
Storage Temperature: -40°C to +80°C

There are also specially designed TN LCD that operates at an especially higher temperature (-20 to 105) or lower temperature (-55 to 85).

Super Twisted Nematic (STN) and Film Compensated STN (FSTN) Temperature Ranges

The operational and storage temperature range of a super Twisted Nematic (STN) and Film compensated STN (FSTN) LCDs are set pretty much into two ranges for standard products.

• STN/FSTN Standard Temperature Range

Operating Temperature: 0°C to +50°C
Storage Temperature: -10°C to +60°C

• ·STN/FSTN Wide Temperature Range

Operating Temperature: -20°C to +70°C
Storage Temperature: -30°C to +80°C

Just keep in mind that these are suggested operating ranges, but the contrast of the displays will change significantly with different temperatures as will the best angle of viewing.

The Answer to Your LCD Screen Heater Problems are Clearview Transparent Heaters

Ask Heatron’s engineers to help you design your display to work across the whole operating range with a Clearview Transparent heaters

Typical problems with LCD screens, and sometimes other types of displays:

• LCD screens can take 2-4 seconds to refresh the screen at temperatures approaching -20 degrees C, or the contrast becomes difficult to read.

Heatron has developed Clearview heaters (LCD screen heaters) that can be placed on your LCD screen that will resolve your slow response times and contrast problems. This works well in military, automotive, and outdoor remote applications that are subjected to extreme temperatures.

Clearview heaters don’t impact the display, other than getting the display working faster and better at the extreme tempertues.

• Low cost at low temperatures
• Transparent
• Suited to small to large LCD displays
• Works with LCD and other types of displays over a wide range of temperatures
• Flexible

LCD Heaters
Display Heaters
Heatron Clearview Heaters 

Heatron has developed a propriatary approach to flexible heaters. Click on the LiveChat button to the right and ask about Kapton polyimide flexible heaters and heating elements.

Heatron’s heating elements have been used in medical equipment such as blood warmers in open heart surgery, chemical analysis equipment, breathalyzers, and even on wing deicers for major aircraft manufacturers.

Aluminum nitride heaters provide ideal solutions for high-voltage AC or DC supply, small to mid-size heater, power resistor, and high-temperature circuit applications where thermal conductivity is the primary design requirement.

Operating temperatures can be up to 500 C (932°F).  The aluminum nitride dielectric can withstand greater than 5 KVAC depending on construction and design details.  Single or double sided circuits are offered.

Substrates can be produced in prototype through high-volume quantities via press molded or sheet formed fabrication.

Heatron’s alumina thick film heaters are custom designed and manufactured to meet a range of high-performance applications.

These heaters are ideal for applications requiring low profile packaging, uniform surface temperatures, high purity and chemical compatibility.  The alumina substrate can provide the highest insulation standoff per unit thickness of available heater material systems.

Alumina heaters provide ideal solutions for high-voltage AC or DC supply, small to mid-size heater, power resistor, and high-temperature circuit applications.

Operating temperatures can be up to 500 C (932°F).  The alumina dielectric can withstand greater than 5 KVAC depending on construction and design details.  Single or double sided circuits are offered.

Substrates can be produced in prototype through high-volume quantities via laser fabrication or tooled and pressed manufacturing.