Samsung has confirmed that errors in its batteries caused some of its Galaxy Note7 devices to overheat, and has implemented a series of safety protocols to prevent the situation arising again.
“For the last several months, together with independent industry expert organizations, we conducted thorough investigation to find cause to the Galaxy Note7 incidents,” says DJ Koh, president of the Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics.
“Today, more than ever, we are committed to earning the trust of our customers through innovation that redefines what is possible in safety, and as a gateway to unlimited possibilities and incredible new experiences.”
The company has determined that positive and negative electrodes sometimes touch in the battery as a result of damage to a separator. This caused a negative electrode in the upper right portion of the battery to be deflected, and to come into contact with a positive electrode.
Since the recall, Samsung has instituted strict safety checks, and now subjects every battery to an eight-point regime that includes a durability test, visual inspection, an x-ray, charge and discharge test, a total volatile organic compound test, a disassembling test, an accelerated usage test and a delta open circuit voltage test.
The company has also improved safety measures in the product planning stage to improve battery safety design, hardware design and the software algorithms that govern battery charging temperature, charging current and charging duration.
Samsung has also formed a battery advisory group of external advisers, academic and research experts to ensure it maintains a clear and objective perspective on battery safety and innovation. The group includes representative from the universities of Cambridge, UC Berkeley and Stanford.
Why the Note7 overheated
