All-solid-state battery assembly

Abstract

An all-solid-state battery assembly includes: an all-solid-state battery configured such that a plurality of electrode layers and a plurality of solid electrolyte layers are stacked in a stacking direction; a case accommodating the all-solid-state battery; a pressure adjustment unit that adjusts the pressure applied to the all-solid-state battery; and a displacement acquisition unit that measures, determines, or acquires a change in thickness of the all-solid-state battery in the stacking direction.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0132643, filed on October 5, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to an all-solid-state battery assembly having a displacement acquisition unit for accurately evaluating the gradient of the internal confinement pressure that may occur due to volume changes when the all-solid-state battery is in operation. By measuring the local volume changes in the electrode in real time, and based on this, the present invention relates to an auxiliary control device capable of maintaining a constant confinement pressure. Background Art

[0004] Unlike primary batteries that cannot be recharged after being discharged, secondary batteries that can be reused by being charged after being discharged can be applied to various fields such as smartphones, automobiles, drones, and robots, and their importance is increasing.

[0005] Because secondary batteries according to the related art use liquid as an electrolyte, there are problems of poor stability such as explosion and fire when expansion due to temperature changes or leakage due to external impact occurs, and in order to solve these problems, research and development of all-solid-state batteries are being actively carried out.

[0006] All-solid-state batteries have high structural stability because the electrolyte between the positive electrode active material layer and the negative electrode active material layer is formed of a solid, so there is no need to provide safety-related items (such as a separator), and the battery can be miniaturized and have a high energy density. However, in the case of all-solid-state batteries, there are limitations such as expansion and contraction of the electrode active material during charge / discharge, and therefore, the interface between the electrode active material and the solid electrolyte is separated and the performance is reduced. Summary of the invention

[0007] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art while keeping the advantages achieved by the prior art intact.

[0008] Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide an all-solid-state battery assembly that can control the confinement pressure of the all-solid-state battery.

[0009] Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide an all-solid-state battery assembly that can measure, determine or acquire the displacement of the thickness and constraint pressure of the all-solid-state battery in real time, and can control the constraint pressure based on the measured, determined or acquired data.

[0010] The technical problems to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and any other technical problems not mentioned herein will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs from the following description.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an all-solid-state battery assembly includes: an all-solid-state battery, including a plurality of electrode layers and a plurality of solid electrolyte layers stacked in a stacking direction; a shell, accommodating the all-solid-state battery; a pressure adjustment unit, adjusting the pressure applied to the all-solid-state battery; and a displacement acquisition unit, measuring, determining or acquiring a change in the thickness of the all-solid-state battery in the stacking direction.

[0012] The pressure adjustment part may include: a constraint pad, which is arranged in the interior of the shell and overlaps with the all-solid-state battery in the stacking direction to press the all-solid-state battery; and at least one driving unit, which is arranged to be separated from the all-solid-state battery and connected to the constraint pad to control the pressure applied by the constraint pad to the all-solid-state battery.

[0013] The displacement acquisition unit may contact one surface of the all-solid-state battery at the outermost side in the stacking direction, and may measure, determine or acquire a change in thickness of the all-solid-state battery by measuring a distance that one surface of the all-solid-state battery moves along the stacking direction.

[0014] The displacement acquisition unit may contact one surface of the contact constraint pad of the all-solid-state battery.

[0015] The displacement acquisition unit may pass through the constraint pad to contact one surface of the all-solid-state battery contacting the constraint pad.

[0016] The displacement acquiring unit may include a first displacement acquiring unit and a second displacement acquiring unit that are arranged to be spaced apart from each other.

[0017] The displacement acquisition unit may include: a first displacement acquisition unit and a second displacement acquisition unit located at equal distances from a central axis passing through the all-solid-state battery in a stacking direction.

[0018] The driving unit can adjust the distance between an inner surface of the shell and the constraint pad, which overlaps with the all-solid-state battery in the stacking direction, and supports the all-solid-state battery when the all-solid-state battery is pressed by the constraint pad, and the constraint pad is arranged to be spaced apart from the inner surface in the stacking direction.

[0019] The restraint pad may overlap the all-solid-state battery in the stacking direction, and may be disposed to be spaced apart from one inner surface of the housing in the stacking direction, the one inner surface supporting the all-solid-state battery when pressed by the restraint pad.

[0020] The drive unit may be located between an inner surface of the shell and the constraint pad to control the pressure applied to the all-solid-state battery by the constraint pad by changing the length of the drive unit when the inner surface and the constraint pad are connected to each other, and the inner surface supports the all-solid-state battery when the all-solid-state battery is pressed by the constraint pad.

[0021] The at least one driving unit may be a pair of driving units, and the pair of driving units may be disposed on one side and opposite sides of the all-solid-state battery.

[0022] The driving unit may include: a fixing portion, which protrudes from an inner surface supporting the all-solid-state battery in the stacking direction when pressed by the restraint pad; a coupling portion, which is coupled to the fixing portion to move relative to the fixing portion in the stacking direction; and a driving portion, which is connected to the coupling portion and the driving portion is coupled to the coupling portion so that the coupling portion moves relative to the fixed portion.

[0023] The all-solid-state battery assembly may further include a pressure acquisition unit overlapping the all-solid-state battery in the stacking direction, and measuring, determining or acquiring the magnitude of the pressure applied to the all-solid-state battery in the stacking direction.

[0024] The all-solid-state battery assembly may further include a pressure acquisition unit disposed between the all-solid-state battery and an inner surface of a housing supporting the all-solid-state battery when the all-solid-state battery is pressed by the restraint pad.

[0025] The all-solid-state battery assembly may further include a processor that controls driving of the driving unit based on a change in thickness of the all-solid-state battery in the stacking direction measured, determined, or acquired by the displacement acquisition unit.

[0026] The processor may control driving of the driving unit based on a difference between a preset initial thickness of the all-solid-state battery and the measured thickness of the all-solid-state battery.

[0027] The processor may control the driving unit to be driven when the ratio of the difference value to the initial thickness is greater than a preset indication value.

[0028] The processor can control the driving direction of the driving unit so that when the ratio of the difference to the initial thickness is greater than a preset indication value and the measured thickness of the all-solid-state battery is less than the initial thickness, the force reduces the pressure applied to the all-solid-state battery.

[0029] The processor can control the driving direction of the driving unit so that when the ratio of the difference to the initial thickness is greater than a preset indication value and the measured thickness of the all-solid-state battery is greater than the initial thickness, the pressure applied to the all-solid-state battery increases.

[0030] The all-solid-state battery assembly may also include a processor that drives a driving unit based on a change in thickness of the all-solid-state battery in a stacking direction measured, determined or acquired by a displacement acquisition unit and a pressure of the all-solid-state battery measured, determined or acquired by a pressure acquisition unit.

[0031] The processor can control the driving of the driving unit based on the difference between the preset initial thickness of the all-solid-state battery and the measured thickness of the all-solid-state battery, and can readjust the driving of the driving unit by identifying the pressure of the all-solid-state battery caused by the driving of the driving unit.

[0032] There is also provided a vehicle comprising the all-solid-state battery as described herein.

[0033] Other aspects are disclosed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

[0035] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a housing of an all-solid-state battery assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0036] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing an internal structure of a housing of an all-solid-state battery assembly viewed in a direction perpendicular to a stacking direction according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0037] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the housing of the all-solid-state battery assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure when viewed in the stacking direction;

[0038] Figure 4 and Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing a driving scheme of a driving unit of an all-solid-state battery assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0039] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing a driving scheme of an all-solid-state battery assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0040] Figure 7 is a circuit diagram conceptually illustrating an all-solid-state battery assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0041] Figure 8 is a flow chart illustrating a process of controlling an all-solid-state battery assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present disclosure. The following description is one of several embodiments of the embodiment, and when describing an embodiment, the detailed description of known functions or configurations is omitted to clarify the main points of the present disclosure.

[0043] When reference numerals are added to components in the various drawings in this specification, the same or similar reference numerals are used for the same or similar components throughout the specification. The same names will be used in other embodiments to describe components included in one embodiment and components including common functions. Based on the principle that the inventor must appropriately define the concept of terms in order to describe his or her invention in the best way, the terms or words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, and must be interpreted with meanings and concepts consistent with the technical concept of the present disclosure.

[0044] The terms used herein are only used for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to also include plural forms. These terms are intended only to distinguish one component from another, and these terms do not limit the nature, order or sequence of the constituent components. It should also be understood that when the terms "comprises" and / or "comprising" are used in this specification, they specify the presence of the features, wholes, steps, operations, elements and / or parts, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, steps, operations, elements, parts and / or combinations thereof. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more related listed items. Throughout the specification, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word "comprise" and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" will be understood to imply the inclusion of the elements, but not excluding any other elements. In addition, the terms “unit,” “device,” “portion,” and “module” described in the specification mean a unit for processing at least one function and operation and may be implemented by hardware components or software components and a combination thereof.

[0045] Although the exemplary embodiments are described as using multiple units to perform the exemplary processes, it should be understood that the exemplary processes can also be performed by one or more modules. In addition, it should be understood that the term controller / control unit refers to a hardware device that includes a memory and a processor and is specifically programmed to perform the processes described herein. The memory is configured to store the modules, and the processor is specifically configured to execute the modules to perform one or more processes described further below.

[0046] In addition, the control logic of the present disclosure may be embodied as a non-volatile computer-readable medium on a computer-readable medium containing executable program instructions executed by a processor, controller, etc. Examples of computer-readable media include, but are not limited to, ROM, RAM, compact disk (CD)-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, flash drives, smart cards, and optical data storage devices. The computer-readable medium may also be distributed in a network-coupled computer system so that the computer-readable medium is stored and executed in a distributed manner, such as by a telematics server or a controller area network (CAN).

[0047] Unless otherwise specified or apparent from the context, as used herein, the term "about" should be understood as being within the normal tolerance range in the art, such as within 2 standard deviations of the mean. "About" can be understood as being within 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, 0.05%, or 0.01% of the value. Unless otherwise clear from the context, all numerical values ​​provided herein are modified by the term "about".

[0048] The term "all-solid-state battery" as used herein may include a rechargeable secondary battery that includes a solid electrolyte, such as a gel or polymer (cured) or a solid material, which may include an ionomer and other electrolytic components for transferring ions between the electrodes of the battery.

[0049] In addition, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and a person skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs may make various modifications and changes from these descriptions. Therefore, the concept of the present disclosure should not be limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and the scope of the patent claims described later and all things equivalent to or equivalent to the scope of the patent claims are considered to fall within the scope of the concept of the present disclosure.

[0050] Figures 1 to 3 The structure of an all-solid-state battery assembly 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0051] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a housing 20 of an all-solid-state battery assembly 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 2is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the housing 20 of the all-solid-state battery assembly 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, which is viewed in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction, and Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the housing 20 of the all-solid-state battery assembly 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, which is viewed from another direction. In detail, Figure 2 20 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure when viewed in a first direction v1 perpendicular to the stacking direction of the electrode assembly (see FIG. Figure 1 ) of the shape of the internal structure, and Figure 3 1 is a diagram showing the all-solid-state battery assembly 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure when viewed in the second direction v2 as the stacking direction of the electrode assembly (see FIG. Figure 1 ) is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the housing 20. However, in Figure 3 In the figure, it should be noted that the shape of the restraint pad 30 is omitted for the sake of understanding the internal structure. Figure 2 and Figure 3 2 is a schematic diagram conceptually showing components provided in the interior of the housing 20 , and it is to be noted that the shapes or arrangement structures of the components are not directly limited to this diagram.

[0052] Structure of all-solid-state battery assembly 1

[0053] Reference Figure 2 , an all-solid-state battery assembly 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include an all-solid-state battery 10 , a housing 20 , a pressure adjustment portion, and a displacement acquisition unit 51 .

[0054] The all-solid-state battery 10 may be formed by stacking a plurality of electrode assemblies 11, and each electrode assembly 11 may include a positive electrode layer, a negative electrode layer, and a solid electrolyte layer. For example, the electrode assembly 11 may be a component unit body constituting the all-solid-state battery 10 and sequentially stacked with a positive electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer, a negative electrode layer, and a solid electrolyte layer.

[0055] The housing 20 may be configured to accommodate the all-solid-state battery 10 formed by stacking the electrode assembly 11. The housing 20 may serve as a frame that supports the all-solid-state battery 10 to maintain the shape of the all-solid-state battery 10 by accommodating the all-solid-state battery 10. The housing 20 may be provided in the form of a square case surrounding the all-solid-state battery 10, for example.

[0056] The plurality of electrode assemblies 11 of the all-solid-state battery 10 may be stacked in a direction from one inner surface 21 of the housing 20 toward the opposite inner surface 22, and the one inner surface 21 and the opposite inner surface 22 of the housing 20 may be surfaces opposite to each other. The one inner surface 21 of the housing 20 may be a surface that supports the all-solid-state battery 10 when the all-solid-state battery 10 is pressed by the constraint pad 30. The area of ​​the one inner surface 21 and the opposite inner surface 22 of the housing 20 may be greater than the area of ​​the electrode assembly 11 of the all-solid-state battery 10. For example, the all-solid-state battery 10 may be arranged to be positioned at the center portion of the one inner surface 21 and the opposite inner surface 22 of the housing 20.

[0057] The pressure adjusting part may include a restraint pad 30 and a driving unit 40 .

[0058] The constraint pad 30 may be configured to press the plurality of electrode assemblies 11 of the all-solid-state battery 10. The constraint pad 30 may be disposed inside the housing 20. The constraint pad 30 may be disposed to overlap the all-solid-state battery 10. The constraint pad 30 may be configured to cover the plurality of electrode assemblies 11 of the all-solid-state battery 10, and may have an area larger than that of the electrode assembly 11. For example, the constraint pad 30 may have a size corresponding to the inner surface of the housing 20.

[0059] One surface of the constraint pad 30 may face one surface of the all-solid-state battery 10, and the opposite surface of the constraint pad 30 may contact the opposite inner surface 22 of the housing 20. In other words, in a direction from one inner surface 21 of the housing 20 toward the opposite inner surface 22, a plurality of electrode assemblies 11 and the constraint pads 30 of the all-solid-state battery 10 may be stacked in sequence.

[0060] Pressure on all-solid-state batteries 10

[0061] The plurality of electrode assemblies 11 of the all-solid-state battery 10 may be pressed between one inner surface 21 of the housing 20 and the constraint pad 30. That is, one inner surface 21 of the housing 20 and the constraint pad 30 may provide a constraint pressure to the all-solid-state battery 10 therebetween. Here, the constraint pressure may mean a pressure applied to the electrode assembly 11 in the stacking direction of the plurality of electrode assemblies 11 of the all-solid-state battery 10.

[0062] Then, when the distance between the constraint pad 30 and one inner surface 21 of the housing 20 decreases, the constraint pressure applied to the all-solid-state battery 10 may increase, and when the distance between the constraint pad 30 and one inner surface 21 of the housing 20 increases, the constraint pressure applied to the all-solid-state battery 10 may decrease. The distance between the constraint pad 30 and one inner surface 21 of the housing 20 may be adjusted by the drive unit 40.

[0063] Drive unit 40

[0064] The driving unit 40 may be configured to control the restraint pressure applied to the all-solid-state battery 10 through the restraint pad 30. The driving unit 40 may be disposed inside the housing 20. The driving unit 40 may be disposed inside the housing 20 and may be disposed to be spaced apart from the all-solid-state battery 10 by a certain distance.

[0065] The drive unit 40 may be connected to the restraint pad 30. The drive unit 40 may be connected to one inner surface 21 of the housing 20. The drive unit 40 may connect the restraint pad 30 and one inner surface 21 of the housing 20. The drive unit 40 may extend between one inner surface 21 of the housing 20 and the restraint pad 30.

[0066] The drive unit 40 may be configured so that its length is variable. The length of the drive unit 40 between one inner surface 21 of the housing 20 and the constraint pad 30 may be varied, thereby adjusting the distance between one inner surface 21 of the housing 20 and the constraint pad 30, and thus, controlling the constraint pressure applied to the all-solid-state battery 10.

[0067] For example, when the length of the driving unit 40 becomes shorter, the restraint pressure applied to the all-solid-state battery 10 may increase as the distance between one inner surface 21 of the housing 20 and the restraint pad 30 becomes smaller, and when the length of the driving unit 40 becomes longer, the restraint pressure applied to the all-solid-state battery 10 may decrease as the distance between one inner surface 21 of the housing 20 and the restraint pad 30 becomes larger. Figure 4 and Figure 5 The driving mechanism of the driving unit 40 is described in detail.

[0068] A plurality of drive units 40 may be provided. The drive unit 40 may be, for example, a pair of drive units provided on opposite sides of the all-solid-state battery 10. The drive unit 40 may include a first drive unit 41 provided on one side of the all-solid-state battery 10 and a second drive unit 42 provided on the opposite side of the all-solid-state battery 10. The first drive unit 41 and the second drive unit 42 may be controlled to have the same length to apply uniform restraining pressure to the electrode assembly 11 of the all-solid-state battery 10.

[0069] However, the number and arrangement form of the driving units 40 are not limited thereto, and a greater number of driving units 40 may be disposed around the all-solid-state battery 10 if necessary.

[0070] Displacement acquisition unit 51

[0071] The displacement acquisition unit 51 may be configured to measure, determine or acquire a change in the thickness of the all-solid-state battery 10 in the stacking direction, that is, a displacement of the all-solid-state battery 10 in the stacking direction.

[0072] The displacement acquisition unit 51 can measure, determine or acquire the change in thickness of the all-solid-state battery 10 between an inner surface 21 of the shell 20 and the constraint pad 30 in real time, and can be electrically connected to a processor to be described later to provide pressure data as a basis for controlling the drive unit 40.

[0073] The displacement acquisition unit 51 may contact one surface on the outermost side in the stacking direction of the all-solid-state battery 10. In detail, the displacement acquisition unit 51 may contact one surface of the contact constraint pad 30 of the all-solid-state battery 10. Since the displacement acquisition unit 51 may contact one surface of the contact constraint pad 30 of the all-solid-state battery 10, and therefore, as the thickness of the all-solid-state battery 10 changes, the distance that one surface of the all-solid-state battery 10 moves in the stacking direction may be measured, and through this, the change in the thickness of the all-solid-state battery 10 (i.e., displacement) may be measured, determined, or acquired.

[0074] The displacement acquisition unit 51 may be, for example, a contact displacement sensor. The displacement acquisition unit 51 may include a first displacement acquisition unit 511 and a second displacement acquisition unit 512. The first displacement acquisition unit 511 and the second displacement acquisition unit 512 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other, and may be arranged to be symmetrical with respect to a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction. That is, the first displacement acquisition unit 511 and the second displacement acquisition unit 512 may be located at an equal distance from a virtual center axis passing through the center of the all-solid-state battery 10 in the stacking direction. The first displacement acquisition unit 511 may be located on one side of the first drive unit 41, and the second displacement acquisition unit 512 may be located on one side of the second drive unit 42. In some embodiments, the displacement acquisition unit 51 may include more than two displacement acquisition units.

[0075] As described above, the first displacement acquisition unit 511 and the second displacement acquisition unit 512 may be contact displacement sensors. To achieve this, the first displacement acquisition unit 511 and the second displacement acquisition unit 512 may include contact ends 511a and 512a that contact one surface of the all-solid-state battery 10. As the thickness of the all-solid-state battery 10 changes, the contact end 511a of the first displacement acquisition unit and the contact end 512a of the second displacement acquisition unit may contact one surface of the contact constraint pad 30 of the all-solid-state battery 10 to sense the moving distance of one surface of the all-solid-state battery 10 in the stacking direction. Thus, the displacement of the thickness of the all-solid-state battery 10 can be measured, determined, or acquired.

[0076] Since the first displacement acquisition unit 511 and the second displacement acquisition unit 512 are set to be symmetrical to each other with respect to the direction perpendicular to the stacking direction, and the displacement of the thickness in the corresponding direction can be independently measured, determined or acquired, when the thickness of the all-solid-state battery 10 is unbalanced with respect to the direction perpendicular to the stacking direction (for example, the left / right direction), the change in thickness by the first drive unit 41 and the second drive unit 42 can be independently controlled. For example, when the displacement on the left side is small and the displacement on the right side is greater than the displacement during normal behavior, it can be understood that charging and discharging occur strongly at the electrode interface on the right side. In order to ensure normal behavior, it is necessary to increase the constraint pressure in the left area with smaller displacement and reduce the constraint pressure in the right area.

[0077] The displacement acquisition unit 51 may be formed to penetrate the constraint pad 30 to contact one surface of the constraint pad 30 of the all-solid-state battery 10. However, unlike this, the displacement acquisition unit 51 may be a laser displacement sensor instead of a contact displacement sensor, and the form and position of the displacement acquisition unit 51 are not directly limited to the illustration.

[0078] The all-solid-state battery assembly 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a pressure acquisition unit 52. Here, the pressure acquisition unit 52 and the displacement acquisition unit 51 may be collectively referred to as a data acquisition unit 50.

[0079] Pressure acquisition unit 52

[0080] The pressure acquisition unit 52 may be configured to measure, determine, or acquire the restraint pressure of the all-solid-state battery 10. The pressure acquisition unit 52 may be configured to be stacked on the all-solid-state battery 10. The pressure acquisition unit 52 may overlap the all-solid-state battery 10 in a flat plate form, and may be, for example, a pressure sensor.

[0081] The pressure acquisition unit 52 may be stacked between one inner surface 21 of the housing 20 and the all-solid-state battery 10. Therefore, the pressure acquisition unit 52, the all-solid-state battery 10, and the restraint pad 30 may be stacked in sequence in a direction from one inner surface 21 of the housing 20 toward the opposite inner surface 22.

[0082] The pressure acquisition unit 52 can measure, determine or acquire the constraint pressure of the all-solid-state battery 10 between an inner surface 21 of the shell 20 and the constraint pad 30 in real time, and similar to the displacement acquisition unit 51, the pressure acquisition unit can be electrically connected to a processor to be described later to provide pressure data as a basis for controlling the drive unit 40.

[0083] Driving principle of drive unit 40

[0084] Figure 4 and Figure 5is a schematic diagram illustrating a driving scheme of the driving unit 40 of the all-solid-state battery assembly 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 The driving of the driving unit 40 for increasing the restraining pressure of the all-solid-state battery 10 is shown, and Figure 5 Driving of the driving unit 40 for reducing the restraining pressure of the all-solid-state battery 10 is shown.

[0085] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , the all-solid-state battery assembly 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include a fixing portion 401 , a coupling portion 402 , and a driving portion 403 .

[0086] The fixing portion 401 may be formed on one inner surface 21 of the housing 20. The fixing portion 401 may protrude from one inner surface 21 of the housing 20. The fixing portion 401 may be fixed to one inner surface 21 of the housing 20 in the form of a bolt having a certain length, for example. Then, the length direction of the fixing portion 401 may be the stacking direction of the electrode assembly 11 of the all-solid-state battery 10.

[0087] The coupling portion 402 may be coupled to be movable relative to the fixing portion 401. For example, the coupling portion 402 may be coupled to be rotatable relative to the fixing portion 401. The coupling portion 402 may be in the form of a nut, which is coupled to the fixing portion 401 provided in the form of a bolt so as to be rotatable. That is, the coupling portion 402 may include a thread on its inner surface, and the fixing portion 401 may engage with the thread. The coupling portion 402 provided in the form of a nut may move in the length direction of the fixing portion 401 while rotating relative to the fixing portion 401. When the coupling portion 402 moves relative to the fixing portion 401, the length of the drive unit 40 may be changed.

[0088] The driving part 403 may be connected to the connecting part 402 to drive the connecting part 402 so that the connecting part 402 moves relative to the fixing part. For example, as described above, when the fixing part 401 and the coupling part 402 are provided in the form of a bolt and a nut and driven in a threaded scheme, the driving part 403 may be configured to rotate the coupling part 402. Then, the driving part 403 may be, for example, a rotating motor that is electrically driven.

[0089] The driving unit 40 may further include a terminal portion 404 .

[0090] The terminal portion 404 may be formed in the driving portion 403, and may supply external power to the driving portion 403 so that the driving portion 403 drives the coupling portion 402. The terminal portion 404 may be provided in the form of an electrode, for example.

[0091] The driving portion 403 may be fixed to the restraint pad 30. As described above, the restraint pad 30 may be in contact with the opposite inner surface 22 of the housing 20. For example, the restraint pad 30 may be formed of an elastically deformable material. Therefore, when the driving portion 403 rotates the coupling portion 402 and the coupling portion 402 moves along the longitudinal direction of the fixing portion 401, the thickness of the restraint pad 30 may change accordingly. Because the distance between one inner surface 21 and the opposite inner surface 22 of the housing 20 is fixed, when the driving portion 403 rotates the coupling portion 402, the thickness of the restraint pad 30 may decrease, and thus the length of the driving unit 40 increases, and conversely, when the length of the driving unit 40 decreases, the thickness of the restraint pad 30 may increase.

[0092] When the coupling portion 402 is rotated in one direction by the driving portion 403, the length of the driving unit 40 may increase, and when the coupling portion 402 is rotated in the opposite direction, the length of the driving unit 40 may decrease. The distance between the constraint pad 30 and one inner surface 21 of the housing 20 may vary in the process of increasing and decreasing the length of the driving unit 40, and thus, the constraint pressure of the all-solid-state battery 10 in which a plurality of electrode assemblies 11 are stacked may be controlled.

[0093] During this process, the displacement acquisition unit 51 can measure, determine or acquire the change in the thickness of the all-solid-state battery 10, and the pressure acquisition unit 52 can measure, determine or acquire the constraint pressure of the all-solid-state battery 10, and here, the acquisition can comprehensively represent the process of sensing the thickness / pressure of the all-solid-state battery 10 or calculating and deriving the thickness / pressure of the all-solid-state battery 10 based on the sensing data.

[0094] Another embodiment (removable restraint pad)

[0095] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing a driving scheme of an all-solid-state battery assembly 2 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0096] The all-solid-state battery assembly 2 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure may be different from the above-mentioned embodiment in that the thickness of the restraint pad 30 may not be deformed. The contents common to the above-mentioned embodiments will be omitted, and reference will be made to Figure 6 Mainly describe the differences between them.

[0097] Reference Figure 6In the all-solid-state battery assembly 2 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, when the coupling portion 402 is rotated in one direction by the driving portion 403, the length of the driving unit 40 may be increased, and when the coupling portion 402 is rotated in the opposite direction, the length of the driving unit 40 may be reduced. In the process of increasing and reducing the length of the driving unit 40, the distance between the restraint pad 31 and one inner surface 21 of the housing 20 may be changed, and therefore, the restraint pressure of the all-solid-state battery 10 stacked with a plurality of electrode assemblies 11 may be controlled.

[0098] Then, as the length of the driving unit 40 increases and decreases, the constraint pad 31 may move in the stacking direction of the electrode assembly 11. Then, the stacking direction in which the constraint pad 31 moves may refer to two directions, a direction from the constraint pad 31 toward one inner surface 21 of the housing 20 and a direction from the constraint pad 31 toward the opposite inner surface 22 of the housing 20. For example, when the length of the driving unit 40 decreases, the constraint pad 31 in contact with the opposite inner surface 22 of the housing 20 may move in the direction in which the length of the driving unit 40 decreases to be spaced apart from the opposite inner surface 22 of the housing 20, and in this case, a gap 25 may be generated between the constraint pad 31 and the opposite inner surface 22 of the housing 20.

[0099] In other words, as in the above embodiment, even if the constraint pad is formed of an elastic material and its thickness is not deformed, the constraint pressure of the all-solid-state battery 10 can still be controlled when the constraint pad 31 moves in the stacking direction of the electrode assembly 11 according to the drive of the drive unit 40.

[0100] Control structure of all-solid-state battery components

[0101] Figure 7 is a circuit diagram conceptually illustrating an all-solid-state battery assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0102] refer to Figure 7 , the all-solid-state battery assembly according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a processor 60 , a switching unit 70 , and a power supply unit 80 .

[0103] The processor 60 may control the driving of the driving unit 40 based on the thickness / pressure of the all-solid-state battery measured, determined, or acquired in real time by the data acquisition unit 50. The processor 60 may include an ECU 61 and a current controller 62.

[0104] The ECU 61 and the current controller 62 may be electrically / physically connected to each other. The ECU 61 is an electronic control unit and may be connected to the pressure acquisition unit 52 to receive the measured, determined or acquired pressure, and may calculate it and transmit it to the current controller 62. In other words, the ECU 61 may adjust the amount of current required by the current controller 62 and may input a signal thereto. In addition, the ECU 61 may be connected to the switch unit 70 to be described later, and may input a signal about the rotation direction of the drive unit 403 to the switch unit 70.

[0105] The current controller 62 may receive current from the power supply unit 80, and may be connected to the ECU 61 to receive a signal from the ECU 61. As will be described later, the power supply unit 80 may be configured to include the all-solid-state battery 10. The current controller 62 may receive current from the power supply unit 80, and may appropriately control the amount of current supplied to the drive portion 403 based on the signal received from the ECU 61.

[0106] The switch unit 70 may be provided between the processor 60 and the drive unit 40. The switch unit 70 may be configured to adjust the rotation direction of the drive portion 403 of the drive unit 40. The switch unit 70 is, for example, a 6-pin switch, and may perform control so that the drive portion 403 provided in the form of a motor rotates forward or reversely. The switch unit 70 may receive a forward / reverse rotation signal from the ECU 61 of the processor 60, and may receive a controlled amount of current from the current controller 62 of the processor 60 and transmit the current to the drive portion 403 of the drive unit 40.

[0107] The power supply unit 80 may include a battery 81 and a converter 82. The battery 81 may be configured to supply power, and the converter 82 may be a DC-DC converter. Preferably, the battery 81 may be the above-mentioned all-solid-state battery 10 accommodated in the housing 20. In other words, the drive unit 40 of the all-solid-state battery assembly according to the exemplary embodiment may receive power from a non-separate external power source to be driven in the housing 20 rather than the all-solid-state battery 10 itself.

[0108] All-solid-state battery pressure control algorithm

[0109] Figure 8 is a flow chart illustrating a process of controlling an all-solid-state battery assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0110] refer to Figure 8 According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the constraint pressure of the all-solid-state battery of the all-solid-state battery assembly can be controlled by sequentially performing thickness measurement operation a1, thickness difference calculation operation a2, determination operations a3 and a4, and control operations a5 and a6, and pressure identification operation a7.

[0111] In the thickness measurement operation a1 , the thickness of the all-solid-state battery may be measured, and, for example, a change in thickness of the all-solid-state battery during charge / discharge may be measured in real time.

[0112] Thereafter, in the thickness difference calculation operation a2, the difference between the preset initial thickness of the all-solid-state battery and the thickness measured in real time can be calculated, and in the determination operations a3 and a4, whether to control the constraint pressure and the control method of the constraint pressure can be determined.

[0113] The determination operations a3 and a4 may include a constraint pressure control determination operation a3 and a constraint pressure control direction determination operation a4.

[0114] In the restraint pressure control determination operation a3, it can be determined whether it is necessary to pass the preset thickness indication value K1 Control pressure. The preset thickness indication value K1 can be set differently according to the size and type of various all-solid-state batteries. K1 may also be different according to the state of charge (SOC) of the battery. In some embodiments, K1 may be 0.1. In the constraint pressure control determination operation a3, the thickness T0 of the all-solid-state battery preset in the initial stage and the measured thickness Tt of the all-solid-state battery may be compared, and for example, the difference between the two may be converted into an index value to determine whether the difference is greater than the preset thickness indication value K1.

[0115] By this, when it is determined that the difference between the thickness T0 of the all-solid-state battery preset in the initial stage and the measured thickness Tt of the all-solid-state battery is a reference value or more, the restraint pressure control direction determination operation a4 may be performed to determine whether the pressure is increased or decreased (increase or decrease of the restraint pressure). When it is determined that the difference between the initial thickness T0 of the all-solid-state battery and the measured thickness Tt of the all-solid-state battery is below the reference range, the restraint pressure measurement operation a1 of the all-solid-state battery that is changed in real time may be performed again.

[0116] In the restraining pressure control direction determination operation a4, it may be measured whether the measured thickness Tt of the all-solid-state battery is greater than or less than the initial thickness T0 of the all-solid-state battery, and through this, it may be determined which of the decompression operation a5 and the pressurization operation a6 will be performed in the control operations a5 and a6. When the measured thickness Tt of the all-solid-state battery is greater than the initial thickness T0 of the all-solid-state battery, it may proceed to the pressurization operation a6, in which the bolts and nuts may be fastened to each other and the restraining pressure may be increased, and when the measured thickness Tt of the all-solid-state battery is less than the initial thickness T0 of the all-solid-state battery, it may proceed to the decompression operation a5, in which the bolts and nuts may be released from each other and the restraining pressure may be reduced.

[0117] In other words, control operations a5 and a6 may be performed based on the determination performed in the constraint pressure control direction determination operation a4. In the control operation, a pressure adding operation a6 for increasing the constraint pressure of the all-solid-state battery by reducing the length of the drive unit or a pressure reducing operation a5 for reducing the constraint pressure of the all-solid-state battery by increasing the length of the drive unit may be selectively performed. In the pressurizing operation a6, the driving component may rotate in a direction in which a fixing portion provided in the form of a bolt and a coupling portion provided in the form of a nut are fastened to each other, and conversely, in the decompressing operation a5, the driving component may rotate in a direction in which the fixing portion and the coupling portion are released from each other.

[0118] After the control operations a5 and a6, a pressure recognition operation a7 may be performed.

[0119] In the pressure identification operation a7, an operation of identifying whether the difference between the measured pressure Pt and the preset initial pressure P0 is within an appropriate range based on the pressure measured, determined or acquired by the pressure acquisition unit 52 may be performed. In the pressure identification operation a7, it may be determined whether the restraint pressure needs to be recalibrated (readjusted) by the preset pressure indication value K2. K2 may be different according to the state of charge (SOC) of the battery. In some embodiments, K2 may be 0.05.

[0120] When the ratio of the difference between the measured pressure Pt and the preset initial pressure P0 to the initial pressure is less than the preset pressure indication value K2 , the thickness measurement operation a1 can be performed again. Conversely, when the ratio of the difference between the measured pressure Pt and the preset initial pressure P0 to the initial pressure is the preset pressure indication value K2 or greater, the constraint pressure control determination operation a3 can be performed again to repeat the process of readjusting the constraint pressure.

[0121] During all processes of charging and discharging the all-solid-state battery, such as charging, using and leaving the all-solid-state battery, the sequential process from thickness measurement operation a1 to pressure identification operation a7 can be repeated as described above, so that the constraint pressure of the all-solid-state battery can be maintained within an appropriate numerical range.

[0122] The all-solid-state battery assembly according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may control the confinement pressure of the all-solid-state battery.

[0123] An all-solid-state battery assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may measure, determine, or acquire the thickness displacement and pressure of the all-solid-state battery in real time, and may control the confinement pressure based on the measured, determined, or acquired data.

[0124] Furthermore, effects that can be easily predicted by those skilled in the art can be shown from the configuration according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0125] The above description is a simple exemplary description of the technical spirit of the present disclosure, and a person skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs may make various corrections and modifications without departing from the essential features of the present disclosure.

[0126] Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure are not intended to limit the technical spirit of the present disclosure, but to describe these technical spirits, and the scope of the technical spirit of the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments. The protection scope of the present disclosure should be interpreted by the attached claims, and all technical spirits within the equivalent scope should be interpreted as included in the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An all-solid-state battery assembly, comprising: An all-solid-state battery comprising a plurality of electrode layers and a plurality of solid electrolyte layers stacked in a stacking direction; A housing for accommodating the all-solid-state battery; a pressure adjustment unit configured to adjust the pressure applied to the all-solid-state battery; as well as The displacement acquisition unit is configured to measure, determine or acquire the change in thickness of the all-solid-state battery in the stacking direction.

2. The all-solid-state battery assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The pressure adjustment unit comprises: a restraint pad disposed in the interior of the housing and overlapping the all-solid-state battery in the stacking direction to press the all-solid-state battery; and At least one driving unit is disposed to be spaced apart from the all-solid-state battery and connected to the restraint pad to control a pressure applied by the restraint pad to the all-solid-state battery.

3. The all-solid-state battery assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The displacement acquisition unit is configured to contact a surface of the all-solid-state battery on the outermost side in the stacking direction, and measure, determine or acquire the change in the thickness of the all-solid-state battery by measuring the distance that the one surface of the all-solid-state battery moves along the stacking direction.

4. The all-solid-state battery assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The displacement acquisition unit is configured to contact a surface of the all-solid-state battery that contacts the constraint pad.

5. The all-solid-state battery assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The displacement acquisition unit is configured to pass through the constraint pad to contact a surface of the all-solid-state battery that contacts the constraint pad.

6. The all-solid-state battery assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The displacement acquisition unit includes a first displacement acquisition unit and a second displacement acquisition unit that are arranged spaced apart from each other.

7. The all-solid-state battery assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The displacement acquisition unit includes a first displacement acquisition unit and a second displacement acquisition unit, and the first displacement acquisition unit and the second displacement acquisition unit are located at an equal distance from a central axis passing through the center of the all-solid-state battery in the stacking direction.

8. The all-solid-state battery assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The driving unit is configured to adjust the distance between an inner surface of the shell and the constraint pad, the inner surface overlapping with the all-solid-state battery in the stacking direction, and the inner surface is configured to support the all-solid-state battery when the all-solid-state battery is pressed by the constraint pad, and the constraint pad is arranged to be spaced apart from the inner surface in the stacking direction.

9. The all-solid-state battery assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The restraint pad is configured to overlap with the all-solid-state battery in the stacking direction and is arranged to be spaced apart from an inner surface of the shell in the stacking direction, and the inner surface is configured to support the all-solid-state battery when the all-solid-state battery is pressed by the restraint pad.

10. The all-solid-state battery assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The drive unit is located between an inner surface of the shell and the constraint pad to control the pressure applied to the all-solid-state battery by the constraint pad by changing the length of the drive unit when the inner surface and the constraint pad are connected to each other, and the inner surface is configured to support the all-solid-state battery when the all-solid-state battery is pressed by the constraint pad.

11. The all-solid-state battery assembly according to claim 2, wherein: At least one of the drive units is a pair of drive units, and Among them, one of the pair of driving units is arranged on one side of the all-solid-state battery and the other of the pair of driving units is arranged on an opposite side of the all-solid-state battery.

12. The all-solid-state battery assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The driving unit comprises: a fixing portion protruding from one inner surface in the stacking direction, the one inner surface being configured to support the all-solid-state battery when the all-solid-state battery is pressed by the restraint pad; a coupling portion coupled to the fixing portion to move relative to the fixing portion in the stacking direction; and The driving portion is connected to the coupling portion and is configured to drive the coupling portion so that the coupling portion moves relative to the fixing portion.

13. The all-solid-state battery assembly according to claim 2, further comprising: A pressure acquisition unit overlaps with the all-solid-state battery in the stacking direction, and the pressure acquisition unit is configured to measure, determine or acquire the pressure applied to the all-solid-state battery in the stacking direction.

14. The all-solid-state battery assembly according to claim 2, further comprising: A pressure acquisition unit is disposed between an inner surface of the shell and the all-solid-state battery, and the inner surface is configured to support the all-solid-state battery when the all-solid-state battery is pressed by the restraint pad.

15. The all-solid-state battery assembly according to claim 2, further comprising: A processor is configured to control the driving of the driving unit based on the change in the thickness of the all-solid-state battery in the stacking direction measured, determined or acquired by the displacement acquisition unit.

16. The all-solid-state battery assembly according to claim 15, wherein: The processor is configured to control driving of the driving unit based on a difference between a preset initial thickness of the all-solid-state battery and a measured thickness of the all-solid-state battery.

17. The all-solid-state battery assembly according to claim 16, wherein: The processor is configured to control the driving direction of the driving unit so that when the ratio of the difference to the initial thickness is greater than a preset indication value and the measured thickness of the all-solid-state battery is less than the initial thickness, the pressure applied to the all-solid-state battery is reduced.

18. The all-solid-state battery assembly according to claim 16, wherein: The processor is configured to control the driving direction of the driving unit so that when the ratio of the difference to the initial thickness is greater than a preset indication value and the measured thickness of the all-solid-state battery is greater than the initial thickness, the pressure applied to the all-solid-state battery is increased.

19. The all-solid-state battery assembly according to claim 13, further comprising: The processor is configured to drive the driving unit based on the change in the thickness of the all-solid-state battery in the stacking direction measured, determined or acquired by the displacement acquisition unit and the pressure of the all-solid-state battery measured, determined or acquired by the pressure acquisition unit.

20. The all-solid-state battery assembly according to claim 19, wherein: The processor is configured to control the driving of the driving unit based on the difference between a preset initial thickness of the all-solid-state battery and a measured thickness of the all-solid-state battery, and to readjust the driving of the driving unit by identifying the pressure of the all-solid-state battery caused by the driving of the driving unit.

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