Battery cells

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery cell, and more particularly to a battery cell that can shorten the length of a battery module by changing the protruding direction of leads, can utilize a larger space than conventionally to freely design bus bars, can maximize the width of tabs to effectively obtain current density and heat generation, and can stably connect the leads and tabs by widening the welding area between the leads and tabs. The battery cell according to the present invention may include electrodes, electrode tabs respectively disposed at both ends of the electrodes in a first direction, and electrode leads connected to the electrode tabs and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0181850, filed December 22, 2022, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0057923, filed May 3, 2023, and all contents disclosed in the documents of said Korean patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery cell, and relates to a battery cell including electrodes, leads and tabs. [Background technology]

[0003] In recent years, with the depletion of fossil fuels causing rising energy prices and increasing concerns about environmental pollution, the demand for environmentally friendly alternative energy sources has become an essential element for future life. Therefore, research into various electricity production technologies such as solar, wind, and tidal power has been ongoing, and there has also been great interest in power storage devices such as batteries to more efficiently utilize the electrical energy produced in this way.

[0004] Furthermore, with the increasing technological development and demand for battery-powered electronic mobile devices and battery-powered vehicles, the demand for batteries as an energy source is rapidly increasing, and as a result, much research is being conducted on batteries that can meet various demands.

[0005] Batteries are attracting much attention as an energy source for various products such as mobile devices and electric vehicles. In particular, secondary batteries are an excellent energy resource that can replace the use of existing products that use fossil fuels, and are attracting attention as an environmentally friendly energy source because they do not produce by-products from energy use.

[0006] Meanwhile, secondary batteries are also attracting attention as a power source for electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (Plug-In HEVs), etc., which have been proposed as a solution to address air pollution caused by existing gasoline and diesel vehicles that use fossil fuels. That is, such secondary batteries are used in the form of battery packs containing multiple battery modules.

[0007] In a secondary battery, lead tabs are connection terminals for electrically connecting the positive and negative electrodes in the secondary battery to the outside. A battery module is formed by stacking multiple battery cells, and the positive electrode tab connected to the positive electrode of the battery cell and the negative electrode tab connected to the negative electrode are connected to leads.

[0008] In conventional battery cell designs, the leads are designed to run parallel to the length of the battery cell. This increases the overall length, which can lead to lead breakage when battery cells are arranged in parallel. Furthermore, the leads protruding in the longitudinal direction must be connected to bus bars in the module along the length. However, the conventional design places limitations on the bus bar design. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] To solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention aims to provide a battery cell that can shorten the length of a battery module by changing the protruding direction of leads, can utilize a larger space than conventional ones to freely design bus bars, can maximize the width of tabs to effectively obtain current density and heat generation, and can stably bond leads and tabs by increasing the welding area compared to conventional ones. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] A battery cell according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an electrode, electrode tabs disposed at both ends of the electrode in a first direction, and electrode leads coupled to the electrode tabs and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0011] The electrode tabs may include a positive electrode tab disposed at one end of the electrode and a negative electrode tab disposed at the other end of the electrode, and lengths of the positive electrode tab and the negative electrode tab in the second direction may be the same as a length of the electrode.

[0012] The positive electrode tab and the negative electrode tab may be formed so that the length in the second direction is longer than the length in the first direction.

[0013] The electrode lead may include a first lead disposed at one end of the electrode and a second lead disposed at the other end of the electrode, and the first lead and the second lead may extend in the same direction along the second direction.

[0014] The first and second leads may be formed so that the length in the second direction is longer than the length in the first direction.

[0015] The first lead may include a first coupling portion coupled to a positive electrode tab, and the second lead may include a second coupling portion coupled to a negative electrode tab, and lengths of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion in the second direction may be equal to lengths of the positive electrode tab and the negative electrode tab.

[0016] The battery may further include a battery case that houses the electrode and the electrode tab, and the first lead and the second lead may protrude from the battery case in the second direction.

[0017] The first lead and the second lead may protrude in the same direction from the battery case along the second direction.

[0018] The first lead and the second lead may have the same length of the portion protruding from the battery case.

[0019] In the second direction, one side edge of the electrode lead and one side edge of the electrode tab may be disposed to correspond to each other. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to shorten the length of the battery module by changing the protruding direction of the leads, to utilize a larger space than before to freely design the bus bar, to maximize the width of the tab to effectively obtain current density and heat generation, and to increase the welding area between the leads and the tabs compared to before to achieve stable connection.

[0021] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention described below, serve to further understand the technical concept of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited solely to the matters depicted in such drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a battery cell according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is an enlarged view of a positive electrode tab and a first lead of the battery cell according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is an enlarged view of a negative electrode tab and a second lead of the battery cell according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a front view showing electrodes and electrode tabs of a battery cell according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing leads of a battery cell according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a front view showing a first lead and a second lead formed in opposite directions in a battery cell according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a battery cell according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 10 is a front view showing a first lead and a second lead formed in opposite directions in a battery cell according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that those skilled in the art can easily understand the preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention can be realized in various different forms and is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0024] In order to clearly explain the present invention, detailed descriptions of parts that are not relevant to the explanation or related known technologies that may obscure the gist of the present invention will be omitted, and when assigning reference symbols to components in each drawing in this specification, the same or similar reference symbols will be assigned to the same or similar components throughout the specification.

[0025] Furthermore, the terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted in a limited way to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted in a way that is consistent with the technical idea of ​​the present invention, in accordance with the principle that an inventor can appropriately define the concept of a term in order to best explain his or her invention.

[0026] Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a front view of a battery cell according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a positive electrode tab and a first lead of the battery cell according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a negative electrode tab and a second lead of the battery cell according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a front view showing the electrodes and electrode tabs of the battery cell according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a view showing the leads of the battery cell according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a front view showing the first lead and the second lead formed in opposite directions in the battery cell according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0028] 1 to 6, a battery cell 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes an electrode 10, an electrode tab 20, and an electrode lead 30. The battery cell 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention may be a pouch-type cell.

[0029] The electrode 10 may extend in a first direction A1. The second direction A2 is a direction perpendicular to the first direction A1. Since the electrode 10 extends in the first direction A1, the length of the electrode 10 in the first direction A1 may be longer than the length of the electrode 10 in the second direction A2.

[0030] The electrode tabs 20 may be disposed at both ends of the electrode 10 in the first direction A1. The electrode tabs 20 may include a positive electrode tab 21 and a negative electrode tab 22. The electrode tabs 20 serve to connect the electrode 10 to an external circuit. The electrode tabs 20 may be made of metal.

[0031] The positive electrode tab 21 may be disposed at one end of the electrode 10. The positive electrode tab 21 may be connected to the positive electrode of the electrode 10. The positive electrode tab 21 may be formed such that the length T1 in the second direction A2 is longer than the length T2 in the first direction A1.

[0032] The negative electrode tab 22 may be disposed at the other end of the electrode 10. The negative electrode tab 22 may be connected to the negative electrode of the electrode 10. The negative electrode tab 22 may be formed such that the length T3 in the second direction A2 is longer than the length T4 in the first direction A1.

[0033] The length of the positive electrode tab 21 and the negative electrode tab 22 in the second direction A2 may be the same as the length of the electrode 10. Because the length of the positive electrode tab 21 and the negative electrode tab 22 in the second direction A2 is the same as the length of the electrode 10, a separate cutting step is not required in the process of forming the positive electrode tab 21 and the negative electrode tab 22. Since there is no step of cutting the electrode tab 20, the risk of the positive electrode tab 21 and the negative electrode tab 22 being torn is reduced, resulting in structural stability. This has the advantage of maximizing the length of the positive electrode tab 21 and the negative electrode tab 22 in the second direction A2, allowing heat generation to be dispersed to the electrode tab 20.

[0034] The electrode lead 30 may be coupled to the electrode tab 20. The electrode lead 30 may be coupled to multiple electrode tabs 20. The electrode lead 30 may extend in a second direction A2 perpendicular to the first direction A1. The electrode lead 30 may include a first lead 31 and a second lead 32. One side edge of the electrode lead 30 may correspond to one side edge of the electrode tab 20 in the second direction A2. The electrode lead 30 can connect the electrode 10 to an external circuit. The electrode lead 30 can transmit current and voltage signals required to control the electrode 10 to the external circuit.

[0035] The first lead 31 may be disposed at one end of the electrode 10. The first lead 31 may be formed so that the length L1 in the second direction A2 is longer than the length L2 in the first direction A1.

[0036] The first lead 31 may include a first coupling portion 33 coupled to the positive electrode tab 21. The first lead 31 may be coupled to the positive electrode tab 21 by welding via the first coupling portion 33. The larger the area of ​​the first coupling portion 33, the stronger the coupling strength with the positive electrode tab 21. When multiple electrodes 10 are formed, there are also multiple positive electrode tabs 21, and therefore multiple positive electrode tabs 21 may be connected to the first lead 31.

[0037] The second lead 32 may be disposed at the other end of the electrode 10. The second lead 32 may be formed so that the length L3 in the second direction A2 is longer than the length L4 in the first direction A1.

[0038] The second lead 32 may include a second coupling portion 34 coupled to the negative electrode tab 22. The second lead 32 may be coupled to the negative electrode tab 22 by welding via the second coupling portion 34. The larger the area of ​​the second coupling portion 34, the stronger the coupling strength with the negative electrode tab 22. When multiple electrodes 10 are formed, there are also multiple negative electrode tabs 22, and therefore multiple negative electrode tabs 22 may be connected to the second lead 32.

[0039] The first coupling portion 33 and the second coupling portion 34 may be formed to have the same length as the positive electrode tab 21 and the negative electrode tab 22 in the second direction A2. That is, the first lead 31 and the second lead 32 may be formed to be longer than the positive electrode tab 21 and the negative electrode tab 22 in the second direction A2.

[0040] The battery cell 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention may further include a battery case 40. The battery case 40 can accommodate the electrode 10 and the electrode tab 20. A first lead 31 and a second lead 32 may protrude from the battery case 40. The battery case 40 can protect the electrode 10, the electrode tab 20, and the lead 30 from the external environment. The battery case 40 may be made of a pouch material.

[0041] The first lead 31 and the second lead 32 may protrude in the same direction along the second direction A2. The first lead 31 and the second lead 32 may have the same length of the portion protruding from the battery case 40. The first lead 31 may be welded and connected to the positive electrode tab 21. The second lead 32 may be welded and connected to the negative electrode tab 22.

[0042] The first lead 31 and the second lead 32 are arranged to protrude in the same direction along the second direction A2, but are not limited thereto and may be arranged to protrude in opposite directions as shown in FIG. 6.

[0043] In the battery cell 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, the first lead 31 and the second lead 32 may protrude in the second direction A2, and the lengths T1 and T3 of the positive electrode tab 21 and the negative electrode tab 22 in the second direction A2 may be the same as the length of the electrode 10. Because the first lead 31 and the second lead 32 protrude in the second direction A2, the welding surface between the electrode tab 20 and the electrode lead 30 can be maximized. In addition, the bus bar connected to the electrode lead 30 can be designed to be disposed on the second direction A2 side of the battery cell. Furthermore, maximizing the sizes of the electrode lead 30 and the electrode tab 20 has the effect of dispersing heat.

[0044] Since the bus bar connected to the electrode lead 30 can be designed toward the upper side of the battery cell rather than the side, the bus bar can be designed more freely by utilizing a larger space. Unlike existing battery cell structures, the electrode lead 30 protrudes toward the second direction A2 of the battery cell 1, which has the advantage that the electrode tab 20 does not bend even when the battery cell 1 is applied to a module in a parallel structure. In addition, since the electrode lead 30 protrudes toward the second direction A2 of the battery cell 1, it has the advantage that the overall length of the battery module can be shortened.

[0045] Conventionally, end plates were essential on the side surfaces of a battery module. However, in the battery cell 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the electrode leads 30 are designed to be disposed on the top or bottom of the battery module rather than on the side surfaces, so end plates are no longer required on the side surfaces of the battery module. This has the effect of enabling a battery module without end plates to be designed, thereby reducing costs.

[0046] Embodiment 2 Hereinafter, the battery cell 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0047] FIG. 7 is a front view showing a front view of a battery cell according to embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a front view showing a first lead and a second lead formed in opposite directions in a battery cell according to embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0048] In the battery cell 1 of embodiment 2 of the present invention, the shape of the electrode tab 20 is different from the shape of the electrode tab 20 of the battery cell 1 of embodiment 1. Contents common to embodiment 1 will be omitted as much as possible, and embodiment 2 will be described focusing on the differences.

[0049] 7 and 8, the length T5 of the positive electrode tab 21 in the second direction A2 is shorter than the length of the electrode 10. The length T6 of the negative electrode tab 22 is also shorter than the length of the electrode 10. The length T5 of the positive electrode tab 21 may be the same as the length T6 of the negative electrode tab 22.

[0050] The first lead 31 and the second lead 32 may be formed in the second direction A2. The first lead 31 and the second lead 32 may be formed in the same direction along the second direction A2, or may be formed to protrude in opposite directions.

[0051] The battery cell 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention can be a pouch-type cell.

[0052] The battery cell 1 according to embodiment 2 of the present invention has the same effects as the battery cell 1 according to embodiment 1. Compared to the battery cell 1 of embodiment 1, the electrode tabs 20 are designed to protrude further in the first direction A1, and the length of the electrode tabs 20 in the second direction A2 is shorter than the length of the electrodes 10, but the first lead 31 and the second lead 32 extend in the second direction A2. Therefore, similar to embodiment 1, the busbars can be designed freely, and unlike conventional battery cells, the bending phenomenon of the electrode tabs 20 does not occur, resulting in the effect of shortening the overall length of the battery module.

[0053] Although the present invention has been described above using limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various implementations within the technical spirit of the present invention and the scope of equivalents of the appended claims can be made by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1 battery cell 10 electrodes 20 Electrode tab 21 Positive electrode tab 22 Negative electrode tab 30 electrode leads 31 First Lead 32 Second Lead 33 1st joint 34 Second joint 40 Battery case A1 1st direction A2 2nd direction

Claims

1. An electrode; electrode tabs disposed at both ends of the electrode in the first direction; an electrode lead coupled to the electrode tab and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

2. The electrode tab is a positive electrode tab disposed at one end of the electrode; a negative electrode tab disposed at the other end of the electrode, In the second direction, The battery cell of claim 1 , wherein the positive electrode tab and the negative electrode tab have the same length as the electrodes.

3. The battery cell of claim 2 , wherein the positive electrode tab and the negative electrode tab are formed so that the length in the second direction is longer than the length in the first direction.

4. The electrode lead is a first lead disposed at one end of the electrode; a second lead disposed at the other end of the electrode; The battery cell of claim 1 , wherein the first lead and the second lead extend in the same direction along the second direction.

5. The battery cell of claim 4 , wherein the first lead and the second lead are formed so that the length in the second direction is longer than the length in the first direction.

6. the first lead includes a first coupling portion coupled to a positive electrode tab of the electrode tabs; the second lead includes a second coupling portion coupled to a negative electrode tab of the electrode tabs; In the second direction, The battery cell of claim 4 , wherein the first and second coupling portions have the same length as the positive and negative electrode tabs.

7. a battery case that houses the electrodes and the electrode tabs; The battery cell according to claim 4 , wherein the first lead and the second lead protrude from the battery case in the second direction.

8. The battery cell of claim 7 , wherein the first lead and the second lead protrude in the same direction from the battery case along the second direction.

9. The battery cell of claim 7 , wherein the first lead and the second lead have the same length of portions protruding from the battery case.

10. The battery cell according to claim 1 , wherein one side edge of the electrode lead and one side edge of the electrode tab are arranged to correspond to each other in the second direction.

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