Battery cell and method of manufacturing same

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, provided is a battery cell comprising: an electrode assembly in which a plurality of electrode plates are stacked and an uncoated portion protrudes to at least one side along a first direction; and a cap assembly disposed to face the electrode assembly in the direction of protrusion of the uncoated region and including a current collector electrically connected to the uncoated portion, wherein at least a portion of the current collector protrudes toward the electrode assembly in the first direction to face and contact the uncoated portion in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Description

Battery cell and manufacturing method thereof

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery cell and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0002] Secondary batteries (battery cells) are receiving a lot of attention as a power source for various mobile devices and electric vehicles because they offer the convenience of being able to be recharged and discharged, unlike primary batteries.

[0003] These secondary batteries may have a structure in which an electrode assembly formed by stacking a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator or by winding them in a roll shape is accommodated inside a case.

[0004] Meanwhile, the electrode assembly may be electrically connected to the external terminal of the case from inside the case, and when an impact is applied to the battery cell, the impact may be transmitted to the electrode assembly inside the battery cell, thereby breaking the electrical connection between the electrode assembly and the external terminal.

[0005] In addition, the electrode assembly and the external terminal can be electrically connected through a separate connecting member. In this case, there is a risk that the battery cell may malfunction due to an impact applied to the battery cell or the connecting member being broken during the battery cell assembly process.

[0006] Accordingly, there is a need for a structure that can stably maintain electrical connection between the electrode assembly and the external terminal of the battery cell during external impact or assembly process, and simplify the assembly process.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a battery cell having improved connection stability with a non-conductive part can be provided.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for manufacturing a battery cell can be provided in which there is no need to separately combine a cap assembly after accommodating an electrode assembly in a case.

[0009] A battery cell according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: an electrode assembly in which a plurality of electrode plates are stacked and a non-conductive portion protrudes at least to one side along a first direction; and a cap assembly including a current collector that is arranged to face the electrode assembly in the direction in which the non-conductive portion protrudes and is electrically connected to the non-conductive portion; wherein at least a portion of the current collector protrudes toward the electrode assembly in the first direction and can face and contact the non-conductive portion in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the cap assembly further includes a terminal portion at least partially exposed to the outside and connected to an external power source, and the current collector can contact the terminal portion and the non-conductive portion, respectively, to electrically connect the non-conductive portion and the terminal portion.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the current collector may include a first current collector member that contacts the terminal portion; and a second current collector member that protrudes from the first current collector member toward the electrode assembly and contacts the non-conductive portion.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the non-conductive portion and the second current collecting member may face each other in the direction in which the plurality of electrode plates are stacked.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the second collector member may be bent into an “ㄱ” shape on at least one side of the first collector member.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the electrode assembly is provided in a plurality of pieces, and the second current collecting member is provided in the same number corresponding to the number of the electrode assemblies, so that each of the plurality of electrode assemblies can be brought into contact with the non-conductive portion of the electrode assemblies.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the plurality of second collector members may face each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the non-conductive portion protrudes.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the non-conductive portion of the plurality of electrode assemblies disposed at the outermost side can face and contact the outer surface of the second current collecting member disposed at the outermost side.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the thickness (a) of the second collector member may be 0.3 mm to 4 mm.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the extended length (b) of the second collector member may be 4 mm to 10 mm.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the non-conductive portion may protrude from both sides of the electrode assembly, and the cap assembly may be disposed on each side of the electrode assembly so as to face each of the non-conductive portions.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the invention further includes a case that accommodates the electrode assembly and has an opening facing the non-conductive portion; and the cap assembly can be coupled to the case to close the opening of the case.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the case includes a first casing member that surrounds a portion of the electrode assembly and a second casing member that surrounds the remaining portion, and the first casing member and the second casing member, which are separated from each other, can be coupled to each other to accommodate the electrode assembly.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the non-coated portion may protrude to both sides of the electrode assembly, and one of the first casing member and the second casing member may be provided to surround an upper surface of the electrode assembly and one side of the electrode assembly facing a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the non-coated portion protrudes, and the other of the first casing member and the second casing member may be provided to surround a lower surface of the electrode assembly facing the upper surface of the electrode assembly and the other side of the electrode assembly.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the first casing member and the second casing member may be provided with the same shape and may be arranged to be symmetrical to each other with respect to the electrode assembly.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the first casing member and the second casing member may be bent to form an “L” shape so as to surround at least a portion of the electrode assembly.

[0025] According to one embodiment, a step may be formed at one end of each of the first casing member and the second casing member so as to be interlocked with and connected to the other end of the second casing member and the first casing member, respectively.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the case may have four corners based on the side, two of the four corners may have rounded portions, and the remaining two corners may have right-angled portions.

[0027] According to one embodiment, each of the two round portions and each of the two right-angled portions may be arranged to be symmetrical with respect to the electrode assembly and may face each other diagonally.

[0028] In addition, a battery module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes at least one battery cell, wherein the battery cell includes an electrode assembly in which a plurality of electrode plates are stacked and a non-conductive portion protrudes at least to one side along a first direction; and a cap assembly including a current collector that is arranged to face the electrode assembly in the direction in which the non-conductive portion protrudes and is electrically connected to the non-conductive portion; wherein at least a portion of the current collector protrudes toward the electrode assembly in the first direction and can face and contact the non-conductive portion in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0029] In addition, a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes at least one battery cell, wherein the battery cell includes an electrode assembly in which a plurality of electrode plates are stacked and a non-conductive portion protrudes at least to one side along a first direction; and a cap assembly including a current collector that is arranged to face the electrode assembly in the direction in which the non-conductive portion protrudes and is electrically connected to the non-conductive portion; wherein at least a portion of the current collector protrudes toward the electrode assembly in the first direction and can face and contact the non-conductive portion in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0030] In addition, a method for manufacturing a battery cell according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a step of arranging a cap assembly including a current collector electrically connected to the non-conductive portion on each side of an electrode assembly in which a plurality of electrode plates are stacked and non-conductive portions protrude on both sides, and connecting the cap assembly to both sides of the electrode assembly; and a step of covering an exposed surface of the electrode assembly exposed from the cap assembly with a case to accommodate the electrode assembly.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the case includes a first casing member that surrounds a portion of an exposed surface of the electrode assembly and a second casing member that surrounds the remainder, and the first casing member and the second casing member can accommodate the electrode assembly by being coupled to each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the non-conductive portion protrudes.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the step of connecting the cap assembly may include overlapping the non-conductive portion and the current collector portion in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the non-conductive portion protrudes and then welding them.

[0033] Above, the means according to the present disclosure have been described, but this is exemplary, and it should be understood that other configurations not mentioned are also included in the present disclosure.

[0034] The battery cell according to the present disclosure can improve the stability of connection with a non-conductive part.

[0035] The battery cell manufacturing method according to the present disclosure can improve the efficiency of the manufacturing process.

[0036] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional battery cell.

[0037] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a conventional battery cell.

[0038] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a battery cell according to one embodiment.

[0039] Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a battery cell according to one embodiment.

[0040] Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a cap assembly according to one embodiment.

[0041] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery cell according to one embodiment.

[0042] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a case according to one embodiment.

[0043] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a case according to one embodiment.

[0044] FIG. 9 is a drawing showing the assembly order of a battery cell according to one embodiment.

[0045] FIG. 10 is a drawing of a battery module and a battery pack having battery cells according to one embodiment.

[0046] FIG. 11 is a drawing showing a battery module mounted on a battery pack according to one embodiment.

[0047] Before going into a detailed description of the embodiments, it should be noted that the terms and words used in the following description and claims should not be construed as limited to their usual or dictionary meanings, but should be construed as meanings and concepts that conform to the technical idea of ​​the present invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the term in order to explain his or her own invention in the best way.

[0048] The same reference numbers or symbols used in each drawing represent parts or components that perform substantially the same functions. For convenience of description and understanding, the same reference numbers or symbols may be used in different embodiments.

[0049] In the following description, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Terms such as "comprises" or "comprises" should be understood to indicate the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0050] In addition, in the description below, expressions such as top, upper, lower, lower, side, front, and rear are expressed based on the direction shown in the drawing, and it is noted in advance that they may be expressed differently if the direction of the object in question changes.

[0051] Additionally, terms including ordinal numbers, such as "first," "second," etc., may be used to distinguish between components in the following description and claims. These ordinal numbers are used to distinguish identical or similar components from each other, and the use of these ordinal numbers should not be interpreted in a limited way. For example, components associated with these ordinals should not be interpreted in a limited way in terms of their order of use or arrangement, etc., based on their numbers. If necessary, each ordinal number may be used interchangeably.

[0052] First, the structure of a conventional battery cell (1) is described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0053] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional battery cell, and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the conventional battery cell. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the conventional battery cell (1) may include an electrode assembly (EA) having a protruding non-conductive portion (FO), a housing (HS) in which the electrode assembly (EA) is accommodated, a cap assembly (CA) coupled to the housing (HS), and an extension member (CM) connecting the non-conductive portion (FO) and the cap assembly (CA) to each other.

[0054] The drawing illustrated in the upper part of Fig. 1 shows a state in which the cap assembly (CA) is opened while the electrode assembly (EA) is accommodated in the housing (HS), and the drawing illustrated in the lower part of Fig. 1 shows a state in which the battery cell (1) is formed so that the cap assembly (CA) is closed and the electrode assembly (EA) is not exposed to the outside. The drawing illustrated in the upper part of Fig. 2 and the drawing illustrated in the lower part of Fig. 2 are partial cross-sectional views of the drawing illustrated in the upper part of Fig. 1 and the drawing illustrated in the lower part of Fig. 2, respectively.

[0055] In a conventional battery cell (1), the electrode assembly (EA) can be electrically connected to the electrode terminal (ET) of the cap assembly (CA) through a separate connecting member (CM) that is welded and extended to the non-conductive portion (FO) of the electrode assembly (EA). Here, the connecting member (CM) may be an extension tab welded to the non-conductive portion (FO).

[0056] Specifically, one side of the separate extension member (CM) may be electrically connected to the electrode assembly (EA), specifically, the non-conductive portion (FO) of the electrode assembly (EA), and the other side of the connection member (CM) may be electrically connected to the electrode terminal (ET) of the cap assembly (CA).

[0057] Additionally, the connecting member (CM) of the conventional battery cell (1) may be configured so that at least a portion thereof can be bent. For example, the connecting member (CM) may be formed of a thin metal wire or metal plate that can be easily bent, and may be bent into an approximately C-, S-, or L-shape between the assembly (EA) and the cap assembly (CA).

[0058] In this structure, there is a risk that the conventional connecting member (CM) may be damaged or the bent portion may break during the assembly process of the cap assembly (CA).

[0059] In addition, in this structure, the connecting member (CM) occupies the space between the electrode assembly (EA) and the cap assembly (CA) in the internal space of the housing (HS), so the energy density of the battery cell (1) may be reduced.

[0060] On the other hand, since the battery cell (10) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is provided so that the current collector (210) and the non-conductive portion (foil, 112) are in direct contact, it is safer from external impact and the energy density can be improved.

[0061]

[0062] Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. However, these are merely exemplary and the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described as examples.

[0063]

[0064] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a battery cell according to one embodiment, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a battery cell according to one embodiment.

[0065] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a battery cell according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes an electrode assembly (100) in which a plurality of electrode plates (110) are stacked and a non-conductive portion (112) protrudes at least to one side, and a cap assembly (200) including a current collector (210) that is arranged so that the non-conductive portion (112) faces the electrode assembly (100) in a protruding direction and is electrically connected to the non-conductive portion (112), and at least a portion of the current collector (210) may be provided to protrude toward the electrode assembly (210) and come into contact with the non-conductive portion.

[0066] Meanwhile, the battery cell (10) according to the present disclosure may be a secondary battery capable of being charged and discharged. The battery cell (10) may have an angular exterior as shown in the drawing, but it should be understood that the exterior of the battery cell (10) according to the present disclosure is not limited to that shown in the drawing.

[0067] According to one embodiment, the collector (210) may be provided in a shape that is bent toward the electrode assembly (100) in the cap assembly (200).

[0068] According to the present disclosure, an electrode assembly (100) can be formed by stacking a plurality of electrode plates (110, see FIG. 6) and a separator (not shown) interposed therebetween.

[0069] More specifically, in one embodiment, the electrode plate (110) may include a positive electrode plate having a positive electrode active material applied to at least one surface of the current collector and a negative electrode plate having a negative electrode active material applied to at least one surface of the current collector.

[0070] That is, each of the plurality of electrode plates (110) of the electrode assembly (100) according to one embodiment may include a coated portion (111) coated with a positive or negative electrode active material and a non-coated portion (112) on which no active material is applied.

[0071] Meanwhile, each of the plurality of electrode plates (110) according to one embodiment may have a non-conductive portion (112). For the convenience of understanding, even if the non-conductive portion (112) is expressed singularly in the present disclosure, it should be understood that it includes a plurality of non-conductive portions (112).

[0072] The separator may be configured to prevent electrical short-circuiting between the positive and negative electrode plates and to allow ion flow. For example, the separator may include a porous polymer film or a porous substrate.

[0073] According to one embodiment, the electrode assembly may be formed by sequentially stacking positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates with a separator interposed between them. In some embodiments, the electrode assembly may be of a winding type, a stacking type, a zigzag folding type, or a stack-folding type. However, the electrode assembly (100) of the present disclosure is not particularly limited as long as it has a structure in which the positive electrode, the separator, and the negative electrode are repeatedly arranged.

[0074] In addition, a battery cell (10) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may be provided by stacking one or more electrode assemblies (100). For example, as shown in FIG. 4, two electrode assemblies (100) may be stacked and arranged in the thickness direction (X-axis direction).

[0075] The non-conductive portion (112) may protrude from at least one side of the electrode assembly (100) and be connected to the cap assembly (200). The non-conductive portion (112) may be electrically connected to the terminal portion (250) of the cap assembly (200) through the current collector portion (210) of the cap assembly (200).

[0076] As described below, according to one embodiment of the battery cell (10), the non-conductive portion (112) can be electrically connected to the cap assembly (200) by directly contacting the current collector (210).

[0077] Meanwhile, in FIG. 4, the non-conductive portion (112) is illustrated as protruding to both sides of the electrode assembly (100), but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and it should be understood that any structure in which the non-conductive portion (112) protrudes toward the cap assembly (200) is included in the present disclosure.

[0078] Meanwhile, the battery cell (1) of the present disclosure may include a case (300) that accommodates the electrode assembly (1). The case (300) has an opening (305, see FIG. 7) formed to face the non-conductive portion (112) or the cap assembly (200), and the electrode assembly (100) can be accommodated inside through the opening.

[0079] The case (300) can protect the electrode assembly (100) housed inside from the external environment and maintain the external appearance of the battery cell (10). For example, the case may include a metal material such as aluminum, steel, or stainless steel to ensure sufficient rigidity.

[0080] However, the material of the case (300) in the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and is not particularly limited as long as it can maintain an outer shape sufficient to accommodate the electrode assembly therein.

[0081] According to one embodiment, the case (300) may include a first casing member (310) that surrounds a portion of the electrode assembly (100) and a second casing member (320) that surrounds the remainder of the electrode assembly (100).

[0082] At this time, the first casing member (310) and the second casing member (320), which are separate structures, can improve the efficiency of the assembly process of the battery cell (10) by wrapping and accommodating the electrode assembly (100) while being combined with each other.

[0083] Specific details about this are described later in Figs. 7 to 9.

[0084]

[0085] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a battery cell (10) may include at least one cap assembly (200) electrically connected to a non-conductive portion (112). The cap assembly (200) may be disposed on at least one side of the electrode assembly (100) so as to face the non-conductive portion (112), and may be electrically connected to the non-conductive portion (112).

[0086] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the cap assembly (200) may be provided with a first cap assembly (200a) positioned on one side of the electrode assembly (100) and a second cap assembly (200b) positioned on the other side of the electrode assembly (100) so that the cap portion (112) has different polarities and protrudes on both sides along the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) of the electrode assembly (100).

[0087] In this way, the cap assembly (200) is positioned on both sides of the electrode assembly (100) to face the non-conductive portions (112) and can be electrically connected to the facing non-conductive portions (112). In addition, the first cap assembly (200a) and the second cap assembly (200b) can be positioned in different directions with respect to the electrode assembly (100) and have different polarities.

[0088] Meanwhile, the first cap assembly (200a) and the second cap assembly (200b) are only intended to distinguish the positions where they are arranged with respect to the electrode assembly (100), and their specific shapes and configurations may be identical. Accordingly, in the present disclosure, the first cap assembly (200a) and the second cap assembly (200b) are not separately distinguished, but are used interchangeably with the cap assembly (200) for convenience.

[0089] FIG. 5A is an exploded perspective view of a cap assembly according to one embodiment, FIG. 5B is a perspective view of FIG. 5A from another direction, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery cell according to one embodiment.

[0090] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 together, a cap assembly (200) according to one embodiment may include a current collector (210) that is electrically connected to a non-conductive portion (112) by contact, a cap plate (230) that is positioned to face the side of the electrode assembly (100) on which the non-conductive portion (112) is formed and covers an opening (305) of a case (310), and a terminal portion (250) that is electrically connected to the current collector (210) and is exposed to the outside from the cap plate (230) and can be connected to an external power source.

[0091] The current collector (210) may be formed of an electrically conductive material. The current collector (210) may have one side in contact with the non-conductive portion (112) and the other side in contact with the terminal portion (250), thereby electrically connecting the electrode assembly (100) and the terminal portion (250). The current collector (210) may protrude from the terminal portion (250) toward the non-conductive portion (112).

[0092] The current collector (210) may be coupled by at least a portion thereof being in contact with the non-conductive portion (112). For example, the current collector (210) and the non-conductive portion (112) may be electrically connected by being welded to each other by a method such as ultrasonic welding or laser welding. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the welding method of the non-conductive portion (112) and the current collector (210), and should be understood to include any structure that can be electrically connected to each other.

[0093] The current collector (210) may include a first current collector member (211) that is in contact with the terminal member (250) and a second current collector member (213) that protrudes from the first current collector member (211) toward the electrode assembly (100) and is in direct contact with the non-conductive member (112).

[0094] In addition, according to one embodiment, the second current collecting member (213) may be provided in a shape that is bent toward the electrode assembly (100) from the end of the first current collecting member (211). That is, in the drawing, the second current collecting member (213) is illustrated as having a shape that is bent from the end of the first current collecting member (211), but is not necessarily limited thereto.

[0095] Meanwhile, the non-conductive portion (210) of one embodiment is made of a rigid metal material so that the electrical connection with the non-conductive portion (112) can be stably maintained. On the other hand, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, since the cap assembly (CA) of the conventional battery cell (1) is electrically connected to the electrode assembly (EA) through a flexibly bendable extension member (CM), it takes up a lot of space between the cap assembly (CA) and the electrode assembly (EA), and the extension member (CM) can be easily broken by external impact.

[0096] According to the present disclosure, the current collector (210) is provided so that one side is supported by the terminal (250) and the other side protrudes and directly contacts the non-conductive portion (112), so that a separate extension member (CM) of a conventional battery cell (1) is not required, and durability and reliability can be improved when connecting the cap assembly (200) to the electrode assembly (100).

[0097] In other words, through the structure of the current collector (210) according to the present disclosure, a separate extension part is not required between the electrode assembly (100) and the cap assembly (200), so the space between the electrode assembly (100) and the cap assembly (200) can be more utilized, and there can be no problem of the extension part therebetween being broken due to external impact.

[0098] Through this, the electrical connection between the non-conductive part (112) and the terminal part (250) can be implemented simply and reliably through one current collector part (210).

[0099] More specifically, referring to FIG. 6, the current collector (210) may be provided in a shape including an “L” shape that extends in the thickness direction (X-axis direction) of the electrode assembly (100) and then bends and extends in the length direction (Y-axis direction) of the electrode assembly (100).

[0100] Additionally, the second collector member (213) and the non-conductive member (211) may be provided to contact each other in a direction perpendicular to the protrusion direction of the non-conductive member (211).

[0101] More specifically, referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 9A described below, in the conventional battery cell (1), the connecting member (CM) and the non-coated portion (FO) are welded in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) while the cap assembly (CA) is open in the housing (HS). In the battery cell (10) of the present disclosure, the non-coated portion (112) and the collector portion (210) are directly welded before the case (300) is joined, so that the assembly process is simpler, and the non-coated portion (112) can be prevented from becoming damaged during the process of connecting the cap assembly (200).

[0102] Referring to FIG. 6, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the current collector (210) can be in contact with the non-conductive portion (212) in a direction parallel to the direction in which the plurality of electrode plates (110) of the electrode assembly (100) are stacked.

[0103] A plurality of electrode plates (110) are stacked in the thickness direction (X-axis direction) of the electrode assembly (100), and here, the second current collecting member (213) of the current collecting portion (210) can contact the non-conductive portion (112) in a direction parallel to the thickness direction (X-axis direction) of the electrode assembly (100).

[0104] Meanwhile, when the current collector (210), specifically the second current collector (213), and the non-conductive portion (112) are connected, it is advantageous in terms of stability of the electrode assembly (100) to prevent the non-conductive portion (112) from being bent as much as possible.

[0105] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, with respect to the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) of the electrode assembly (100), the non-conductive portion (112) protrudes in one direction (+Y-axis direction) and the second current collecting member protrudes in the other direction (-Y-axis direction), and the second current collecting member (213) and the non-conductive portion (112) can come into contact with each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, specifically, in the thickness direction (X-axis direction) (see FIG. 6).

[0106] On the other hand, referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the conventional battery cell (1) has a structure in which the non-conductive portion (FO) and the extension member (CM) are welded in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) while the cap assembly (CA) is open, and then the cap assembly (CA) is closed, so that the area to be welded is arranged to face the longitudinal direction.

[0107] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the contact area or welding area between the non-conductive portion (112) and the current collector (210) may be arranged to face each other and overlap in the thickness direction. With this structure, unlike the conventional battery cell (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention (see the lower drawing of FIG. 2), the non-conductive portion (112) can be minimized from being bent in the thickness direction (X-axis direction).

[0108] That is, the contact area between the non-conductive part (112) and the collector part (210) can be increased while preventing or minimizing the bending of the non-conductive part (112).

[0109] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of electrode assemblies (100) may be provided. In this case, when a plurality of electrode assemblies (100) are provided, a plurality of second current collector members (213) may also be provided to contact each current collector (112).

[0110] For example, referring to FIG. 6, two electrode assemblies (100) are laminated in the thickness direction (X-axis direction), and two second current collectors (213) are bent and extended from both ends of the first current collector (211) extending in the thickness direction toward the electrode assembly (100) to form a “ㄷ” shape so that they each contact the non-conductive portion (112) of a different electrode assembly (100).

[0111] In this case, when a plurality of electrode assemblies (100) are provided, the non-conductive portion of the plurality of electrode assemblies (100) arranged at the outermost side can contact the second current collecting member (213) on the outside of the second current collecting member (213) arranged at the outermost side.

[0112] Specifically, referring to FIG. 6, the left-side uncoated portion (112) and the right-side uncoated portion (112) may face the left outer surface and the right outer surface of the current collecting member (213), respectively. At this time, as shown in the drawing, the uncoated portion (112) may contact the outer surface of the second current collecting member (213). That is, based on the drawing, the left-side uncoated portion (112) may contact the left side of the second current collecting member (213), but the right-side uncoated portion (112) may contact the second current collecting member (213) from the right side. With this structure, welding of the uncoated portion (112) and the second current collecting member (213) may become easier.

[0113] Meanwhile, as another example, when one electrode assembly (100) is provided, the second current collecting member may be provided in an “L” shape that is bent and extended from one end of the first current collecting member.

[0114] As another example, when three electrode assemblies (100) are stacked in the thickness direction, three second current collector members may be provided in a structure such as “E”.

[0115] That is, the second current collector (213) may be provided in the same number corresponding to the number of electrode assemblies (100) so as to be in contact with the non-conductive portion (112) of each electrode assembly (100).

[0116] Meanwhile, in the drawing, one second current collecting member (213) and one non-conductive member (112) are shown to be in surface contact on one side, but two non-conductive members (112) may be in double-sided contact on one side and the other side of one second current collecting member (213).

[0117] Meanwhile, in one embodiment, the thickness (a) of the second current collecting member (213) may be provided within a predetermined range in consideration of the electrical connection with the non-conductive portion (112) and the bending shape. Specifically, considering the electrical resistance value with the non-conductive portion (112), the thicker the thickness (a) of the second current collecting member (213), the more advantageous it is; however, if it is excessively thick, interference with adjacent members may occur or it may be difficult to implement the bending shape.

[0118] For example, the thickness (a) of the second current collecting member (213) may be 3 mm or more. If the thickness (a) of the second current collecting member (213) is less than 0.3 mm, the electrical resistance value with respect to the non-conductive member (112) increases and the second current collecting member (213) may be easily broken. In addition, the thickness (a) of the second current collecting member (213) may be 4 mm or less. If the thickness (a) of the second current collecting member (213) is greater than 4 mm, the second current collecting member (213) may be difficult to bend. That is, the thickness (a) of the second current collecting member (213) may be 0.3 mm to 4 mm.

[0119] More specifically, the thickness (a) of the second current collecting member (213) may be advantageous in terms of energy efficiency and mechanical rigidity when it is 0.5 mm or more. In addition, the thickness (a) of the second current collecting member (213) may be advantageous in implementing a folded shape when it is 2 mm or less. That is, the thickness (a) of the second current collecting member (213) may be 0.5 mm to 2 mm.

[0120] Meanwhile, since the extension member (CM) of the conventional battery cell (1) must be bent a lot in a narrow space as shown in FIG. 2, it is advantageous for it to be thin, and as a result, the electrical resistance value between the extension member (CM) and the non-conductive portion (FO) can be provided relatively high. On the other hand, since the battery cell (10) of the present disclosure has the current collector (210) in direct contact with the non-conductive portion (112) and is electrically connected without a separate extension member, the thickness (a) thereof can be designed to be thicker than that of the extension member (CM) of the conventional battery cell (1).

[0121] With this structure, the battery cell (10) according to the present disclosure can have a lower electrical resistance value and improved energy efficiency.

[0122] In addition, in one embodiment, the extension length (b) of the second current collecting member (213) may be provided within a predetermined range in consideration of the welding area with the non-conductive portion (112) and the contact area with the non-conductive portion (112). Specifically, considering the area of ​​contact and welding with the non-conductive portion (112), the resistance value, etc., the extension length (b) of the second current collecting member (213) may be advantageous as it is larger; however, in consideration of interference between the electrode assembly (100) and the cap assembly (200), it may be provided within a predetermined range.

[0123] For example, considering the area in contact with the non-conductive portion (112), the extension length (b) of the second current collecting member (213) may be 2 mm or more. If it is less than 2 mm, the contact area between the second current collecting member (213) and the non-conductive portion (112) is reduced, which increases electrical resistance and may easily separate from external impact. In addition, considering the length of the electrode assembly (100) in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) and interference with the electrode assembly (100) during assembly, the extension length (b) of the second current collecting member (213) may be 10 mm or less. If it is greater than 10 mm, the length of the electrode assembly (100) in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) is reduced, which may reduce the amount of energy or excessively pressurize the side of the electrode assembly (100) during assembly, which is disadvantageous in terms of durability. That is, the extension length (b) of the second collector member (213) can be provided in the range of 2 mm to 10 mm.

[0124] More specifically, the extension length (b) of the second current collecting member (213) may be 4 mm or more. When the non-welding member (112) and the second current collecting member (213) are joined, the welding device can hold the welding area, but if the extension length (b) is less than 4 mm, it may be difficult for the welding device to enter. That is, the extension length of the second current collecting member (213) may be 4 mm to 10 mm.

[0125] Meanwhile, the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to the thickness (a) and the extension length (b) of the second current collecting member (213) described above, and the values ​​may vary in proportion to the size of each component of the battery cell (10). In addition, the thickness (a) and the extension length (b) of the second current collecting member (213) may not be particularly limited as long as the values ​​are such that the second current collecting member (213) and the non-conductive portion (112) can be directly contacted and joined.

[0126] In addition, according to one embodiment, the current collector (210) is formed with a terminal hole (215) into which at least a portion of the terminal portion (250) is inserted in the first current collector member (211), so that the first current collector member (211) can accommodate and surround one side of the terminal portion (250), specifically, one side of a rivet terminal (251) to be described later. Through this configuration, the volume of the electrode assembly (100) in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) can be reduced and energy efficiency can be improved.

[0127] According to one embodiment, one side of the first current collector (211) may be bent and extended to correspond to one side of a rivet terminal (251) to be described later. That is, the current collector (210) may be provided in a shape like a “7” bent in an “L” shape at two places.

[0128] The cap plate (230) is made of a material having a predetermined rigidity and can close the opening (305) of the case (300) and protect the electrode assembly (100). For example, the cap plate (230) can be made of the same material as the case (300) to improve assembly integrity.

[0129] One side of the cap plate (230) is a surface exposed from the outside of the battery cell (10) and has a terminal portion (250) provided thereon, and the other side is a surface facing the side of the electrode assembly (100) in the internal space of the battery cell (10) and has a current collector portion (210) provided thereon. The cap plate (230) can support the arrangement positions of the terminal portion (250) and the current collector portion (210).

[0130] The terminal portion (250) is made of an electrically conductive material and is exposed to the outside through the cap plate (230) to connect the battery cell (10) to an external power source. The terminal portion (250) may include a terminal rivet (251) that is provided in a pin shape penetrating the cap plate (230) and comes into contact with the current collector (210), and a port terminal port (253) that is connected to the terminal rivet (251) and is arranged on one side of the cap plate (230).

[0131] The terminal rivet (251) penetrates the cap plate (230) and is positioned between the cap plate (230) and the electrode assembly (100) so that it can be electrically connected by contacting the first current collecting member (211) of the current collecting portion (210).

[0132] The terminal port (253) is electrically connected by contact with the terminal rivet (251), and is exposed from the outside of the battery cell (10) so that it can be electrically connected to an external power source.

[0133] In addition, the cap assembly (200) according to one embodiment may further include an insulating portion (270) made of an electrically insulating material to insulate between the current collector (210) and the cap plate (230) and between the terminal portion (250) and the cap plate (230).

[0134] The insulating part (270) may include an insulating plate (271) that is placed between the current collector (210) and the cap plate (230) to electrically isolate them from each other, an insulating cap (273) that is placed between the terminal port (253) and the cap plate (230) to electrically isolate them from each other, and an insulating gasket (275) that is placed between the terminal rivet (251) and the cap plate (230) to electrically isolate them from each other.

[0135] The insulating plate (271) is provided in a plate shape corresponding to the cap plate (230) and can accommodate at least a portion of the current collector (210) through a groove provided on the surface facing the electrode assembly (100).

[0136] The insulating cap (273) may be provided to cover at least a portion of the terminal portion (250) exposed to the outside of the cap plate (230), specifically the terminal port (253) and the terminal rivet (251).

[0137] An insulating gasket (275) is placed between the inner surface of the cap plate (230) through which the terminal rivet (251) penetrates and the outer surface of the terminal rivet (251) to electrically insulate each other.

[0138]

[0139] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a case according to one embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a case according to one embodiment.

[0140] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the case (300) has an internal space that surrounds and accommodates the electrode assembly (100), and may be provided with an opening (305) on at least one side to accommodate the electrode assembly (100). The opening (305) of the case (300) may be formed such that the surface facing the non-conductive portion (112) of the electrode assembly (100) is open.

[0141] For example, when a non-conductive portion (112) is formed on both sides of the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the electrode assembly (100), an opening (305) can also be formed on both sides corresponding thereto, as shown in the drawing of FIG. 7.

[0142] Additionally, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the case (300) may be provided with a plurality of casing members that are provided with a structure that is separated from each other and each dividing and enclosing at least a portion of the electrode assembly (100).

[0143] For example, referring to FIG. 7, the case (300) may include a first casing member (310) that surrounds a portion of the electrode assembly (100) and a second casing member (320) that surrounds the remainder.

[0144] The first casing member (310) and the second casing member (320) are separate structures, and the electrode assembly (100) can be accommodated inside when the first casing member (310) and the second casing member (320) face each other and are joined to each other (see FIG. 9B).

[0145] For example, the first casing member (310) may be provided to surround the upper surface (facing the Z-axis direction) and one side surface (facing the X-axis direction) of the electrode assembly (100) that are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the non-conductive portion (112) protrudes or the opening (305), and the second casing member (320) may be provided to surround the lower surface facing the upper surface of the electrode assembly (100) and the other side surface facing the one side surface of the electrode assembly (100).

[0146] Here, “covering” may mean that the casing member covers the electrode assembly (100) so that it is not exposed from the outside. Alternatively, it may mean that the casing member is arranged to face at least one surface of the electrode assembly (100) and covers it.

[0147] According to one embodiment, the first casing member (310) may include a first support member (311) and a first extension member (313) that is bent and extended from the first support member (311). In addition, the second casing member (320) may include a second support member (3 / 1) and a second extension member (323) that is bent and extended from the second support member (321).

[0148] Additionally, the first casing member (310) and the second casing member (320) can be formed with the same structure that is symmetrical with respect to the electrode assembly (100).

[0149] In other words, referring to FIG. 8, the first casing member (310) and the second casing member (320) can be symmetrical to each other in a diagonal direction (X-axis and Z-axis direction in the drawing) based on the side surface.

[0150] Through this structure, the end of the first support member (311) and the end of the second extension member (323) are connected to each other, and the end of the first extension member (313) and the end of the second support member (321) are connected to each other, so that the first casing member (310) and the second casing member (320) can be connected to each other.

[0151] Additionally, in one embodiment, a step portion (315, 325) may be formed on one end of the first casing member (310) and the second casing member (310), respectively, to engage with the other end of the second casing member (320) and the first casing member (310).

[0152] For example, a first step portion (315) may be formed at an end of the first extension surface (313), and a second step portion (325) may be formed at an end of the second extension surface (323).

[0153] At this time, the ends of the first step portion (315) and the second support portion (321) are interlocked and combined with each other, and the ends of the second step portion (325) and the first support portion (311) are interlocked and combined with each other, thereby improving assembly stability.

[0154] Meanwhile, in the drawing, the first casing member (310) and the second casing member (320) are formed to have an approximate “L” shape and surround two surfaces, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0155] For example, the first casing member (310) may be provided in a “ㄷ” shape that surrounds one side of the electrode assembly, and the second casing member (320) may be provided in a “ㄷ” shape that surrounds three sides of the electrode assembly.

[0156] Meanwhile, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in the right drawing of FIG. 8, the case may be provided with a plurality of curved portions (HR1, HR2) having a predetermined curvature on the outside and a plurality of right-angled portions (HV1, HV2) having no curvature and being formed at approximately right angles.

[0157] For example, as shown in the drawing, the case (300) may be provided with a roughly rectangular shape when viewed from the side where the opening (305) is formed. Here, two of the four corners may be provided as curved portions (HR1, HR2) and the remaining two may be provided as right-angled portions (HV1, HV2).

[0158] In one embodiment, the curved portion (HR1, HR2) may be a portion where the casing member (310, 320) is bent.

[0159] For example, the curved portions (HR1, HR2) may include a first curved portion (HR1) formed by bending the first casing member (310) and a second curved portion (HR2) formed by bending the second casing member (320).

[0160] In one embodiment, the right angle portions (HV1, HV2) may be portions where the casing members are joined to each other.

[0161] For example, the right angle portions (HV1, HV2) may include a first right angle portion (HV1) formed by joining the other side (313) of the first casing member (310) and one side (321) of the second casing member (320), and a second right angle portion (HV2) formed by joining the other side (323) of the second casing member (320) and one side (311) of the first casing member (310).

[0162] In this structure, when the first casing member (310) and the second casing member (320) are diagonally symmetrical to each other, the first curved portion (HR1) and the second curved portion (HR2) can be arranged to face each other diagonally, and the first right-angle portion (HV1) and the second right-angle portion (HV2) can be arranged to face each other diagonally.

[0163] Through this structure, the space inside the case (300) can be increased, and the external cooling area of ​​the battery cell (10) can be increased.

[0164] In addition, according to one embodiment, when the battery cell (10) is placed upright as shown in the drawing, the battery cell (10) can be laid down while rotating by the curved portion (HR1 in the drawing) placed at the bottom of the battery cell (10). That is, when one battery cell (10) is placed upright, it can be laid down so as to have a stable structure by the curved portion (HR1, HR2).

[0165] Meanwhile, the battery cell (10) according to the present disclosure can be manufactured by assembling a case (300) to accommodate an electrode assembly (100) by combining a plurality of casing members (for example, a first casing member (310) and a second casing member (320)) that are separated from each other.

[0166]

[0167] FIG. 9 is a drawing showing the manufacturing sequence of a battery cell (10) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0168] Referring to FIG. 9A, a battery cell (10) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a cap assembly (200) including a current collector (210) electrically connected to the non-conductive portion (112) on both sides (Y-axis direction in the drawing) of an electrode assembly (100) in which a plurality of electrode plates (110) are stacked and non-conductive portions (112) protrude on both sides, specifically, a first cap assembly (200a) and a second cap assembly (200b) may be respectively disposed to surround both sides of the electrode assembly (100).

[0169] That is, a first cap assembly (200a) and a second cap assembly (200b) can be assembled on both sides of an electrode assembly (100) in which the non-conductive portion (112) protrudes on both sides in a battery cell (10).

[0170] Next, referring to FIG. 9B, a battery cell (10) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure can accommodate the electrode assembly (100) by covering the exposed surface of the electrode assembly (100) with a case (300). At this time, the case (300) is provided so as to be separable from each other, and a first case member (310) that covers a part of the electrode assembly (100) and a second case member (320) that covers the remainder are coupled to each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the non-conductive portion protrudes (X-axis direction) to accommodate the electrode assembly (100).

[0171] That is, the electrode assembly (100) can be assembled by receiving the first casing member (310) and the second casing member (320) while being coupled to each other so as to surround the electrode assembly (100) with the cap assembly (200) connected to each side.

[0172] Through this structure, the battery cell (10) according to the present disclosure can accommodate the electrode assembly (100) inside while the cap assembly (200) is connected to both sides of the electrode assembly (100), so that the assembly process can be simplified.

[0173] Meanwhile, referring back to FIG. 1, since the conventional battery cell (1) has a structure in which the housing (HS, case) is formed integrally and cannot be separated, interference occurs between the cap assembly (CA) and the housing (HS), and when the cap assembly (CA) is connected to both sides of the electrode assembly (EA), the electrode assembly (100) cannot be accommodated inside the housing (HS), which may complicate the assembly process.

[0174] Specifically, in a conventional battery cell (1), it is difficult to accommodate the electrode assembly (EA) in the housing (HS) when the cap assembly (CA) is connected to each side of the electrode assembly (EA) due to interference caused by the difference in the cross-sectional area of ​​the cap assembly (CA) and the opening area of ​​the housing (HS).

[0175] Accordingly, in the conventional manufacturing process of a battery cell (1), in a structure in which a cap assembly (CA) is connected to both sides of an electrode assembly (EA), a process of accommodating the electrode assembly (EA) in a housing (HS) and then connecting the cap assembly (CA) was absolutely necessary.

[0176] Meanwhile, it is also possible to consider assembling the electrode assembly (EA) into the housing (HS) and then assembling the cap assembly (CA) on both sides. However, in this case, it may be difficult to weld and join the connecting member (CM) during assembly due to interference between the housing (HS) and the cap assembly (CA).

[0177] Accordingly, it is advantageous in terms of productivity and efficiency of the assembly process to connect the cap assembly (CA) on both sides before accommodating the electrode assembly (EA) in the housing (HS), but as described above, it is difficult to perform this assembly process on a conventional battery cell (1).

[0178]

[0179] In contrast, referring to FIG. 9, since the battery cell (10) of the present disclosure accommodates the electrode assembly (100) by combining a plurality of casing members (310, 320) as described above, even if the cap assembly (200) is connected to both sides of the electrode assembly (100), the electrode assembly (100) can be accommodated in the case (300), thereby improving the assembly process.

[0180] In other words, in the manufacturing process of the battery cell (10) of the present disclosure, the manufacturing process can be completed simply by accommodating the electrode assembly (100) into the case (300), and since an additional process of joining the cap assembly (200) thereafter is not necessarily required, the assembly process can be simplified. In addition, through this simple assembly process, the stability of the electrical connection between the non-conductive portion (211) and the terminal portion (250) can be improved.

[0181]

[0182] In addition, in the conventional battery cell (1), the cap assembly (CA) is opened and folded to open the housing (HS), and the non-conductive portion (112) and the extension member (CM) facing each other in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) are welded together (see the upper drawings of FIGS. 1 and 2), and then the cap assembly (CA) is closed to close the housing (HS) (see the lower drawings of FIGS. 1 and 2), thereby connecting the cap assembly (CA) to the electrode assembly (EA).

[0183] On the other hand, the battery cell (10) of the present disclosure connects the cap assembly (200) to the electrode assembly (100) by welding the non-conductive portion (112) and the current collector (210) that face each other in the thickness direction (X-axis direction) while the electrode assembly (100) and the cap assembly (200) are arranged to face each other in the length direction (Y-axis direction).

[0184] In this way, according to the method for manufacturing the battery cell (10) of the present disclosure, since welding is performed with the position of the cap assembly (200) finally aligned, there is no concern that the welded portion will become distorted. In addition, since the present disclosure contacts the collector (210) with the non-protruding portion (112) in a direction that prevents the non-protruding portion (112) from being bent as much as possible, and the connection of the cap assembly (200) may not interfere with the case (300).

[0185]

[0186] Meanwhile, at least one battery cell (10) according to the present disclosure may be stacked and provided in a battery module (30) or a battery pack (50). The battery cells (10) according to the embodiments may be sequentially stacked and provided in a battery module (30), and the battery module (30) may be provided in a battery pack (50).

[0187] That is, a battery module (30) according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a battery cell (10) according to the embodiments described above, and a battery pack (50) according to an embodiment of the present invention may include the battery module (30).

[0188] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a battery module and a battery pack including battery cells according to embodiments, and FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the battery module in FIG. 10 in a separated state.

[0189] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11 together, in a battery module (30) according to one embodiment of the present invention, one or more battery cells (10) according to the above-described embodiments may be sequentially stacked in the thickness direction (X-axis direction). A battery pack (50) may be provided with a receiving space (S) to receive the battery module (30).

[0190] The battery pack (50) may include a housing (not shown) that accommodates one or more battery modules (30) or battery cells (10). Although the drawing shows that the battery module (30) is accommodated, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a plurality of battery cells (10) may be stacked in the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction in the accommodation space (S).

[0191] Understanding, although the structure in which a battery module (30) is accommodated in a battery pack (50) is described, it should be understood that a structure in which a battery cell (10) is accommodated instead of a battery module (30) should also be included in the present disclosure.

[0192] The housing of the battery pack (50) may include a bottom member (510) that supports the bottom surface of the battery module (30), a cover member (520) that covers the top surface of the battery module (30), and a side wall member (530) that connects the bottom member (510) and the cover member (520).

[0193] The battery pack (50) may include a partition wall (541, 542) that crosses at least a portion of the receiving space (S). For example, the receiving space (S) may be divided into a plurality of spaces by the partition walls (541, 542). The partition walls (541, 542) may be installed across the receiving space (S) to reinforce the rigidity of the battery pack (50).

[0194] In one embodiment, the bulkheads (541, 542) may include a first bulkhead (541) and a second bulkhead (542) arranged perpendicular to each other. In one embodiment, at least some of the bulkheads (541, 542) may include venting holes (H) for guiding a path of gas and / or flame generated in the battery cell (10) or battery module (30).

[0195] In one embodiment, the battery device (100) may include a duct member (550). A flow space in which gas and / or flames discharged from the battery cell (10) or the battery module (30) flow may be formed inside the duct member (550). The duct member (550) may be disposed inside the battery pack (50). The flow space of the duct member (550) may be connected to a venting hole (H) of the second partition wall (542). For example, gas and / or flames generated from the battery cell (10) or the battery module (30) may pass through the venting hole (H) of the second partition wall (542) and the flow space of the duct member (550) to the outside of the battery pack (50).

[0196] Additionally, the battery pack (50) may include a battery control unit (C) for controlling the battery cells (10) and / or the battery module (30). The battery control unit (C) may be disposed inside the battery pack (50). The battery control unit (C) may include a battery management system (BMS). The configuration of the battery control unit (C) is known in various forms, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In one embodiment, the battery control unit (C) may be referred to as a processor.

[0197] Meanwhile, the structures of the battery module (30) and battery pack (50) described above are exemplary. For example, in FIGS. 10 and 11, the battery pack (50) is described as accommodating a battery module (30) including battery cells (10) according to the embodiments described above, but the battery pack (50) of the present invention is sufficient if it includes battery cells (10) inside. That is, even when a plurality of battery cells (10) according to the embodiments are sequentially stacked in a direct receiving space (S), it can be said to belong to the battery pack (50) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0198]

[0199] Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and it will be apparent to a person having average knowledge in the relevant technical field that various modifications and variations are possible within a scope that does not depart from the technical spirit of the present invention described in the claims.

[0200] In addition, the above-described embodiments may be implemented by deleting some components, and the embodiments may be implemented in combination with each other.

[0201] In addition, the above-described contents are merely examples of application of the principles of the present disclosure, and other configurations may be further included without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electrode assembly in which a plurality of electrode plates are laminated and the non-conductive portion protrudes at least to one side along the first direction; and A cap assembly including a current collector electrically connected to the non-conductive portion and arranged so that the non-conductive portion faces the electrode assembly in a protruding direction; A battery cell in which at least a portion of the above-mentioned current collector protrudes in the first direction toward the electrode assembly and faces and contacts the non-conductive portion in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

2. In paragraph 1, The above cap assembly At least a portion of the terminal portion is exposed to the outside and connected to an external power source, The above collector A battery cell that electrically connects the non-conductive portion and the terminal portion by contacting the terminal portion and the non-conductive portion, respectively.

3. In paragraph 2, The above collector unit, A first current collector member in contact with the terminal portion; and A battery cell comprising a second current collecting member protruding from the first current collecting member toward the electrode assembly and in contact with the non-conductive portion.

4. In paragraph 3, A battery cell in which the above-mentioned non-conductive portion and the above-mentioned second current collecting member face each other in the direction in which the plurality of electrode plates are stacked.

5. In paragraph 3, A battery cell in which the second current collecting member is bent into an “L” shape on at least one side of the first current collecting member.

6. In paragraph 3, The above electrode assembly is provided in multiple pieces, A battery cell in which the second current collector is provided in the same number as the electrode assembly and contacts the non-conductive portion of each of the plurality of electrode assemblies.

7. In paragraph 6, A battery cell in which the plurality of second current collector members face each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the non-conductive portion protrudes.

8. In paragraph 6, A battery cell in which the non-conductive portion of the plurality of electrode assemblies arranged at the outermost side is in contact with the outer surface of the second current collecting member arranged at the outermost side.

9. In paragraph 3, A battery cell in which the thickness (a) of the second current collector member is 0.3 mm to 4 mm.

10. In paragraph 3, A battery cell in which the extended length (b) of the second current collector member is 4 mm to 10 mm.

11. In paragraph 1, The above-mentioned portion protrudes from both sides of the electrode assembly, The above cap assembly is a battery cell arranged on each side of the electrode assembly so as to face each of the above-mentioned non-conductive parts.

12. In paragraph 1, Further comprising a case that accommodates the electrode assembly and has an open surface facing the non-conductive portion; The above cap assembly is a battery cell coupled to the case to close the opening of the case.

13. In paragraph 12, A battery cell in which the case includes a first casing member that surrounds a part of the electrode assembly and a second casing member that surrounds the remaining part, and the first casing member and the second casing member, which are separated from each other, are coupled to each other to accommodate the electrode assembly.

14. In paragraph 13, The above-mentioned portion protrudes on both sides of the electrode assembly, Either of the first casing member and the second casing member surrounds the upper surface of the electrode assembly and one side of the electrode assembly facing the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the non-conductive portion protrudes, A battery cell in which the remaining one of the first casing member and the second casing member surrounds the lower surface of the electrode assembly facing the upper surface of the electrode assembly and the other side surface of the electrode assembly.

15. In paragraph 13, The above first casing member and the above second casing member Battery cells having the same shape and arranged so as to be symmetrical with respect to the electrode assembly.

16. In paragraph 15, A battery cell in which the first casing member and the second casing member are bent to surround at least a portion of the electrode assembly and are formed into an “L” shape.

17. In paragraph 12, The above case has four corners based on the side, A battery cell in which two of the four corners above have rounded portions and the remaining two have right-angled portions.

18. A housing in which one or more receiving spaces are formed; A plurality of battery cells stacked inside the housing; Each of the above battery cells, An electrode assembly in which a plurality of electrode plates are laminated and the non-conductive portion protrudes at least to one side along the first direction; and A cap assembly including a current collector electrically connected to the non-conductive portion and arranged so that the non-conductive portion faces the electrode assembly in a protruding direction; At least a portion of the above-mentioned current collector protrudes in the first direction toward the electrode assembly, and contacts the non-conductive portion in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. A battery pack in which the plurality of battery cells are stacked in the receiving space along the direction in which the plurality of electrode plates are stacked.

19. A step of arranging a cap assembly including a current collector electrically connected to the non-conductive portion on each side of an electrode assembly in which a plurality of electrode plates are stacked and the non-conductive portion protrudes on both sides, and connecting the cap assembly to both sides of the electrode assembly; A method for manufacturing a battery cell, comprising: a step of accommodating the electrode assembly by covering the exposed surface of the electrode assembly exposed in the cap assembly with a case; 20. In paragraph 19, The above case is, It includes a first casing member that covers a part of the exposed surface of the electrode assembly and a second casing member that covers the remainder, The first casing member and the second casing member are coupled to each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the non-conductive portion protrudes to accommodate the electrode assembly. The step of connecting the above cap assembly is: A method for manufacturing a battery cell, wherein the above-mentioned non-conductive part and the above-mentioned current collector part are welded by overlapping each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the non-conductive part protrudes.

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