Collector, battery comprising collector, battery pack comprising battery and vehicle comprising battery pack

Abstract

A collector according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to electrically connect an electrode assembly and a first terminal provided on a battery, and may comprise: a first coupling portion which can be coupled to the first terminal; a second coupling portion which is electrically connected to the first coupling portion and can be coupled to the electrode assembly; and one or more slits which extend while at least partially surrounding the second coupling portion, and are formed so that at least partial region of the second coupling portion can be connected to the first coupling portion in the radial direction of the collector.

Description

A battery comprising a whole house, a battery comprising a whole house, a battery pack comprising a battery, and a vehicle

[0001] The present invention relates to a current collector, a battery including the current collector, a battery pack including the battery, and a vehicle, and more particularly, to a coating device including a plate core. This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0079879, filed on June 19, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] In batteries, reducing resistance can be a critical technical challenge. In particular, minimizing the battery's resistance can be effective in securing fast charging speeds and / or superior output characteristics when applying secondary batteries to devices.

[0003] For example, when secondary batteries are applied to devices such as electric vehicles, increased output and / or faster charging are crucial factors. To achieve these improvements, increasing the cross-sectional area of ​​components in the current-passing region and / or reducing the current path length are required.

[0004] For example, in a secondary battery, a current collector may be applied for electrical connection between an electrode assembly and other components, and the current movement path may be lengthened due to the application of a structure for facilitating the circulation of electrolyte through the current collector and / or a structure for cushioning impact when applied to a welding area between the current collector and other components.

[0005] Since this increase in current flow path may not be desirable for reducing the resistance of the battery, a method is required to reduce the current flow path within the components applied to the battery.

[0006] The present invention was created in consideration of the above-described problems, and has as its primary purpose the reduction of the current movement path within a current collector applied to a battery.

[0007] However, the effects that can be obtained through the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention described below.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention for solving the above-described problem, a current collector is configured to electrically connect a first terminal provided in a battery and an electrode assembly, and may include: a first coupling portion configured to be coupled to the first terminal; a second coupling portion electrically connected to the first coupling portion and configured to be coupled to the electrode assembly; and one or more slits formed to extend and surround at least a portion of the second coupling portion, and formed such that at least a portion of the second coupling portion can be connected to the first coupling portion in a radial direction of the current collector.

[0009] Additionally, the second connecting portion may include a welding portion for welding connection with the electrode assembly.

[0010] Additionally, the first coupling portion may be provided in an approximate central region of the entire body.

[0011] Additionally, the second coupling portion may be provided on the radially outer side of the collector from the first coupling portion.

[0012] Additionally, the slit may be formed to extend in an area other than the straight path connecting the first joint portion and the second joint portion.

[0013] Additionally, at least a portion of the slit may be formed to extend in the form of an open loop at least in a portion between the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion along the radial direction of the collector.

[0014] In addition, the second connecting portion and the slit may be provided in plurality, and at least a portion of each of the plurality of second connecting portions may be surrounded by the plurality of slits.

[0015] Additionally, the plurality of second coupling portions may be arranged spaced apart from each other along the circumferential direction of the entire body.

[0016] In addition, the slits may be provided in multiple numbers, and at least some of the multiple slits may be arranged symmetrically with respect to the second connecting portion.

[0017] In addition, the second joint portion may have a bending area configured to be foldable by being cut by the slit, and the welding portion may be provided in the bending area.

[0018] A battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention for solving the above-described problem may include a current collector and / or a battery according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] A vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention for solving the above-described problem may include a collector, a battery, and / or a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the path of current movement within a current collector applied to a battery, thereby reducing the internal resistance of the battery.

[0021] According to another aspect of the present invention, as the resistance of the battery is reduced, the output characteristics and / or charging speed of the battery pack and / or vehicle to which the battery is applied can be improved.

[0022] However, the effects that can be obtained through the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention described below.

[0023] 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 idea of ​​the present invention, and therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to matters described in such drawings.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery including a collector according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery including a collector according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a collector according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 4 is a plan view of a collector according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 5 is a plan view of the entire body of a comparative example of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a collector according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a battery including a collector according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery including a collector according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to this, it should be noted that the terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be construed as limited to their conventional or dictionary meanings. Based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concepts of terms to best explain his or her invention, they should be interpreted in a way that aligns with the technical spirit of the present invention.

[0035] Accordingly, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that there may be various equivalents and modified examples that can replace them at the time of filing this application.

[0036] Furthermore, the present invention includes various embodiments. For each embodiment, redundant descriptions of substantially identical or similar components will be omitted, and the differences will be described.

[0037] Additionally, to facilitate understanding of the invention, the attached drawings are not drawn to scale and the dimensions of some components may be exaggerated. Furthermore, identical components may be assigned the same reference numbers in different embodiments.

[0038] Throughout the specification, unless otherwise specifically stated, each element may be singular or plural.

[0039] Additionally, when it is described that a component is "connected" or "coupled" to another component, it should be understood that the components may be directly connected or coupled to one another, but that other components may also be "interposed" between the components, or that each component may be "connected" or "coupled" through another component.

[0040] As used herein, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this application, terms such as "consisting of" or "comprising" should not necessarily be construed to include all of the components or steps described in the specification, and should be construed to mean that some of the components or steps may not be included, or that additional components or steps may be included.

[0041] Throughout the specification, when reference is made to “A and / or B,” this may mean A, B, or A and B, unless otherwise specifically stated.

[0042] Meanwhile, in this specification, terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and back may be used, but these terms are only for convenience of explanation, and it is obvious to a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains that these terms may vary depending on the position, arrangement, rotation, and position of the object being targeted, or the position of the observer.

[0043] Hereinafter, a collector, a battery including the collector, a battery pack, and a vehicle according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10.

[0044] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a battery including a current collector according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 1, a battery including a current collector according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described as follows.

[0045] The battery (100) may be, for example, a cylindrical battery. The battery (100) may include a housing (110) and a terminal (120).

[0046] The housing (110) may form the exterior of the battery (100) and have an internal space. The housing (110) may include a conductor including an electrically conductive material such as a metal. The housing (110) may include, for example, steel, stainless steel, nickel-plated iron, or the like.

[0047] The lower part of the housing (110) may be open and may be referred to as an opening (see FIGS. 7 and 8). The upper part of the housing (110) may be closed and may be referred to as a closing part. The side surface (outer surface) of the housing (110) and the closing part may be formed integrally. Alternatively, the side wall and the closing part of the housing (110) may be provided separately and joined to each other by welding or the like. The housing (110) may accommodate an electrode assembly or an electrolyte, which will be described later, through the opening at the lower part.

[0048] The terminal (120) may include a first terminal (121) and a second terminal (122). For example, the first terminal (121) may be a positive terminal and the second terminal (122) may be a negative terminal, but the opposite may also be true.

[0049] The technical idea of ​​the present invention is not limited by the shape of the battery, and can be applied to batteries of other shapes, such as square batteries.

[0050] The battery (100) may further include an electrode assembly, a current collector, etc. Hereinafter, a battery (100) including an electrode assembly, a current collector, etc. will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

[0051] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery including a current collector according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the configuration of a battery (100) including a current collector is described as follows. The description of the aforementioned configurations may be omitted.

[0052] The battery (100) may include a housing (110), a terminal (120), an electrode assembly (130), and a current collector (140).

[0053] The electrode assembly (130) can be accommodated in the internal space of the housing (110). The electrode assembly (130) can include a first electrode and a second electrode. Specifically, the electrode assembly (130) can include a first electrode having a first polarity, a second electrode having a second polarity, and a separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode can be either an anode or a cathode. The second electrode can have a polarity opposite to that of the first electrode.

[0054] The aforementioned terminal (120) may be electrically connected to the electrode assembly (130). For example, the first terminal (121) may have electrical conductivity and be electrically connected to the first electrode of the electrode assembly (130) and have the same polarity as the first electrode. The first terminal (121) may be electrically insulated from the housing (110).

[0055] The second terminal (122) may be configured as all or part of the housing (110). The housing (110) may be electrically connected to the second electrode. In another aspect, the second terminal (122) may be electrically connected to the second electrode and may be included in a part of the housing (110).

[0056] The electrode assembly (130) may have a jelly-roll structure. The electrode assembly (130) may be formed by winding a laminate formed by stacking sheet-shaped first and second electrodes and a separator interposed therebetween at least once, based on a winding center hole (H). In other words, a winding center hole (H) may be formed at the winding center of the electrode assembly (130). A separator may be arranged between the outer surface of the electrode assembly (130) and the housing (110) for insulation from the housing (110).

[0057] Meanwhile, an active material may be applied to one area of ​​the first electrode and the second electrode, and an area where the active material is not applied may be referred to as an uncoated area. For example, the first uncoated area (131) may be formed to extend along the direction in which the electrode assembly (130) is wound at one end of the first electrode.

[0058] Referring to FIG. 2, the first non-conductive portion (131) may be placed on the upper portion of the electrode assembly (130) accommodated in the internal space of the housing (110) as a part of the first electrode.

[0059] At least a portion of the first non-conductive portion (131) may include a plurality of segments divided along the winding direction of the electrode assembly (130). In this case, the plurality of segments may be bent along the radial direction of the electrode assembly (130). The plurality of bent segments may be overlapped in multiple layers. The current collector (140) may be coupled to the first non-conductive portion (131) in the region where the plurality of segments are overlapped in multiple layers.

[0060] The current collector (140) can electrically connect the first electrode and the first terminal (121). Specifically, the current collector (140) can electrically connect the first electrode and the first terminal (121) by being electrically connected to the first non-conductive portion (131) and the first terminal (121).

[0061] The connection between the first non-conductive portion (131) and the current collector (140) can be achieved, for example, by laser welding. Laser welding can also be achieved by partially melting the current collector (140).

[0062] The battery (100) may further include an insulator (150). The insulator (150) may be interposed between the current collector (140) and the closed portion of the housing (110). Specifically, the insulator (150) may prevent physical / electrical contact between the current collector (140) and the housing (110) (particularly the second terminal (122)) having different polarities.

[0063] The battery (100) may further include a terminal gasket (160). The terminal gasket (160) may include a non-conductor and electrically insulate the first terminal (121) and the housing (110).

[0064] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a collector according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 3, a collector (140) according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described as follows.

[0065] The current collector (140) may include a conductor and be configured to electrically connect terminals and electrode assemblies provided in the battery. For example, the current collector (140) may be configured to electrically connect the first terminal (121) and electrode assembly (130) described above with reference to FIG. 2.

[0066] The battery pack (140) may include a first coupling portion (141), a second coupling portion (142), and a slit (143). The first coupling portion (141) and the second coupling portion (142) may be configured to be coupled with other components of the battery.

[0067] The first connecting portion (141) can be electrically connected to a terminal of the battery by being joined. The first connecting portion (141) can be joined to the terminal of the battery by welding or the like. For example, the first connecting portion (141) can be configured to be joined to the first terminal (121) described above with reference to FIG. 2.

[0068] The second coupling portion (142) may be electrically connected to the first coupling portion. Furthermore, the second coupling portion (142) may be electrically connected to the electrode assembly of the battery. The second coupling portion (142) may be connected to the electrode assembly of the battery by welding or the like. For example, the second coupling portion (142) may be configured to be connected to the first non-conductive portion (131) described above with reference to FIG. 2.

[0069] For example, the second connecting portion (142) may include a welding portion (W) for welding-joining with another component, such as an electrode assembly (130) of a battery. The welding portion (W) may be weld-joined with the electrode assembly (130), etc. By welding the welding portion (W) and the electrode assembly (130), the second connecting portion (142) and the electrode assembly (130) may be joined and electrically connected.

[0070] The first coupling portion (141) and the second coupling portion (142) may be electrically connected to each other as part of the current collector (140). A portion of the current collector (140) may function as a path along which the first coupling portion (141) and the second coupling portion (142) are electrically connected. The electrical connection path between the first coupling portion (141) and the second coupling portion (142) may be a portion of the current collector (140) including the first coupling portion (141) and the second coupling portion (142).

[0071] For example, the electrical connection path between the first coupling portion (141) and the second coupling portion (142) may be another region of the current collector (140) other than the first coupling portion (141) and the second coupling portion (142), and in this case, the first coupling portion (141) and the second coupling portion (142) may be indirectly connected to each other through another region of the current collector (140).

[0072] However, this is not limited thereto, and depending on the design, the electrical connection path between the first coupling portion (141) and the second coupling portion (142) may be electrically connected by directly connecting the first coupling portion (141) and the second coupling portion (142) to each other.

[0073] The slit (143) may be formed by penetrating a region of the current collector (140). For example, referring to FIG. 3, the slit (143) may be a hole or gap formed by penetrating a region of the current collector (140) in the Z-axis direction.

[0074] The slit (143) may be formed to extend in one area of ​​the current collector (140). In embodiments of the present invention, the meaning of the slit (143) being formed to extend may mean that the slit (143) formed by penetrating one area of ​​the current collector (140) in the Z-axis direction extends in the XY plane.

[0075] The slit (143) can allow some areas of the collector (140) to move relative to other areas.

[0076] The slit (143) may be a configuration for buffering external impact applied to the current collector (140) or the battery. The current collector (140) may be connected and coupled with other components such as a terminal (120) or an electrode assembly (130), and there is a risk that a portion connected to the terminal (120) or the electrode assembly (130) may be damaged when an impact is applied to the current collector (140). The slit (143) provides a space in which a portion of the current collector (140) can move when an external impact is applied to the current collector (140), thereby preventing deformation or damage to the current collector (140) and / or other components of the battery connected to the current collector (140) (e.g., the terminal (120), the electrode assembly (130), etc.).

[0077] The slit (143) may be configured to cushion against thermal contraction and thermal expansion applied to the current collector (140). The temperature of the current collector (140) may rise and fall due to charging and discharging of the battery, and thermal expansion or thermal contraction may occur in the current collector (140). The slit (143) may disperse and alleviate stress generated due to thermal expansion and thermal contraction of the current collector (140), thereby preventing deformation, damage, etc. of the current collector (140) and / or other components of the battery connected to the current collector (140) (e.g., terminal (120), electrode assembly (130), etc.).

[0078] In addition, the collector (140) can provide the effect of reducing the weight and cost of the collector (140) by including a slit (143).

[0079] Additionally, the slit (143) can serve to induce the flow of current flowing through the collector (140) or to distribute the density of the current.

[0080] In addition, the slit (143) can provide an effect that makes it easy for a specific area of ​​the current collector (140) to bend or fold. The current collector (140) can be bent or folded during the manufacturing process or due to an unexpected external force. The slit (143) can prevent stress concentration applied to the current collector (140) when the current collector (140) is bent or folded, and can be formed to easily fold in a predetermined area, thereby improving the processability and stability of the current collector (140) and / or the entire battery.

[0081] Referring to FIG. 3, the slit (143) can be formed to extend to surround at least a portion of the second connecting portion (142).

[0082] According to the above implementation configuration, the slit (143) can improve the buffering performance of the second coupling portion (142) among the components of the current collector (140).

[0083] According to one embodiment of the present invention, welding for joining the current collector (140) and the electrode assembly can be performed in at least a portion of the second joining portion (142) surrounded by the slit (143). Referring to FIG. 3, the area in the second joining portion (142) where welding is performed can be referred to as a weld portion (W).

[0084] The welding portion (W) of the second connecting portion (142) can be welded and connected to other components, such as the electrode assembly (130) described above with reference to FIG. 2. In this configuration, when an impact is applied to the second connecting portion (142), the welding portion (W) may be damaged, and there is a risk that the connection between the second connecting portion (142) and the electrode assembly (130), etc., may be damaged. The slit (143) provides a space in which the second connecting portion (142) can move even when an impact is applied from the outside to the second connecting portion (142), thereby preventing deformation or damage of the second connecting portion (142) and / or other components of the battery (e.g., the electrode assembly (130), etc.) connected to the second connecting portion (142).

[0085] More specifically, referring to FIG. 3, the second coupling portion (142) may have a degree of freedom to move in the Z-axis direction from the rest of the current collector (140) by the slit (143). Since the slit (143) is formed in the current collector (140), even if an impact is applied to the battery, the second coupling portion (142) may not be constrained on the same plane as other components of the current collector (140), such as the first coupling portion (141), so that the impact applied to the current collector (140) may be dispersed.

[0086] In addition, the slit (143) can prevent damage to the second joint (142) due to thermal shrinkage and thermal expansion applied to the second joint (142). The second joint (142) can be connected to the electrode assembly (130). Therefore, thermal expansion or thermal shrinkage of the second joint (142) can occur due to the electrode assembly (130) whose temperature rises and falls due to charging and discharging of the battery. The slit (143) can prevent deformation and damage to the second joint (142) and / or other components of the battery (e.g., the electrode assembly (130), etc.) connected to the second joint (142) by dispersing and alleviating the stress applied to the second joint (142) due to thermal expansion and thermal shrinkage.

[0087] Additionally, the slit (143) can provide the effect of allowing the electrolyte flowing inside the battery to circulate smoothly.

[0088] Hereinafter, a collector (140) according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with further reference to FIG. 4.

[0089] Figure 4 is a plan view of a collector according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0090] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the slit (143) may be formed to extend and surround at least a portion of the second coupling portion (142), such that at least a portion of the second coupling portion (142) may be connected to the first coupling portion (141) in the radial direction of the current collector (140). The slit (143) may be formed to extend and surround at least a portion of the second coupling portion (142), such that at least a portion of the second coupling portion (142) is open toward the first coupling portion (141).

[0091] For example, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the first coupling portion (141) may be provided at an approximate central region (C) of the current collector (140), and the second coupling portion (142) may be provided on a radially outer side of the current collector (140) from the first coupling portion (141). The central region (C) of the current collector (140) may be an area having a predetermined width that includes the center point of the current collector (140). In this case, the slit (143) may be formed so that at least a portion of the second coupling portion (142) may be connected to the first coupling portion (141) in a radially inner direction of the current collector (140). The slit (143) may be disconnected on a path along which at least a portion of the second coupling portion (142) may be connected to the first coupling portion (141) in the radial direction of the current collector (140).

[0092] From another perspective, the slit (143) may be formed to extend in an area except for the straight path connecting the first coupling portion (141) and the second coupling portion (142). The slit (143) may be formed to extend in a form that does not pass through the path along the radial direction of the current collector (140) along which the first coupling portion (141) and the second coupling portion (142) are connected in the radial direction of the current collector (140). Specifically, the slit (143) may be formed to extend in an area except for the straight path connecting the first coupling portion (141) and the second coupling portion (142) in the radial direction of the current collector (140). The straight path connecting the first coupling portion (141) and the second coupling portion (142) may be the shortest path between the first coupling portion (141) and the second coupling portion (142).

[0093] From another perspective, the slit (143) may be formed to surround the second joint portion (142) and extend in the form of an open loop at least partially between the first joint portion (141) and the second joint portion (142) along the radial direction.

[0094] In Fig. 4, the path along which current travels is illustrated (arrow I) when the slit (143) is formed to extend so that at least a portion of the second coupling portion (142) can be connected to the first coupling portion (141) in the radial direction of the current collector (140).

[0095] According to the above implementation configuration, the slit (143) may not be formed on a path connecting the two configurations between the first coupling portion (141) and the second coupling portion (142) in the radial direction of the current collector (140), and the current flowing between the first coupling portion (141) and the second coupling portion (142) may flow along the radial direction of the current collector (140) in the shortest distance.

[0096] According to the current collector (140) of one embodiment of the present invention, the flow of current between the electrode assembly (130) and the terminal (120) described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 can occur through the shortest path, and the internal resistance of the battery (100) can be reduced.

[0097] Figure 5 is a plan view of a collector according to a comparative example of the present invention.

[0098] According to the current collector (140) illustrated in FIG. 5, the slit (143) is formed to extend so that all areas of the second coupling portion (142) cannot be connected to the first coupling portion (141) in the radial direction of the current collector (140). In other words, the slit (143) illustrated in FIG. 5 is formed to extend so as to block the shortest distance path between the first coupling portion (141) and the second coupling portion (142).

[0099] According to the implementation configuration described with reference to FIG. 5, the current flowing in the current collector (140) cannot help but flow in the same or similar direction as arrow I of FIG. 5, so the current flows by bypassing the shortest path between the first coupling portion (141) and the second coupling portion (142), and the length of the path through which the current flowing in the current collector (140) passes increases, which may increase the resistance of the battery.

[0100] Referring again to FIG. 4, the current collector (140) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes one or more slits (143) surrounding at least a portion of the second coupling portion (142) that is coupled to the electrode assembly, thereby minimizing an increase in resistance of the current collector (140) due to the slits (143).

[0101] In summary, the current collector (140) according to one embodiment of the present invention can minimize the risk of damage to the weld (W) or the like by allowing the second coupling portion (142) to move to a certain degree when an external impact, thermal expansion, and / or thermal contraction is applied to the second coupling portion (142), and can facilitate circulation of electrolyte through the slit (143) while minimizing an increase in resistance of the current collector (140) due to the slit (143).

[0102] Meanwhile, the slit (143) illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the present invention is depicted as a structure that is disconnected in two regions: a direction toward the central region (C) of the current collector (140) along the radial direction of the current collector (140) and a direction toward the outside of the current collector (140), but the slit (143) of the current collector (140) according to the technical idea of ​​the present invention is not necessarily limited to this shape, and if the slit (143) is disconnected on a path along which at least a portion of the second coupling portion (142) can be connected to the first coupling portion (141) in the radial direction of the current collector (140), it can be included in the current collector (140) according to the technical idea of ​​the present invention.

[0103] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the current collector (140) may have a plurality of second coupling portions (142). The current collector (140) may also have a plurality of slits (143).

[0104] At least a portion of each of the plurality of second connecting portions (142) may be surrounded by a slit (143). The plurality of slits (143) may be formed corresponding to each of the plurality of second connecting portions (142).

[0105] The collector (140) has a structure in which each of the plurality of second coupling portions (142) is physically separated by a slit (143), so that the buffering performance against external impact, thermal expansion and / or thermal contraction applied to each second coupling portion (142) can be enhanced.

[0106] According to the above-described implementation configuration, a plurality of separate buffer regions are formed in one current collector (140), so that stress applied to one second coupling portion (142) can be effectively suppressed from being transmitted to other regions of the current collector (140). As a result, not only can deformation or damage of the second coupling portion (142) itself be more efficiently prevented, but also the risk of damage to other battery components, such as the electrode assembly (130) connected to the second coupling portion (142), can be minimized.

[0107] As a result, the current collector (140) can significantly improve the overall durability and stability of the current collector (140) by having a plurality of second coupling portions (142) and a plurality of slits (143) formed correspondingly thereto.

[0108] When a plurality of second coupling portions (142) are provided, the plurality of second coupling portions (142) can be spaced apart from each other along the circumferential direction of the current collector (140).

[0109] According to the above implementation configuration, the current collector (140) can collect current from the electrode assembly (130) more efficiently and distribute the density of the current flowing through the current collector (140) to prevent excessive heat from being generated in a specific area of ​​the current collector (140).

[0110] A plurality of slits (143) may be provided. At least some of the plurality of slits (143) may be arranged symmetrically with respect to the second connecting portion (142).

[0111] The arrangement of these slits (143) can prevent unbalanced concentration of stress applied to the second joint (142) and enable uniform stress distribution when an external impact, thermal expansion and / or thermal contraction is applied to the current collector (140).

[0112] By symmetrically arranging the slits (143) in each of the plurality of second connecting portions (142), excessive stress concentration or biased deformation in a specific area that may occur due to the asymmetrical arrangement of the slits (143) can be effectively alleviated, and the overall durability and reliability of the current collector (140) can be greatly improved.

[0113] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a current collector according to another embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, a current collector (140) according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 6.

[0114] Referring to FIG. 6, the second connecting portion (142) may be provided with a bending area (B) configured to be foldable by being cut by a slit (143). For example, one second connecting portion (142) may be provided with two or more bending areas (B), but the technical idea of ​​the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0115] The bending region (B) can be an area that can have freedom of movement by being folded in a direction perpendicular to a plane (XY plane) parallel to the collector (140) within one second joint (142) (Z-axis direction).

[0116] Meanwhile, although Fig. 6 illustrates that the bending region (B) is folded in the +Z-axis direction, this is merely exemplary, and the bending region (B) may also be folded in the -Z-axis direction depending on the direction of the impact received by the current collector (130). Furthermore, since the current collector (130) may be provided with a plurality of bending regions (B), each individual bending region (B) may be folded in a different direction.

[0117] According to the above implementation configuration, a bending region (B) and the remaining region can be distinguished within one second joining portion (142). At least a portion of the welded portion (W) can be provided in the bending region (B). The welded portion (W) provided in the bending region (B) can be relatively flexibly deformed by utilizing the degree of freedom of movement secured by the slit (143) when an external impact is applied to the current collector (140) or deformation occurs in the current collector (140) due to thermal expansion and thermal contraction.

[0118] The bending region (B) can significantly reduce the risk of damage to the weld (W) by effectively dispersing and absorbing the stress concentrated on the weld (W). In addition, the bending region (B) can significantly improve the reliability of the weld joint between the current collector (140) and the electrode assembly (130), and can contribute to increasing the overall durability and stability of the battery (100).

[0119] Meanwhile, the weld (W) may be provided in an area other than the bending area (B) of the second joint (142). For example, the weld (W) may be provided in both the bending area (B) and the area other than the bending area (B). In this case, the weld (W) provided inside the bending area (B) provides the shock-absorbing effect described above, while the weld (W) provided in an area other than the bending area (B) may have the effect of shortening the path of current flow by being located in an area where the first joint (131) and the second joint (132) are connected along the radial direction of the current collector (140).

[0120] In general, the weld (W) is provided throughout the entire second joint (142), but the weld (W) provided in the bending area (B) has a shock-absorbing function, and the weld (W) provided in an area other than the bending area (B) can have a function of shortening the current flow path.

[0121] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a battery according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the lower portion of a battery according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0122] FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views illustrating the opposite side of the battery (100) illustrated in FIG. 2. Therefore, descriptions of components that overlap with the components of the battery (100) described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 may be omitted.

[0123] The battery (100) may be a cylindrical battery. The battery (100) may include a housing (110), a terminal (120), an electrode assembly (130), and a current collector (140).

[0124] The electrode assembly (130) may further include a second electrode and a second non-conductive portion (132) extending from the second electrode. The second electrode may be either a cathode or an anode, and is not limited to either one. Accordingly, the second non-conductive portion (132) illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 may be either a non-conductive portion of the cathode or a non-conductive portion of the anode of the electrode assembly (130).

[0125] The second non-conductive portion (132) may be formed at one end of the second electrode constituting the electrode assembly (130). The second non-conductive portion (132) may extend along the direction in which the electrode assembly (130) is wound.

[0126] The second non-conductive portion (132) may be provided in one area of ​​the electrode assembly (130).

[0127] The second current collector (180) may be placed on one side of the electrode assembly (130). The second current collector (180) may be placed on the opposite side of the current collector (140) described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 6 with respect to the electrode assembly (130).

[0128] The second current collector (180) may be configured to be electrically connected to the housing (110). The second current collector (180) may be configured to electrically connect the electrode assembly (130) and the housing (110). The second current collector (180) may include a conductor having electrical conductivity. For example, the second current collector (180) may electrically connect the electrode assembly (130) and the housing (110) by having one region electrically connected to the second non-conductive portion (132) and another region electrically connected to the housing (110).

[0129] The second current collector (180) may include a terminal connection portion, an electrode connection portion, and a connecting portion, similar to the current collector (140) described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. However, the shape, position, or arrangement of the current collector (140) and the second current collector (180) may be different from each other.

[0130] The terminal joint may be fixed between a region of the second current collector (180), the lower portion of the open portion gasket (190), and the upper portion of the region (beading portion) where the housing (110) is pressed in from the outer surface. Furthermore, the terminal joint may be electrically connected to the housing (110).

[0131] The electrode joint may be a region of the second current collector (180). At least a portion of the electrode joint may be electrically connected to the second non-conductive portion (132).

[0132] The connecting portion may be another region of the second collector (180) and may be a component that connects the electrode connecting portion and the terminal connecting portion. The connecting portion may physically / electrically connect the electrode connecting portion and the terminal connecting portion.

[0133] Referring to FIG. 7, the battery (100) may further include a cap (170) secured to an area of ​​the housing (110). The cap (170) may be configured to be electrically insulated from the electrode assembly (130) and the housing (110) and to have no polarity. For example, a non-conductive opening gasket (190) may be interposed between the cap (170) and the housing (110). For example, the opening gasket (190) may include, but is not limited to, rubber, silicone, nitrile, polyurethane, and / or fluorocarbon.

[0134] The opening gasket (190) surrounds the edge of the cap (170) and can be fixed between the cap (170) and the housing (110). The opening gasket (190) can seal between the cap (170) and the housing (110).

[0135] Referring to FIG. 7, at least a portion of the second collector (180) can be interposed and fixed between the lower portion of the open portion gasket (190) and the upper portion of the beading portion (111), which is an area pressed into the outer surface of the housing (110).

[0136] FIG. 9 is a drawing showing a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0137] Referring to FIG. 9, a battery pack (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include one or more batteries (100) described above with reference to other drawings. In addition, the battery pack (10) may further include components other than the battery (100) according to the present invention. For example, the battery pack (10) according to the present invention may further include components such as a BMS (Battery Management System), a bus bar, a relay, and a current sensor.

[0138] The battery pack (10) may further include a pack case (200). The pack case (200) may provide a space in which one or more batteries (100) can be stored. When the battery pack (10) includes a plurality of batteries (100), the pack case (200) may include a space divided to store the plurality of batteries (100).

[0139] FIG. 10 is a drawing for explaining a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0140] Referring to FIG. 10, a vehicle (1) may include one or more battery packs (10). For example, the vehicle (1) may be, but is not limited to, an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The vehicle (1) may be either a four-wheeled vehicle or a two-wheeled vehicle. The vehicle (1) may operate by receiving power from a battery pack (10) or a battery module according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0141] The embodiments or other embodiments of the present disclosure described above are not mutually exclusive or distinct. The embodiments or other embodiments of the present disclosure described above may be combined or incorporated into their respective components or functions. For example, a component A described in a particular embodiment and / or drawing may be combined with a component B described in another embodiment and / or drawing. This means that even if a combination between components is not explicitly described, the combination is possible, unless it is explicitly stated that the combination is not possible.

[0142] The above detailed description should not be construed as limiting in any respect and should be considered illustrative only. The scope of the present invention should be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all modifications within the equivalent scope of the present invention are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A current collector configured to electrically connect a first terminal and an electrode assembly provided in a battery, A first coupling portion configured to be coupled with the first terminal; A second coupling portion electrically connected to the first coupling portion and configured to be coupled with the electrode assembly; and One or more slits formed to extend and surround at least a portion of the second coupling portion, such that at least a portion of the second coupling portion can be connected to the first coupling portion in the radial direction of the collector; The entire house including.

2. In paragraph 1, The second connecting portion is a current collector including a welding portion for welding connection with the electrode assembly.

3. In paragraph 1, The above first coupling portion is a current collector provided in an approximate central area of ​​the current collector.

4. In paragraph 1, The second coupling portion is a current collector provided on the radially outer side of the current collector from the first coupling portion.

5. In paragraph 1, The above slit is formed to extend in an area excluding the straight path connecting the first joint portion and the second joint portion.

6. In paragraph 1, A current collector in which at least a portion of the slit extends in the form of an open loop between the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion along the radial direction of the current collector.

7. In paragraph 1, The second connecting portion and the slit are provided in multiple numbers, A collector in which at least a portion of each of the plurality of second coupling portions is surrounded by the plurality of said slits.

8. In paragraph 7, A plurality of the second connecting portions are arranged to be spaced apart from each other along the circumferential direction of the collector.

9. In paragraph 1, The above slits are provided in multiple numbers, A current collector in which at least some of the plurality of slits are symmetrically arranged with respect to the second joint.

10. In paragraph 2, The second joint portion has a bending area configured to be foldable by being cut by the slit, At least a portion of the above welded portion is provided in the bending region.

11. The entire body of any one of the clauses 1 to 10; An electrode assembly electrically connected to the above-mentioned collector; and A terminal electrically connected to the above-mentioned collector; A battery containing .

12. Battery of Article 11; Battery pack containing.

13. Battery pack of Article 12; A car containing .

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