Anode Sheet Shoulder Structure for Accurate Electrode Stacking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electrode assemblies face challenges in increasing capacity and stability due to issues with electrode tab thickness, light reflection, and misalignment during stacking, leading to reduced efficiency and safety concerns.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a shoulder portion on the anode sheet, which is thicker than conventional electrode tabs and coated with active material, allows for improved alignment accuracy and ACOH gap inspection, reducing errors and capacity reversals by altering the cutting standards in the lamination process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional electrode tabs are used, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but alignment accuracy during stacking deteriorates and misalignment errors occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment accuracyVSAvoidelectrode structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode structure is segmented into distinct functional portions: a tab portion for electrical connection and a shoulder portion for alignment reference. This segmentation allows the shoulder portion to provide precise stacking alignment without complicating the overall manufacturing process, as the additional structure serves a dedicated alignment function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shoulder portion acts as an intermediary element between the tab portion and the stacking process. It provides a dedicated alignment reference surface that mediates the stacking operation, enabling accurate alignment without requiring complex manufacturing procedures for the entire electrode structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If conventional thin electrode tabs are used, then material usage is efficient, but light reflection occurs and ACOH gap inspection becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveACOH gap inspection accuracyVSAvoidelectrode material usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode structure exhibits local quality differentiation: the tab portion maintains thin profile for material efficiency, while the shoulder portion provides increased thickness and active material coating to eliminate light reflection and enable accurate ACOH gap inspection. Each portion is optimized for its specific function without compromising overall material efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Quantity of substance

If electrode capacity is increased, then battery capacity improves, but capacity reversal between anode and cathode occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidcapacity stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The shoulder portion with increased active material coating is formed in advance during electrode manufacturing, creating a reserved capacity buffer before stacking. This preliminary action ensures that when electrodes are stacked and charged, the shoulder portion prevents capacity reversal by providing sufficient active material capacity margin

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4106035B1Electrode assembly comprising anode and anode sheet having improved electrode stacking properties and manufacturing method therefor
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4106035B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4106035B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4106035B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an electrode assembly and a method of manufacturing the same, the electrode assembly comprising an anode sheet and an anode having improved stacking characteristics of an electrode based on an shoulder portion, in which the shoulder portion is solid, as the shoulder portion is thicker than a conventional electrode tab, and has no light reflection with the application of an active material when forming the electrode assembly including notching, cutting of a single electrode, and stacking.