Asymmetric Indented Battery Cell Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery cells with rectangular or cylindrical shapes face challenges in efficient mounting in devices with various external shapes, leading to reduced space utilization and shortened lifespan due to heat generation.
Innovation Solution
A battery cell structure featuring an electrode assembly with two or more unit cells of different sizes, where at least one unit cell has an asymmetric curved portion and another has an indented portion, allowing for efficient mounting in diverse spaces and minimizing heat-related degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional rectangular or cylindrical battery cell is used, then the battery cell has a simple structure and is easy to manufacture, but the space utilization efficiency is reduced when mounted in devices with various external shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The battery cell is divided into multiple unit cells (first unit cell and second unit cell) with different shapes and sizes. The first unit cell has a curved portion while the second unit cell has an indented portion, allowing them to be segmented and arranged to fit various device spaces efficiently, thereby improving space utilization while maintaining manufacturability
Solution Approach 2:
The battery cell employs asymmetric design where the first unit cell features a curved portion and the second unit cell features an indented portion. This asymmetric configuration allows the battery to adapt to various device shapes and maximize space utilization in devices with curved or irregular external shapes, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and space efficiency
2Productivity
If the battery cell is designed to fit various device shapes, then the space utilization efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery cell is segmented into multiple unit cells with different configurations (curved and indented portions). This segmentation allows each unit cell to be relatively simple in structure while the combination achieves complex space-fitting capability, reducing the complexity burden on individual components while maintaining overall space utilization efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The battery cell structure nests multiple unit cells within a single battery case. The first and second unit cells are positioned adjacent to each other, with their respective curved and indented portions nesting together to form a compact assembly that fits various device shapes without requiring overly complex individual cell structures
3Power
If high performance is achieved, then the energy output is improved, but heat generation increases which reduces battery lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
Different unit cells are assigned different local structures (curved vs. indented portions) to optimize heat dissipation in specific regions. The curved portion and indented portion create different thermal pathways and surface areas for heat dissipation, allowing high performance energy output while managing heat generation locally to protect battery lifespan
Data Source
AI summary
A battery cell configured to have a structure in which an electrode assembly, including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed therebetween, is mounted in a battery case, the electrode assembly including two or more unit cells having different planar sizes, the unit cells being stacked in the height direction on the basis of a plane, at least one first unit cell selected from among the unit cells has an asymmetric structure formed on at least one side of the outer edge thereof on the basis of a middle axis crossing a main body of the first unit cell when viewed from above, and at least one second unit cell selected from among the unit cells has an indented portion indented from at least one side of the second unit cell toward the middle of the second unit cell.