Rechargeable Battery Bent Electrode Tabs

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pouch-type rechargeable batteries lack flexibility and durability when repeatedly bent, as bending stress concentrates on thin electrode tabs, leading to potential damage.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating bent portions in the electrode tabs and a reinforcement member within the exterior member to disperse bending stress and accommodate length changes, enhancing flexibility and durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the battery is designed with thin electrode tabs for high integration density, then the battery achieves better flexibility and lower cost, but the thin tabs concentrate bending stress leading to reduced durability

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoiddurability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by adding bent portions specifically at the electrode tab regions where bending stress concentrates. These localized structural modifications allow the tabs to flex without breaking, while the rest of the battery maintains its original design for high integration density. The bent portions create a hinge-like structure that accommodates bending deformation locally without affecting the overall battery structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements beforehand cushioning by pre-forming bent portions in the electrode tabs before the battery is assembled and put into service. These pre-formed bends act as stress-absorbing features that anticipate and mitigate the concentration of bending stress during iterative bending operations, preventing tab breakage and extending battery durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Ease of operation

If the battery structure is simplified for easy deformation, then flexibility improves, but structural strength to withstand bending stress decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of deformationVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by adding bent portions specifically at the electrode tab regions where bending stress concentrates. These localized structural modifications allow the tabs to flex without breaking, while the rest of the battery maintains its original design for high integration density. The bent portions create a hinge-like structure that accommodates bending deformation locally without affecting the overall battery structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite materials by combining the electrode tab material with the reinforcement member material in a hybrid structure. The reinforcement member, disposed adjacent to the electrode tabs, provides additional mechanical strength and stiffness to withstand bending stresses, while the electrode tab material maintains its electrical conductivity and flexibility. This composite approach allows the battery to achieve both ease of deformation and structural strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If reinforcement is added to electrode tabs to prevent breakage, then durability improves, but the battery structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by adding bent portions specifically at the electrode tab regions where bending stress concentrates. These localized structural modifications allow the tabs to flex without breaking, while the rest of the battery maintains its original design for high integration density. The bent portions create a hinge-like structure that accommodates bending deformation locally without affecting the overall battery structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a reinforcement member that is disposed adjacent to but not directly integrated with the electrode tabs. This reinforcement member acts as a mediator that provides mechanical support and stress distribution without becoming part of the electrical conduction path. The reinforcement member can be a separate component that simplifies the overall structure compared to fully integrated reinforcement solutions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11532859B2Rechargeable battery

Publication Date: 2022.12.20 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a rechargeable battery including an electrode assembly that includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, a first electrode tab that is electrically connected with the first electrode, and includes at least one first bent portion, a second electrode tab that is electrically connected with the second electrode, and includes at least one second bent portion, and exterior member that receives the electrode assembly, and a reinforcement member that is disposed in the first exterior member, while being disposed adjacent to at least one of the first electrode tab and the second electrode tab.