Rechargeable Battery Case Opening for Safe Electrode Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

The assembly of rechargeable batteries is challenging due to the difficulty in safely placing the electrode assembly within the case, which can lead to damage during the assembly process.

Innovation Solution

A rechargeable battery design featuring a case with a wide opening parallel to the flat side surface of the electrode assembly, allowing easy placement and assembly, along with a bus bar system with a height difference for easy connection in battery packs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the case has a narrow opening for assembly, then the battery structure is compact, but the electrode assembly is damaged during placement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode assembly integrityVSAvoidassembly difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by making the case opening wider than traditionally designed. Instead of forcing the electrode assembly through a narrow opening, the opening is enlarged to allow easy insertion, while the width is compensated by adjusting other case dimensions to maintain overall compactness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the case opening, specifically increasing the opening width to a value that allows safe electrode assembly placement. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by making assembly easy while maintaining structural integrity through optimized dimensional proportions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If the case opening is made wide for easy assembly, then electrode assembly placement is safe, but the battery overall dimensions increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly easeVSAvoidcase footprint

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the case dimensions by changing multiple parameters simultaneously - increasing the opening width for easy assembly while adjusting the depth, height, and other dimensional parameters to maintain a compact overall footprint. This balanced parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between assembly ease and compact size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12218302B2Rechargeable battery and pack of the same

Publication Date: 2025.02.04 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD

AI summary

An aspect of the present invention provides a rechargeable battery which makes placement of the electrode assembly in the case during assembly easy. The rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly including a first electrode, a separator, and a second electrode, a case housing the electrode assembly and having an opening in a plane parallel to a flat side surface of the electrode assembly, the case being electrically connected to the first electrode, a cover closing the opening in the case, and an electrode terminal mounted to a terminal opening in the case and connected to the second electrode, wherein the electrode terminal and the second electrode are insulated from the case.