Battery Cell Current Collector Protection via Segmented Terminals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery cell designs risk damaging or cutting current collectors due to bending and stress from vibrations, leading to conductivity issues and reduced sealing properties.
Innovation Solution
A battery cell design featuring current collectors with bent portions and distance holders to prevent damage, ensuring reliable contact and conductivity, while enhancing sealing properties through specific terminal and exterior configurations, including conductive layers and resin layers to reduce resistance and improve airtightness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current collectors are bundled and connected to a lead terminal, then electrical connection is achieved, but the current collectors may be damaged or cut by vibrations due to bending stress
Solution Approach 1:
The current collectors are divided into individual units that are separately connected to the lead terminal through holes, rather than being bundled together. This segmentation eliminates the bending stress caused by bundling while maintaining electrical connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The lead terminal acts as an intermediary element that individually contacts each current collector through holes. This intermediary structure allows electrical connection without requiring the current collectors to be bundled, thereby preventing vibration-induced damage.
2Strength
If the lead terminal is extended in the stacking direction of current collectors to contact them individually, then damage from bundling is prevented, but the sealing property of the exterior may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The exterior uses flexible sealing members that can adapt to the presence of the extended lead terminal while maintaining the sealing property. The flexible nature of the sealing member allows it to conform to the terminal's position without compromising the seal.
Solution Approach 2:
The exterior structure is designed with local variations to accommodate the lead terminal's extension. The sealing members are specifically positioned and configured at the terminal contact points to maintain sealing integrity while allowing the terminal to extend for individual current collector contact.
3Strength
If distance holders are added to prevent current collector damage, then structural support is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The distance holders are designed to be automatically positioned between the current collectors and the exterior during assembly. They self-adjust to provide the necessary spacing and protection without requiring complex external support structures or additional adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An object is to provide a battery cell which can prevent current collectors from being damaged and cut. A battery cell is provided which includes a power generation element; a terminal; and an exterior, and in which the exterior includes, on both sides in a stacking direction, holes into which the terminal is inserted, both end portions of the terminal in the stacking direction are extended outside the exterior, a first distance holder is arranged between current collectors and around abutment parts of the current collectors that abut on the terminal, at each end portion in the stacking direction, a second distance holder is arranged between the current collector and the exterior and around an abutment part of the current collector that abuts on the terminal and at least one of the second distance holders is smaller in thickness than the first distance holder in the stacking direction.