Rechargeable Battery Current Collector Vibration Absorbing Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ultrasonic welding in rechargeable batteries can cause damage due to vibration, leading to disconnection or short circuits, particularly at the welded parts of the current collector plate.

Innovation Solution

A rechargeable battery design featuring a current collector plate with a first flat plate portion, a second flat plate portion, and a vibration absorbing portion, where the vibration absorbing portion is thinner and curved, connecting the two flat plate portions and reducing the width of the fuse portion to minimize damage from vibrations during welding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ultrasonic welding is used to connect the current collector plate to the electrode assembly, then the electrical connection is improved, but vibration damage occurs causing disconnection or short circuit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidvibration damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The current collector plate is divided into multiple functional portions: a first flat plate portion for welding, a second flat plate portion for electrical connection, and a vibration absorbing portion. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function while isolating the vibration from critical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The vibration absorbing portion acts as an intermediary element between the welded portion and the rest of the current collector plate. It mediates the vibration energy, absorbing it before it can reach and damage the electrode assembly or cause short circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If the current collector plate is made rigid to maintain structural stability, then the mechanical strength is improved, but vibration damage during welding increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidvibration damage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different portions of the current collector plate have different mechanical properties. The first and second flat plate portions maintain rigidity for structural stability, while the vibration absorbing portion has reduced rigidity (thinner thickness) to specifically absorb vibration energy without compromising overall structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The vibration absorbing portion is designed in advance as a cushioning element with thinner thickness to preemptively absorb vibration energy before it can cause damage to other components during the welding process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the fuse portion width is reduced to minimize vibration damage, then the vulnerability to vibration is reduced, but the electrical current carrying capacity may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration susceptibilityVSAvoidelectrical current capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The current collector plate is segmented into a fuse portion with narrower width and other portions with adequate width. This allows the fuse portion to be less susceptible to vibration damage while other portions maintain sufficient current carrying capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fuse portion has a locally optimized narrower width that reduces vibration susceptibility, while other portions of the current collector plate maintain sufficient width for adequate electrical current capacity. Each portion has locally optimized properties suited to its specific function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design effectively minimizes damage from vibrations during ultrasonic welding, preventing disconnection and short circuits by absorbing and reducing the impact on the fuse portion, ensuring reliable electrical connections.

Implementation Method 1

The welded portion may be ultrasonically welded to the uncoated region

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic welding: Ultrasonic Vibration

Implementation Method 2

a vibration absorbing portion connected to the first and second flat plate portions of which opposite end portions face each other in a longitudinal direction and having a thinner thickness than that of the first and second flat plate portions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration absorption: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3537506B1Rechargeable battery
Publication Date: 2021.11.03 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP3537506B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3537506B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3537506B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a rechargeable battery including: an electrode assembly (120) configured to include: an electrode in which an uncoated region is formed; a case (27) configured to accommodate the electrode assembly (120) and to be provided with an opening; a cap assembly (30) configured to be provided with an electrode terminal and to be coupled to the opening to seal the case (27); and a current collecting plate (300) configured to be coupled to an uncoated region of the electrode assembly (120). The current collecting plate (300) may include a first flat plate portion (362) provided with a welded portion (366) welded to the uncoated region (21b, 22b), a second flat plate portion (342) provided with a fuse portion (375) and electrically connected to the electrode terminal, and a vibration absorbing portion (380) connected to the first and second flat plate portions (362, 342) of which opposite end portions face each other in a longitudinal direction and having a thinner thickness than that of the first and second flat plate portions (362, 342).