Battery Electrode Straight-Edge Layout for Precise Assembly Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for manufacturing lithium secondary battery electrode assemblies, either by winding or stacking, face challenges in achieving accurate alignment of cathode and anode active materials, leading to defects and reduced battery performance due to tension differences and non-uniform boundary regions between coated and uncoated portions.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves creating electrodes with specific straight sections cut out from the boundary regions or edges of coated and uncoated portions, allowing for precise alignment during the stacking process, which improves the accuracy of electrode assembly alignment and reduces defects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a winding method is used to manufacture an electrode assembly, then the manufacturing process can be completed, but alignment accuracy of cathode and anode is decreased and materials are exfoliated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidalignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the problematic boundary region between coated and uncoated portions from the electrode structure. By cutting out this boundary region to form a straight section, the patent eliminates the source of alignment errors and material exfoliation while maintaining the overall manufacturing efficiency of the winding method.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming straight sections on the electrodes before assembly. These straight sections are created by cutting out boundary regions in advance, providing predetermined alignment references that ensure accurate positioning during the winding process, thereby preventing misalignment and material exfoliation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If a stacking method is used to manufacture an electrode assembly, then alignment accuracy can be improved, but the boundary surface wrinkles making accurate alignment difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment accuracyVSAvoidboundary surface uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the problematic boundary region between coated and uncoated portions from the electrode structure. By cutting out this boundary region to form a straight section, the patent eliminates the wrinkling issue at the boundary surface while maintaining the stacking method's alignment advantages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by creating a specific straight section structure at the boundary region of the electrode, while leaving the rest of the electrode structure unchanged. This localized modification provides a uniform, wrinkle-free surface for accurate alignment during stacking without affecting the overall electrode performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If the boundary region between coated and uncoated portions is used for alignment, then alignment can be performed, but the non-uniform boundary region causes misalignment and defects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment capabilityVSAvoidalignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the non-uniform boundary region between coated and uncoated portions from the electrode structure. By cutting out this problematic boundary region to form a straight section, the patent eliminates the source of misalignment while maintaining the ability to perform accurate alignment during assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4273954A1Electrode, electrode assembly and manufacturing method thereof
Publication Date: 2023.11.08 SK ON CO LTD
  • EP4273954A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4273954A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4273954A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are an electrode comprising a coated portion that is coated with an active material; an uncoated portion that is not coated with the active material; and at least one selected from the group consisting of a first straight section formed by cutting out a part of the boundary region between the coated portion and the uncoated portion and a second straight section formed by cutting out an edge of the coated portion; an electrode assembly comprising the same; and a manufacturing method of the electrode assembly.