Battery Electrode Assembly with Offset Current Collectors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing energy storage devices, such as lithium ion batteries, face a capacity constraint due to the need for large space to accommodate current collectors above the electrode assembly, limiting their compactness and hence their capacity.

Innovation Solution

The energy storage device design includes current collecting tabs that project from one side of the electrode assembly, with connecting portions between the tabs and current collectors positioned on the opposite side, allowing for a reduced height and increased size of the electrode assembly, thereby enhancing capacity without increasing device height.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current collectors are arranged above the first straight line portion where current collecting tabs project, then electrical connection is achieved, but device height increases and capacity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoiddevice capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves the current collector arrangement from the first straight line portion (where tabs project) to the second straight line portion (opposite side), utilizing the third dimension (depth/length along the winding axis) to resolve the spatial conflict between electrical connection requirements and compact height, thereby increasing device capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Length of stationary object

If electrode assembly is made compact to reduce height, then device height is reduced, but electrode assembly size decreases and capacity is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice heightVSAvoidelectrode capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By relocating current collectors to the second straight line portion and utilizing the length dimension along the winding axis, the patent enables the electrode assembly to expand in the longitudinal direction while maintaining compact height, thereby increasing capacity without increasing device height

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If current collecting tabs project from one side, then electrical connection is simplified, but space requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of placing current collectors above the projecting tabs on the first straight line portion, the patent inverts the arrangement by placing them on the second straight line portion (opposite side), where tabs do not project, thereby reducing the space requirement while maintaining electrical connection functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP4016569A1Power storage element

Publication Date: 2022.06.22 GS YUASA INT LTD

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AI summary

An energy storage device (battery) 1 includes an electrode assembly 20 having current correcting tabs 28, 29 each of which is formed of a plurality of projecting portions 24b, 26b projecting from a first straight line portion 20c on one side in a stacking direction of electrode sheets 21, 22. The electrode assembly 20 is housed in a case (exterior body) 10. The energy storage device further includes current collectors 60A, 60B which are electrically connected to the external terminals 50A, 50B disposed on the case 10. The current collectors 60A, 60B are connected to the current collecting tabs 28, 29 arranged in a stacking direction of the electrode sheets 21, 22 on a second straight line portion 20d side where the projecting portions 24b, 26b are not formed.