Battery Electrode Tab Flat Surface Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

In electronic devices, batteries with densely packed components often experience unpredictable interference between electrodes and other components, leading to physical, electrical, or chemical issues due to rough surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A battery design featuring an electrode assembly with a smooth and uniform bonding surface between the electrode substrate and tab, utilizing protrusions on the tab to enhance bonding while maintaining a flat opposite surface, reducing interference during assembly and packaging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the electrode tab surface is roughened to enhance bonding strength, then the bonding strength between electrode tab and substrate is improved, but physical interference and frictional stress with surrounding components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding strengthVSAvoidphysical interference
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode tab is designed with differentiated surface properties: the bonding surface has protrusions for enhanced bonding strength, while the opposite surface is substantially flat to minimize physical interference. This local quality differentiation allows each surface to optimize its function independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The electrode tab surface is segmented into functionally distinct regions: a bonding surface with protrusions for attachment and an opposite surface that is substantially flat. This segmentation separates the bonding function from the spatial clearance function, resolving the contradiction between bonding strength and physical interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If protrusions are added to the electrode tab bonding surface to enhance bonding, then bonding reliability is improved, but the complexity of the electrode tab structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding reliabilityVSAvoidelectrode tab structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Protrusions are added only to the bonding surface of the electrode tab where enhanced bonding is needed, while the opposite surface remains substantially flat. This localized modification improves bonding reliability without unnecessarily complicating the entire electrode tab structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Volume of moving object

If the battery components are densely packed to reduce volume, then the volume of the battery is reduced, but unpredictable interference between electrodes and other components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery volumeVSAvoidinterference between components
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The substantially flat opposite surface of the electrode tab creates a smooth profile that allows nearby components to be positioned closer without risk of physical interference, enabling denser battery packaging while maintaining component clearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of adding protective features to prevent interference, the invention inverts the approach by creating a smooth flat surface that inherently minimizes interference potential, allowing components to be densely packed without increasing interference risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP3376565B1Battery including electrode tab having flat surface
Publication Date: 2019.12.25 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3376565B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3376565B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3376565B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A battery according to an embodiment may comprise an electrode assembly, said electrode assembly comprising an electrode substrate comprising a first area and a second area; an active material deposited on the first area of the electrode substrate; and an electrode tab attached to the second area of the electrode substrate, wherein the electrode tab comprises a bonding surface having at least one protrusion making contacting with a bonding location of the second area of the electrode substrate, wherein a surface opposite to the bonding surface and a surface opposite the bonding location are substantially flat.