Battery Electrode Foil Terminal Layout for Higher Energy Density

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery designs with multiple current collecting leads result in a complex structure, making it difficult to collect metal foils efficiently, thereby reducing energy density.

Innovation Solution

A battery design that collects one electrode foil into a single terminal and divides another electrode foil into multiple terminals, allowing for a simple structure and increased energy density by facilitating easier foil collection and connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple current collecting leads are individually joined to a terminal, then reliable electrical connection is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple current collecting leads are merged into a single integrated terminal structure. The terminal is designed as one piece that electrically connects to multiple electrode foils simultaneously, eliminating the need for individual joining of each lead to separate terminals. This merging approach maintains reliable electrical connection while significantly simplifying the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Quantity of substance

If the number of metal foils is increased to improve electrode capacity, then energy density can be increased, but difficulty in collecting metal foils increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of metal foilsVSAvoidfoil collection difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal is segmented into multiple connection regions that can independently contact different electrode foils. This segmentation allows the single terminal to efficiently collect and connect to a large number of metal foils by distributing the connection points across different segments of the terminal structure, making the collection process easier and more manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal is designed with multi-functionality to serve as both a single integrated component and a multi-point connection interface. It can simultaneously perform electrical connection with multiple electrode foils while maintaining a unified structure, thus facilitating easy collection of numerous metal foils without requiring multiple separate terminals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If metal foils are collected into one terminal, then structure is simplified, but energy density is reduced due to space occupation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidenergy density
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal structure utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement to connect with electrode foils from different directions and layers. By extending into multiple dimensions, the terminal can contact numerous thin electrode foils without occupying excessive space in any single dimension, thus maintaining structural simplicity while preserving high energy density.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal is designed with a thin-film structure that can flexibly conform to and contact the electrode foils. This thin-film design minimizes the space occupied by the terminal itself while maintaining effective electrical connection with multiple foils, thereby simplifying structure without compromising energy density.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP4700922A1Battery and method of manufacturing battery
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4700922A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4700922A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4700922A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A battery includes: an electrode body (24) configured by laminating a positive electrode current collector, a negative electrode current collector, a positive electrode foil that extends from the positive electrode current collector, and a negative electrode foil that extends from the negative electrode current collector; a first foil collection portion (34) at which one of the positive electrode foil or the negative electrode foil is collected into one; a second foil collection portion (36) at which another of the positive electrode foil or the negative electrode foil is divided into more than one and collected; a first terminal (33) to which the first foil collection portion is joined; and a second terminal (31) to which the second foil collection portion is joined.