Battery Cell Fuse Layout to Prevent Reverse Potential

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery cells face safety issues due to reverse potential when a cell fuse operates in an open state, causing the cell case to change polarity and potentially leading to safety hazards.

Innovation Solution

The battery cell design includes a cell case with insulated cathode and anode terminals, a cell material portion with tabs connected to these terminals, and a fuse that disconnects the cathode terminal when open, while a connection portion maintains the cell case's positive or negative polarity regardless of the fuse's operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fuse is connected between the cathode terminal and cathode tab to protect against overcurrent, then overcurrent protection is improved, but when the fuse opens it causes reverse potential and safety issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveovercurrent protectionVSAvoidreverse potential
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A connection portion is introduced as an intermediary element that provides an alternative electrical path between the cathode tab and cell case. When the fuse opens, current can flow through this connection portion instead of creating reverse potential, thus mediating between the protection function and safety requirement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection portion is pre-established between the cathode tab and cell case before any fault occurs. This preliminary connection ensures that when the fuse opens, the alternative path is already in place to prevent reverse potential, rather than requiring corrective action after the fault

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If the cell case is connected to the cathode terminal to generate positive polarity, then proper polarity is established, but when the fuse opens the cell case becomes negative causing reverse potential

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolarity stabilityVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical connection path is segmented into multiple independent paths: one through the fuse (cathode terminal to cathode tab) and another through the connection portion (cathode tab to cell case). This segmentation ensures that failure in one path (fuse opening) does not compromise the overall polarity stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electrical connection configuration is changed from a single path to a dual-path system, fundamentally altering the system's behavior when the fuse opens. The connection portion ensures the cell case maintains its positive polarity connection even when the fuse path is interrupted

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4675837A1Battery cell and battery device
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 SK ON CO LTD
  • EP4675837A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4675837A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4675837A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A battery cell according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a cell case; a cathode terminal disposed on one side of the outside of the cell case so as to be insulated from the cell case; an anode terminal spaced apart from the cathode terminal and disposed on the other side of the outside of the cell case so as to be insulated from the cell case; a cell material part disposed inside the cell case and having a cathode tab electrically connected to the cathode terminal and an anode tab electrically connected to the anode terminal; a fuse which is electrically connected to the cathode terminal and the cathode tab and opens during operation to disconnect the cathode terminal and the cathode tab; and a connection part for electrically connecting the cathode tab of the cell material part and the cell case.