Secondary Battery Insert Structure for Damage-Free Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for separating secondary batteries from electronic devices often cause damage, such as bending or warping, making recycling or reuse difficult.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device design featuring a receiving portion with an indented shape and an insert unit that includes a manipulation portion and a deformation portion, allowing the secondary battery to be separated without damage by applying a compressive force through a lever mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a structure is inserted into the gap between the electronic device and one side of the secondary battery to separate the secondary battery, then the secondary battery can be separated from the electronic device, but the force is concentrated on one side or the other side of the secondary battery, causing damage such as bending or warping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of separationVSAvoidintegrity of secondary battery
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The insert unit is divided into a manipulation portion and a deformation portion, where the deformation portion is further divided into a bonded portion and a non-bonded portion. This segmentation allows the force application to be distributed across multiple regions of the secondary battery, preventing concentration of force on a single side that would cause bending or warping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The insert unit has different properties in different regions: the manipulation portion has stronger rigidity for force application, while the deformation portion includes an elastically deformable material that can flex. The non-bonded portion is specifically designed to be deformable to push the battery out, while the bonded portion maintains attachment. This local differentiation of properties enables effective force distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the insert unit uses a rigid structure to apply separation force, then the separation can be achieved with less manipulation effort, but the rigid structure may cause bending or warping damage to the secondary battery

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamage to secondary batteryVSAvoidseparation force application
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The insert unit utilizes changes in rigidity parameter along its structure. The manipulation portion maintains strong rigidity for effective force application, while the deformation portion transitions to an elastically deformable material that can flex and distribute forces. This gradient in rigidity parameter allows the system to apply sufficient separation force while avoiding damage through elastic deformation that absorbs and distributes mechanical stress.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the deformation portion is made of elastically deformable material, then the force can be distributed to prevent bending or warping, but the manipulation portion needs stronger rigidity to apply effective separation force

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegrity of secondary batteryVSAvoidstructural complexity of insert unit
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insert unit employs local quality by assigning different mechanical properties to different regions: the manipulation portion has stronger rigidity for force application, while the deformation portion includes an elastically deformable material. This localized differentiation of material properties allows each region to perform its specific function optimally without requiring the entire structure to be complex.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The insert unit is segmented into distinct functional regions: a manipulation portion for force application and a deformation portion with bonded and non-bonded sub-portions for flexible force distribution. This segmentation into functionally distinct segments allows the structure to achieve both rigidity where needed and flexibility where needed, reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates easy and damage-free separation of secondary batteries, enhancing their recyclability and reuse potential.

Implementation Method 1

a deformation portion connected to the manipulation portion and provided to be deformed by manipulation of the manipulation portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

one end of the manipulation portion is manipulated to move away from the secondary battery, so that the other end thereof connected to the deformation portion may be provided to apply a force in a direction of compressing the deformation portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompressive force: Compression

Implementation Method 3

the deformation portion may include a bonded portion bonded to one surface of the secondary battery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP4683231A1Electronic device
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4683231A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4683231A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4683231A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an electronic device, and provides the electronic device including a body portion in which a receiving portion having an indented shape is formed; a secondary battery accommodated in the receiving portion; and an insert unit that is at least partially bonded to the secondary battery and is provided to separate the secondary battery from the receiving portion as it is deformed, wherein the insert unit includes a manipulation portion; and a deformation portion connected to the manipulation portion and provided to be deformed by manipulation of the manipulation portion.