Battery Tab Weld Covering to Prevent Internal Short Circuits

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery assembly methods fail to effectively prevent metal foreign objects from causing internal short circuits without reducing battery capacity, as they often rely on porous bodies that consume active material and are not specifically described in the method of interposition between the electrode body and the lid.

Innovation Solution

A battery design that includes a tab connected to the electrode plates via a current collector, with a covering member covering the welding points between the tab and the current collector, and a covering member covering the electrolyte inlet to prevent foreign objects from entering the electrode body, while maintaining electrical connectivity and allowing electrolyte injection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a lithium-ion battery uses a conventional current collector with uniform structure, then manufacturing is simple, but charge acceptance is insufficient and lithium plating occurs during fast charging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefast charging capabilityVSAvoidlithium plating prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The current collector is divided into multiple regions with different mesh structures. The first region has a first mesh structure and the second region has a second mesh structure, allowing different areas to handle charge at different rates and prevent lithium plating during fast charging

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If a lithium-ion battery uses a conventional current collector with uniform structure, then device complexity is low, but charge acceptance is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharge acceptanceVSAvoidcurrent collector structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the current collector are assigned different mesh structures optimized for their specific functions. The first region's mesh structure optimizes for charge acceptance while the second region's mesh structure optimizes for other performance characteristics, allowing each area to have locally optimized properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If a lithium-ion battery uses a current collector with large mesh openings, then lithium ion transport is improved, but structural strength is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium ion transportVSAvoidcurrent collector strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The first region uses a mesh structure with larger openings optimized for lithium ion transport, while the second region uses a different mesh structure that provides enhanced structural strength. This local differentiation allows the current collector to simultaneously achieve good ion transport and mechanical integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

The design effectively reduces internal short circuits caused by foreign objects, maintaining battery capacity and ensuring reliable operation by preventing metal foreign objects from entering the electrode body, thus enhancing safety and performance.

Implementation Method 1

a current collector for a lithium-ion battery, comprising: a first region (1310) including a first mesh structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

a second region (1320) including a second mesh structure different from the first mesh structure, wherein the first mesh structure has a first porosity and the second mesh structure has a second porosity different from the first porosity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon diffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentEP4012832B1battery
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 SANYO ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP4012832B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4012832B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4012832B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

A battery includes an electrode body obtained by stacking a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate with a separator interposed therebetween, an exterior body having an opening and housing the electrode body, a sealing plate sealing the opening, and an external terminal attached to the sealing plate. A tab is provided at at least one of the positive electrode plate or the negative electrode plate, and is electrically connected to the external terminal via a current collector between the electrode body and the sealing plate. The tab is welded to the current collector. A covering member covers a welding point between the tab and the current collector.