Lithium Battery Tap Relocation for Short Circuit Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pouch-shaped secondary batteries face issues with reduced capacity due to restricted electrode assembly size and increased risk of internal short circuits from external impacts, such as vibration or dropping, caused by the V-form electrode tap - electrode lead coupling regions.

Innovation Solution

The electrode tap - electrode lead coupling regions are relocated to the upper-end contact region of the battery case, with the contact region bent in the thickness direction, allowing the electrode assembly to be separated from the inner space of the battery case, enhancing safety and maximizing internal space for increased capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the electrode tap - electrode lead coupling regions are located in the conventional position (forming V-form regions), then the battery structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the electrode assembly size is restricted and the risk of internal short circuits from external impacts increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety against internal short circuitsVSAvoidbattery case structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the electrode tap - electrode lead coupling regions from the conventional internal position and relocates them to the upper-end contact region of the battery case. This separation removes the harmful V-form regions from the battery interior, eliminating the risk of internal short circuits while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through the use of the existing contact region structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the upper-end contact region, which is typically a two-dimensional sealing area, and bends it in the thickness direction to create a three-dimensional space for accommodating the coupling regions. This dimensional transformation allows the coupling regions to be positioned at the battery periphery without interfering with the electrode assembly space.

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

2Quantity of substance

If the electrode tap - electrode lead coupling regions are relocated to the upper-end contact region, then the electrode assembly size can be increased for higher capacity, but the battery case structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidbattery case structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the upper-end contact region serve multiple functions: it maintains its original sealing function between the upper and lower case members, and simultaneously accommodates the electrode tap - electrode lead coupling regions. This multi-functionality allows the coupling regions to be positioned in the contact region without requiring additional structural elements, thus increasing battery capacity while avoiding excessive structural complexity.

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

3Volume of stationary object

If the contact region is bent in the thickness direction to separate the electrode assembly from the inner space, then the internal space utilization is maximized for increased capacity, but the manufacturing process becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinner space utilizationVSAvoidbattery case assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates the bending of the contact region as part of the battery case assembly process itself. The upper-end contact region is pre-formed with the necessary bends to create the coupling region space, and then the electrode assembly and leads are assembled into this pre-configured structure. This preliminary action simplifies the overall manufacturing process by integrating the complex geometric transformation into the case formation step rather than requiring post-assembly modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2002495B1Lithium secondary battery improved safety and capacity
Publication Date: 2015.09.09 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP2002495B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2002495B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2002495B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a secondary battery having an electrode assembly constructed in a structure in which a plurality of electrodes are stacked, while separators are disposed respectively between the electrodes, and electrode taps of the electrodes are connected with each other, the electrode assembly being mounted in a battery case, wherein regions where the electrode taps are coupled to electrode leads (electrode tap -electrode lead coupling regions) are located at an upper-end contact region of the battery case, and the contact region is bent in the thickness direction of the battery, whereby the electrode assembly is separated from an inner space of the battery case.