Secondary Battery Terminal Structure Simplification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing secondary battery terminal structures require multiple parts and a busbar for electrical connection, increasing complexity and the risk of electrical short circuits.

Innovation Solution

A simplified terminal structure using plate-shaped areas with insulating molding resin, where the first area is bent in a C- or S-shape and connected to the electrode assembly, and the second area is bent parallel to the cap plate, allowing direct welding without a busbar, and an insulation plate is used to prevent short circuits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a busbar is used for electrical connection between terminal parts, then reliable electrical connection is achieved, but device complexity and number of parts increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidterminal structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the busbar function into the terminal part itself by extending the second area of the terminal part to directly contact and weld with terminal parts of adjacent batteries. This integration eliminates the need for separate busbars, reducing the number of parts while maintaining reliable electrical connection through direct welding between terminal areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If multiple parts are used in terminal structure, then functional requirements are met, but manufacturing complexity and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal function reliabilityVSAvoidterminal assembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal part is designed as an integrated component where the first area (for welding to electrode assembly), second area (for electrical connection), and insulating resin are combined into a single unit. This reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies both manufacturing and assembly processes while maintaining all necessary functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal part is divided into functionally distinct areas: the first area for electrical connection to the electrode assembly, the second area for connection to adjacent batteries, and insulating regions. This segmentation allows each area to be optimized for its specific function while being manufactured as an integrated component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If terminal parts are directly connected without insulation, then device complexity is reduced, but risk of electrical short circuit increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal structure complexityVSAvoidelectrical short circuit prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Insulating resin is applied selectively in specific locations where electrical isolation is needed, such as between different terminal areas and between terminal parts of adjacent batteries. This localized insulation approach prevents short circuits only where necessary, maintaining simplicity in non-critical areas while ensuring safety where electrical isolation is required.

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

This configuration reduces the number of parts, simplifies assembly, and enables direct electrical connection between batteries without a busbar, while preventing electrical short circuits and facilitating easy welding of terminal parts.

Implementation Method 1

The first and second areas may be insulated from the cap plate by an insulating molding resin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical insulation: Dielectric

Implementation Method 2

a welding member, and an insulating molding resin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Data Source

PatentEP3595045B1Secondary battery
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP3595045B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3595045B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3595045B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a secondary battery, and the technical problem to be solved is to provide a secondary battery of which the structure of a terminal part is simplified to reduce the number of parts, and terminal parts can be directly connected without requiring a separate part (for example, a bus bar) for mutual electrical connection between a battery and another battery. To this end, provided in the present invention is a secondary battery comprising: an electrode assembly, a case for accommodating the electrode assembly; a cap plate coupled to the case; and a terminal part that is electrically connected to the electrode assembly and is extended to penetrate through the cap plate, wherein the terminal part comprises a first area having a first thickness that is electrically connected to the electrode assembly from the inside of the case, and a second area having a second thickness that is thicker than the first thickness and is electrically connected to the first area from the outer side of the case.