Prismatic Battery Terminal Structure for Flexible Pack Connections

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing prismatic secondary batteries require labor-intensive design changes for terminal arrangement and complicated busbar connections, limiting flexibility and increasing production costs.

Innovation Solution

A secondary battery with spaced apart positive and negative terminals on the top surface, featuring a terminal structure with an insulating body enclosing the terminals and an extension terminal exposed on a side surface, allowing for flexible terminal positioning and direct electrical connections between batteries without busbars.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the positive and negative terminals are arranged together on one side or on opposite sides according to device design specifications, then the battery can meet specific application requirements, but the design must be separately designed each time which is labor-intensive and reduces flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal arrangement flexibilityVSAvoiddesign complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery case is designed with universal terminal structures that can accommodate multiple terminal arrangement configurations (together on one side or on opposite sides) without requiring separate designs. The terminal structures include connection terminals with extending portions that can be positioned flexibly to meet different application requirements while using the same basic battery case design.

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

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional busbar connections are used to assemble multiple secondary batteries into modules or packs, then electrical connections can be established, but the busbar design becomes complicated depending on the terminal arrangement structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidbusbar design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the connection function from the traditional busbar system by incorporating connection terminals directly into the battery case. The extending portions of the connection terminals can directly connect to adjacent batteries, eliminating the need for separate busbars and simplifying the overall assembly process while maintaining electrical connection functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If the terminals are exposed on the battery case, then electrical connections can be made, but the terminals may be damaged or create safety hazards

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection accessibilityVSAvoidterminal exposure risks
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The connection terminals are nested within the battery case structure, with the extending portions emerging from designated openings. This nested configuration protects the main terminal bodies inside the case while providing accessible connection points outside, balancing protection with connectivity needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP4376207B1Secondary battery having improved terminal structure
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4376207B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4376207B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4376207B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(c)

AI summary

Disclosed herein relates to a secondary battery having a positive and negative terminal spaced apart on a top surface of a battery case having a hexahedral shape, and, in one example, includes a terminal structure including a terminal body coupled to a top surface of the battery case and one or more faces extending from the top surface while enclosing the positive or negative terminal so that it is not exposed, and an extension terminal electrically connected to the positive or negative terminal and exposed to any one surface of the terminal bodies except the top surface, and having a connection terminal facing the thickness direction of the secondary battery on the extension terminal.