Battery Terminal Recess Design for Module Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery designs face challenges in assembling battery modules with low terminal resistance, as the exposed terminal area is limited, leading to increased resistance and interference issues during stacking.

Innovation Solution

A battery design featuring a container member with a main part thicker than the terminal-connecting part, allowing the terminal to be recessed and providing a larger exposed area for power distribution, and a bus bar connection without protruding from the main surface, facilitating easy assembly into a battery module with reduced terminal resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If the terminal is exposed from the side surface to increase the exposed area for power distribution, then the terminal resistance is reduced, but the terminal protrudes from the main surface causing interference during battery module assembly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexposed terminal areaVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal is configured to extend in the thickness direction of the container member rather than protruding from the side surface. This dimensional change allows the terminal to be recessed relative to the main surface while still providing sufficient exposed area for power distribution, thereby resolving the conflict between reducing terminal resistance and facilitating assembly.

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

2Reliability

If the terminal area is increased to reduce terminal resistance, then the allowable current is increased, but the battery structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal resistanceVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container member is designed with non-uniform thickness, where the thickness varies in the thickness direction at different positions. Specifically, the thickness is greater where the terminal is recessed and thinner at other areas. This local variation in thickness allows the terminal to be recessed while maintaining structural integrity and providing sufficient exposed area, thereby reducing terminal resistance without significantly increasing overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the container member thickness is increased to recess the terminal, then the terminal can be positioned lower to avoid interference, but the battery volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidbattery volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The container member employs local thickness variation rather than uniform thickness increase. The thickness is selectively increased only in the regions where terminal recessing is required, while other areas maintain thinner profiles. This localized approach allows the terminal to be properly recessed to avoid interference during assembly while minimizing the overall volume increase of the battery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3309856B1Battery and battery module
Publication Date: 2020.12.30 KK TOSHIBA
  • EP3309856B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3309856B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3309856B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

According to one embodiment, a battery is provided. The battery includes an electrode body, a lead, a container member, and a terminal. The container member includes a main part and a terminal-connecting part adjacent to the main part. The electrode body is housed in the main part of the container member. The lead is electrically connected to the electrode body. The lead is housed in the terminal-connecting part of the container member. The terminal is electrically connected to the lead. The terminal is provided on the terminal-connecting part. A thickness of the main part of the container member is larger than a thickness of the terminal-connecting part of the container member.