Cable-Type Cell Assembly for Flexible, Durable Battery Packs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pouch-type battery cells experience performance degradation due to increased thickness and volume, leading to reduced flexibility and mechanical stress when used in devices requiring morphological or mechanical deformation.

Innovation Solution

A cable-type cell assembly comprising a cable-type electrode assembly with an inner electrode support, spirally wound inner and outer electrodes, and a laminated embedded member, connected via an electrode tab and sheathing member to form a cable-type battery module and pack, allowing for high flexibility and mechanical durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If pouch-type cells are connected in series or parallel to match capacity and voltage specifications, then the battery pack can meet device requirements, but the thickness and volume of the cell assembly increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidcell assembly volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The battery system is segmented into multiple independent cable-type cells (monocells) that can be individually configured and connected. Each cable-type cell contains segmented electrode assemblies with inner and outer electrodes that can be independently wound and packaged, allowing flexible arrangement to achieve desired capacity without proportionally increasing volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cable-type cell structure implements nesting by placing the inner electrode assembly inside the outer electrode assembly. The inner electrode support, inner electrode, inner separation layer are nested within the outer electrode, outer separation layer structure, creating a compact concentric configuration that maximizes energy density while minimizing volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Quantity of substance

If pouch-type cells are connected in series or parallel to match capacity and voltage specifications, then the battery pack can meet device requirements, but the thickness and volume of the cell assembly increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidcell assembly thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from the conventional planar/pouch configuration to a three-dimensional cable-type structure. The electrode assemblies are wound in concentric circles around an inner electrode support, creating a cylindrical geometry that utilizes radial space efficiently. This dimensional change allows capacity scaling without proportional increases in thickness.

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

3Quantity of substance

If the thickness and volume of pouch-type cells increase, then battery capacity can be increased, but flexibility of the cells is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidcell flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cable-type cell employs flexible packaging structures including a sheathing member that envelops the electrode assemblies. The sheathing member and outer electrode structure are designed with flexible materials and configurations that allow the cell to bend and deform without damage, maintaining flexibility even as capacity increases through additional wound layers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Quantity of substance

If the thickness and volume of pouch-type cells increase, then battery capacity can be increased, but mechanical stress is directly applied to cell components during mechanical deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidmechanical durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cable-type cell structure incorporates protective elements before mechanical stress occurs. The sheathing member provides a protective outer layer that cushions and distributes mechanical stress. The concentric wound structure of inner and outer electrodes with separation layers creates a resilient configuration that absorbs deformation energy, preventing direct stress transmission to critical components like the electrolyte and electrode interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP4636893A1Cable-type cell assembly, cable-type battery module and cable-type battery pack
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4636893A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4636893A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4636893A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

With the development of wearable devices having the capability of morphological or mechanical deformation, there is a need for morphological flexibility and mechanical durability in a battery pack for the wearable devices. Accordingly, conventional pouch-type cells are connected to each other in series or in parallel to constitute a battery pack in order to match the capacity and voltage according to the specifications of a device to be driven. However, as the thickness and volume of the cell assembly increases, a problem of performance degradation due to flexibility and mechanical stress occurs. Disclosed are a cable-type cell assembly, a cable-type battery module, and a cable-type battery pack capable of fundamentally solving the above problem. It is possible to meet the capacity and voltage according to the specifications of electronic devices while maintaining mechanical durability.