Battery Cell Insulating Member Around Terminal Through-Hole

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Solution Overview

Problem

The stability and production efficiency of battery cells, particularly in preventing contact between cathodes and anodes that can lead to heat or fire, need to be improved.

Innovation Solution

The battery cell design includes an electrode assembly with a first and second electrode of different polarities, a can with a through-hole for the electrode terminal, and an insulating member with a disc-shaped cover portion and an extension portion to prevent electrical contact between the electrode terminal and the can.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an insulating member is added to prevent contact between electrode terminal and can, then safety and stability are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

An insulating member is introduced as an intermediary component between the electrode terminal and the can to prevent direct contact. This mediator resolves the contradiction by providing electrical insulation without requiring fundamental changes to the battery structure, thus improving safety while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The insulating member is divided into multiple functional segments: a cover portion that covers the through-hole and an extension portion that extends toward the electrode terminal. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function efficiently, providing comprehensive insulation coverage while using minimal material, thereby improving reliability without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If a through-hole is formed in the can for electrode terminal insertion, then ease of manufacture is improved, but risk of contact between cathode and anode increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidcontact between cathode and anode
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating member acts as a mediator within the through-hole, allowing the hole to remain for ease of electrode terminal insertion while preventing the harmful effect of direct contact between cathode and anode. The intermediary component enables the through-hole structure to serve both manufacturing convenience and safety requirements simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The insulating member provides localized insulation specifically at the through-hole region where the electrode terminal passes through. This local quality approach ensures that insulation is provided precisely where needed (at the through-hole) without requiring insulating materials throughout the entire can structure, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while preventing harmful contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4571911A1Battery cell
Publication Date: 2025.06.18 SK ON CO LTD
  • EP4571911A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4571911A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4571911A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A battery cell of the present disclosure may include: an electrode assembly including a first electrode and a second electrode having a different polarity from the first electrode; a can accommodating the electrode assembly in an internal accommodating space and including an upper portion having a through-hole formed therein; an electrode terminal inserted into the through-hole and electrically connected to the first electrode; and an insulating member including a disc-shaped cover portion covering an upper surface of the accommodating space and including an insertion hole corresponding to the through-hole, and an extension portion extending from the insertion hole toward the upper portion.