Color Sensor Functional Layer Position Detection for Battery Electrodes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current pattern recognition apparatuses fail to accurately detect the position of a semi-transparent functional layer on an electrode, leading to coating defects and impaired thermal stability in secondary batteries, as they cannot distinguish the electrode plate from the functional layer, resulting in uneven battery cell shapes and poor electrolyte impregnation.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus comprising a first and second electrode plate sensor, a functional layer sensor, and a controller that calculates and compares the position and length of the functional layer to ensure correct positioning, using sensors like color or infrared sensors to provide feedback on the accuracy of the functional layer's placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a laser sensor or infrared ray sensor is used to detect the functional layer position, then the detection speed is fast, but the semi-transparent functional layer in slurry state cannot be correctly sensed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection speedVSAvoidfunctional layer position detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a color sensor to detect color changes of the semi-transparent functional layer in slurry state. The functional layer has different color characteristics when in slurry state versus when dried, and the color sensor detects these color differences to accurately determine the functional layer position and coating quality, resolving the inability of laser or infrared sensors to detect the semi-transparent slurry layer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the detection parameter from optical properties (laser/infrared) to color properties. By using color sensor detection of the functional layer's color characteristics in slurry state, the system achieves accurate position detection where previous optical methods failed, while maintaining fast detection speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the functional layer is not coated in the correct position, then the coating process is faster, but coating position defects occur and thermal stability is affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoating process speedVSAvoidfunctional layer coating position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the color sensor detects the actual functional layer position and coating quality, and this information is fed back to the control system. The controller uses this feedback to adjust the coater operation in real-time, ensuring correct positioning and coating quality while maintaining high productivity through automated closed-loop control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual or open-loop mechanical positioning with an automated optical detection and feedback control system. The color sensor and controller work together to automatically adjust the coating process, eliminating the need for manual positioning and ensuring precise functional layer placement while maintaining high coating speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 solution enables precise measurement and feedback on the functional layer's position, improving coating quality, removing latent defects, and enhancing the thermal stability and productivity of lithium secondary batteries by ensuring accurate functional layer placement.

Implementation Method 1

a functional layer sensor provided behind the first electrode plate sensor and the second electrode plate sensor above a material traveling direction to sense position and length of the functional layer formed on the electrode by sensing a difference in color

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectColor sensing: Absorption Spectroscopy

Data Source

PatentUS8351054B2Apparatus detecting a position of a functional layer on an electrode

Publication Date: 2013.01.08 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD

AI summary

An apparatus detecting the position of the functional layer of the electrode plate includes a first electrode plate sensor disposed at a side of a material to sense start points of electrode plates continuously formed on the material at uniform intervals, a second electrode plate sensor disposed at an other side of the material to sense a length of the electrode plate, a functional layer sensor provided behind the first electrode plate sensor and the second electrode plate sensor above a material traveling direction to sense position and length of the functional layer formed on the electrode by sensing a difference in color, and a controller feeding back a feedback result indicating whether the functional layer is correctly coated through values sensed by the first electrode plate sensor, the second electrode plate sensor, and the functional layer sensor.