Electrode Tab Folding Inspection With Regional Width Thresholds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods fail to accurately inspect electrode tab folding in secondary batteries, leading to incorrect classification of non-defective products as defective due to minor tab folding that does not affect welding quality, thereby reducing productivity.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for inspecting electrode tab folding by dividing the tab region into multiple sections and evaluating the width of each, determining if it meets predetermined width criteria, and reclassifying plates as non-defective if folding has no impact on welding quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing inspection methods are used to detect electrode tab folding, then all tabs with any folding are classified as defective, but this leads to incorrect rejection of non-defective products with minor folding that does not affect welding quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection accuracyVSAvoidproduct rejection rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode tab is divided into multiple regions (first region, second region, third region) along its length. Each region is independently inspected for folding defects. This segmentation allows the inspection system to distinguish between minor folding in non-critical regions (which may not affect welding) and significant folding in critical regions (which does affect welding), thereby reducing false rejections while maintaining inspection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If strict width criteria are applied to the entire electrode tab, then minor folding is detected as defective, but this reduces productivity by rejecting acceptable products

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetab width consistencyVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Different width criteria are applied to different regions of the electrode tab. The first region (connected to the electrode plate) has a first width criterion, the second region (middle section) has a second width criterion, and the third region (end section) has a third width criterion. This local quality approach allows minor variations in non-critical regions to be tolerated while maintaining strict control over critical regions, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency without sacrificing essential quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If the electrode tab region is inspected as a single unit, then folding detection is simple, but it cannot distinguish between folding that affects welding quality and folding that does not

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection process simplicityVSAvoidfolding defect classification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode tab region is divided into multiple discrete regions (first, second, and third regions) with different width criteria. This segmentation enables the inspection system to evaluate folding defects in the context of their location and potential impact on welding quality, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining reasonable inspection process complexity through automated region identification and criterion application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4636686A1Method and system for performing electrode tab folding inspection
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP4636686A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4636686A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4636686A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A method of inspecting electrode tab folding performed by at least one processor includes obtaining an image that has captured an electrode plate on which an electrode tab is formed, wherein the image comprises an electrode plate region and an electrode tab region, dividing the electrode tab region(304, 504) in the image into a plurality of regions(510, 520, 530), and performing an electrode tab folding inspection based on a width of the electrode tab region(304, 504) in each of the plurality of regions(510, 520, 530).