Flexible Battery Structure with Serpentine Cell Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional batteries occupy significant space and are rigid, making them impractical for use in portable electronic devices that require flexibility and space efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A flexible battery structure is developed using a flexible substrate with battery cells arranged in a serpentine geometry and stress-relieving gaps, allowing the battery to bend across multiple axes, and incorporating a flexible housing member to accommodate various device geometries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional rigid batteries are used, then energy storage capacity is sufficient, but the battery occupies significant space and cannot bend
Solution Approach 1:
The battery is divided into multiple individual battery cells that are distributed across the flexible substrate. These cells are separated by intervals that allow the substrate to bend, enabling the battery to conform to flexible surfaces while maintaining energy storage capacity through the distributed cell arrangement
Solution Approach 2:
The battery cells are arranged in a two-dimensional distribution pattern across the flexible substrate rather than a traditional three-dimensional block structure. This dimensional change allows the battery to flex and conform to surfaces while maintaining adequate energy storage through the extended surface area arrangement
2Adaptability or versatility
If battery cells are distributed with intervals to enable bending, then flexibility is improved, but the battery structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible substrate serves as the base structure for distributing and supporting the battery cells. This thin flexible film allows the battery assembly to bend and conform to surfaces while providing a simple framework for cell arrangement, reducing the complexity that would otherwise result from intricate cell spacing and connection structures
Data Source
AI summary
A number of different battery cell configurations are disclosed. Flexible battery cells are used to form a flexible structure capable of bending and flexing to accommodate movement of components of an electronic device. In some embodiments, the flexible battery cells can include cathode and anode layers joined together by a separator.