Laminated Battery Tab Layout for Thinner Cell Stacking

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing laminated battery structure faces challenges with increased thickness due to overlapping tabs, complex lamination processes, and decreased productivity from staggered tab lead positions and comb-shaped tab designs.

Innovation Solution

A laminated battery design where sheet batteries are arranged with tabs projecting outward, allowing for face-to-face electrode connections and overlapping tabs to simplify the structure and reduce thickness, eliminating the need for tab leads and comb-like electrodes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If tabs overlap each other in a laminated battery, then the battery can be compact, but the thickness of the battery increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery compactnessVSAvoidbattery thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar arrangement of tabs to a three-dimensional overlapping arrangement where tabs from different sheets extend in opposite directions and overlap vertically. This dimensional change allows tabs to connect through the thickness of the battery rather than requiring lateral extension, achieving compactness without proportionally increasing thickness.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The tab structure implements a nested configuration where tabs from adjacent sheets are positioned to overlap and interlock. The first tab part extends from one sheet while the second tab part from the adjacent sheet overlaps it, creating a nested arrangement that consolidates the connection structure within the battery thickness rather than adding external protrusions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Length of stationary object

If tab leads are staggered to reduce thickness, then battery thickness decreases, but a joining step is needed which decreases productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery thicknessVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the tab lead function and electrode extension function into a single integrated tab structure. The tab parts serve dual purposes: they extend the electrode surface area for connection while simultaneously serving as the connection element itself, eliminating the need for separate joining operations between tab leads and electrodes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and eliminates the complex joining step from the manufacturing process by designing tabs that naturally overlap and connect through their geometric arrangement. The tab structure is designed to self-align and self-connect during lamination, removing the need for additional joining operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If tab leads are comb-shaped, then connection is achieved, but lamination becomes complicated which decreases productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrode connectionVSAvoidlamination process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tab connection structure is segmented into discrete tab parts from adjacent sheets that overlap individually rather than requiring a complex comb-shaped integrated structure. Each tab part is a simple extension of its respective electrode, and the connection is achieved through the overlapping arrangement of these segmented elements, simplifying both the tab design and the lamination process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 design simplifies the battery structure, reduces thickness, and enhances productivity by eliminating complex lamination steps and reducing the number of parts, while maintaining high-capacity performance.

Implementation Method 1

the second electrode on the surface of the first tab part and the second electrode on the surface of the fourth tab part may be connected through a conductive bonding agent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP3565013B1Laminated battery
Publication Date: 2025.04.23 NIHON MICRONICS KK
  • EP3565013B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3565013B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3565013B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A laminated battery (1) according to the present invention is a secondary battery where a first sheet battery (110a), a second sheet battery (110b), a third sheet battery (210a) and a fourth sheet battery (210b) are laminated in this order. When an X-Y plane is viewed from above, a tab part (132a) of the first sheet battery is placed projecting outward of the sheet battery (110b), and a tab part (232d) of the fourth sheet battery (210b) is placed projecting outward of the third sheet battery (210c). A second electrode (17) on a surface of the first tab part (132a) and a second electrode on a surface of the fourth tab part tab part (232d) are placed face-to-face with each other and connected.