Integrated Laser Notching for Battery Electrode Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser notching apparatuses for secondary batteries require separate ablation and notching processes, which are sensitive to alignment and increase costs due to the need for two distinct laser beams and additional space and investment.
Innovation Solution
A notching apparatus that integrates an ablation laser source unit, notching laser source unit, and integral scanner unit, allowing the lasers to be emitted in parallel or perpendicular directions and adjusted through reflectors and beam size units to minimize distance and ensure precise alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If separate ablation laser unit and notching laser unit are used, then productivity is improved through ablation process, but device complexity increases and alignment sensitivity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the ablation laser unit and notching laser unit into a single integrated laser apparatus. The laser beam is sequentially used for both ablation and notching operations on the electrode sheet, reducing the number of separate devices needed while maintaining high productivity through the ablation pre-processing step.
Solution Approach 2:
The single laser apparatus performs multiple functions: first executing the ablation process to remove material and reduce thickness, then executing the notching process to create precise cuts. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate specialized devices for each operation.
2Productivity
If separate ablation laser unit and notching laser unit are used, then ablation process can be performed, but alignment sensitivity increases and manufacturing precision worsens
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the ablation and notching operations into a single laser apparatus with a shared beam path and positioning system, the patent eliminates alignment errors between separate devices. The single apparatus maintains consistent positioning reference throughout both operations, ensuring high notching precision.
3Productivity
If separate ablation laser unit and notching laser unit are used, then ablation process can be performed, but space requirement increases and cost worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate laser units into one integrated apparatus, significantly reducing the space required for installation. The single apparatus shares common components such as the laser source, scanning system, and control unit, eliminating the need for duplicate equipment and reducing overall footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-functional laser apparatus performs both ablation and notching operations, replacing two separate specialized devices. This universality reduces equipment investment costs and minimizes the space required for housing multiple separate units.
4Device complexity
If single laser is used for both ablation and notching, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision may worsen due to alignment sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines ablation and notching functions in a single laser apparatus with a unified positioning and scanning system. This integration eliminates the alignment sensitivity problem between separate devices, as the single apparatus maintains consistent reference frames throughout both operations, actually improving precision while reducing complexity.
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
The apparatus reduces the sensitivity to laser alignment, ensuring high-quality notching and reduces costs by integrating two processes into one apparatus, minimizing space and investment.
Implementation Method 1
an ablation laser source unit for radiating ablation laser performing an ablation operation on the electrode sheet
Implementation Method 2
a notching laser source unit for radiating notching laser, wherein the notching laser is emitted to a place, in which the ablation operation has been performed by the ablation laser, to notch the electrode sheet
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a notching apparatus, capable of solving poor quality of notching by lowering sensitivity of notching with respect to laser alignment through minimizing a distance between ablation laser and notching laser and capable of reducing costs of spaces and investments by performing existing two processes with only one apparatus. A notching apparatus according to the present invention relates to a notching apparatus for notching an electrode sheet used in a secondary battery, the notching apparatus including: an ablation laser source unit configured to radiate ablation laser that performs an ablation operation on the electrode sheet; a notching laser source unit configured to radiate notching laser, wherein the notching laser is emitted to the place, in which the ablation operation has been performed by the ablation laser, to notch the electrode sheet; and an integral scanner unit to which the ablation laser radiated from the ablation laser source unit and the notching laser radiated from the notching laser source unit are incident. The integral scanner unit allows the ablation laser and the notching laser to be emitted to positions adjacent to each other on the electrode sheet.