Compact Microbattery Design with Cylindrical Winding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery configurations are too large or have insufficient capacity, which limits their use in downsized electronic devices, such as sensors and wearable devices, where there is a demand for increased energy storage on a smaller scale.
Innovation Solution
The development of compact microbattery designs with a cylindrical case, utilizing a specific anode and cathode configuration, including a separator and electrolyte, which allows for increased energy capacity without increasing internal resistance, and manufacturing methods that eliminate the need for slurry and binder, enabling higher energy density and simplified production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional battery configurations are used, then manufacturing process is relatively simple, but battery size is large and capacity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested cylindrical configuration where the cathode is wound into a cylindrical shape around a central axis, the anode is wound around the cathode, and the separator is positioned between them. This nested arrangement maximizes the use of internal space, allowing higher energy capacity within a compact cylindrical volume without increasing external dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from planar electrode configurations to three-dimensional cylindrical winding. The electrodes are wound around a central axis to form concentric cylindrical layers, utilizing the radial dimension to increase surface area and capacity while maintaining a compact external footprint. This dimensional transformation enables higher energy density compared to conventional flat configurations.
2Volume of moving object
If battery size is reduced for downsized devices, then device integration is improved, but energy capacity and lifetime are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the battery components to optimize performance in small sizes. This includes using specific electrode materials with high capacity, optimizing the electrolyte composition for efficient ion transport, and adjusting the winding tightness and layer thickness to maximize energy density while maintaining compact dimensions for extended operation in downsized devices.
3Ease of manufacture
If slurry and binder are used in conventional manufacturing, then electrode fabrication is simplified, but energy density is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the slurry and binder components from the electrode fabrication process. Instead of using conventional slurry-based electrodes with binders, the invention employs direct deposition or coating methods that create electrodes without these non-active materials. This removal of unnecessary components increases the proportion of active materials, thereby enhancing energy density while maintaining manufacturability through alternative fabrication approaches.
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 compact microbattery design achieves up to a 50% increase in capacity compared to conventional batteries of similar size, enhancing energy storage and simplifying the manufacturing process, making them suitable for diverse applications including medical devices and self-powered microelectronics.
Implementation Method 1
including a separator and electrolyte
Data Source
AI summary
Batteries and associated methods of manufacture are described. According to one aspect, a battery includes a battery case, an anode within the battery case, a cathode within the battery case, a separator configured to electrically insulate the anode from the cathode and the battery case, an electrolyte in contact with the anode and the cathode, and first and second terminal connections connected with respective ones of the anode and the cathode, and wherein the first and second terminal connections are configured to conduct electrons between the anode and the cathode via a load which is external of the battery case.