Electrode Roll Position Mapping Before Battery Cell Notching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery manufacturing processes lack the ability to track electrode quality in units of battery cells prior to the notching process, leading to the entire electrode roll being discarded when defects are detected in semi-finished or finished products.

Innovation Solution

A system for tracking electrode positions using a notching controller, calculator, roll map generator, and mapping part to generate and compare coordinates and cell IDs, allowing for precise tracking of electrode positions throughout the manufacturing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If quality tracking is implemented only after the notching process, then defect analysis can be performed for semi-finished and finished products, but the entire electrode roll must be discarded when defects are detected, leading to material waste

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality tracking capabilityVSAvoidelectrode material waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary quality tracking during the electrode manufacturing process by marking electrodes with identification information before the notching process. This allows defects to be detected and tracked at the electrode level rather than the unit cell level, enabling selective removal of only defective portions rather than discarding the entire roll, thus reducing material waste while maintaining quality control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the entire electrode roll is discarded when defects are detected, then product quality is ensured, but manufacturing efficiency and productivity decrease due to excessive material loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the electrode roll into individually identifiable electrodes by applying marks with specific pitch intervals during manufacturing. Each electrode receives unique identification information that allows traceability through subsequent processes. When defects are detected, only the specific defective electrode or portion needs to be removed rather than the entire roll, maintaining product quality while significantly improving manufacturing efficiency by preserving usable material

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of information

If electrode position tracking is implemented, then defect source identification is enabled, but system complexity increases due to additional tracking components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedefect source informationVSAvoidtracking system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a virtual copy or map of the electrode roll geometry and defect locations through coordinate calculations. By storing pitch information and calculating coordinates of defects relative to the roll map, the system enables defect source identification without requiring complex physical tracking hardware throughout the manufacturing line, thus reducing system complexity while maintaining traceability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP4651218A1Electrode position tracking system
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4651218A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4651218A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4651218A1 patent drawingFigure 5(a)~5(b)

AI summary

A system for tracking position of an electrode of a battery cell comprises: a roll map in a form of a bar simulating the electrode progressing in a roll-to-roll state, wherein the roll map is generated using coordinates information representing a longitudinal dimension of the electrode and a cell identification, ID, of a unit electrode.