Solid Electrolyte Battery Surface Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

The integration of batteries into small, thin electronic devices is challenging due to the flammability of liquid electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries, which poses safety risks and limits size reduction, energy density, and assembly efficiency during reflow soldering processes.

Innovation Solution

The use of solid electrolytes, such as polymers or ceramics, in battery cells that can withstand high temperatures and reflow soldering, allowing for direct integration into devices, reducing size, cost, and safety risks by eliminating the need for hermetic canning and providing a safer alternative to liquid electrolyte batteries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If liquid electrolyte batteries are used, then energy storage capacity is achieved, but safety risks increase due to flammability

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidflammability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of the electrolyte from liquid to solid, fundamentally altering the safety characteristics of the battery system. Solid electrolytes eliminate the flammability issue inherent in liquid electrolytes while maintaining ionic conductivity necessary for battery operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material structures combining solid electrolyte layers with electrode materials, creating a integrated battery cell that achieves both safety and energy storage functionality. The composite structure allows for optimized performance while eliminating liquid electrolyte hazards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Volume of moving object

If plugs, sockets and tabs are used to connect batteries, then electrical connection is achieved, but device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidconnection structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the battery cell directly with the circuit board by integrating electrical connections through the solid electrolyte layers, eliminating the need for separate plugs, sockets, and tabs. This consolidation reduces both device volume and structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and eliminates the intermediate connection components (plugs, sockets, tabs) from the system, achieving direct electrical integration between the battery cell and circuit board through the solid electrolyte structure itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If hermetic canning is used for liquid electrolyte batteries, then safety is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potential harm of liquid electrolyte leakage into a benefit by using solid electrolytes that inherently prevent leakage without requiring hermetic canning. The solid structure provides safety without the manufacturing complexity of sealed containers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Reliability

If solid electrolytes are used, then safety and integration are improved, but energy density may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidenergy storage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes parameters of the solid electrolyte including ionic conductivity, thickness, and composition to achieve energy density comparable to liquid electrolytes while maintaining safety advantages. Advanced solid electrolyte materials with high ionic conductivity enable this performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3235045B1Surface mount battery and portable electronic device with integrated battery cell
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 INTEL CORP
  • EP3235045B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3235045B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3235045B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4C

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided for battery cells including solid electrolytes. Solid electrolyte cells may be integrated with electronic devices. For example, a solid electrolyte cell may be integrated with a metal surface of a circuit board or an electrically conductive surface of a chassis. Surface-mountable solid electrolyte cells may be electrically coupled to circuit traces using, for example, a reflow soldering process.