Spacer-Laminate Battery Cell Jig for Accurate Volume Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for measuring battery cell volume change using Archimedes principle face inaccuracies due to water stagnation between the battery cell jig and spacer, leading to corrosion and biased pressure application, necessitating disassembly for accurate measurement.

Innovation Solution

A battery cell jig with a spacer laminate featuring laminated spacers having slit units along the longitudinal direction to prevent water stagnation, ensuring uniform pressure application and accurate volume measurement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a battery cell is measured using conventional methods, then the measurement process is simple, but the measured volume does not reflect the actual volume due to compression during handling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A jig is introduced as an intermediary device between the battery cell and the measurement system. The jig includes a holder that cradles the battery cell and spacers that maintain a fixed gap between the cell and the compression plate, preventing direct compression of the cell during measurement while enabling volume determination through displacement measurement of the jig assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention measures the volume of the jig (which includes the battery cell and spacers) rather than directly measuring the compressed battery cell. By measuring the displacement of the jig assembly and subtracting the known volume of the jig components, the actual volume of the uncompressed battery cell is determined indirectly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If a battery cell is compressed during handling and measurement, then the measurement process is straightforward, but the cell volume is reduced leading to inaccurate capacity evaluation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement efficiencyVSAvoidcell volume accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The spacers are pre-installed in the jig before the battery cell is placed in the holder. This preliminary action ensures that when the compression plate is applied, the spacers are already in position to prevent compression of the battery cell, maintaining its natural volume state throughout the measurement process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The spacers are strategically positioned at specific locations within the jig to provide localized support and prevent compression only at critical points where the compression force would be applied, while allowing the rest of the measurement system to function normally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If no spacer is used during measurement, then the device structure is simple, but the battery cell volume changes due to compression

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejig structureVSAvoidbattery cell volume consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The spacers act as intermediary elements between the battery cell and the compression plate, providing a fixed gap that prevents direct contact and compression of the cell. This intermediary structure maintains the battery cell's volume consistency while enabling the measurement process to proceed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The spacers introduce a controlled dimensional parameter (the gap distance) into the measurement system. By changing the physical state of the measurement environment from direct compression to compressed-with-gap, the battery cell volume is maintained at its natural state while still allowing for accurate displacement measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 spacer laminate allows for consistent spacing and prevents water stagnation, enabling precise volume change measurement of battery cells without corrosion, facilitating non-destructive and accurate volume assessment.

Implementation Method 1

a battery cell jig which comprises: a holder (110) configured to cradle a battery cell; a first spacer (121) disposed between the holder (110) and a compression plate (103), wherein the first spacer (121) comprises a laminate structure formed by stacking a plurality of flat sheets (1211)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDisplacement measurement:

Data Source

PatentEP4087011B1Battery cell jig comprising spacer laminate, apparatus comprising same for measuring volume of battery cell, and method for measuring volume of battery cell using same
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4087011B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4087011B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4087011B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present technology relates to a battery cell jig including a spacer laminate, a battery cell volume measuring apparatus including the battery cell jig, and a battery cell volume measuring method performed by using the apparatus. It is possible to easily adjust a space between first and second plates where a battery cell has been interposed therebetween by including a spacer which can be assembled in the spacer laminate. Further, it is possible to preventing stagnation of water at a space between the battery cell jig and the spacer when measuring the volume change of the battery cell by including a slit unit opened along a longitudinal direction in the spacer.