Stacked Secondary Battery Venting With Multifunctional Terminal Blocks

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge is to develop a secondary battery that supports large cell capacities while ensuring high compatibility and safety for battery pack configurations.

Innovation Solution

A secondary battery design featuring a stack-type electrode assembly with multifunctional terminal blocks (MTBs) and a laminate sheet, incorporating features like electrode leads, rupture disks, check valves, and a laminate sheet for enhanced safety and compatibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If large cell capacities are implemented, then energy storage increases, but safety and compatibility for battery pack configuration may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell capacityVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The battery pack is divided into multiple battery modules, each containing several secondary batteries. This segmentation allows large capacity batteries to be distributed across multiple smaller units, improving safety while maintaining overall energy storage capacity. The module-level protection circuits and independent packaging further enhance safety management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A battery management system (BMS) is introduced as an intermediary to monitor and control the large-capacity batteries. The BMS includes protection circuits that detect abnormal conditions and control charge/discharge processes, ensuring safety while enabling large cell capacities to be utilized effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional battery structures are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but adaptability for different battery pack configurations is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery pack configuration flexibilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery module design incorporates universal interfaces and standardized structures that can accommodate different battery configurations. The module can be adapted to various pack arrangements (series, parallel, or combination) through flexible connection terminals and standardized housing dimensions, enabling one design to serve multiple application scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from traditional single-dimension battery arrangements to multi-dimensional module configurations. Batteries can be arranged in series, parallel, or combination configurations across multiple spatial dimensions, allowing flexible battery pack design while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular standardization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If safety features are added to large-capacity batteries, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple safety functions are merged into integrated protection circuits and unified battery module designs. The protection circuit combines overcharge, over-discharge, and short-circuit protection in a single system, while the module structure integrates mechanical protection, thermal management, and electrical isolation features, reducing overall complexity despite enhanced safety capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 design enables large cell capacities with improved safety and flexibility for battery pack configurations, accommodating various functions within the MTBs and laminate sheet.

Implementation Method 1

a rupture disk that ruptures to discharge gas when internal pressure increases

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

the check valve may be configured to open to discharge internal gases when the internal pressure of the secondary battery is above a certain pressure, and to close again after the internal pressure is relieved

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 3

the laminate sheet may be configured to wrap around the sides of the stack-type electrode assembly by fusing together at one side of the stack-type electrode assembly after wrapping around the sides of the stack-type electrode assembly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFusion: Welding

Data Source

PatentEP4664613A1Secondary battery
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4664613A1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP4664613A1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP4664613A1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly including a plurality of unit cells stacked in a first direction, and having electrode leads at opposing ends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a multifunctional terminal block (MTB) included at the opposing ends of the electrode assembly; and a laminate sheet that wraps around sides of the electrode assembly, wherein the MTB includes: an electrode terminal part electrically coupled with the electrode leads of the electrode assembly; and a rupture disk configured to rupture to discharge gas.