Stacked Button Cell Electrode Layout to Prevent Tab Short Circuits

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional button cells have reduced battery capacity and increased electrode assembly resistance due to the jelly-roll winding design, which also leads to damage and short circuits between electrode tabs of different polarities.

Innovation Solution

A button cell design featuring a stacked electrode assembly with first and second electrodes separated by insulating separators, where first and second electrode tabs are spaced apart along the circular border and connected at the center, preventing short circuits and optimizing the volume ratio for improved capacity and reduced resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the electrode assembly is wound in a jelly-roll shape, then the battery can be manufactured with conventional processes, but the volume ratio occupied by the electrode assembly is reduced, resulting in deteriorated battery capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovemanufacturabilityVSAvoidbattery capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional jelly-roll winding approach by using a stacked configuration where electrodes and separators are layered alternately in a planar arrangement. This inversion allows the electrode assembly to occupy a larger volume ratio within the button cell, thereby improving battery capacity while remaining manufacturable through stacking processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from the conventional three-dimensional jelly-roll winding to a two-dimensional stacked arrangement. By changing the structural dimensionality, the electrode assembly achieves better space utilization and higher volume ratio, leading to improved battery capacity without compromising manufacturability.

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

2Device complexity

If the electrode assembly is wound in a jelly-roll shape, then the battery structure is simplified, but the resistance of the electrode assembly is increased and damage occurs to the electrode assembly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidelectrode assembly integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional jelly-roll winding structure to a stacked configuration. This inversion eliminates the resistance and damage issues associated with winding while maintaining relatively simple structural complexity through the layered arrangement of electrodes and separators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If electrode tabs are attached separately to the wound electrode assembly, then the electrical connection is established, but short circuits between electrode tabs with different polarities occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoidshort circuit risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the electrode tabs of the same polarity together in the stacked configuration. By combining multiple electrode tabs into unified connection points, the design ensures proper electrical connection while preventing short circuits between tabs of different polarities, as the stacked structure naturally separates positive and negative terminals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4456218A1Button cell
Publication Date: 2024.10.30 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP4456218A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4456218A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4456218A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A button cell includes a button-shaped electrode assembly including a plurality of first electrodes, a plurality of second electrodes, and a plurality of separators positioned between the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes, with the plurality of first electrodes, the plurality of second electrodes, and the plurality of separators being stacked in one direction. A first case and a second case are combined to house the electrode assembly; and a bonding portion insulating and bonds the first case and the second case. The electrode assembly further includes a plurality of first electrode tabs spaced apart from each other along a first part of a circular border of the electrode assembly, with each of the first electrode tabs extending from the plurality of first electrodes, each of the plurality of first electrode tabs extending to a center of a first surface of the electrode assembly, and the electrode tabs being connected to each other at the center of the first surface of the electrode assembly. A plurality of second electrode tabs are spaced apart from each other along a second part of the circular border of the electrode assembly from the plurality of second electrodes, extending to the center of the second surface of the electrode assembly, and connected to each other at the center of the second surface of the electrode assembly.