Stepped Battery Design for Inner Space Utilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional stepped batteries fail to optimally utilize the inner space of electronic devices due to suboptimal shape design and the need for separate space for protection circuit modules or circuit boards, making it difficult to effectively locate these components in limited spaces.

Innovation Solution

A stepped battery design featuring a first cell with second cells stacked on its surface, each with a narrower width than the first cell, spaced apart to accommodate a protection circuit module or circuit board, maximizing inner space utilization and allowing for an optimized battery shape.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If conventional rectangular parallelepiped batteries are used, then manufacturing is simple, but inner space utilization is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinner space utilizationVSAvoidbattery shape complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The battery is divided into multiple cells with different dimensions (first cell with larger width, second cells with smaller width), creating a stepped configuration that segments the battery volume to better fit the inner space of electronic devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The battery transitions from a conventional two-dimensional rectangular parallelepiped shape to a three-dimensional stepped structure by varying the width dimension across different cells, enabling better space utilization in the width direction

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

2Volume of moving object

If separate space is allocated for PCM or circuit board, then component placement is simple, but inner space utilization decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinner space utilizationVSAvoidbattery structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spaced space between second cells is merged with the required space for PCM or circuit board placement, allowing these components to be located within the battery structure without requiring additional separate space

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The spaced space serves multiple functions: it provides structural separation between second cells and simultaneously accommodates the PCM or circuit board, making the battery structure multi-functional

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

Data Source

PatentEP3273521B1Stepped battery
Publication Date: 2020.11.18 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP3273521B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3273521B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3273521B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a stepped battery, more particularly to, a stepped battery capable of increasing utilization of an inner space of a system. The stepped battery according to the present invention includes a first cell and a plurality of second cells, which are stacked on one surface of the first cell and each of which has a width less than that of the first cell. The second cells are disposed to be spaced apart from each other.