Tab Films Seal Power Storage Terminals Without Protective Tapes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The laminate-type power storage elements face challenges in ensuring reliable sealing of terminal lead margins, leading to potential short circuits due to exposed metal foils and increased production costs, particularly with the tab lead method, while the tab film method lacks sufficient reliability and requires additional protective tapes for insulation.
Innovation Solution
The use of strip-shaped tab films that deform to cover both surfaces of the electrode terminal portions, preventing contact with the cutting surfaces of the laminated films and eliminating the need for protective tapes, while maintaining accurate positioning and ensuring reliable sealing through thermocompression bonding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tab lead method is used to seal terminal lead margins, then sealing reliability is improved, but production cost increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive tab leads with inexpensive tab films that perform the sealing function. The tab films are made from readily available adhesive tapes or thin adhesive films, which are significantly cheaper than metal tab leads, thereby reducing production cost while maintaining sealing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces tab films as an intermediary material between the laminated films and the electrode terminal portions. These tab films serve as mediators that provide both sealing and insulation functions, eliminating the need for expensive tab leads while ensuring reliable sealing of the terminal lead margins
2Reliability
If the tab lead method is used to seal terminal lead margins, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single tab film component. The tab film simultaneously provides sealing, insulation, and positioning functions that were previously distributed across multiple components (tab leads, protective tapes, positioning structures), thereby simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining sealing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The tab films are designed to perform multiple functions: sealing the terminal lead margins, providing electrical insulation, and maintaining positioning accuracy. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components, reducing device complexity while ensuring reliable sealing
3Reliability
If protective tapes are added to prevent short circuits, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective tape function with the tab film itself. The tab film is made from adhesive material that inherently provides both sealing and insulation properties, eliminating the need for separate protective tapes and reducing device complexity while maintaining short circuit prevention capability
4Reliability
If additional sealing measures are implemented, then sealing reliability is improved, but production time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs tab films that are pre-cut and pre-positioned on the laminated films before assembly. This preliminary preparation allows for rapid assembly without requiring additional sealing steps during production, thereby maintaining high productivity while ensuring reliable sealing through the adhesive properties of the tab films
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
This solution effectively prevents short circuits and reduces production costs by eliminating the need for protective tapes and enhancing the reliability of the laminate-type power storage elements, achieving both thinness and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
performing thermocompression bonding on peripheral edge regions of the pair of laminated films to seal the exterior body
Data Source
AI summary
A laminated power storage element includes: an exterior body shaped into a flat bag shape by laminating a pair of laminated films to weld a peripheral edge region; an electrode body sealed within the exterior body; a positive and a negative electrode terminal portion allowed to project outside the exterior body from a predetermined margin of the exterior body; and a pair of tab films welded on surfaces where the pair of laminated films oppose one another in a region along the predetermined margin to mutually weld the pair of laminated films, and the tab film covers an end surface of the laminated film while deviating outward from the exterior body from the predetermined margin, and covers both front and back surfaces of each of a base end of the positive electrode terminal portion and a base end of the negative electrode terminal portion.