Prismatic Battery Through-Terminal Welding for Dense Cell Packaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current prismatic secondary batteries face challenges in achieving higher volume energy density and efficient, stable manufacturing processes, particularly in configuring terminal structures to optimize battery height and energy storage capacity.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a secondary battery with a specific terminal configuration, including a first electrode tab group, a first electrode current collector member, and a first resin member, where the welding portion extends through the first electrode terminal and is located outside the current collector member, allowing for efficient sealing and increased energy density through strategic placement and materials usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the positive electrode terminal is provided on a side surface and the negative electrode terminal is provided at an end portion, then the battery assembly can have a low height, but the volume energy density and manufacturing efficiency cannot be sufficiently improved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery heightVSAvoidvolume energy density
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions both the positive and negative electrode terminals on the same end surface of the battery case, utilizing the two-dimensional plane of the end surface rather than distributing terminals across different surfaces. This spatial reconfiguration allows for optimized internal packaging of the electrode assembly, thereby improving volume energy density while maintaining compact dimensions

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

2Reliability

If the welding portion is provided inside the current collector member, then the connection is secure, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and stability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The welding portion is extracted from the internal structure of the current collector member and repositioned to extend through the electrode terminal to the outer surface. This extraction simplifies the manufacturing process by enabling external welding operations while maintaining secure electrical connection, thereby improving both manufacturability and connection reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Quantity of substance

If the electrode assembly is densely packed to increase volume energy density, then the energy storage capacity increases, but the manufacturing stability and assembly ease deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume energy densityVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode terminals are preliminarily positioned and configured with extended welding portions before the final assembly step. This preliminary configuration allows for straightforward welding operations and simplifies the overall manufacturing process, enabling efficient production while maintaining high volume energy density through optimized terminal placement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 configuration enables the efficient manufacturing of secondary batteries with improved volume energy density and enhanced reliability of the joining portions, facilitating easier mounting and higher performance in applications such as electric vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

the first electrode terminal and the first electrode current collector member are connected to each other by a welding portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Implementation Method 2

a first resin member is disposed between the first electrode terminal and the first sealing plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical insulation:

Data Source

PatentEP4475287A1Secondary battery and method of manufacturing secondary battery
Publication Date: 2024.12.11 PRIME PLANET ENERGY & SOLUTIONS INC
  • EP4475287A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4475287A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4475287A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

In this secondary battery (1), a first resin member (161) is disposed between a negative electrode terminal (131) and a first sealing plate (121), the negative electrode terminal (131) and a negative electrode current collector (310) are connected to each other by a welding portion (L1), the welding portion (L1) extends through the negative electrode terminal (131), and the welding portion (L1) is provided in the negative electrode terminal (131) on an outer side with respect to the negative electrode current collector (310). With this configuration, the negative electrode terminal (131) and a negative electrode tab group (210A) can be electrically joined to each other with an electrode assembly (200) being disposed in a case main body (110). As a result, a secondary battery having a higher volume energy density can be manufactured efficiently.