Wire-Type Outer Current Collector for Flexible Cable Battery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing secondary batteries face limitations in shape adaptability and are prone to short circuits due to deformation of their outer current collectors, which restricts their application in flexible devices and compromises performance.

Innovation Solution

A cable-type secondary battery design featuring a wire-type outer current collector wound on the electrode assembly, made from materials like stainless steel, aluminum, or conductive polymers, providing flexibility and elasticity to prevent deformation and short circuits, with an electrolyte layer and active material layers enhancing ion conductivity and mechanical stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional cylindrical or prismatic casing is used for the secondary battery, then the battery structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the battery shape is fixed and not adaptable to various shapes of mobile devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshape adaptabilityVSAvoidbattery structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces rigid cylindrical or prismatic casings with a flexible pouch-shaped casing made of aluminum laminate sheets. This flexible shell allows the battery to be formed into various shapes while maintaining structural integrity, directly resolving the contradiction between shape adaptability and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The battery structure transitions from fixed rigid shapes to a dynamic flexible pouch design that can be configured in different shapes. The electrode assembly is mounted in a flexible pouch that can be formed into various configurations, enabling adaptability to different mobile device shapes while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the outer current collector is made rigid to maintain structural stability, then the battery maintains good performance, but the battery cannot be deformed to fit various shapes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshape adaptabilityVSAvoidstructural stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The outer current collector is designed as a flexible wire-type structure that can be wound around the electrode assembly. This flexible design allows the battery to be deformed into various shapes while the wound configuration provides structural support to prevent short circuits, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The wire-type outer current collector is wound around and encloses the electrode assembly, creating a nested structure. This nesting provides structural stability and prevents contact between electrodes while allowing the overall battery to be flexible and adaptable to different shapes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the outer current collector is made flexible to adapt to various shapes, then the battery can be deformed, but the current collector may deform to contact the inner current collector causing short circuit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshape adaptabilityVSAvoidshort circuit risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The wire-type outer current collector is wound around the electrode assembly in a nested configuration. This wound structure maintains a consistent spacing between the outer current collector and inner electrodes, preventing contact and short circuits even when the battery is deformed, while still allowing shape adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The outer current collector is pre-formed into a wound configuration around the electrode assembly before final battery assembly. This preliminary winding structure establishes proper spacing and prevents future deformation that could cause short circuits, while maintaining the flexibility needed for shape adaptation.

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

The flexible and elastic wire-type outer current collector improves the battery's shape adaptability, reduces the risk of short circuits, and maintains performance by dispersing external forces, ensuring the active material remains intact and ion migration is efficient.

Implementation Method 1

an electrolyte layer surrounding the anode active material layer and serving as an ion channel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon migration: Ion Repulsion/Attraction

Implementation Method 2

the flexible and elastic wire-type outer current collector improves the battery's shape adaptability, reduces the risk of short circuits, and maintains performance by dispersing external forces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2610956B1Cable-type secondary battery
Publication Date: 2018.02.28 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP2610956B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2610956B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a cable-type secondary battery including an electrode assembly having a horizontal cross section of a predetermined shape and extending longitudinally, and a wire-type outer current collector wound on the outer surface of the electrode assembly, the electrode assembly including an inner current collector, an anode active material layer, and an electrolyte layer, and a cathode active material layer. The wire-type outer current collector has excellent flexibility and a predetermined level of elasticity, and thus, improves the flexibility of the entire cable-type secondary battery and prevents a short circuit from occurring and the active material from falling off from the active material layer, due to the deformation of the cable-type secondary battery.