Battery pack with cells of different capacities electrically coupled in parallel

• US 10,217,977 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2017
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bhardwaj, Ramesh C., Hwang, Taisup, Mank, Richard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Douyette, Kenneth J
• Application Number:
  US15/467,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20170250385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0431 Cells with wound or folded electrodes H01M10/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0565 Polymeric materials, e.g. gel-type or solid-type
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0587 of accumulators having only wound construction elements, i.e. wound positive electrodes, wound negative electrodes and wound separators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/211 adapted for pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/267 having means for adapting to batteries or cells of different types or different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/51 Connection only in series
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/512 Connection only in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/55 on the same side of the cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/553 Terminals adapted for prismatic, pouch or rectangular cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments provide a battery pack for use with a portable electronic device. The battery pack includes a first set of cells with different capacities electrically coupled in a parallel configuration. Cells within the first set of cells may also have different thicknesses and/or dimensions. The first set of cells is arranged within the battery pack to facilitate efficient use of space within a portable electronic device. For example, the first set of cells may be arranged to accommodate components in the portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A battery pack, comprising:

a first set of cells electrically coupled in a first parallel configuration, the first set of cells comprising a first cell, second cell, and third cell; and

wherein the first cell, second cell and third cell each have different capacities and dimensions;

wherein the capacity of the first cell is substantially the same as the cumulative capacity of the second cell and third cell;

wherein the first set of cells has a first overall capacity;

a second set of cells electrically coupled in a second parallel configuration, the second set of cells comprising a fourth cell, fifth cell, and sixth cell;

wherein the fourth cell, fifth cell, and sixth cell each have different capacities and dimensions;

wherein the capacity of the fourth cell is substantially the same as the cumulative capacity of the fifth cell and sixth cell;

wherein the second set of cells has a second overall capacity;

wherein the first set of cells and the second set of cells are arranged in an asymmetric configuration;

wherein the first overall capacity is substantially the same as the second overall capacity, and

wherein the first set of cells and the second set of cells are electrically coupled in a series configuration.

2. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the first set of cells is stacked, placed side-by-side, or placed top-to-bottom within the battery pack.

3. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein cells within the first set of cells have different thicknesses.

4. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first set of cells correspond to a lithium-polymer cell.

5. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first set of cells comprise:

a jelly roll comprising layers which are wound together, including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating; and

a pouch enclosing the jelly roll.

6. A method for providing a power source for a portable electronic device, comprising:

arranging a first set of cells within a battery pack, the first set of cells comprising a first cell, second cell, and third cell;

wherein the first cell, second cell and third cell each have different capacities and dimensions;

wherein the capacity of the first cell is substantially the same as the cumulative capacity of the second cell and third cell;

electrically coupling the first set of cells in a first parallel configuration to establish a first overall capacity;

arranging a second set of cells within the battery pack, the second set of cells comprising a fourth cell, fifth cell, and sixth cell;

wherein the fourth cell, fifth cell, and sixth cell each have different capacities and dimensions;

wherein the capacity of the fourth cell is substantially the same as the cumulative capacity of the fifth cell and sixth cell;

electrically coupling the second set of cells in a second parallel configuration to establish a second overall capacity; and

electrically coupling the first set of cells and the second set of cells in a series configuration;

wherein the first set of cells and the second set of cells are arranged in an asymmetric configuration; and

wherein the first overall capacity is substantially the same as the second overall capacity.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first set of cells is stacked, placed side-by-side, or placed top-to-bottom within the battery pack.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the first set of cells is arranged to accommodate components in the portable electronic device.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein one or more of the first set of cells comprise:

a jelly roll comprising layers which are wound together, including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating; and

a pouch enclosing the jelly roll.

10. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a set of components powered by a battery pack; and

the battery pack, comprising;

a first set of cells electrically coupled in a first parallel configuration, the first set of cells comprising a first cell, second cell, and third cell; and

wherein the first cell, second cell and third cell each have different capacities and dimensions;

wherein the capacity of the first cell is substantially the same as the cumulative capacity of the second cell and third cell;

wherein the first set of cells has a first overall capacity;

a second set of cells electrically coupled in a second parallel configuration, the second set of cells comprising a fourth cell, fifth cell, and sixth cell;

wherein the fourth cell, fifth cell, and sixth cell each have different capacities and dimensions;

wherein the capacity of the fourth cell is substantially the same as the cumulative capacity of the fifth cell and sixth cell;

wherein the second set of cells has a second overall capacity;

wherein the first set of cells and the second set of cells are arranged in an asymmetric configuration;

wherein the first overall capacity is substantially the same as the second overall capacity, and

wherein the first set of cells and the second set of cells are electrically coupled in a series configuration.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the first set of cells is stacked, placed side-by-side, or placed top-to-bottom within the battery pack.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the first set of cells is arranged to accommodate the components in the portable electronic device.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein cells within the first set of cells have different thicknesses.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein one or more of the first set of cells correspond to a lithium-polymer cell.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein one or more of the first set of cells comprise:

a jelly roll comprising layers which are wound together, including a cathode with an active coating, a separator, and an anode with an active coating; and

a pouch enclosing the jelly roll.