Electrochemical device

• US 20050147880A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TDK Corporation
• Original Assignee: TDK Corporation
• Inventors: Takahashi, Tetsuya, Ohtsuka, Masayuki, Harano, Mitsuyoshi, Tsuchida, Saburou, Miyabara, Kunio
• Granted Patent: US 7,468,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/177
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/80 Gaskets; Sealings
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/10 Sealing, e.g. of lead-in wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0427 Button cells
• 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 10/0585 of accumulators having only flat construction elements, i.e. flat positive electrodes, flat negative electrodes and flat separators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/103 prismatic or rectangular H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/109 of button or coin shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/119 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/131 characterised by physical properties, e.g. gas permeability, size or heat resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/153 for button or coin cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/159 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/531 Electrode connections inside a battery casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/545 formed by the casing of the cells cup shaped terminals adapted for cells having curved cross-section H01M50/56
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 Energy storage using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An electrochemical device comprises a matrix 60 including an anode 10 and a cathode 20, an electrolyte, and a shell 50 for accommodating the matrix 60 and electrolyte in a closed state. The shell 50 includes an upper lid 52, a lower lid 54, and a gasket 56. At least one of the upper lid 52 and lower lid 54 is formed with a projection protruding toward the matrix 60 so that the upper lid 52 and the anode 10 electrically come into contact with each other and that the lower lid 54 and the cathode 20 electrically come into contact with each other.

Claims

1. An electrochemical device comprising, at least:

a matrix including first and second electrodes;

an electrolyte; and

a shell for accommodating the matrix and the electrolyte in a closed state;

wherein the shell comprises first and second lids made of a metal opposing each other, and a gasket placed between the first and second lids;

wherein the first and second lids and the gasket are arranged so as to define a space for accommodating the matrix; and

wherein at least one of the first and second lids is formed with a projection protruding toward the matrix so that the first lid and the first electrode electrically come into contact with each other and that the second lid and the second electrode electrically come into contact with each other.

2. An electrochemical device according to claim 1, wherein the projection is formed such that a leading end part thereof electrically comes into contact with the first electrode and/or second electrode while pressing the first electrode and/or second electrode.

3. An electrochemical device according to claim 1, wherein the electrochemical device is formed by way of a placing step of placing the matrix within the shell;

and

wherein the matrix, gasket, and first and second lids used in the placing step simultaneously satisfy the conditions represented by the following expressions (1) and (2);

T2>

T1  

 

(1)
T3>

(T2−

T1)  

 

(2)

where T1 is the thickness of the matrix, T2 is the thickness of the gasket, and T3 is the total height of the projection formed at the first lid and/or second lid.

4. An electrochemical device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second lids is formed with the projection.

5. An electrochemical device according to claim 1, wherein a collector having an electronic conductivity is placed between the first lid and first electrode and between the second lid and second electrode;

and

wherein the projection is electrically in contact with the first electrode and/or second electrode by way of the collector.

6. An electrochemical device according to claim 1, wherein the projection is formed by drawing the first lid and/or second lid.

7. An electrochemical device according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the electrolyte is contained in the first and second electrodes.

8. An electrochemical device according to claim 1, wherein the matrix includes an insulating separator disposed between the first and second electrodes.

9. An electrochemical device according to claim 8, wherein at least a part of the electrolyte is contained in the separator.