Electrochemical cell

• US 20060040177A1
• Filed: 08/08/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kida, Tomohiko, Tahara, Kensuke, Onodera, Hideharu, Watanabe, Shunji
• Application Number:
  US11/199,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20060040177A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/174
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/08 Housing; Encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0436 Small-sized flat cells or batteries for portable equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4228 Leak testing of cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/186 characterised by the disposition of the sealing members
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/548 on opposite sides 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: 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: Y10T 29/49114 including adhesively bonding

Abstract

In an electrochemical cell in which a container is bonded to a cap, observation of liquid leakage has been needed in directions from four sides of the container, therefore much time and high cost have been required. The outer circumference of the cap is made to be smaller than that of the container, whereby surfaces for observing liquid leakage can be made to be only one surface in a direction from an upside of the cap, consequently an electrochemical cell can be provided at low cost.

Claims

1. An electrochemical cell comprising a container containing a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte, and a cap for sealing the container;

wherein the container is bonded to the cap using a bonding material, and outer circumference of the cap is made to be smaller than that of the container.

2. The electrochemical cell according to claim 1, wherein a metal ring is provided between the container and the cap, the container is bonded to the metal ring using a bonding material, the metal ring is bonded to the cap using a bonding material, the outer circumference of the cap is made to be smaller than that of the metal ring, and the outer circumference of the metal ring is made to be smaller than or equal to that of the container.

3. The electrochemical cell according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises ceramic.

4. The electrochemical cell according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte is liquid or gel.

7. The electrochemical cell according to claim 1, wherein the container and the cap are sealed by resistance welding.

5. An electrochemical cell comprising a container and a cap, wherein outer circumference of the cap is smaller than that of the container.

6. The electrochemical cell according to claim 5, wherein the container has a metal ring, and the container is bonded to the cap via the metal ring.

8. A method for manufacturing an electrochemical cell comprising a step of bonding a container containing electrodes and an electrolyte with a cap having smaller outer-circumference than that of the container, a step of heating an electrochemical cell comprising the container and the cap, a step of cooling the electrochemical cell, and a step of visually inspecting the electrochemical cell in a direction from an upside of the cap.

9. The method for manufacturing the electrochemical cell according to claim 8, wherein the container has a metal ring, and the container is bonded to the cap via the metal ring.