Laser penetration weld

• US 20060108335A1
• Filed: 10/28/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lund, Jeffrey S., Zhao, Hailiang
• Application Number:
  US11/260,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20060108335A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/121.640
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/10 Spot welding; Stitch welding
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/10 making use of vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic welding
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/38 Conductors
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/22 Spot welding
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/536 characterised by the method of fixing the leads to the electrodes, e.g. by welding
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/54 Connection of several leads or tabs of plate-like electrode stacks, e.g. electrode pole straps or bridges
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Laser penetration of tabs from electrode plates is presented. A set of tabs associated with a set of electrode plates are aligned. Either resistance spot welding or ultrasonic welding is used to hold the set of tabs together. A laser penetration weld is created through the set of tabs by a single pulse laser weld or multiple-pulse laser weld. The set of tabs is greater than two tabs.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

Aligning the set of the tabs associated with a set of electrode plates;

fixturing a set of tabs through one of resistance spot welding and ultrasonic welding;

aligning the set of tabs associated with the set of electrode plates; and

creating a laser penetration weld through the set of tabs at a single continuous time, wherein the set of tabs being greater than two tabs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the laser penetration weld includes one of a feed-through pin and an upper portion of a housing.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode plate is one of an anode plate and a cathode plate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a weld zone for the laser penetration weld extends from a top surface to a bottom surface of the set of tabs.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a single laser penetration weld connects at least three tabs.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a single laser penetration weld connects at least 10 tabs.

7. A method of forming an electrode stack of an electrochemical cell in an implantable medical device comprising:

fixturing a set of tabs through one of resistance spot welding and ultrasonic welding;

forming a stack of alternating anode and cathode plates with a separator therebetween, each of the cathode plates including a cathode tab extending from an edge thereof, each of the anode plates including an anode tab extending from an edge thereof;

aligning the cathode tabs into a stack of cathode tabs;

aligning the anode tabs into a stack of anode tabs;

laser penetration welding the cathode tabs in the stack of cathode tabs together; and

laser penetration welding the anode tabs in the stack of anode tabs together.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the laser penetration welding creates a first weld zone extending from a first end to a second end of the anode tabs.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the laser penetration welding creates a second weld zone extending from a first end to a second end of the cathode tabs.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

holding the aligned stack of cathode tabs together before laser welding.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the aligned stack of cathode tabs being together with a tool.

12. An apparatus for automatically producing at least one laser penetration weld in a set of tabs comprising:

storage media including instructions stored thereon which when executed cause a computer system to perform a method including;

fixturing a set of tabs through one of resistance spot welding and ultrasonic welding;

aligning a set of tabs associated with a set of electrode plates; and

creating a laser penetration weld through the set of tabs at a single continuous time, wherein the set of tabs being greater than two tabs.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the laser penetration weld includes one of a feed-through pin and an upper portion of a housing.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the electrode plate is one of an anode plate and a cathode plate.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a weld zone for the laser penetration weld extends from a top surface to a bottom surface of the set of tabs.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a single laser penetration weld connects at least three tabs.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a single laser penetration weld connects at least 10 tabs.

18. A method comprising:

fixturing a set of tabs through one of resistance spot welding and ultrasonic welding;

aligning the set of tabs associated with a set of electrode plates;

striking a face of a top tab with a first laser beam;

striking a face of a bottom tab with a second laser beam; and

creating a laser penetration weld through the set of tabs at a single continuous time, wherein the set of tabs being greater than two tabs.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second and first beam strike the set of tabs at about a same time.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the second and first beam strike the set of tabs at a different time.