HEAT GENERATION MECHANISM-PROVIDED SECONDARY BATTERY

• US 20090087723A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ohara Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ohara Incorporated
• Inventors: INDA, Yasushi
• Application Number:
  US12/241,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20090087723A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/62
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/615 Heating or keeping warm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/637 characterised by the use of reversible temperature-sensitive devices, e.g. NTC, PTC or bimetal devices; characterised by control of the internal current flowing through the cells, e.g. by switching means for preventing undesired use or discharge H01M50/572
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6571 Resistive heaters arrangements for heating the battery by its resistance to the internal current H01M10/637
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/003 of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/569 Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

In a secondary battery which is poor in battery properties at a low temperature, by making the temperature of the secondary battery in a state of the largest discharge capacity, a secondary battery which can be used under a condition such as a cold district is obtained. A cell of the battery is configured in a sheet form, and the cell is provided with a heat generation unit capable of generating heat by carrying a current. According to this configuration, the battery can be used at a temperature with good capacity properties regardless of the ambient temperature environment. In particular, in an organic electrolytic liquid-free polymer electrolyte or solid electrolyte-containing lithium ion secondary battery which is high in energy density but poor in battery properties at a low temperature, a sufficient battery performance can be brought out regardless of the temperature environment.

Claims

1. A secondary battery configured of a single sheet or plural sheets of a cell having a thickness of 0.03 mm or more and not more than 5 mm, which comprises a heat generation unit by carrying a current.

2. The secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the heat generation unit is insulated from electrodes of the cell having the heat generation unit disposed therein and provided on a current collector of either one or both of a positive electrode and a negative electrode.

3. The secondary battery according to claim 1, which is provided with a temperature control unit for regulating the temperature of the inside of the battery.

4. The secondary battery according to claim 3, wherein the temperature control unit is provided with a discharge detection unit for detecting whether or not a current flows out from the battery and/or a sensor for detecting the temperature of the inside of the battery and/or a current-carrying control unit for controlling a current into the heat generation unit.

5. The secondary battery according to claim 4, wherein when discharge is detected by the discharge detection unit, and the temperature of the inside of the battery is low, the temperature control unit supplies a current into the heat generation unit by the current-carrying control unit.

6. The secondary battery according to claim 4 or 5, wherein at least one of a PTC, NTC or CTR thermistor element is incorporated into the current-carrying control unit.

7. The secondary battery according to claim 3, wherein the temperature control unit is configured integrally with the heat generation unit as a PTC heater.

8. The secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the current into the heat generation unit is supplied from an internal electric power source of the battery having a heat generation unit provided therein, an external electric power source other than the battery or both of the internal electric power source and the external electric power source.

9. The secondary battery according to claim 8, wherein the external electric power source other than the battery having a heat generation unit provided therein is at least one member selected among a chargeable/dischargeable battery, a capacitor, a fuel cell and a solar battery.

10. The secondary battery according to claim 9, wherein when the external electric power source other than the battery having a heat generation unit provided therein is a chargeable/dischargeable electric power source, after the temperature of the battery having a heat generation unit provided therein has risen, the external electric power source is charged utilizing an electric power source of the battery having a heat generation unit provided therein.

11. The secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the heat generation unit is a heat generator having at least one of a nickel-containing alloy, a carbon heater, a ceramic heater and a Peltier element.

12. The secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the secondary battery is a lithium ion battery.

13. The secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the secondary battery does not contain an organic electrolytic liquid.

14. The secondary battery according to claim 12, wherein an electrolyte of the secondary battery contains a crystal with lithium ion conductivity.

15. The secondary battery according to claim 12, wherein an electrolyte of the secondary battery contains a polymer electrolyte.

16. The secondary battery according to claim 12, wherein an electrolyte of the secondary battery is a glass ceramic with lithium ion conductivity.

17. The secondary battery according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode contains a crystal with lithium ion conductivity.

18. The secondary battery according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode contains a glass ceramic with lithium ion conductivity.