Battery comprising ink

• US 6,025,089 A
• Filed: 03/24/1998
• Issued: 02/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Communications, Inc. (Micron Technology, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lake, Rickie C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maples, John S.
• Application Number:
  US09/047,762
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 429/124, 429/162, 429/175, 429/127, 429/304, 429/176, 429/177
• US Class Current: 429/124
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0436 Small-sized flat cells or batteries for portable equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/04 Processes of manufacture in general
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/08 Processes of manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/381 Alkaline or alkaline earth metals elements H01M4/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/382 Lithium H01M4/405 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/66 Selection of materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/661 Metal or alloys, e.g. alloy coatings H01M4/669 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/666 in the form of mixed materials H01M4/668 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/667 in the form of layers, e.g. coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/668 Composites of electroconductive material and synthetic resins
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/75 Wires, rods or strips
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/124 having a layered structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/50 Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/548 on opposite sides of the cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/555 Window-shaped terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/12 with flat electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/16 with organic electrolyte H01M6/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/181 with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/40 Printed batteries , e.g. thin film batteries
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49114 : including adhesively bonding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49115 : including coating or impregnating

Abstract

In one aspect, a method of making a battery includes fusing an alkali metal onto a patterned conductive layer. In another aspect, a method of forming a battery includes: a) providing a cathode base which comprises: a first nonconductive surface; a first conductive layer superjacent the first nonconductive surface; the first conductive layer comprising a first area; and a cathode layer superjacent the first conductive layer leaving at least a portion of the first area exposed; b) providing an anode base which comprises: a second nonconductive surface; a second conductive layer superjacent the first nonconductive surface, the second conductive layer comprising a second area; and an anode layer superjacent the second conductive layer leaving at least a portion of the second area exposed, the anode layer comprising an alkali metal; and c) aligning and coupling the anode layer of the anode base with the cathode layer of the cathode base, wherein the aligning and coupling leaves at least a portion of the first area and at least a portion of the second area exposed for electrical connection. The invention also encompasses batteries formed by such methods.

Claims

1. A battery comprising:

a first material;

a cathode; and

a layer of ink between the cathode and the first material, the ink having a greater conductivity than the first material.

2. The battery of claim 1 wherein the layer of ink is a cured layer of ink.

3. The battery of claim 1 wherein the cathode is against the layer of ink.

4. A battery comprising:

an insulative material;

a cathode; and

a layer of conductive ink between the cathode and the insulative material.

5. The battery of claim 4 wherein the layer of conductive ink is a cured layer of conductive ink.

6. The battery of claim 4 wherein the cathode is against the layer of conductive ink.

7. The battery of claim 4 wherein the cathode comprises a cured conductive paste.

8. The battery of claim 4 further comprising:

an anode proximate the cathode;

an anode terminal in electrical contact with the anode;

an electrolyte film between the anode and the cathode; and

wherein the insulative material is a nonconductive sheet having an orifice therethrough, the anode terminal being exposed for electrical contact through the orifice.