Batteries comprising an ink layer

• US 6,030,721 A
• Filed: 03/25/1998
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• 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:
  US09/047,785
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 429/124, 429/162, 429/175, 429/127, 429/304
• 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 over the first material;

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

a second material;

a layer of a second ink over the second material, the second ink comprising a greater conductivity than the second material; and

an alkali metal in contact with the second ink.

2. The battery of claim 1 wherein the alkali metal is lithium.

3. The battery of claim 1 wherein the first ink and the second ink are identical in composition.

4. The battery of claim 1 wherein the first ink and the second ink comprise cured inks.

5. The battery of claim 1 wherein the first material and the second material are identical in composition.

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

7. The battery of claim 1 wherein the first material comprises an anode access opening to provide electrical access to the alkali metal.

8. The battery of claim 1 wherein the second material comprises a cathode access opening to provide electrical access to the cathode.

9. The battery of claim 1 wherein the first material comprises an anode access opening to provide electrical access to the alkali metal, wherein the second material comprises a cathode access opening to provide electrical access to the cathode, and further comprising:

an anode contact adjacent the second material; and

a cathode contact adjacent the first material.

10. The battery of claim 9 wherein the anode contact comprises a cured ink, and wherein the cathode contact comprises a cured ink.

11. The battery of claim 9 wherein the anode contact comprises a cured conductive ink and a tip comprising a cured carbon based polymer thick film ink, and wherein the cathode contact comprises a cured conductive ink and a tip comprising a cured carbon based polymer thick film ink.

12. A battery comprising:

a first material;

a layer of ink over the first material, the ink having a greater conductivity than the first material; and

an alkali metal in contact with the layer of ink.

13. The battery of claim 12 wherein the ink is a cured ink.

14. The battery of claim 12 wherein the alkali metal is fused to the layer of ink.

15. The battery of claim 12 wherein the alkali metal is lithium.

16. The battery of claim 12 further comprising a metal layer plated to the ink.

17. The battery of claim 12 further comprising a metal layer plated to the ink and wherein the alkali metal is fused to the metal layer.