Button cell constructions and thin profile battery constructions

• US 6,569,564 B1
• Filed: 11/05/1999
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Lane, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalafut, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alejandro, Raymond
• Application Number:
  US09/434,686
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 429/129, 429/130, 429/164, 429/163, 429/186, 429/131, 429/133, 429/178, 429/179, 429/176, 429/175, 429/162, 429/247, 429/174
• US Class Current: 429/164
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/109 of button or coin shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/463 Separators, membranes or diaphragms characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/12 with flat electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4911 including sealing

Abstract

A method of forming a button-type battery includes, a) providing a conductive first terminal housing member, a conductive second terminal housing member, an anode, and a cathode; b) providing an anode/cathode separator, the separator being pre-configured with a self-aligning shape for self-aligning receipt relative to one of the first or second terminal housing members or the cathode; c) positioning the pre-configured separator relative to the one of the first or second terminal housing members or cathode, the pre-configured separator shape facilitating final alignment of the separator relative to the one of the first or second terminal housing members or the cathode; and d) joining the first and second terminal housing members together into a sealed battery assembly, with the anode, cathode and separator being received within the sealed battery assembly. A button-type battery construction is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A button cell comprising:

a cathode having opposing outer surfaces and a cathode sidewall edge interconnecting the opposing outer surfaces;

a separator, the separator comprising a central portion, the central portion having a peripheral edge, the separator further comprising a ring extending from the central portion peripheral edge and terminating to form a terminal edge at a location intermediate the cathode opposing outer surfaces;

an annular flange extending from the terminal edge of the ring; and

a terminal housing partially enclosing the cathode and separator and having an outer peripheral portion comprising a circular flange.

2. The button cell of claim 1 wherein the ring is laterally spaced from the cathode sidewall edge.

3. The button cell of claim 1 wherein the ring is angled relative to the central portion.

4. The button cell of claim 1 wherein the peripheral edge of the central portion is elevationally above and laterally outward of the cathode sidewall edge.

5. The button cell of claim 1 wherein the terminal housing contacts the ring.

6. The button cell of claim 1 wherein the terminal housing contacts the ring, and wherein the ring is laterally spaced from the cathode sidewall edge.

7. The button cell of claim 1 further comprising electrically insulative material surrounding the annular flange.

8. The button cell of claim 1 further comprising electrically insulative material surrounding the annular flange, the electrically insulative material contacting a surface of the annular flange.

9. The button cell of claim 1 wherein the terminal housing contacts the ring and the annular flange.

10. The button cell of claim 1 wherein the terminal housing contacts the cathode, and wherein the annular flange is spaced from the terminal housing.

11. The button cell of claim 1 wherein the annular and circular flanges are substantially equal lengths.

12. The button cell of claim 1 wherein the annular flange contacts substantially an entirety of the length of the circular flange.

13. The button cell of claim 1 wherein the terminal housing comprises a ring contacting substantially an entirety of the length of the ring of the separator.

14. The button cell of claim 1 wherein the terminal housing comprises a portion contacting substantially an entirety of the length of the ring.

15. The button cell of claim 1 wherein the annular and circular flanges are parallel.