Lithium ion battery suitable for hybrid electric vehicles

• US 6,605,382 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2001
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quallion, LLC (EnerSys)
• Original Assignee: Quallion, LLC (EnerSys)
• Inventors: Kishiyama, Clay, Szyszkowski, Andy, Ruth, Alan, Yumoto, Hiroyuki, Tsukamoto, Hisashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Maples, John S.
• Application Number:
  US09/842,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20010053476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 429/94, 429/174, 429/211, 429/161, 429/178
• US Class Current: 429/94
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0431 Cells with wound or folded electrodes H01M10/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/058 Construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/107 having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/103, H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/119 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/152 for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/15, H01M50/153 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/159 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/534 characterised by the material of the leads or tabs
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/538 Connection of several leads or tabs of wound or folded electrode stacks
• 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

Abstract

A lithium ion battery configured to yield a high energy density output by minimizing head space, i.e., wasted interior volume, within the battery case and/or by reducing electrical energy losses internal to the battery.

Claims

1. A battery comprising:

a tubular case comprising an electrically conductive wall enclosing an interior volume, said case defining open first and second ends;

an electrode assembly comprising helically wound first and second electrode strips spaced by at least one separator strip, said first assembly including a first set of spaced tabs extending in a first direction from said first electrode strip and a second set of spaced tabs extending in a second direction from said second electrode strip;

means mounting said electrode assembly in said interior volume with said first set of tabs proximate to said case open first end and said second set of tabs proximate to said case open second end;

a dielectric member mounted in said interior volume close to said case first end;

an electrically conductive ring mounted on said dielectric member close to said case first end and electrically insulated from said case wall;

means electrically connecting said first set of tabs to said electrically conductive ring;

an electrically conductive first end cap; and

wherein

said first end cap is secured to said case wall first end proximate to said conductive ring to minimize empty interior volume therebetween.

2. The battery of claim 1 wherein said conductive ring defines an opening surrounded by a flat ring surface;

and wherein

said first set tabs extend from said electrode assembly through said opening and are electrically secured to said ring surface.

3. The battery of claim 2 further comprising an electrically conductive second end cap;

and wherein

said second end cap is secured to said case wall proximate to said second end so as to pinch and electrically connect said second set tabs between said case wall and said second end cap.

4. A battery comprising:

a tubular metal case having open first and second ends and defining an interior volume;

a dielectric member mounted in said case adjacent to said first open end;

a metal member supported by said dielectric member;

an electrode assembly comprising a first polarity electrode strip and a second polarity electrode strip helically wound together with a separator strip between adjacent layers;

a first plurality of first polarity metal tabs connected to spaced points along said first polarity electrode strip;

a second plurality of second polarity metal tabs connected to spaced points along said second polarity electrode strip;

said first and second pluralities of metal tabs extending in opposite directions from said electrode assembly; and

wherein

said electrode assembly is mounted in said interior volume with said first plurality of tabs electrically connected to said metal member and with said second plurality of tabs pinched between the case second end and a metal end cap secured to said case second end.

5. The battery of claim 4 wherein said dielectric member comprises an insulating ring configured for mounting in said interior volume in engagement with said metal case;

and wherein

said metal member comprises a conductive ring configured for mounting on said insulting ring close to said case first end; and

a conductive end cap secured to said case first end close to said conductive ring to minimize empty interior volume space between said conductive end cap and said conductive ring.

6. The battery of claim 5 wherein said conductive ring defines an opening surrounded by a flat ring surface;

and wherein

said first set tabs extend from said electrode assembly through said opening and are electrically secured to said ring surface.