Method and device for inspecting secondary battery precursor and method for manufacturing secondary battery using the inspection method

• US 7,239,147 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2003
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Shimada, Mikinari, Takahashi, Akira, Tsutsumi, Shuji, Tanahashi, Masakazu, Kume, Toshiro, Shoji, Masashi, Igaki, Emiko, Imashuku, Shouichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirshfeld; Andrew H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZHU, JOHN X
• Application Number:
  US10/523,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20050242820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 324/425, 324/430
• US Class Current: 324/430
• 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 10/4285 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/446 Initial charging measures
• 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 method for testing a precursor of a secondary cell with high reliability and high efficiency to judge the precursor to be acceptable or defective. The current flowing when a test voltage is applied between a pair of electrodes is measured before an electrolyte is placed between the electrodes. If a current the current value of which exceeds a predetermined reference current value (13) is detected during the time from the start of application of a voltage to a normal secondary cell precursor until the current becomes constant, the precursor is determined to be defective.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a secondary battery comprising:

making a secondary battery precursor including a pair of electrodes and a separator disposed between the pair of electrode ; and

inspecting the secondary battery precursor,

wherein the step of inspecting the secondary battery precursor comprises;

applying a constant inspection voltage between the pair of electrodes before an electrolyte solution is injected between the pair of electrodes, and measuring a current flowing due to application of the inspection voltage at intervals of 1 ms or less; and

determining the precursor to be defective if a current value exceeding a previously set reference current value is detected within a time period corresponding to a time period between an appearance of peak current due to an inrush current and obtaining of a constant current when a voltage is applied to a normal secondary battery precursor, the time period being within 60 milliseconds from starting of the application of the inspection voltage.

2. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the reference current value is set based on a current when a voltage is applied to a normal secondary battery precursor.

3. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of reference current values are set depending upon time.

4. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the inspection voltage is set to be within a range between 20V and 75 V per 1 μ

m thickness of the separator.

5. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the inspection voltage is set to be within a range between 20V and 35 V per 1 μ

m thickness of the separator.

6. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the inspection voltage is set to be within a range between 420 V and 1575V.

7. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the separator has a thickness of 25 μ

m or less.

8. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the secondary battery precursor is a precursor of a lithium secondary battery.

9. A method for manufacturing a secondary battery comprising:

making a secondary battery precursor including a pair of electrodes and a separator disposed between the pair of electrodes; and

inspecting the secondary battery precursor,

wherein the step of inspecting the secondary battery precursor comprises;

applying an inspection voltage between the pair of electrodes before an electrolyte solution is injected between the pair of electrodes, and measuring a current flowing due to application of the inspection voltage at intervals of 1 ms or less; and

determining the precursor to be defective if the current has a value beyond a predetermined allowable range within 60 milliseconds from starting of the application of the inspection voltage, the allowable range being calculated based on a current waveform when a voltage is applied to a normal secondary battery precursor.

10. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 9, wherein

the inspection voltage is constant;

the measured current is compared with a previously set reference current value calculated based on the predetermined allowable range, where the reference current values are set at intervals of 1 ms or less; and

the precursor is determined to be defective if a current value exceeding the reference current value is detected within a time period corresponding to a time period between starting of voltage application and obtaining of a constant current when a voltage is applied to a normal secondary battery precursor, the time period being within 60 milliseconds from starting of the application of the inspection voltage.

11. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 9, wherein the inspection voltage is a constant voltage.

12. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 9, wherein the inspection voltage is increased at a constant speed.

13. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 9, wherein the inspection voltage is set to be within a range between 20V and 75 V per 1 μ

m thickness of the separator.

14. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 9, wherein the inspection voltage is set to be within a range between 20V and 75 V per 1 μ

m thickness of the separator.

15. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 9, wherein the inspection voltage is set to be within a range between 420 V and 1575V.

16. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 9, wherein the separator has a thickness of 25 μ

m or less.

17. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 9, wherein the secondary battery precursor is a precursor of a lithium secondary battery.

18. A method for manufacturing a secondary battery comprising:

making a secondary battery precursor including a pair of electrodes and a separator disposed between the pair of electrodes; and

inspecting the secondary battery precursor,

wherein the step of inspecting the secondary battery precursor comprises;

applying an inspection current between the pair of electrodes before an electrolyte solution is injected between the pair of electrodes, and measuring a voltage due to application of the inspection current at intervals of 1 ms or less; and

determining the precursor to be defective if the voltage has a value beyond a predetermined allowable range within 60 milliseconds from starting of the application of the inspection current, the allowable range being calculated based on a voltage waveform when a current is applied to a normal secondary battery precursor.

19. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 18, wherein the inspection current is a constant current.

20. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 18, wherein the separator has a thickness of 25 μ

m or less.

21. The method for manufacturing a secondary battery according to claim 18, wherein the secondary battery precursor is a precursor of a lithium secondary battery.

22. A device for inspecting a secondary battery precursor including a pair or electrodes, and a separator disposed between the pair of electrodes, comprising:

voltage application means for applying an inspection voltage between the pair of electrodes;

current measurement means for measuring a current flowing due to application of the inspection voltage at intervals of 1 ms or less;

storage means for storing a reference current value set based on a current when a voltage is applied to a normal secondary battery precursor; and

arithmetic operation means for performing a predetermined arithmetic operation using the reference current value stored in the storage means and a value of the current measured by the current measurement means, so as to determine whether the secondary battery precursor is defective or not,

wherein the precursor is determined to be defective if the current measured by the current measurement means has a value beyond the reference current value within 60 milliseconds from starting of the application of the inspection voltage.

23. The device for inspecting a secondary battery precursor according to claim 22, wherein the current measurement means is an oscilloscope.

24. A device for inspecting a secondary battery precursor including a pair or electrodes, and a separator disposed between the pair of electrodes, comprising:

current application means for applying an inspection current between the pair of electrodes;

voltage measurement means for measuring a voltage generated due to application of the inspection current at intervals of 1 ms or less;

storage means for storing a reference voltage value set based on a voltage when a current is applied to a normal secondary battery precursor; and

arithmetic operation means for performing a predetermined arithmetic operation using the reference voltage value stored in the storage means and a value of the voltage measured by the voltage measurement means, so as to determine whether the secondary battery precursor is defective or not,

wherein the precursor is determined to be defective if the voltage measured by the voltage measurement means has a value beyond the reference voltage value within 60 milliseconds from starting of the application of the inspection current.

25. The device for inspecting a secondary battery precursor according to claim 24, wherein the voltage measurement means is an oscilloscope.