Rechargeable battery and method of assembly

• US 7,541,771 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Wireless Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Shifron, Sam, Leavitt, Frederick A., Zueck, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah; Akm E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Muralidar; Richard V
• Application Number:
  US11/370,673
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/112, 429/48, 429162-163, 429175-177, 429/185, 429/178
• US Class Current: 320/112
• 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 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/106 PTC
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/55 on the same side of the cell
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An exemplary battery pack comprises a battery cell having a first terminal and a second terminal disposed on a first end of the battery cell. A support member is attached to the first end of the battery cell, and a first L-shaped contact is connected to the first terminal via a protection circuit module. The protection circuit module is configured to disconnect the first terminal from the L-shaped contact upon a disconnect event. A second L-shaped contact connected to the second terminal, and a top cover encloses the first end of the battery cell, the support member and the protection circuit module. The first and second L-shaped contacts are exposed through corresponding apertures in the top cover, and a label including a body section and first, second, third and fourth flap sections is wrapped around the battery cell such that at least one of the flap sections secures the top cover to the battery cell. A cutout area can be provided on one of the flap sections to expose the L-shaped contacts for interfacing with device or connector contacts.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising:

a battery cell having a first terminal and a second terminal disposed on a first end of the battery cell;

a core pack assembly adjacent the first end of the battery cell, wherein the core pack assembly includes,

a support member attached to the first end of the battery cell and having a first terminal aperture and a second terminal aperture, wherein the support member includes a plurality of hooks and a shoulder,

a protection circuit module (PCM) adjacent the support member and electrically coupled to the first terminal,

a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) component adjacent the support member and electrically coupled to the second terminal,

a first L-shaped contact having a first horizontal surface contact area that is perpendicular to a first vertical surface contact area, wherein the first horizontal surface contact area abuts the support member shoulder, the first L-shaped contact electrically coupled to the first terminal via the protection circuit module, the protection circuit module configured to disconnect the first terminal from the L-shaped contact upon a disconnect event,

a second L-shaped contact having a second horizontal contact area that is perpendicular to a second vertical surface contact area, wherein the second horizontal surface contact area abuts the support member shoulder, the second L-shaped contact electrically coupled to the second terminal via the PTC;

a top cover secured to the core pack assembly by the support member hooks, wherein the top cover encloses the support member, the PCM, the PTC, the first L-shaped contact, and the second L-shaped contact, the first vertical surface contact area and the second vertical surface contact area are exposed through corresponding apertures in the top cover; and

a label including a body section and first, second, third and fourth flap sections, at least one of the flap sections securing the top cover to the battery cell.

2. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the body section attaches to a bottom surface of the battery cell, the first flap section attaches over the top cover and a top surface of the battery cell, the second flap section attached to a first side surface of the battery cell, the third flap section attached to a second side surface of the battery cell, the fourth flap section attaches over a bottom cover attached to a second end of the battery cell.

3. The battery pack of claim 2, wherein a cutout area of the first flap section exposes the first and second L-shaped contacts.

4. The battery pack of claim 2, wherein the first flap section overlaps a portion of each of the second, third, and fourth flap sections.

5. The battery pack of claim 1, further comprising a third L-shaped contact connected to a third terminal of the battery cell, wherein the first, second and third L-shaped contacts are adjacent to each other on the first end of the battery cell, wherein a first width dimension of the first L-shaped contact is greater than a second width dimension of the second L-shaped contact, and a third width dimension of the third L-shaped contact is greater than the second width dimension of the second L-shaped contact.

6. The battery pack of claim 5, wherein first, second and third L-shaped contacts are configured to receive a first connector having a first pitch spacing associated with first connector pins and a second connector having a second pitch spacing associated with second connector pins, the first pitch spacing greater than the second pitch spacing.

7. A method of assembling a core pack adjacent to a battery cell having a first terminal and a second terminal disposed on a first end of the battery cell, the method comprising:

attaching a support member to the first end of the battery cell, wherein the support member has a first terminal aperture and a second terminal aperture, wherein the support member includes a plurality of hooks and a shoulder;

coupling a protection circuit module (PCM) to the first terminal, wherein the PCM is adjacent to the support member;

coupling a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) to the second terminal, wherein the PTC is adjacent to the support member;

connecting a first L-shaped contact having a first horizontal surface contact area that is perpendicular to a first vertical surface contact area, wherein the first horizontal surface contact area abuts the support member shoulder, the first L-shaped contact electrically coupled to the first terminal via the PCM that is configured to disconnect the first terminal from the L-shaped contact upon a disconnect event;

connecting a second L-shaped contact having a second horizontal contact area that is perpendicular to a second vertical surface contact area, wherein the second horizontal surface contact area abuts the support member shoulder, the second L-shaped contact electrically coupled to the second terminal via the PTC;

securing a core pack assembly that includes the support member, the PCM, the PTC, the first L-shaped contact, and the second L-shaped contact with a top cover that encloses the core assembly, the first vertical surface contact area and the second vertical surface contact are exposed through corresponding apertures in the top cover; and

securing the top cover to the battery cell with a label, the label including a body section and first, second, third and fourth flap sections.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

attaching the body section to a bottom surface of the battery cell;

attaching the first flap section over the top cover and a top surface of the battery cell;

attaching the second flap section to a first side surface of the battery cell;

attaching the third flap section to a second side surface of the battery cell;

attaching a bottom cover to a second end of the battery cell;

attaching the fourth flap section over a bottom cover and the second end of the battery cell.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a cutout area of the first flap section exposes the first and second L-shaped contacts.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first flap section overlaps a portion of each of the second, third, and fourth flap sections.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising connecting a third L-shaped contact to a third terminal of the battery cell, wherein the first, second and third L-shaped contacts are adjacent to each other on the first end of the battery cell, wherein a first width dimension of the first L-shaped contact is greater than a second width dimension of the second L-shaped contact, and a third width dimension of the third L-shaped contact is greater than the second width dimension of the second L-shaped contact.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein first, second and third L-shaped contacts are configured to receive a first connector having a first pitch spacing associated with first connector pins and a second connector having a second pitch spacing associated with second connector pins, the first pitch spacing greater than the second pitch spacing.