Conductivity inspection apparatus and conductivity inspection method

• US 9,459,284 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2013
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Envision AESC Japan Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (Envision Group /TX/)
• Inventors: Motohashi, Yuta, Ishibashi, Keisho, Takimoto, Kiyohide, Mizuta, Masatomo, Takatsuka, Takuya
• Primary Examiner(s): TANG, MINH NHUT
• Application Number:
  US14/378,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20150022228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/0675 Needle-like
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/54 Testing for continuity
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0436 Small-sized flat cells or batteries for portable equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• 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

At least two needles (11, 12) are inserted from the surface of an outer covering film (200) such that the needles reach metal foils (252, 262) in the outer covering film (200), and the electrical connection state with an object inside of a structure covered with the outer covering film (200) is inspected. The electrical connection state is more reliably inspected.

Claims

1. A conductivity inspection apparatus arranged to perform a conduction inspection of a battery having a power generation element,

wherein the power generation element is sandwiched by two superimposed outer covering films each of which has a stacked film configuration in which a metal foil is sandwiched by resin films, and which are superimposed and sealed at an edge portion of a periphery of the two superimposed outer covering films, the edge portion having a stacked structure in which a first resin film, a first metal foil, a second resin film, a third resin film, a second metal foil, and a fourth resin film are stacked in this order,

wherein the conductivity inspection apparatus comprises

a first needle configured to be inserted from a first surface of the edge portion which corresponds to the first resin film, to reach the second metal foil, which is farther from the first surface;

a second needle configured to be inserted from a second surface of the edge portion which is opposite to the first surface, and which corresponds to the fourth resin film, to reach the first metal foil, which is farther from the second surface; and

an inspection section configured to inspect a conduction state between the power generation element of the battery, and the first needle and the second needle.

2. The conductivity inspection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductivity inspection apparatus includes a third needle configured to be inserted from the first surface of the edge portion, and a fourth needle configured to be inserted from the second surface of the edge portion;

and the inspection section is configured to inspect the conduction state between the power generation element of the battery, and the first needle, the second needle, the third needle, and the fourth needle.

3. The conductivity inspection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inspection section includes a conductive terminal for attaining the electrical conduction with the power generation element of the battery.

4. The conductivity inspection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first surface is parallel to the second surface.