Battery cell of asymmetric structure and battery pack employed with the same

• US 9,478,773 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2014
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kang, Kyoung Won, Jung, Hyun Chul, Kim, Ki Woong, Kwon, Sungjin
• Primary Examiner(s): APICELLA, KARIE O
• Application Number:
  US14/505,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20150013151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 296231-6233, 429/153, 429/163
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 10/0565 Polymeric materials, e.g. gel-type or solid-type
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0585 of accumulators having only flat construction elements, i.e. flat positive electrodes, flat negative electrodes and flat separators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/70 characterised by shape or form
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/105 Pouches or flexible bags
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/119 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/121 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/124 having a layered structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/131 characterised by physical properties, e.g. gas permeability, size or heat resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/133 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/136 Flexibility or foldability
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/548 on opposite sides of the cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/55 on the same side of the cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/557 Plate-shaped terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/46 of flat cells
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4911 including sealing

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a battery cell configured to have a structure in which an electrode assembly including a separator disposed between a cathode and an anode is mounted in a battery case, wherein an asymmetric structure with respect to a central axis crossing the electrode assembly in plane is formed at a portion of at least one side of the electrode assembly constituting the outer circumference of the electrode assembly.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a battery cell, the method comprising the steps of:

cutting a laminate sheet comprising a metal layer and a resin layer into an unfolded battery case form to prepare a battery case sheet;

folding the battery case sheet with respect to a symmetrical axis to form a folded portion;

applying external force to the folded portion from an inside to an outside of the folded portion to form a curved portion corresponding to a deflection part of one side of an asymmetric electrode assembly;

applying external force to an inside of the battery case sheet to form a receiving part;

placing the asymmetric electrode assembly having the deflection part at one side thereof in the receiving part;

connecting electrode terminals with the electrode assembly, the electrode terminals being located opposite the folded portion; and

hermetically sealing the battery case sheet, including sealing the area at the location of the electrode terminals, thereafter purging gas from the battery case at an unsealed location, and thereafter sealing the unsealed location.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the unfolded battery case form corresponds to a shape of the battery case.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the external forces are applied using a deep drawing method.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of hermetically sealing is achieved using a thermal welding method.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the curved portion of the battery case is not thermally welded.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the asymmetric part is located at one of the sides of the battery case formed using the deep drawing method.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of impregnating the electrode assembly with an electrolyte.