Flexible battery structure

• US 10,637,017 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2017
• Issued: 04/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ai, Jiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Slifka, Sarah A.
• Application Number:
  US15/713,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20180090730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0436 Small-sized flat cells or batteries for portable equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0086 portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus casings for switching devices H01H9/02
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• 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 number of different battery cell configurations are disclosed. Flexible battery cells are used to form a flexible structure capable of bending and flexing to accommodate movement of components of an electronic device. In some embodiments, the flexible battery cells can include cathode and anode layers joined together by a separator.

Claims

1. A battery, comprising:

flexible battery cells arranged in a stack and having a serpentine geometry defined by notches staggered along a length of the battery that accommodates bending of the flexible battery cells about three orthogonal axes, each one of the flexible battery cells comprising;

an anode layer;

a cathode layer; and

a separator joining the anode layer to the cathode layer.

2. The battery as recited in claim 1, wherein the notches extend across more than half a width of the flexible battery cells.

3. The battery as recited in claim 1, wherein a height of the flexible battery cells is more than ten times greater than a thickness of the flexible battery cells.

4. The battery as recited in claim 3, wherein a thickness of each one of the flexible battery cells is 100 to 200 microns.

5. The battery as recited in claim 1, wherein the flexible battery cells are prismatic battery cells.

6. An electronic device, comprising:

a flexible housing member; and

a flexible battery disposed within the flexible housing member, the flexible battery comprising;

flexible battery cells arranged in a stack and defining stress-relieving gaps staggered along a length of the battery forming a serpentine geometry that accommodates bending of the flexible battery cells about multiple axes of rotation, each one of the flexible battery cells comprising an anode layer, a cathode layer and a separator disposed between the anode and cathode layers.

7. The electronic device as recited in claim 6, wherein the flexible housing member comprises a flexible display assembly.

8. The electronic device as recited in claim 7, wherein the flexible battery is positioned along a periphery of the flexible display assembly and the flexible display assembly is configured to transition from a flattened state to a rolled-up state.

9. The electronic device as recited in claim 7, wherein the flexible battery is a first flexible battery positioned on a first side of the flexible display assembly and the electronic device further comprises a second flexible battery positioned on a second side of the flexible display assembly, opposite the first side of the flexible display assembly.

10. The electronic device as recited in claim 6, wherein a height of the flexible battery cells arranged in a stack is more than ten times greater than a thickness of the flexible battery cells.

11. The electronic device as recited in claim 6, wherein the stress-relieving gaps are formed using a die cutting operation.

12. An electronic device, comprising:

a device housing; and

a display assembly, comprising;

a flexible display; and

flexible battery cells arranged in a stack and having a serpentine geometry defined by notches staggered along opposing sides of the flexible battery cells that accommodates bending of the flexible battery cells about three orthogonal axes, each one of the flexible battery cells comprising;

an anode layer;

a cathode layer; and

a separator joining the anode layer to the cathode layer.

13. The electronic device as recited in claim 12, wherein the notches extend across more than half a width of the flexible battery cells.

14. The electronic device as recited in claim 12, wherein the display assembly is configured to transition between a rolled-up state in which the housing surrounds the display assembly to a flattened state in which at least a portion of the display assembly protrudes out of the device housing.

15. The electronic device as recited in claim 12, wherein the flexible battery cells are prismatic battery cells.

16. The electronic device as recited in claim 12, wherein the flexible battery cells are first flexible battery cells positioned on a first side of the flexible display and the electronic device further comprises second flexible battery cells positioned on a second side of the flexible display, opposite the first side.

17. The electronic device as recited in claim 16, further comprising a battery management unit, wherein the first and second flexible battery cells and are separately coupled to the battery management unit.

18. The electronic device as recited in claim 12, wherein a thickness of each of the flexible battery cells is between 100 and 200 microns.