Thin battery and method of manufacturing

• US 6,485,862 B1
• Filed: 02/12/2001
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd. (GS Yuasa Corporation), Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Japan Storage Battery Company Limited (GS Yuasa Corporation), Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Tsukamoto, Hisashi, Nishimura, Takashi, Kawaguchi, Kenji, Yoshida, Yasuhiro, Shiota, Hisashi, Takemura, Daigo, Murai, Michio, Aihara, Shigeru, Hiroi, Osamu, Nakadeguchi, Shinji, Yoshioka, Shoji, Urushibata, Hiroaki, Ichimura, Hideo, Moriyasu, Masaharu, Kise, Makiko, Hamano, Kouji, Aragane, Jun, Ozaki, Hironori
• Primary Examiner(s): KALAFUT, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US09/622,847
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 429/94, 429/162, 429/176, 429/127, 296/232
• US Class Current: 429/127
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0436 Small-sized flat cells or batteries for portable equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/05 Accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte H01M10/39 takes precedence
• 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 50/122 Composite material consisting of a mixture of organic and inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/124 having a layered structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/609 Arrangements or processes for filling with liquid, e.g. electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/10 with wound or folded electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5072 Preserving or storing 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 29/4911 including sealing

Abstract

A battery body, which is composed of a laminated body obtained by laminating a cathode and an anode via a separator or a wound body obtained by winding them in a laminated structure and a plurality of leads connected to the cathode and the anode, is contained in a flexible package, and after an electrolyte solution is injected thereinto, an opening of the package is sealed at pressure which is lower than atmospheric pressure and is reduced to not less than vapor pressure of the electrolyte solution so that a thin battery is fabricated. A rise in pressure in the battery due to generation of gas in the battery and volume expansion of the gas can be restrained when the battery is maintained at high temperature.

Claims

1. A process for fabricating a thin battery including a battery body sealed in a flexible package, the battery body having a plurality of leads and either a laminated body obtained by laminating a cathode and an anode via a separator or a wound body obtained by winding a cathode and an anode via a separator into a laminated structure, comprising:

containing the battery body into the package;

injecting an electrolyte solution into the package; and

sealing an opening of the package at a reduced pressure lower than atmospheric pressure and not less than a vapor pressure of the electrolyte solution.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the step of injecting the electrolyte solution is carried out at said reduced pressure.

3. The process according to claim 1, further comprising:

preparatory charging between the step of injecting the electrolyte solution and the step of sealing at said reduced pressure.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the step of sealing is carried out by fusing the opening thermally.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the step of sealing is carried out at temperature which is not more than room temperature.

6. The process according to claim 1, further comprising:

bonding the separator to at least one surface of the cathode and the anode.

7. A thin battery comprising:

a battery body including,

at least one of a laminated body obtained by laminating a cathode and an anode via a separator and a wound body obtained by winding a cathode and an anode via a separator into a laminated structure, and

a plurality of leads connected to the cathode and anode;

an electrolyte solution degassed of residual gas induced by preparatory charging of the battery; and

a flexible package configured to contain the battery body therein,

wherein the flexible package is sealed at a reduced pressure, thereby maintaining a pressure in the flexible package lower than atmospheric pressure.