Rechargeable battery features and components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10446876-B2
Application number	US-201816037468-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2018
Priority date	May 2, 2017
Publication date	Oct 15, 2019
Grant date	Oct 15, 2019

Abstract

Energy storage devices, battery cells, and batteries of the present technology may include a housing characterized by a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The housing may include a circumferential indentation proximate the first end. The housing may define a first interior region between the first end and the circumferential indentation, and the housing may define a second interior region between the circumferential indentation and the second end. The batteries may include a set of electrodes located within the housing. The set of electrodes may be positioned within the second interior region of the housing. The batteries may include a cap at least partially contained within the first interior region of the housing. The batteries may also include a first insulator positioned within the housing. The first insulator may extend across the circumferential indentation from the cap to the set of electrodes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A battery comprising:
a housing characterized by a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the housing comprises a circumferential indentation proximate the first end, wherein the housing defines a first interior region between the first end and the circumferential indentation, and wherein the housing defines a second interior region between the circumferential indentation and the second end;
a set of electrodes located within the housing, wherein the set of electrodes is positioned within the second interior region of the housing;
a cap at least partially contained within the first interior region of the housing, wherein the cap is characterized by a first surface facing the set of electrodes; and
a first insulator positioned within the housing, wherein the first insulator extends across the circumferential indentation from the cap to the set of electrodes, wherein the first insulator is characterized by a first outer radius at a first end proximate the cap, wherein the first insulator is characterized by a second outer radius greater than the first outer radius at a second end proximate the set of electrodes, and wherein the first insulator is characterized by a chamfered edge on a radially outermost surface of the first insulator extending to the first end of the first insulator.

2. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the set of electrodes includes a separator defining a height of the set of electrodes, and wherein the first insulator is positioned within the housing in contact with the separator.

3. The battery of claim 2 , wherein the first insulator compresses the separator within the housing.

4. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the first insulator is sized to maintain a portion of the first insulator characterized by the chamfered edge between the circumferential indentation of the housing and an exterior component of the set of electrodes at all times.

5. The battery of claim 1 , further comprising an electrode tab extending from the set of electrodes to the cap, wherein the electrode tab is coupled with the cap along the first surface of the cap at a first end of the electrode tab, and wherein the first end of the electrode tab is characterized by chamfered edges.

6. The battery of claim 5 , wherein the electrode tab is fixedly coupled with the cap at a position on the electrode tab centrally located between the chamfered edges.

7. The battery of claim 1 , further comprising an electrode tab coupled between the set of electrodes and an interior surface of the housing, wherein the electrode tab is coupled with the housing in the second interior region proximate the circumferential indentation.

8. The battery of claim 7 , wherein the coupling of the electrode tab comprises a three-point weld.

9. A battery comprising:
a housing characterized by a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the housing comprises a circumferential indentation proximate the first end, wherein the housing defines a first interior region between the first end and the circumferential indentation, and wherein the housing defines a second interior region between the circumferential indentation and the second end;
a set of electrodes located within the housing, wherein the set of electrodes is positioned within the second interior region of the housing;
a cap at least partially contained within the first interior region of the housing, wherein the cap is characterized by a first surface facing the set of electrodes;
an electrode tab coupled between the set of electrodes and an interior surface of the housing, wherein the electrode tab is coupled with the housing in the second interior region proximate the circumferential indentation; and
a first insulator positioned within the housing, wherein the first insulator extends across the circumferential indentation from the cap to the set of electrodes, wherein the first insulator is characterized by a first outer radius at a first end proximate the cap, wherein the first insulator is characterized by a second outer radius greater than the first outer radius at a second end proximate the set of electrodes, and wherein the first insulator is characterized by a chamfered edge on a radially outermost surface of the first insulator extending to the first end of the first insulator.

10. The battery of claim 9 , wherein the electrode tab is a first electrode tab, the battery further comprising a second electrode tab extending from the set of electrodes to the cap, wherein the electrode tab is coupled with the cap along the first surface of the cap at a first end of the electrode tab, and wherein the first end of the electrode tab is characterized by chamfered edges.

11. The battery of claim 10 , wherein the second electrode tab is fixedly coupled with the cap at a position on the electrode tab centrally located between the chamfered edges.

12. The battery of claim 9 , wherein the coupling of the electrode tab comprises a three-point weld.

13. The battery of claim 12 , wherein the three-point weld is in a triangular pattern.

14. The battery of claim 9 , wherein the set of electrodes includes a separator defining a height of the set of electrodes, and wherein the first insulator is positioned within the housing in contact with the separator.

15. The battery of claim 14 , wherein the first insulator compresses the separator within the housing.

16. A battery comprising:
a housing characterized by a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the housing comprises a circumferential indentation proximate the first end, wherein the housing defines a first interior region between the first end and the circumferential indentation, and wherein the housing defines a second interior region between the circumferential indentation and the second end;
a set of electrodes located within the housing, wherein the set of electrodes is positioned within the second interior region of the housing;
a cap at least partially contained within the first interior region of the housing, wherein the cap is characterized by a first surface facing the set of electrodes;
an electrode tab extending from the set of electrodes to the cap, wherein the electrode tab is coupled with the cap along the first surface of the cap at a first end of the electrode tab, and wherein the first end of the electrode tab is characterized by chamfered edges; and
a first insulator positioned within the housing, wherein the first insulator extends across the circumferential indentation from the cap to the set of electrodes, wherein the first insulator is characterized by a first outer radius at a first end proximate the cap, wherein the first insulator is characterized by a second outer radius greater than the first outer radius at a second end proximate the set of electrodes, and wherein the first insulator is characterized by a chamfered edge on a radially outermost surface of the first insulator extending to the first end of the first insulator.

17. The battery of claim 16 , wherein the electrode tab is a first electrode tab, the battery further comprising a second electrode tab coupled between the set of electrodes and an interior surface of the housing, wherein the electrode tab is coupled with the housing in the second interior region proximate the circumferential indentation.

18. The battery of claim 16 , wherein the electrode tab is fixedly coupled with the cap at a position on the electrode tab centrally located between the chamfered edges.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Pasma Christopher R
• Hyung Yooeup
• Shiu Brian K
• Wisler Stephen J

Classifications

• H01M2220/30

  Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop · CPC title

• H01M2004/028

  Positive electrodes · CPC title

• H01M4/36

  Selection of substances as active materials, active masses, active liquids · CPC title

• H01M10/0587 Primary

  of accumulators having only wound construction elements, i.e. wound positive electrodes, wound negative electrodes and wound separators · CPC title

• H01M50/533

  characterised by the shape of the leads or tabs · CPC title