Rechargeable battery and module thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016248073-A1
Application number	US-201514843875-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 2, 2015
Priority date	Feb 24, 2015
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly having electrodes located on either side of a separator; a case housing the electrode assembly; a cap plate sealing the case; a lead tab that is connected to each of the electrodes; and a terminal that is connected to a respective lead tab and protrudes from the case through a terminal hole, wherein the terminal comprises a different material than the lead tab, and wherein an insulating portion is located between the terminal and the cap plate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A rechargeable battery comprising:
an electrode assembly comprising electrodes located on either side of a separator; a case housing the electrode assembly; a cap plate sealing the case; a lead tab that is connected to each of the electrodes; and a terminal that is connected to a respective lead tab and protrudes from the case through a terminal hole, wherein the terminal comprises a different material than the lead tab, and wherein an insulating portion is located between the terminal and the cap plate.

2 . The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the electrodes comprise a negative electrode and a positive electrode,
wherein the lead tab comprises a negative electrode tab that is connected to the negative electrode and a positive electrode tab that is connected to the positive electrode, and wherein the terminal comprises a negative terminal that is integrally connected to the negative electrode tab and a positive terminal that is integrally connected to the positive electrode tab.

3 . The rechargeable battery of claim 2 , wherein in the negative electrode, a current collector comprises copper, and
wherein the negative electrode tab and the negative terminal comprise a clad metal comprising bonded copper and aluminum.

4 . The rechargeable battery of claim 2 , wherein in the positive electrode, a current collector comprises aluminum, and
wherein the positive electrode tab and the positive terminal are integral with each other and comprise aluminum.

5 . The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the insulating portion extends from within the case to outside of the case through the terminal hole of the cap plate and is molded by insert injection molding.

6 . The rechargeable battery of claim 5 , wherein the insulating portion supports the terminal and has a groove that spaces part of the insulation portion from the terminal.

7 . The rechargeable battery of claim 6 , wherein the groove and a surface of the terminal define a penetration opening.

8 . The rechargeable battery of claim 5 , wherein the terminal further comprises a first vertical portion that is separated from an external surface of the cap plate by the insulating portion and that is located within the terminal hole.

9 . The rechargeable battery of claim 8 , wherein the first vertical portion is surface treated to be attached to the insulating portion.

10 . The rechargeable battery of claim 8 , wherein the lead tab comprises:
a second vertical portion that is connected to the first vertical portion with a clad metal; a plane portion that is bent with respect to the second vertical portion and is located within the cap plate; and a current collecting portion that is bent with respect to the plane portion and is connected to an uncoated region of the electrode assembly.

11 . The rechargeable battery of claim 10 , wherein the first vertical portion comprises aluminum, and
wherein the second vertical portion comprises copper to form a clad metal.

12 . A rechargeable battery module comprising:
a plurality of unit battery cells that each have a negative terminal and a positive terminal; and a busbar that connects a negative terminal and a positive terminal of adjacent unit battery cells, wherein the negative terminal and the positive terminal comprise the same metal.

13 . The rechargeable battery module of claim 12 , wherein the negative terminal and the positive terminal comprise aluminum.

14 . The rechargeable battery module of claim 13 , wherein the busbar comprises aluminum and is coupled to the negative terminal and the positive terminal.

Assignees

• Samsung Sdi Co Ltd

Inventors

• Jang Myung-Jae
• Byun Sang-Won
• Lee Chi-Young

Classifications

• H01M50/516 Primary

  by welding, soldering or brazing · CPC title

• H01M50/543 Primary

  Terminals · CPC title

• H01M50/562

  characterised by the material · CPC title

• H01M50/538

  Connection of several leads or tabs of wound or folded electrode stacks · CPC title

• H01M50/536

  characterised by the method of fixing the leads to the electrodes, e.g. by welding · CPC title