Switch device, electronic component, and battery system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018301302-A1
Application number	US-201615766951-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 5, 2016
Priority date	Oct 7, 2015
Publication date	Oct 18, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A switch device capable of safely opening an electrical circuit in response to an abnormality such as wetting with water or liquid leaking from a battery. The device includes a first conductor connected to an external circuit and having a relatively high ionization tendency, and a second conductor arranged close to the first conductor and having a relatively low ionization tendency which is lower than that of the first conductor, a reaction part which electrically corrodes the first conductor is formed by a liquid between the first and second conductors.

First claim

1 . A switch device comprising:
a first conductor connected to an external circuit and having a relatively high ionization tendency; and a second conductor arranged close to the first conductor and having a relatively low ionization tendency which is lower than that of the first conductor, wherein a reaction part which electrically corrodes the first conductor is formed by a liquid between the first and second conductors.

2 . The switch device according to claim 1 , wherein a through hole is provided in at least one of the first and second conductors in the reaction part.

3 . The switch device according to claim 1 , wherein a concave/convex surface is provided on at least one of the first and second conductors in the reaction part.

4 . The switch device according to claim 1 , wherein a gap between the first and second conductors in a region in a vicinity of the reaction part is relatively narrower in comparison to that in other regions.

5 . The switch device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second conductors each have a faceable surface, and
wherein the switch device has a laminated structure having a plurality of alternating layers.

6 . The switch device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first and second conductors each have a faceable flat surface, wherein a number of the second conductor is larger than a number of the first conductor by one, and wherein the switch device has a laminated structure in which the second conductor is arranged to face both sides of the first conductor.

7 . The switch device according to claim 1 , wherein the reaction part includes a separator between the first and second conductors.

8 . The switch device according to claim 7 , wherein the separator has a liquid-collecting property.

9 . The switch device according to claim 7 , wherein the separator has a solubility property.

10 . The switch device according to claim 7 , wherein the separator carries an electrolyte.

11 . The switch device according to claim 7 , wherein the separator has an insulating property.

12 . The switch device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first conductor having a relatively high ionization tendency is connected as a positive electrode, and wherein the second conductor having a relatively low ionization tendency is connected as a negative electrode.

13 . The switch device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first conductor having a relatively high ionization tendency has a primary constituent selected from the group consisting of aluminum, iron, nickel, tin, and lead, and wherein the second conductor which has a relatively low ionization tendency has a primary constituent selected from the group consisting of gold, platinum, silver, copper, and palladium.

14 . The switch device according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of surfaces of the first conductor and/or the second conductor are facing in the reaction part.

15 . The switch device according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second conductors is coated on a surface with a liquid-soluble material which is to be dissolved by a liquid in the reaction part.

16 . The switch device according to claim 1 , wherein a water repellent region is provided in a location other than the reaction part, or in a location other than the reaction part and a vicinity of the reaction part.

17 . The switch device according to claim 1 , wherein a water-absorbing and heat-generating material is arranged in a vicinity of the reaction part.

18 . The switch device according to claim 1 , wherein a reservoir which accumulates the liquid is provided at a position at which the reaction part is provided.

19 . The switch device according to claim 1 , further comprising a housing in which the first and second conductors and the reaction part are provided,
wherein a guiding inlet for guiding liquid into the housing is provided in the housing.

20 . The switch device according to claim 19 , wherein the housing is polyhedral and has a plurality of surfaces, one or a plurality of surfaces being provided with one or a plurality of the guiding inlet.

21 . The switch device according to claim 19 , wherein the housing is formed in a tube shape having a side surface, the side surface being provided with one or more of the guiding inlet.

22 . The switch device according to claim 19 , wherein the housing is provided with a discharging outlet for discharging the entering liquid.

23 . The switch device according to claim 22 , wherein the discharging outlet is provided at the same height as the reaction part or is provided at a position higher than the reaction part.

24 . The switch device according to claim 19 , wherein the guiding inlet is provided with a guiding conduit for guiding the liquid to the reaction part.

25 . The switch device according to claim 24 , wherein the guiding conduit progressively narrows from an opening of the guiding inlet towards an interior.

26 . The switch device according to claim 19 , wherein the housing is subjected to a water repellent treatment in the guiding inlet.

27 . The switch device according to claim 24 , wherein the housing is subjected to a water repellent treatment in the guiding conduit.

28 . The switch device according to claim 19 , wherein the housing is subjected to a water repellent treatment on an inner wall.

29 . The switch device according to claim 19 , wherein the guiding inlet is blocked by a water-soluble material which is to be dissolved by the liquid.

30 . The switch device according to claim 24 , wherein a water-soluble material which is to be dissolved by the liquid is provided in the guiding conduit.

31 . An electronic component comprising:
an external-connection terminal connected to an external circuit; and a conductor arranged close to the external-connection terminal and having a relatively low ionization tendency which is lower than that of the external-connection terminal, wherein a reaction part which electrically corrodes the external-connection terminal is formed by a liquid retained between the external-connection terminal and the conductor.

32 . A battery cell comprising:
a first conductor continuous with a positive electrode terminal connected to an external circuit; and a second conductor continuous with an external can which is a negative electrode and which is arranged close to the first conductor, the second conductor having a relatively low ionization tendency which is lower than that of the first conductor, wherein a reaction part which electrically corrodes the first conductor is formed by a liquid retained between the first conductor and the second conductor.

33 . A battery system comprising:
a battery; and a conductor arranged close to a terminal of the battery and having a relatively low ionization tendency which is lower than that of the terminal, wherein a reaction part which electrically corrodes the terminal is formed by a liquid retained between the terminal and the conductor.

Assignees

• Dexerials Corp

Inventors

• Furuuchi Yuji
• Yoneda Yoshihiro
• Mukai Koichi
• Sakakibara Kazuyuki

Classifications

• H01M50/583

  in response to current, e.g. fuses · CPC title

• G01M3/16

  using electric detection means ({G01M3/045,} G01M3/06, G01M3/12, G01M3/20, G01M3/24, G01M3/26 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01H29/06 Primary

  Liquid contacts characterised by the material thereof · CPC title

• H01H35/18 Primary

  Switches operated by change of liquid level or of liquid density, e.g. float switch (by magnet carried on a float H01H36/02) · CPC title

• H01M2/34

  Electricity · mapped topic