Heat sensitivity optimization for battery cells

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9459667-B2
Application number	US-201414270105-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 5, 2014
Priority date	May 5, 2014
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

An embodiment provides a battery cell, including: one or more contacts; a material providing output power to a device via the one or more contacts; and a tab element forming a part of a temperature cutoff mechanism; the tab element being thermally coupled to the material and conducting heat generated by the material; and the tab element being positioned proximate to a geometrically determined heat center. Other aspects are described and claimed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A battery cell, comprising:
one or more contacts;
a material providing output power to a device via the one or more contacts; and
a tab element forming a part of a temperature cutoff mechanism;
the tab element being thermally coupled to the material and conducting heat generated by the material; and
the tab element being positioned proximate to a geometrically determined heat center.

2. The battery cell of claim 1 , wherein the tab element extends substantially to the geometrically determined heat center in a dimension selected from the group consisting of length, width and depth.

3. The battery cell of claim 2 , wherein the tab element extends substantially to the geometrically determined heat center in a length dimension of the battery cell.

4. The battery cell of claim 2 , wherein the tab element extends substantially to the geometrically determined heat center in a width dimension of the battery cell.

5. The battery cell of claim 2 , wherein the tab element extends substantially to the geometrically determined heat center in both a length dimension and a width dimension of the battery cell.

6. The battery cell of claim 1 , wherein the tab element extends past a middle point of the battery cell.

7. The battery cell of claim 6 , wherein the tab element consists of a substantially linear element.

8. The battery cell of claim 6 , wherein the tab element is offset from the geometric center of the battery cell.

9. The battery cell of claim 1 , wherein the tab element includes an extension that is shaped towards the geometrically determined heat center of the battery cell.

10. The battery cell of claim 1 , wherein the tab element includes a characteristic selected based on thermal conductivity variation between elements forming the thermal cut off fuse.

11. The battery cell of claim 10 , wherein the characteristic is a characteristic selected from the group consisting of a tab element material, a tab element dimension, and a tab element offset.

12. An apparatus, comprising:
a battery cell;
an input device;
a processor; and
a memory;
wherein the memory, the input device and the processor are operatively coupled to the battery cell;
the battery cell, comprising:
one or more contacts;
a material providing output power to an apparatus component via the one or more contacts; and
a tab element forming a part of a temperature cutoff mechanism;
the tab element being thermally coupled to the material and conducting heat generated by the material; and
the tab element being positioned proximate to a geometrically determined heat center.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the tab element extends substantially to the geometrically determined heat center in a dimension selected from the group consisting of length, width and depth.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the tab element extends substantially to the geometrically determined heat center in a length dimension of the battery cell.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the tab element extends substantially to the geometrically determined heat center in a width dimension of the battery cell.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the tab element extends substantially to the geometrically determined heat center in both a length dimension and a width dimension of the battery cell.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the tab element extends past a middle point of the battery cell.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the tab element consists of a substantially linear element.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the tab element is offset from the geometric center of the battery cell.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the tab element includes an extension that is shaped towards the geometrically determined heat center of the battery cell.

21. A battery, comprising:
a cell, including:
one or more contacts;
a material providing output power to a device via the one or more contacts; and
a tab element forming a part of a temperature cutoff mechanism;
the tab element being thermally coupled to the material and conducting heat generated by the material; and
the tab element being positioned proximate to a geometrically determined heat center.

22. A battery pack, comprising:
a plurality of battery cells, each cell including:
one or more contacts;
a material providing output power to a device via the one or more contacts; and
a tab element forming a part of a temperature cutoff mechanism;
the tab element being thermally coupled to the material and conducting heat generated by the material; and
the tab element being positioned proximate to a geometrically determined heat center of a cell considering the arrangement of cells within the battery pack.

23. A system, comprising:
a battery pack;
an input device;
a processor; and
a memory;
wherein the memory, the input device and the processor are operatively coupled to the battery pack;
the battery pack, comprising:
a plurality of battery cells, each cell including:
one or more contacts;
a material providing output power to a component via the one or more contacts; and
a tab element forming a part of a temperature cutoff mechanism;
the tab element being thermally coupled to the material and conducting heat generated by the material; and
the tab element being positioned proximate to a geometrically determined heat center of a cell considering the arrangement of cells within the battery pack.

Assignees

• Lenovo Singapore Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Yebka Bouziane
• Holung Joseph Anthony
• Wong Tin-Lup
• Jakes Philip John

Classifications

• H01M10/486

  for measuring temperature · CPC title

• H01M50/562

  characterised by the material · CPC title

• H01M50/55

  on the same side of the cell · CPC title

• H01M10/637

  characterised by the use of reversible temperature-sensitive devices, e.g. NTC, PTC or bimetal devices; characterised by control of the internal current flowing through the cells, e.g. by switching (means for preventing undesired use or discharge H01M50/572) · CPC title

• H01M2200/106

  PTC · CPC title