Rechargeable battery having minute current transporting member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9564617-B2
Application number	US-201314042596-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2013
Priority date	Apr 18, 2013
Publication date	Feb 7, 2017
Grant date	Feb 7, 2017

Abstract

A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly comprising a positive electrode and a negative electrode; a case accommodating the electrode assembly; and a cap assembly combined to the case and electrically connected to the electrode assembly, wherein the cap assembly comprises a first member and a second member that are electrically connected to each other, and a minute current transporting member located between the first member and the second member, the minute current transporting member having a larger resistance than the first member and the second member, and electrically connected to the first member and the second member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rechargeable battery comprising:
an electrode assembly comprising a positive electrode and a negative electrode;
a case accommodating the electrode assembly; and
a cap assembly combined to the case and electrically connected to the electrode assembly, wherein the cap assembly comprises a first member and a second member that are electrically connected to each other, and a minute current transporting member located between the first member and the second member, the minute current transporting member having a larger resistance than the first member and the second member, and being electrically connected to the first member and the second member,
wherein the minute current transporting member has a resistance from about 100 Ω to about 10,000 Ω,
wherein the first member comprises a sub-plate electrically connected to the electrode assembly, and the second member comprises a vent plate having a connection protrusion coupled to the sub-plate by welding,
wherein a middle plate is installed between the vent plate and the sub-plate, the middle plate being adhered with a lead member electrically connected to the electrode assembly, and wherein the minute current transporting member is located between the middle plate and the vent plate,
wherein an insulating member is installed between the vent plate and the middle plate, wherein the insulating member includes a receiving hole, and wherein the minute current transporting member is accommodated by the receiving hole such that the vent plate and the middle plate are electrically connected to each other.

2. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the first member and the second member comprise aluminum with a plate shape.

3. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the first member includes a connection protrusion welded to the second member and a notch to be transformed at a predetermined pressure, and
wherein the minute current transporting member has a through hole to accommodate the connection protrusion.

4. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the minute current transporting member comprises conductive carbon.

5. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the minute current transporting member comprises a polymer and conductive particles dispersed in the polymer.

6. The rechargeable battery of claim 5 , wherein the conductive particles comprise metal particles or carbon particles.

7. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the minute current transporting member has larger resistance than the middle plate.

8. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the vent hole is at the middle plate and the minute current transporting member.

9. The rechargeable battery of claim 8 , wherein the vent plate includes a notch to be fractured at a predetermined pressure.

10. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the middle plate and the minute current transporting member each have a through hole accommodating the connection protrusion.

11. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the minute current transporting member comprises a base plate, a side wall protruding generally towards and away from the electrode assembly from a periphery of the base plate, and a supporting part extending from the side wall.

Assignees

• Samsung Sdi Co Ltd

Inventors

• Byun Sang-Won

Classifications

• H01M50/107 Primary

  having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic (H01M50/103, H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01M50/574

  Devices or arrangements for the interruption of current · CPC title

• H01M50/572

  Means for preventing undesired use or discharge · CPC title

• H01M2200/106

  PTC · CPC title

• H01M2200/00

  Safety devices for primary or secondary batteries · CPC title