阅读说明：本技术 二次电池 (Secondary battery ) 是由 郭承昊 高珠煐 于 2020-03-10 设计创作，主要内容包括：二次电池包括：电极组件,包括第一电极板和第二电极板,所述第一电极板和所述第二电极板以隔板在它们之间的状态交替堆叠；第一电极接线片,在相同位置彼此重叠并向外突出,所述第一电极接线片是所述第一电极板的未涂覆部分；和固定带,被粘附到位于相反的长侧表面中的每一个处的所述隔板和所述第一电极接线片的外表面；联接到所述电极组件的所述第一电极接线片的第一集电器部分；以及容纳所述电极组件和所述第一集电器部分的壳体。(The secondary battery includes: an electrode assembly including first and second electrode plates alternately stacked with separators therebetween; first electrode tabs overlapped with each other at the same position and protruding outward, the first electrode tabs being uncoated portions of the first electrode plates; and a fixing tape adhered to outer surfaces of the separator and the first electrode tab at each of the opposite long side surfaces; a first current collector portion coupled to the first electrode tab of the electrode assembly; and a case housing the electrode assembly and the first current collector portion.)

1. A secondary battery comprising:

an electrode assembly, comprising: first and second electrode plates alternately stacked with separators therebetween; a plurality of first electrode tabs overlapping each other at the same position and protruding outward, the first electrode tabs being uncoated portions of the first electrode plates; and a fixing tape adhered to outer surfaces of the separator and the first electrode tab at each of opposite long side surfaces of the electrode assembly;

a first current collector portion coupled to the first electrode tab of the electrode assembly; and

a case housing the electrode assembly and the first current collector portion.

2. The secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode tab protrudes outward from one of opposite short side surfaces of the electrode assembly and is collected to be welded to the first current collector part.

3. The secondary battery according to claim 2, wherein the fixing tape includes a first region adhered to an outer surface of the separator and a second region adhered to an outer surface of the first electrode tab.

4. The secondary battery according to claim 3, wherein the second region of the fixing tape is bent toward the one short side surface of the electrode assembly to cover a portion of the one short side surface.

5. The secondary battery according to claim 2, wherein the electrode assembly further comprises a plurality of second electrode tabs, which are uncoated portions of the second electrode plates and protrude outward from the other one of the opposite short side surfaces of the electrode assembly.

6. The secondary battery according to claim 5, wherein the fixing tape is adhered to an outer surface of the separator and an outer surface of the second electrode tab.

7. The secondary battery according to claim 5, wherein the separator extends perpendicular to a direction in which the first and second electrode tabs protrude, and is bent in a Z-shaped configuration.

8. The secondary battery according to claim 5, wherein the fixing tape includes a first region adhered to an outer surface of the separator and a second region adhered to an outer surface of the second electrode tab.

9. The secondary battery according to claim 5, wherein the fixing band comprises: two tapes respectively adhered to a first lateral end of one long side surface of the electrode assembly and the first electrode tab and a second lateral end of the one long side surface of the electrode assembly and the second electrode tab; and two tapes respectively adhered to a first side end of the other long side surface of the electrode assembly and the first electrode tab and a second side end of the other long side surface of the electrode assembly and the second electrode tab.

10. The secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the fixing tape comprises polyimide, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate.

Technical Field

Aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a secondary battery.

Background

Unlike a primary battery that cannot be charged, a secondary battery can be charged and discharged. A low-capacity secondary battery packaged in a package form including a single battery cell may be used as a power source for various portable small electronic devices (e.g., a cellular phone or a camcorder), while a high-capacity secondary battery having several tens of battery packs connected to each other is widely used as a motor driving power source, for example, in a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, or the like.

A secondary battery may be manufactured by accommodating an electrode assembly (having a separator between positive and negative electrode plates) and an electrolyte in a case and then mounting a cap plate on the case. Here, the electrode assembly may be represented by, for example, a winding type or a stacking type. Such an electrode assembly may have an uncoated region tab protruding upward or laterally, and a current collector member connected to the uncoated region tab.

The above information disclosed in this background section is provided to enhance understanding of the background of the described technology and, thus, may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Disclosure of Invention

According to an aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a secondary battery in which misalignment of electrode plates due to an external force may be prevented or substantially prevented since a fixing tape fixes a separator and an electrode tab located at the outermost side of an electrode assembly.

The above and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will be described in or be apparent from the following description of some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a secondary battery includes: an electrode assembly including first and second electrode plates alternately stacked with separators therebetween; a plurality of first electrode tabs overlapping each other at the same position and protruding outward, the first electrode tabs being uncoated portions of the first electrode plates; and a fixing tape adhered to outer surfaces of the separator and the first electrode tab at each of opposite long side surfaces of the electrode assembly; a first current collector portion coupled to a first electrode tab of the electrode assembly; and a case housing the electrode assembly and the first current collector portion.

The first electrode tab may protrude outward from one of opposite short side surfaces of the electrode assembly, and may be collected to then be welded to the first current collector portion.

The fixing tape may include a first region adhered to the outer surface of the separator and a second region adhered to the outer surface of the first electrode tab.

The second region of the fixing tape may be bent toward one short side surface of the electrode assembly to cover a portion of the one short side surface.

The electrode assembly may further include a plurality of second electrode tabs that are uncoated portions of the second electrode plates and protrude outward from the other one of the opposite short side surfaces of the electrode assembly.

The fixing tape may be adhered to an outer surface of the separator and an outer surface of the second electrode tab.

The separator may extend perpendicular to a direction in which the first and second electrode tabs located in the first and second electrode plates, respectively, protrude, and may be bent in a Z-shaped configuration.

The fixing tape may include a first area adhered to the outer surface of the separator and a second area adhered to the outer surface of the second electrode tab.

The fixing band may include: two tapes adhered to a first side end and a first electrode tab of one long side surface of the electrode assembly and a second side end and a second electrode tab of one long side surface of the electrode assembly; and two tapes adhered to the first side end and the first electrode tab of the other long side surface of the electrode assembly and the second side end and the second electrode tab of the other long side surface of the electrode assembly.

The fixing tape may comprise Polyimide (PI), polypropylene (PP), or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

As described above, according to an aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, in a secondary battery, it is possible to prevent or substantially prevent misalignment of electrode plates due to an external force applied to the electrode plates by fixedly adhering fixing tapes to the outermost separators and electrode tabs of the electrode assembly.

Further, according to an aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a secondary battery including a fixing tape fixedly adhered to the outermost separator and first electrode tab and the outermost separator and second electrode tab of the electrode assembly, thereby preventing or substantially preventing misalignment of electrode plates, which may occur when collecting a plurality of electrode tabs each protruding to the opposite side of the electrode assembly.

Drawings

Fig. 1A and 1B are a perspective view and a sectional view of a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2A, 2B and 2C are an exploded perspective view, a perspective view and a partial perspective view of an electrode assembly of the secondary battery shown in fig. 1A and 1B.

Fig. 3A and 3B are an exploded perspective view and an assembled perspective view illustrating a current collector portion and an electrode assembly in the secondary battery shown in fig. 1A and 1B.

Detailed Description

Here, some example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in further detail. The subject matter of the present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the example (or exemplary) embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey various aspects and features of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

In addition, in the drawings, the size or thickness of various components may be exaggerated for the sake of brevity and clarity. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. In addition, it will be understood that when element a is referred to as being "connected to" element B, element a can be directly connected to element B, or one or more intervening elements C can be present therebetween, such that element a and element B are indirectly connected to each other.

It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

It will be understood that, although the terms "first," "second," etc. may be used herein to describe various members, elements, regions, layers and/or sections, these members, elements, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, for example, a first member, a first element, a first region, a first layer, and/or a first section discussed below could be termed a second member, a second element, a second region, a second layer, and/or a second section without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.

Spatially relative terms, such as "under", "below", "lower", "over", "upper", and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element or feature (or other elements or features) as illustrated. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" or "over" the other elements or features. Thus, the example term "below" can encompass both an orientation of above and below.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Referring to fig. 1A and 1B, perspective and sectional views of a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure are illustrated. That is, FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1B-1B of FIG. 1A. Referring to fig. 3A and 3B, there are illustrated an exploded perspective view and an assembled perspective view showing a current collector portion and an electrode assembly in the secondary battery shown in fig. 1A and 1B.

As shown in fig. 1A and 1B, a secondary battery 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a stacking type electrode assembly 110, a first current collector part 120 electrically connected to one side of the electrode assembly 110 (e.g., electrically connected to a first electrode tab 114), a first terminal part 130 electrically connected to the first current collector part 120, a second current collector part 140 electrically connected to the other side of the electrode assembly 110 (e.g., electrically connected to a second electrode tab 115), a second terminal part 150 electrically connected to the second current collector part 140, a case 160 accommodating the electrode assembly 110, the first current collector part 120, and the second current collector part 140, and a cap assembly 170 coupled to an opening of the case 160.

The secondary battery 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with respect to a prismatic lithium ion secondary battery by way of example, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto and may be applied to any of various types of batteries including, for example, a lithium polymer battery.

The electrode assembly 110 may include a first electrode plate 111, a second electrode plate 112, a separator 113 between the first and second electrode plates 111 and 112, and a fixing tape 116. Referring to fig. 2A to 2C, there are illustrated an exploded perspective view, a perspective view, and a partial perspective view of an electrode assembly of the secondary battery shown in fig. 1A and 1B. Herein, the construction of the electrode assembly 110 will be described with reference to fig. 2A to 2C.

The electrode assembly 110 includes a first electrode plate 111, a second electrode plate 112, and a separator 113 between the first electrode plate 111 and the second electrode plate 112. In one embodiment, the electrode assembly 110 may include a stack of a plurality of first electrode plates 111 and a plurality of second electrode plates 112. In one embodiment, as shown in fig. 2A, the separator 113 may have the shape of a plate bent in a zigzag configuration so as to be located between each of the first electrode plates 111 and each of the second electrode plates 112 to then be stacked. In one embodiment, in order to prevent or substantially prevent a short circuit between the first and second electrode plates 111 and 112, the separator 113 may have a size greater than that of the first and second electrode plates 111 and 112. In addition, the separator 113 may be located at one or more outermost sides of the electrode assembly 110, i.e., at opposite long side surfaces 110a of the stacked electrode assemblies 110. In addition, the first and second electrode tabs 114 and 115 may protrude outward from opposite short side surfaces 110b of the electrode assembly 110.

In one embodiment, the first electrode plate 111 may serve as a positive electrode, and the second electrode plate 112 may serve as a negative electrode. In another embodiment, the first electrode plate 111 may serve as a negative electrode, and the second electrode plate 112 may serve as a positive electrode. For convenience, the following description will be made, by way of example, with respect to a case where the first electrode plate 111 serves as a positive electrode and the second electrode plate 112 serves as a negative electrode.

The first electrode plate 111 may include: a first electrode collector 111a made of a metal foil including, for example, aluminum or an aluminum alloy; a first electrode active material 111b, such as a transition metal oxide, coated on the first electrode collector 111 a; and a first electrode tab 114 (e.g., a first uncoated portion), the first electrode tab 114 being a first uncoated region on which the first electrode active material 111b is not coated. The first electrode tab 114 becomes a path for current to flow between the first electrode plate 111 and the first current collector portion 120. In one embodiment, the first electrode tab 114 is previously formed by being cut to protrude to one side of the first electrode plate 111 when the first electrode plate 111 is manufactured, thereby being integrally formed with the first electrode collector 111 a. A plurality of first electrode plates 111 may be stacked such that the first electrode tabs 114 overlap each other at the same position. In one embodiment, a plurality of first electrode tabs 114 may be substantially concentrated at the center of one short side surface 110b of the electrode assembly 110 to then be coupled to each other during welding to be attached to the first current collector portion 120. In some examples, a plurality of first electrode tabs 114 may be gathered to be temporarily welded to each other, and then the first current collector portion 120 may be welded and coupled to the temporarily welded first electrode tabs 114.

As shown in fig. 2B, the first electrode tab 114 may protrude outward from one short side surface of the electrode assembly 110 and extend a certain length (e.g., a predetermined length). In one embodiment, when the first electrode tabs 114 are welded and coupled to each other, the coupled first electrode tabs 114 may be bent substantially in an L-shaped configuration, as shown in fig. 2C. With this configuration, the first electrode tab 114 may be connected to the first current collector portion 120, which will be described below. In some examples, the first electrode tab 114 of the electrode assembly 110 is initially flat, as shown in fig. 2B. However, after being welded to the first current collector part 120, the first electrode tab 114 may be bent in a substantially L-shaped configuration.

The second electrode plate 112 may include: a second electrode collector 112a made of a metal foil including, for example, copper or nickel; a second electrode active material 112b, such as a transition metal oxide, coated on the second electrode collector 112 a; and a second electrode tab 115 (e.g., a second uncoated portion), the second electrode tab 115 being a second uncoated region on which the second electrode active material 112b is not coated. The second electrode tab 115 becomes a path for current to flow between the second electrode plate 112 and the second current collector portion 140. In one embodiment, the second electrode tab 115 is previously formed by being cut to protrude to one side of the second electrode plate 112 when the second electrode plate 112 is manufactured, to be integrally formed with the second electrode collector 112 a. A plurality of second electrode plates 112 may be stacked such that the second electrode tabs 115 overlap each other at the same position. In one embodiment, a plurality of second electrode plates 112 may be stacked such that the second electrode tab 115 is positioned opposite to the first electrode tab 114. In one embodiment, a plurality of second electrode tabs 115 may be substantially concentrated at the center of the other short side surface 110b of the electrode assembly 110 to then be coupled to each other during welding to be attached to the second current collector part 140. In some examples, the plurality of second electrode tabs 115 may be temporarily welded to each other, and then the second current collector part 140 may be welded and coupled to the temporarily welded second electrode tabs 115.

As shown in fig. 2B, the second electrode tab 115 may protrude outward from the other short side surface 110B of the electrode assembly 110 and extend a certain length (e.g., a predetermined length). In one embodiment, when the second electrode tabs 115 are welded and coupled to each other, the coupled second electrode tabs 115 may be bent in a substantially L-shaped configuration, as shown in fig. 2C. With this configuration, the second electrode tab 115 may be connected to the second current collector part 140, which will be described below. In some examples, the second electrode tab 115 of the electrode assembly 110 is initially flat, as shown in fig. 2B. However, after being welded to the second current collector part 140, the second electrode tab 115 may be bent in a substantially L-shaped configuration.

The separator 113 is positioned between the first electrode plate 111 and the second electrode plate 112 to prevent or substantially prevent an electrical short and allow lithium ions to move. In one embodiment, the separator 113 may be made of polyethylene, polypropylene, or a composite film of polyethylene and polypropylene. In one embodiment, the separator 113 may extend perpendicular to a direction in which the first and second electrode tabs 114 and 115 protrude, and may be bent in a zigzag configuration to then be positioned between the first and second electrode plates 111 and 112.

The fixing tape 116 may be adhered to the outermost separator 113 and the first electrode tab 114 of the electrode assembly 110, and the outermost separator 113 and the second electrode tab 115 of the electrode assembly 110.

The fixing tape 116 may be located at opposite ends of each of the long side surfaces 110a of the electrode assembly 110. For example, the fixing tape 116 may be adhered to a first lateral end of one long side surface 110a of the electrode assembly 110 and the first electrode tab 114, and a second lateral end of the one long side surface 110a and the second electrode tab 115. In addition, the fixing tape 116 may be adhered to a first lateral end of the other long side surface 110a of the electrode assembly 110 and the first electrode tab 114, and a second lateral end of the other long side surface 110a and the second electrode tab 115. Thus, in one embodiment, one single electrode assembly 110 may include four securing straps 116, with two securing straps 116 adhered to each of the opposing long side surfaces 110 a.

In one embodiment, each of the four fixing tapes 116 has a first region 116a adhered to the separator 113 and a second region 116b adhered to any one of the first and second electrode tabs 114 and 115. In one embodiment, the fastening tape 116 may be a film-type tape having an adhesive layer on one surface thereof. In one embodiment, the fixing band 116 may include a high heat-resistant material to prevent or substantially prevent damage from being caused when the first current collector part 120 and the first electrode tab 114 are welded to each other or when the second current collector part 140 and the second electrode tab 115 are welded to each other. For example, the fixing tape 116 may include Polyimide (PI), polypropylene (PP), or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

For convenience, in the following description, the first and second electrode tabs 114 and 115 may be referred to as electrode tabs 114 and 115, respectively.

In one embodiment, each of the four fixing tapes 116 may be adhered such that a first region 116a is adhered to opposite ends of the separator 113 positioned on opposite long side surfaces 110a of the stacked electrode assemblies 110, and a second region 116b is adhered to outer surfaces 114a and 115a of outermost electrode tabs 114 and 115 positioned closest to the outermost separator 113 among the electrode tabs 114 and 115 protruding at the short side surface 110b of the electrode assemblies 110. Here, the outer surface 114a of the first electrode tab 114 and the outer surface 115a of the second electrode tab 115 refer to outwardly exposed surfaces of the respective electrode tabs that do not face the other electrode tabs 114 and 115 of the plurality of electrode tabs 114 and 115 of the stacked electrode assembly 110.

The fixing tape 116 may fix the separator 113 positioned at the outermost side of the electrode assembly 110 and the electrode tabs 114 and 115 to each other. When the plurality of first electrode tabs 114 and the plurality of second electrode tabs 115, each protruding from opposite short side surfaces of the electrode assembly 110, are collected, the fixing tape 116 may prevent or substantially prevent the first electrode plate 111 from being misaligned with the second electrode plate 112. In one embodiment, the plurality of first electrode tabs 114 are collected to be welded to the first current collector portion 120 so as to then be positioned substantially at the center of one short side surface 110b of the electrode assembly 110. In one embodiment, the plurality of second electrode tabs 115 may be collected to be welded to the second current collector portion 140 so as to then be positioned substantially at the center of the other short side surface 110b of the electrode assembly 110.

When the first and second electrode tabs 114 and 115 are respectively collected, the second region 116b of the fixing tape 116 may be bent toward the short side surface 110b of the electrode assembly 110 to cover a portion of the opposite short side surface 110 b.

The electrode assembly 110 is accommodated in the case 160 together with, for example, but not limited to, an electrolyte. In one embodiment, the electrolyte may include an organic solvent (e.g., Ethylene Carbonate (EC), Propylene Carbonate (PC), diethyl carbonate (DEC), Ethyl Methyl Carbonate (EMC), or dimethyl carbonate (DMC)) and a lithium salt (e.g., LiPF)₆Or LiBF₄). In addition, the electrolyte may be in a liquid, solid or gel state.

In one embodiment, the first current collector portion 120 includes a first secondary current collector portion 121 electrically and mechanically connected to the first electrode tab 114, and a first primary current collector portion 122 electrically and mechanically connected to the first secondary current collector portion 121. In one embodiment, the first current collector portion 120 may be coupled to the first electrode tab 114 of the electrode assembly 110 after being coupled to the first terminal portion 130 coupled with the cap assembly 170. Referring to fig. 3A, an exploded perspective view illustrating the electrode assembly 110 yet to be coupled to the first current collector portion 120 is illustrated. Referring to fig. 3B, an assembled perspective view in which the electrode assembly 110 is coupled to the first current collector portion 120 is illustrated. The construction of the first current collector portion 120 and the assembly operation between the first current collector portion 120 and the electrode assembly 110 will now be described with reference to fig. 3A and 3B.

In one embodiment, the first secondary current collector part 121 includes a first tab connection part 121a electrically and mechanically connected to the first electrode tab 114, and a first current collector connection part 121b electrically and mechanically connected to the first primary current collector part 122. In one embodiment, the first secondary current collector portion 121 may be shaped as a single plate extending in the vertical direction, and may have a portion bent to be parallel to the vertical direction. The first tab connecting portion 121a may be located between the first electrode tab 114 and the first main current collector portion 122, and the first current collector connecting portion 121b may be located between the first electrode tab 114 and the side surface of the electrode assembly 110. In one embodiment, the first secondary current collector portion 121 may be a single metal plate.

In one embodiment, in a state where the first secondary collector part 121 is bent in an L-shaped configuration, the first collector connecting part 121b disposed at one side may be first welded to the first primary collector part 122, and then the first tab connecting part 121a disposed at the other side may be welded to the first electrode tab 114. After the first secondary current collector part 121 is welded to the first electrode tab 114 in a state where one surface of the first secondary current collector part 121 is in contact with one surface of the first electrode tab 114, the first secondary current collector part 121 may be bent together with the first electrode tab 114 so as to be substantially parallel to the surface of the first current collector part 120.

The first tab connection parts 121a may be welded to the collected plurality of first electrode tabs 114 at a time. Here, the first electrode tabs 114 welded to the first tab connecting portion 121a may be electrically connected to each other while being in tight contact with each other, thereby reducing the overall thickness of the first electrode tabs 114.

In one embodiment, the first main current collector portion 122 includes a first electrode connection portion 122a electrically and mechanically connected to the first sub current collector portion 121, and a first terminal connection portion 122b bent and extended from a tip of the first electrode connection portion 122a and electrically and mechanically connected to the first terminal portion 130.

The first electrode connecting portion 122a is in contact with and coupled to the first secondary current collector portion 121 to then be electrically connected to the first electrode tab 114 of the electrode assembly 110. In one embodiment, the first electrode connecting portion 122a is welded to the first secondary current collector portion 121 and is configured to extend in a vertical direction. The first electrode connecting portion 122a may be coupled to the first secondary current collector portion 121 by welding.

In one embodiment, the first terminal connection part 122b is shaped as a plate extending horizontally to be parallel to the cap plate 171 of the cap assembly 170, and is coupled to the first terminal part 130. In one embodiment, the first terminal connection part 122b may be welded to the first terminal part 130, and may be located between a cap plate 171 of a cap assembly 170, which will be described later, and the electrode assembly 110. In one embodiment, the first terminal connection part 122b may be bent from the top end of the first electrode connection part 122a to extend perpendicularly thereto.

In one embodiment, the first secondary current collector part 121, the first primary current collector part 122, and the first electrode tab 114 may be made of the same material. In one embodiment, the first electrode tab 114 is made of aluminum, and the first current collector portion 120 is also made of an aluminum-based material.

In one embodiment, the first primary collector portion 122 is coupled to the first secondary collector portion 121 by welding to provide the first collector portion 120. In addition, the first collector part 120, which is composed of the first secondary collector part 121 and the first primary collector part 122, may be welded and coupled to the first terminal part 130 coupled with the cover assembly 170. The first tab connection parts 121a of the first current collector part 120 may then be welded and coupled to the collected plurality of first electrode tabs 114. In one embodiment, the first tab connection part 121a is welded to the first electrode tab 114 by ultrasonic welding with pressure (e.g., predetermined pressure) applied thereto.

However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the first current collector portion 120 is described herein by way of example for a better understanding of example embodiments of the present disclosure, but the first current collector portion 120 may be implemented in any of a variety of shapes and structures.

The first terminal portion 130 is electrically connected to the first electrode tab 114 of the electrode assembly 110 through the first current collector portion 120. In one embodiment, the first terminal portion 130 may include a first terminal post 131 penetrating through the cap plate 171 of the cap assembly 170, and is configured such that the first electrode connection portion 122a of the first current collector portion 120 is electrically connected to the first terminal post 131 inside the case 160. In addition, the first electrode tab 114 of the electrode assembly 110 is electrically connected to the first current collector part 120. In one embodiment, the first terminal portion 130 is positioned on the cover plate 171, and may include: a first terminal plate 132 (e.g., made of aluminum) coupled to the first terminal post 131; a first terminal upper insulating member 133 mounted between the first terminal plate 132 and the cap plate 171; a first terminal sealing gasket 134 between the first terminal post 131 and the cap plate 171; and a first terminal lower insulating member 135 installed between the first collector part 120 coupled to the first terminal post 131 and the cap plate 171.

In one embodiment, the insulating member on the first terminal 133 may be replaced by a high-resistance conductor. In this case, the cover plate 171 and the housing 160 may have the same polarity as the first terminal portion 130. For example, the case 160 and the cap plate 171 of the secondary battery 100 may be positively charged.

However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the first terminal portion 130 is described herein by way of example for a better understanding of the example embodiments of the present disclosure, but the first terminal portion 130 may be implemented in any of a variety of shapes and structures.

In one embodiment, the second current collector portion 140 includes a second sub-current collector portion 141 electrically and mechanically connected to the second electrode tab 115, and a second main current collector portion 142 electrically and mechanically connected to the second sub-current collector portion 141.

In one embodiment, the second current collector portion 140 may be coupled to the second electrode tab 115 of the electrode assembly 110 after being coupled to the second terminal portion 150 coupled with the cap assembly 170. Referring to fig. 3A, an exploded perspective view illustrating the electrode assembly 110 yet to be coupled to the second current collector portion 140 is illustrated. Referring to fig. 3B, an assembled perspective view in which the electrode assembly 110 is coupled to the second current collector portion 140 is illustrated. The construction of the second current collector portion 140 and the assembly operation between the second current collector portion 140 and the electrode assembly 110 will now be described with reference to fig. 3A and 3B.

In one embodiment, the second sub-collector portion 141 may include a second tab connection portion 141a electrically and mechanically connected to the second electrode tab 115, and a second collector connection portion 141b electrically and mechanically connected to the second main collector portion 142. In one embodiment, the second sub-collector portion 141 may be shaped as a single plate extending in the vertical direction, and may have a portion bent to be parallel to the vertical direction. The second tab connecting portion 141a may be located between the second electrode tab 115 and the second current collector portion 140, and the second current collector connecting portion 141b may be located between the second electrode tab 115 and the side surface of the electrode assembly 110. In one embodiment, the second sub-collector portion 141 may be a metal single plate.

In one embodiment, in a state where the second sub-collector portion 141 is bent in an L-shaped configuration, the second collector connecting portion 141b disposed at one side may be first welded to the second main collector portion 142, and then, the second tab connecting portion 141a disposed at the other side may be welded to the second electrode tab 115. After being welded to the second electrode tab 115, the second secondary current collector portion 141 may be bent together with the second electrode tab 115 to be substantially parallel to the surface of the second current collector portion 140.

In one embodiment, the second tab connection part 141a may be welded to the collected plurality of second electrode tabs 115 at one time. Here, the second electrode tabs 115 welded to the second tab connecting portion 141a may be electrically connected to each other while being in tight contact with each other, thereby reducing the overall thickness of the second electrode tabs 115.

The second main current collector portion 142 includes a second electrode connection portion 142a electrically and mechanically connected to the second sub current collector portion 141, and a second terminal connection portion 142b bent and extended from a tip of the second electrode connection portion 142a and electrically and mechanically connected to the second terminal portion 150.

The second electrode connecting portion 142a contacts and is coupled to the second secondary current collector portion 141 to then be electrically connected to the second electrode tab 115 of the electrode assembly 110. The second electrode connecting portion 142a is welded to the second sub-collector portion 141, and is configured to be erected in the vertical direction. The second electrode connection portion 142a may be coupled to the second sub-collector portion 141 by welding.

In one embodiment, the second terminal connection portion 142b is shaped as a plate extending horizontally to be parallel to the cap plate 171, and is coupled to the second terminal portion 150. In one embodiment, the second terminal connection portion 142b may be welded to the second terminal portion 150, and may be located between a cap plate 171 of a cap assembly 170, which will be described later, and the electrode assembly 110. In one embodiment, the second terminal connection part 142b may be bent from the tip of the second electrode connection part 142a to extend perpendicularly thereto.

In one embodiment, the second sub-collector portion 141, the second main collector portion 142, and the second electrode tab 115 may be made of the same material. In one embodiment, the second electrode tab 115 is made of a copper-based material, and the second current collector portion 140 is also made of a copper-based material.

In one embodiment, the second primary collector portion 142 is coupled to the second secondary collector portion 141 by welding to provide the second collector portion 140. In one embodiment, the second collector portion 140, which is composed of the second secondary collector portion 141 and the second primary collector portion 142, may be welded and coupled to the second terminal portion 150 coupled with the cap assembly 170. The second tab connection parts 141a of the second current collector part 140 may then be welded and coupled to the collected plurality of second electrode tabs 115.

However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the second current collector portion 140 is described herein by way of example for better understanding of example embodiments of the present disclosure, but the second current collector portion 140 may be implemented in any of a variety of shapes and structures.

The second terminal portion 150 is electrically connected to the second electrode tab 115 of the electrode assembly 110 through the second current collector portion 140. In one embodiment, the second terminal portion 150 may include a second terminal post 151 penetrating the cap plate 171 of the cap assembly 170, and is configured such that the second electrode connection portion 142a of the second current collector portion 140 is electrically connected to the second terminal post 151 within the case 160. In addition, the second electrode tab 115 of the electrode assembly 110 is electrically connected to the second current collector part 140. In one embodiment, the second terminal portion 150 is positioned on the cap plate 171, and may include: a second terminal plate 152 (e.g., made of aluminum) coupled to the second terminal post 151; a second terminal upper insulating member 153 mounted between the second terminal plate 152 and the cap plate 171; a second terminal sealing gasket 154 between the second terminal post 151 and the cap plate 171; and a second terminal lower insulating member 155 installed between the second current collector portion 140 connected to the second terminal post 151 and the cap plate 171.

However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the second terminal portion 150 is described herein by way of example for a better understanding of example embodiments of the present disclosure, but the second terminal portion 150 may be implemented in any of a variety of shapes and structures.

In one embodiment, the housing 160 may be shaped as a generally rectangular parallelepiped with a hollow top opening. The electrode assembly 110 may be inserted into the case 160 through the opening. In addition, the first current collector portion 120 and the second current collector portion 140 may also be placed in the case 160.

The cover assembly 170 may include a plate-shaped cover plate 171. For example, the cover plate 171 may be made of a thin plate, and coupled to the opening of the case 160 to close the opening. In one embodiment, the cap plate 171 includes an electrolyte injection part 172, and the electrolyte is injected into the case 160 through the electrolyte injection part 172. Once the electrolyte is injected, the electrolyte injection portion 172 is sealed by the plug 173. In addition, the cover plate 171 may include a vent hole 174, and a vent plate 175 configured to rupture when the internal pressure of the sealed case 160 exceeds a certain pressure level (e.g., a preset pressure level) may be installed in the vent hole 174.

While one or more example embodiments have been described to practice the secondary battery of the present disclosure, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the following claims.