# US 10,770,694 B2 · Prismatic battery cell having two or more case members

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,770,694 B2
- Document ID: US10770694B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/502,875
- Filed: 2015-09-22
- Published: 2017-08-17
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2014-09-25
- Assignees: LG Chem, Ltd.
- Applicants: LG Chem, Ltd.
- Inventors: Ki Tae Kim; Hyung Ku Yun; Dong-Myung Kim; Hyojin Kim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10770694B2

## CPC

- H01M 50/258: Modular batteries; Casings provided with means for assembling
- H01M 10/0436: {Small-sized flat cells or batteries for portable equipment}
- H01M 10/0459: {Cells or batteries with folded separator between plate-like electrodes}
- H01M 10/0525: Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
- H01M 10/0583: of accumulators with folded construction elements except wound ones, i.e. folded positive or negative electrodes or separators, e.g. with "Z"-shaped electrodes or separators
- H01M 50/103: prismatic or rectangular (H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence)
- H01M 50/15: for prismatic or rectangular cells (H01M50/153 takes precedence)
- H01M 50/169: by welding, brazing or soldering
- H01M 50/553: Terminals adapted for prismatic, pouch or rectangular cells
- H01M 50/564: characterised by their manufacturing process
- H01M 2220/10: Batteries in stationary systems, e.g. emergency power source in plant
- H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
- H01M 2220/30: Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

Disclosed herein is a prismatic battery cell including an electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the electrode assembly having a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal protruding from at least one side of the positive electrode and the negative electrode, two or more case members coupled to each other so as to have a shape corresponding to the external shape of the electrode assembly such that the case members surround the electrode assembly, the case members having a predetermined opening, through which one surface of the electrode assembly, at least, corresponding to protruding portions of the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal is exposed, and a cap plate coupled to the opening of the case members in a sealed state.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A prismatic battery cell comprising:
an electrode assembly comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the electrode assembly having a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal protruding from at least one side of the positive electrode and the negative electrode, wherein the electrode assembly includes a step formed on an outer surface thereof;
two or more case members coupled to each other so as to have a shape corresponding to an external shape of the electrode assembly such that the case members surround the electrode assembly, the case members having a predetermined opening, through which one surface of the electrode assembly corresponding to protruding portions of the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal is exposed; and
a cap plate coupled to the opening of the case members in a sealed state,
wherein a first case member of the two or more case members includes a first step coupling portion, a second case member of the two or more case members includes a second step coupling portion, and an outer surface of the first step coupling portion and an inner surface of the second step coupling portion are directly coupled to each other,
wherein the case members include a step in at least one outer surface thereof, and
wherein the step of the case members is formed to correspond to the step of the electrode assembly, and
wherein the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal are electrically connected to the cap plate in the sealed state.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The prismatic battery cell according to claim 1, wherein the electrode assembly is configured to have a structure in which unit cells, each of which is configured to have a stacked structure comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, are successively folded using a separation film.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The prismatic battery cell according to claim 1, wherein the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal protrude from the same side of the electrode assembly.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The prismatic battery cell according to claim 3, wherein the case members are coupled to each other so as to have a structure in which the case members surround the other surfaces of the electrode assembly such that the case members have one opening, through which one surface of the electrode assembly corresponding to the protruding portions of the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal are exposed.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The prismatic battery cell according to claim 3, wherein the case members are coupled to each other so as to have a structure in which the case members surround the other surfaces of the electrode assembly such that the case members have two openings, through which one surface of the electrode assembly corresponding to the protruding portions of the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal and another surface of the electrode assembly opposite to one surface of the electrode assembly are exposed.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The prismatic battery cell according to claim 4, wherein the cap plate is coupled to the opening or each opening of the case members, and the cap plate coupled to one surface of the electrode assembly corresponding to the protruding portions of the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal is electrically connected to the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal of the electrode assembly.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The prismatic battery cell according to claim 1, wherein the case members are two case members having the same shape.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The prismatic battery cell according to claim 1, wherein the case members are two case members having different shapes.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The prismatic battery cell according to claim 1, wherein each of the case members is manufactured by forging, blanking, or cutting a metal sheet.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The prismatic battery cell according to claim 1, wherein cap-coupling portions are formed in the case members or in the cap plate.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The prismatic battery cell according to claim 1, wherein the case members include concave cap-coupling portions coupled to the cap plate, or the cap plate includes convex cap-coupling portions coupled to the case members.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The prismatic battery cell according to claim 1, wherein the case members include concave cap-coupling portions coupled to the cap plate, and the cap plate includes convex cap-coupling portions coupled to the case members.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The prismatic battery cell according to claim 10, wherein the cap-coupling portions are configured to engage with each other.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The prismatic battery cell according to claim 1, wherein coupling between the case members and coupling between the case members and the cap plate are achieved by laser welding.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The prismatic battery cell according to claim 1, wherein the prismatic battery cell is configured to have a structure in which the case members are coupled to each other so as to surround the other surfaces of the electrode assembly in the sealed state in which the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal of the electrode assembly are electrically connected to the cap plate.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The prismatic battery cell according to claim 15, wherein prismatic battery cell is a lithium secondary battery.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

A device comprising one or more prismatic battery cells according to claim 1.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The device according to claim 17, wherein the device is selected from a group consisting of a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a power tool, a wearable electronic device, an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, and a power storage apparatus.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

A method of manufacturing a prismatic battery cell according to claim 1, the method comprising:
(a) preparing unit cells, each of which is configured to have a stacked structure comprising at least one positive electrode, at least one negative electrode, and at least one separator disposed between the at least one positive electrode and the at least one negative electrode;
(b) sequentially folding the unit cells prepared at step (a) in a state in which the unit cells are placed on a long sheet type separation film to prepare an electrode assembly;
(c) electrically connecting a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of the electrode assembly prepared at step (b) to a cap plate; and
(d) coupling case members and the cap plate so as to surround the electrode assembly, the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal of which are electrically connected to the cap plate at step (c), injecting an electrolyte into the case members, and sealing the case members.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method according to claim 19, wherein the unit cells are configured such that outermost electrodes of the unit cells having different polarities face each other in a state in which the separation film is disposed between the outermost electrodes of the unit cells.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The method according to claim 19, wherein coupling between the case members and coupling between the case members and the cap plate are achieved by laser welding.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The method according to claim 19, wherein step (d) comprises injecting the electrolyte into the case members through an electrolyte injection hole formed in the cap plate.