US 10,873,067 B2 · Folding tab for ultra-thin battery cell connection

Abstract

A multi-cell battery pack includes adjacent thin-film battery cells electrically coupled to one another with a conductive battery cell connection tab. The conductive battery cell connection tab is folded at a deflection point separating a first aperture in a first portion from a second aperture in a second portion. The first aperture and the second aperture are aligned with one another along an axis while the first portion and the second portion are positioned to rest adjacent to opposite surfaces of a first thin-film battery cell. In this position, the first portion and the second portion electrically couple a first thin-film battery cell to a second thin-film battery cell in a same battery cell stack.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A battery pack comprising:

a stack of thin-film battery cells including at least a first thin-film battery cell and a second thin-film battery cell arranged in two overlapping parallel planes;
and
a first conductive battery cell connection tab folded at a mid-point to double-back on itself between a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being attached to the stack of thin-film battery cells at a position above an upward-facing surface of the first thin-film battery cell and electrically connecting to the first thin-film battery cell, the second portion being attached to the stack of thin-film battery cells at a position above an upward-facing surface of the second thin-film battery cell and electrically connecting to the second thin-film battery cell.

A method of assembling a multi-cell battery pack comprising:

positioning a first conductive battery cell connection tab on a battery cell stack,
wherein the battery cell stack includes at least a first thin-film battery cell and a second thin-film battery cell, the first conductive battery cell connection tab having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being attached to the battery cell stack at a position above an upward-facing surface of the first thin-film battery cell and electrically connecting to the first thin-film battery cell and the second portion protruding from a perimeter of the battery cell stack;
stacking the second thin-film battery cell on top of the first thin-film battery cell such that a downward-facing surface of the second thin-film battery cell contacts the first portion of the first conductive battery cell connection tab;
folding the second portion of the first conductive battery cell connection tab at a midpoint between the first portion and the second portion so as to fold the second portion up and around an end of the second thin-film battery cell, the first battery cell connection tab having a downward-facing surface attached to the battery cell stack at a position above an upward-facing surface of the second thin-film battery cell and electrically connecting to the second thin-film battery cell;
and
securing the first thin-film battery cell into a fixed position relative to the second thin-film battery cell.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Folding tab for ultra-thin battery cell connection

Life of this patent

Folding tab for ultra-thin battery cell connection

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20