Cylindrical battery cell with overmolded glass feedthrough
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsBrian K. Shiu, Christopher R. Pasma, Gerald K. Cheung, Haran Balaram, Junhua Liu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosed technology relates to an electrical feedthrough for a cylindrical battery cell. The electrical feedthrough may include an annular channel having an outer sidewall, an inner sidewall, and a base; an insulator formed of glass having an overmold portion; and a pin extending through the insulator and configured to form an external battery terminal. The insulator is bonded to the inner sidewall of the annular channel and a portion of the base of the annular channel. The overmold portion prevents electrical contact between a set of electrodes and the electrode feedthrough.
Claims20
A battery cell, comprising:
- a wound set of layers comprising a cathode layer, an anode layer, and a separator layer disposed between the cathode layer and the anode layer;
- a cylindrical enclosure enclosing the set of layers, the enclosure comprising an opening for receiving a feedthrough, the feedthrough comprising:
- an annular channel comprising an outer sidewall, an inner sidewall, and a base;
- an insulator formed of glass, the insulator bonded to the inner sidewall of the annular channel and a portion of the base of the annular channel, the insulator further comprising an overmold portion that extends between the base of the annular channel and the set of layers, the overmold portion configured to prevent electrical contact between the set of layers and the annular channel;
- and
- a pin extending through the insulator, the pin electrically coupled to the set of layers to form an external battery terminal.
A battery feedthrough, comprising:
- an annular channel comprising an outer sidewall, an inner sidewall, and a base;
- an insulator formed of glass, the insulator bonded to the inner sidewall of the annular channel and a portion of the base of the annular channel, the insulator further comprising an overmold portion that extends from the base of the annular channel;
- and
- a pin extending through the insulator, the pin configured to form an external battery terminal.
A method for manufacturing a battery cell, the method comprising:
- inserting a set of layers within a cylindrical enclosure through an opening, the set of layers comprising a cathode layer, an anode layer, and a separator layer disposed between the cathode layer and the anode layer;
- welding a tab extending from the set of layers to a pin, the pin electrically coupled to the set of layers to form an external battery terminal;
- folding the tab within the cylindrical enclosure;
- disposing a feedthrough within the opening of the cylindrical enclosure, the feedthrough comprising:
- an annular channel comprising an outer sidewall, an inner sidewall, and a base;
- an insulator formed of glass, the insulator bonded to the inner sidewall of the annular channel and a portion of the base of the annular channel, the insulator further comprising an overmold portion that extends from the base of the annular channel, the overmold portion configured to prevent electrical contact between the set of layers and the annular channel;
- and
- the pin, the pin extending through the insulator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.