# US 2021/0344085 A1 · Electrode assembly and inspection method therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0344085 A1 - Document ID: US20210344085A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/283,246 - Filed: 2020-05-04 - Published: 2021-11-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-05-14 - Assignees: LG Chem, Ltd. - Applicants: LG Chem, Ltd. - Inventors: Kwan Hong BAE; Chan Woo PARK - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210344085A1 ## CPC - H01M 10/0413: {Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes} - H01M 50/533: characterised by the shape of the leads or tabs - G01N 21/8803: {Visual inspection (measuring projectors G01B9/08)} - G01N 21/95: characterised by the material or shape of the object to be examined (G01N21/89 - G01N21/91, G01N21/94 take precedence) - G01N 21/95684: {Patterns showing highly reflecting parts, e.g. metallic elements} - H01M 4/70: characterised by shape or form - H01M 10/0585: of accumulators having only flat construction elements, i.e. flat positive electrodes, flat negative electrodes and flat separators - H01M 50/46: Separators, membranes or diaphragms characterised by their combination with electrodes - G01N 2021/8438: {Mutilayers} - G01N 2021/8472: {Investigation of composite materials} - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - 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 ## Abstract The present invention relates to an electrode assembly and an inspection method therefor, whereby tab folding and alignment of an electrode may be accurately checked. The electrode assembly, according to one embodiment, has a structure in which at least one unit cell is laminated, the unit cell having a structure of a first electrode/a separator/a second electrode/a separator/a third electrode, wherein the first electrode and the third electrode may each comprise a tab protruding toward the outer periphery of one side, and the second electrode may comprise a tab protruding toward the outer periphery of the other side facing the one side. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrode assembly having a structure in which at least one unit cell comprising a first electrode, a separator, a second electrode, separator, and a third electrode structure, stacked in order as listed, wherein each of the first electrode and the third electrode includes a tab protruding toward an outer periphery of one side, and the second electrode includes a tab protruding toward an outer periphery of the other side facing the one side, wherein each of the first electrode tab and the third electrode tab includes a through hole formed in an edge of one side, and an inclined portion forming a predetermined angle with respect to an virtual extension line extending from both outer peripheries adjacent to each other among outer peripheries of the tab in an edge of the other side, and wherein the through hole of the first electrode tab and the inclined portion of the third electrode tab are arranged to overlap with each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrode assembly of claim 1, wherein the tab of the second electrode comprises through holes in an edge of one side and an edge of the other side facing the one side. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrode assembly of claim 1, wherein the first electrode and the third electrode have the same polarity, and the first electrode and the second electrode have opposite polarities. ### Claim 4 An electrode assembly having at least one unit cell comprising a first electrode, a separator, a second electrode, and separator structure, stacked in order as listed, wherein the first electrode includes a tab protruding toward an outer periphery of one side, and the second electrode includes a tab protruding toward an outer periphery of the other side facing the one side, and wherein each of the first electrode tab and the second electrode tab includes a through hole formed in an edge of one side, and an inclined portion forming a predetermined angle with respect to a virtual extension line extending from both outer peripheries adjacent to each other among outer peripheries of the tab in an edge of the other side. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The electrode assembly of claim 4, wherein two or more of the unit cells are stacked, wherein the through hole of the first electrode tab in one unit cell and the inclined portion of the first electrode tab in an immediately adjacent unit cell are arranged to overlap with each other, and wherein the through hole of the second electrode tab in one unit cell and the inclined portion of the second electrode tab in an immediately adjacent unit cell are arranged to overlap with each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electrode assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the inclined portions is formed in a straight line forming the predetermined angle, and the predetermined angle is 10 to 80 degrees. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electrode assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the through holes has a shape selected from the group consisting of a circle, a rectangle, and a square, respectively, and the shapes of the through holes are the same. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method for inspecting an electrode assembly, comprising: preparing the electrode assembly of claim 1; vision-inspecting a shape of an inner surface of the through hole of the first electrode tab formed as the through hole of the first electrode tab overlaps with the inclined portion of the third electrode tab of the electrode assembly, and a shape of an inner surface of the through hole of the third electrode tab formed as the inclined portion of the first electrode tab overlaps with the through hole of the third electrode tab; and determining whether the first electrode tab or the third electrode tab is folded based on a result of the vision inspection. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the determining whether the first electrode tab or the third electrode tab is folded comprises determining whether the shape of the inner surface of the through hole of the first electrode tab and the shape of the inner surface of the through hole of the third electrode tab are symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal direction of the tab. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, when two or more units cells are stacked in the electrode assembly, further comprising: measuring an area of inner surfaces of through holes after the vision-inspecting; and determining whether a position of the first and third electrode tab is defective from the measured area. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein in the determining whether the position is defective, the first and third electrodes are arranged to allow the areas of the inner surfaces of the through holes to coincide with each other. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) A method for inspecting an electrode assembly, comprising: preparing the electrode assembly of claim 5; vision-inspecting shapes of inner surfaces of through holes of a plurality of electrode tabs having the same polarity; and determining whether the first and second electrode tabs are folded based on a result of the vision inspection. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the determining whether the electrode tabs are folded comprises determining whether the shapes of the inner surfaces of the two through holes are symmetrical to each other in a longitudinal direction of the tabs. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, after the vision-inspecting, further comprising: measuring areas of the inner surfaces of the through holes; and determining whether a stacking is defective from the measured area. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4) The electrode assembly of claim 4, wherein each of the inclined portions is formed in a straight line forming the predetermined angle, and the predetermined angle is 10 to 80 degrees. ### Claim 16 (depends on 4) The electrode assembly of claim 4, wherein each of the through holes has a shape selected from the group consisting of a circle, a rectangle, and a square, respectively, and the shapes of the through holes are the same.