Abstract:
A rechargeable battery including an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly including a non-coating portion having a front surface, a rear surface, and a side surface; a case accommodating the electrode assembly; a cap plate sealing the case; and a collector electrically connected to the non-coating portion of the electrode assembly, wherein the collector includes a front collector tab welded to the front surface of the non-coating portion and a rear collector tab welded to the rear surface of the non-coating portion, a collector plate electrically connected to the collector tabs, the collector plate being coupled with a bottom surface of the cap plate, and a protrusion protruding perpendicularly from one of the front collector tab or rear collector tab.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field 
         [0002]    Embodiments relate to a rechargeable battery. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Generally, rechargeable batteries may be chargeable and dischargeable, unlike primary batteries, which are not chargeable. A low capacity battery, in which one battery cell is packaged into a pack shape, may be used as power sources for various portable small electronic devices, e.g., mobile phones, camcorders, etc. A high capacity battery, in which several tens or dozens of battery cells are connected to each other, may be used as power sources for driving motors, e.g., electric scooters, hybrid electric vehicles, electric vehicles, etc. 
         [0005]    Rechargeable batteries may include an electrode assembly (including a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator between the positive and negative electrode plates), a case accommodating the electrode assembly together with electrolyte, and a cap plate mounted on the case. A collector may be welded to a non-coating portion of the electrode assembly. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Embodiments are directed to a rechargeable battery 
         [0007]    The embodiments may be realized by providing a rechargeable battery including an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly including a non-coating portion having a front surface, a rear surface, and a side surface; a case accommodating the electrode assembly; a cap plate sealing the case; and a collector electrically connected to the non-coating portion of the electrode assembly, wherein the collector includes a front collector tab welded to the front surface of the non-coating portion and a rear collector tab welded to the rear surface of the non-coating portion, a collector plate electrically connected to the collector tabs, the collector plate being coupled with a bottom surface of the cap plate, and a protrusion protruding perpendicularly from one of the front collector tab or rear collector tab. 
         [0008]    The front collector tab may have a first length, the rear collector tab may have a second length, and the first length may be different from the second length. 
         [0009]    One of the first length and the second length may be greater than the other, and the protrusion may protrude from the collector tab with a greater length. 
         [0010]    The protrusion may contact the side surface of the electrode assembly.\ 
         [0011]    The protrusion may have a length equal to or less than a thickness of the non-coating portion. 
         [0012]    The collector may further include an electrode terminal, the electrode terminal being coupled to the collector plate. 
         [0013]    The rechargeable battery may further include a second electrode assembly, the second electrode assembly including a non-coating portion having a front surface, a rear surface, and a side surface; and a pair of second collector tabs respectively welded to the front surface and the rear surface of the non-coating portion of the second electrode assembly, wherein a second protrusion protruding perpendicularly to each of the second collector tabs is on one of the pair of second collector tabs. 
         [0014]    The pair of second collector tabs may be electrically connected to the collector plate. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The embodiments will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing in detail exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a rechargeable battery according to an embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded perspective view of the rechargeable battery of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates a sectional view of the rechargeable battery taken along line I-I′ of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the rechargeable battery of  FIG. 1  in which an electrode assembly and a collector are coupled to each other; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded perspective view of a rechargeable battery according to another embodiment; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the rechargeable battery of  FIG. 5  in which an electrode assembly and a collector are coupled to each other. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0101456 filed on Oct. 18, 2010, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and entitled: “Rechargeable Battery” is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
         [0023]    Example embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, they may be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
         [0024]    In the drawing figures, the dimensions of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity of illustration. It will also be understood that when a layer or element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element, or intervening elements may also be present. Further, it will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “under” another element, it can be directly under, or one or more intervening elements may also be present. In addition, it will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “between” two elements, it can be the only element between the two elements, or one or more intervening elements may also be present. Also, the terms “front” and “rear” are used herein in a relative sense only to convey a relationship between elements. That is, the terms are not terms of limitation and are not to be construed in an absolute sense. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a rechargeable battery according to an embodiment.  FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded perspective view of the rechargeable battery of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  illustrates a sectional view of the rechargeable battery taken along line I-I′ of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the rechargeable battery of  FIG. 1  in which an electrode assembly and a collector are coupled to each other. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , a rechargeable battery  100  according to an embodiment may include an electrode assembly  110 , a collector  120 , a case  130 , and a cap assembly  140 . 
         [0027]    A thin plate- or film-shaped stacked body of a first electrode plate  111 , a separator  113 , and a second electrode plate  112  may be wound or overlapped to form the electrode assembly  110 . In an implementation, the first electrode plate  111  may serve as a negative plate and the second electrode plate  112  may serve as a positive plate, but the embodiments are not limited thereto. 
         [0028]    A first electrode active material, e.g., a transition metal oxide, may be coated on a first electrode collector (formed of a metal foil, e.g., aluminum) to prepare the first electrode plate  111 . The first electrode plate  111  may include a first electrode non-coating portion  114  on which a first active material is not coated. The first electrode non-coating portion  114  may serve as a passage for current flow between the first electrode plate  111  and an outside of the first electrode plate  111 . The first electrode non-coating portion  114  may be disposed on one end of the electrode assembly  110 . 
         [0029]    A second electrode active material, e.g., graphite or carbon, may be coated on a second electrode collector (formed of a metal foil, e.g., nickel or copper) to prepare the second electrode plate  112 . The second electrode plate  112  may include a second electrode non-coating portion  115  on which a second active material is not coated. The second electrode non-coating portion  115  may serve as a passage for current flow between the second electrode plate  112  and an outside of the second electrode plate  112 . The second electrode non-coating portion  115  may be disposed on another end of the electrode assembly  110 , e.g., opposite to the first electrode non-coating portion  114 . 
         [0030]    The separator  113  may be disposed between the first electrode plate  111  and the second electrode plate  112  to prevent the first and second electrode plates  111  and  112  from being electrically short-circuited with each other and to facilitate movement of lithium ions between the first and second electrode plates  111  and  112 . The separator  113  may be formed of, e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, or a combination thereof. 
         [0031]    The collector  120  may be electrically connected to the electrode assembly  110 . The collector  120  may be electrically connected to the first electrode non-coating portion  114  and the second electrode non-coating portion  115  of the electrode assembly  110  to electrically connect the electrodes outside of the rechargeable battery  100 . In an implementation, the collector  120  electrically connected to the first electrode non-coating portion  114  may be the same as the collector  120  electrically connected to the second electrode non-coating portion  115 . Thus, only the collector  120  electrically connected to the first electrode non-coating portion  114  will be described below. 
         [0032]    The collector  120  may include a pair of collector tabs  121  and  122 , protrusion  123 , a collector plate  124 , an electrode terminal  125 , and a terminal nut  126 . 
         [0033]    The pair of collector tabs  121  and  122  may be welded to a front surface  114   a  and a rear surface  114   b  of the first non-coating portion  114 , respectively. The collector tab welded to the front surface  114   a  of the first non-coating portion  114  may be referred to as a front collector tab  121 ; and the collector tab welded to the rear surface  114   b  of the first non-coating portion  114  may be referred to as a rear collector tab  122 . Thus, in an implementation, the pair of collector tabs  121  and  122  may include the front collector tab  121  and the rear collector tab  122 . The front collector tab  121  and the rear collector tab  122  may have lengths different from each other. The protrusion  123  may be disposed on the relatively longer collector tab of the front collector tab  121  and the rear collector tab  122 . In the present embodiment, a structure in which the front collector tab  121  has a length less than that of the rear collector tab  122  will be described as an example. 
         [0034]    The front collector tab  121  may be welded to the front surface  114   a  of the first non-coating portion  114  and may have a length less than that of the rear collector tab  122 . The rear collector tab  122  may be spaced from the front collector tab  121  and may be welded to the rear surface  114   b  of the first non-coating portion  114 . In an implementation, the protrusion  123  may be on the rear collector tab  122 . 
         [0035]    The protrusion  123  may be on one end of the rear collector tab  122  and may protrude in a direction perpendicular to that of the rear collector tab  122 . For example, the protrusion  123  may be connected to the rear collector tab  122  and may protrude, e.g., from a side end of the rear collector tab  122 , toward the front collector tab  121 . Also, the protrusion  123  may contact a side surface  114   c  of the first non-coating portion  114 . Thus, the protrusion  123  may prevent the collector  120  from being separated from the electrode assembly  110  and moved away from the electrode assembly  110  in the event of vibration and/or impact. In an implementation, the protrusion  123  may have a length equal to or less than a thickness or width of the first non-coating portion  114 . Maintaining the length of the protrusion  123  less than the thickness or width of the first non-coating portion  114  may help prevent damage to the case  130  that may be caused by the protrusion  123 . 
         [0036]    The front collector tab  121  and the rear collector tab  122  may be reversely manufactured, e.g., may be mirror images of one another. For example, the rear collector tab  122  may have a length less than that of the front collector tab  121 ; and the protrusion  123  may be disposed on the front collector tab  121 . 
         [0037]    The collector plate  124  may be electrically connected to the pair of collector tabs  121  and  122  and may be coupled to a bottom surface of the cap plate  141  that will be described below. A terminal hole  124   a  may be defined in the collector plate  124 . The electrode terminal  125  may be inserted into and coupled to the terminal hole  124   a.    
         [0038]    The electrode terminal  125  may pass through the cap plate  141  and may be electrically connected to the collector plate  124 . The electrode terminal  125  may have a column shape. In an implementation, a screw thread may be disposed on an outer surface of an upper column of the electrode terminal  125  extending upwardly from the cap plate  141 ; and a flange  125  may be disposed on a lower column of the electrode terminal  125  under the cap plate  141  to prevent the electrode terminal  125  from separating from the cap plate  141 . A portion of the column at a lower potion of the flange  125   a  may be inserted into the terminal hole  124   a  of the collector plate  124 . 
         [0039]    The terminal nut  126  may be coupled to the electrode terminal  125 . A screw thread may be disposed inside the terminal nut  126 . The screw thread on the terminal nut  126  may be coupled to the screw thread on the electrode terminal  125  to fix the electrode terminal  125  to the cap plate  141 . 
         [0040]    The case  130  may be formed of a conductive metal, e.g., aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or nickel-plated steel. The case  130  may have an approximately hexagonal or hexahedral shape having an opening in which the electrode assembly  110  and the collector  120  are inserted and seated. An inner surface of the case  130  may be insulation-treated. Thus, the case  130  may be insulated from the electrode assembly  110 , the collector  120 , and the cap assembly  140 . In an implementation, the case  130  may serve as one pole, e.g., a positive electrode. 
         [0041]    The cap assembly  140  may be coupled to the case  130 . In an implementation, the cap assembly  140  may include the cap plate  141 , a gasket  142 , a tap  143 , a vent plate  144 , an upper insulating member  145 , and a lower insulating member  146 . 
         [0042]    The cap plate  141  may seal the opening of the case  140 . The cap plate  141  may be formed of the same material as that of the case  140 . In an implementation, the cap plate  141  may have the same polarity as that of the case  140 . A through hole  141   a  through which the electrode terminal  125  passes may be defined in the cap plate  141 . 
         [0043]    The gasket  142  may be formed of an insulating material and may be disposed between the electrode terminal  125  and the cap plate  141  to seal a space between the electrode terminal  125  and the cap plate  141 . The gasket  142  may prevent external moisture from penetrating into the rechargeable battery  100  and/or may prevent an electrolyte in the rechargeable battery  100  from leaking out. 
         [0044]    The tab  143  may seal an electrolyte injection hole  141   a  of the cap plate  151 . The vent plate  144  may be disposed on a vent hole  141   c  of the cap plate  141 . Also, the vent plate  144  may include a notch  144   a  for opening the vent hole  141   c  at a preset pressure. 
         [0045]    The upper insulating member  145  may be disposed between the electrode terminal  125  and the cap plate  141  and may be closely attached to the cap plate  141  and the gasket  142 . The upper insulating member  145  may insulate the electrode terminal  125  from the cap plate  141 . 
         [0046]    The lower insulating member  146  may be disposed between the collector plate  124  and the cap plate  141  to prevent the collector plate and the cap plate  141  from being unnecessarily short-circuited to each other. A through hole  146   a  through which the electrode terminal  125  passes may be defined in the lower insulating member  146 . 
         [0047]    As described above, in the rechargeable battery  100  according to an embodiment, the protrusion  123  may be disposed on the collector  120  to prevent the collector  120  from being moved by vibration and/or impacts. Thus, the durability of the rechargeable battery  100  may be improved. 
         [0048]    A rechargeable battery according to another embodiment will be described below. 
         [0049]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded perspective view of a rechargeable battery according to another embodiment.  FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the rechargeable battery of  FIG. 5 , in which an electrode assembly and a collector are coupled to each other. 
         [0050]    A rechargeable battery  200  according to the present embodiment may be similar to the rechargeable battery  100  of  FIG. 2 . Thus, only differences therebetween will be described below. In the description below, a rechargeable battery having two electrode assemblies and a corresponding number of collector tabs is provided as an example. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto, and the rechargeable battery may include more than two electrode assemblies and a corresponding number of collector tabs. 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the rechargeable battery  200  according to the present embodiment may include, e.g., a first electrode assembly  210   a,  a second electrode assembly  210   b,  a collector  220 , a case  130 , and a cap assembly  140 . 
         [0052]    The first and second electrode assemblies  210   a  and  210   b  may be the same as the above-described electrode assembly  110  and repeated detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
         [0053]    The collector  220  may include a pair of first collector tabs  221   a  and  222   a,  a first protrusion  223   a,  a pair of second collector tabs  221   b  and  222   b,  a second protrusion  223   b,  a collector plate  224 , an electrode terminal  125 , and a terminal nut  126 . 
         [0054]    The pair of first collector tabs  221   a  and  222   a  may be coupled to the first electrode assembly  210   a;  and the pair of second collector tabs  221   b  and  222   b  may be coupled to the second electrode assembly  210   b.  Accordingly, the collector  220  may be coupled to the two electrode assemblies  210   a  and  210   b  to complete the rechargeable battery  200  according to the present embodiment. The pair of first collector tab  221   a  and  222   a  and the pair of second collector tabs  221   b  and  222   b  may be spaced from each other and electrically connected to one collector plate  224 . 
         [0055]    The pair of first collector tabs  221   a  and  222   a  may be welded to a non-coating portion  214  of the first electrode assembly  210   a.  The pair of first collector tabs  221   a  and  222   a  may include a first front collector tab  221   a  welded to a front surface of the non-coating portion  214  and a first rear collector tab  222   a  welded to a rear surface of the non-coating portion  214 . In an implementation, the first front collector tab  221   a  may have a length less than that of the first rear collector tab  222   a;  and the first protrusion  223   a  may be disposed on the first rear collector tab  222   a.    
         [0056]    The first protrusion  223   a  may be disposed on one end of the first rear collector tab  222   a  and may protrude in a direction perpendicular to that of the first rear collector tab  222   a.  For example, the first protrusion  223   a  may be connected to the first rear collector tab  222   a  and may protrude, e.g., from a side end of the first rear collector tab  222   a,  toward the first front collector tab  221   a.  Also, the first protrusion  223   a  may contact a side surface of the non-coating portion  214 . Thus, the first protrusion  223   a  may prevent the first collector  220  from being separated from the first electrode assembly  210   a  and moved away from the first electrode assembly  210   a  in the event of vibration and/or impact. 
         [0057]    The pair of second collector tabs  221   b  and  222   b  may be welded to a non-coating portion  214  of the second electrode assembly  210   a.  The pair of second collector tabs  221   b  and  222   b  may include a second front collector tab  221   b  welded to a front surface of the non-coating portion  214  and a second rear collector tab  222   b  welded to a rear surface of the non-coating portion  214 . The second front collector tab  221   b  may have a length less than that of the second rear collector tab  222   b;  and the second protrusion  223   b  may be disposed on the second rear collector tab  222   b.    
         [0058]    The second protrusion  223   b  may be disposed on one end of the second rear collector tab  222   b  and may protrude in a direction perpendicular to that of the second rear collector tab  222   b.  For example, the second protrusion  223   b  may be connected to the second rear collector tab  222   b  and may protrude, e.g., from a side end of the second rear collector tab  222   b,  toward the second front collector tab  221   b.  Also, the second protrusion  223   b  may contact a side surface of the non-coating portion  214 . Thus, the second protrusion  223   b  may prevent the second collector  220  from being separated from the second electrode assembly  210   b  and moved away from the second electrode assembly  210   b  in the event of vibration and/or impact. 
         [0059]    The collector plate  224  may be electrically connected to the pair of first collector tabs  221   a  and  222   a  and the pair of second collector tabs  221   b  and  222   b  and may be coupled to a bottom surface of the cap plate  141 . 
         [0060]    In the rechargeable battery according to the embodiments, the protrusion may be disposed on the collector to prevent the collector from being moved or deformed by vibration and/or impacts. Thus, the durability of the rechargeable battery may be improved. 
         [0061]    Example embodiments have been disclosed herein, and although specific terms are employed, they are used and are to be interpreted in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purpose of limitation. In some instances, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art as of the filing of the present application, features, characteristics, and/or elements described in connection with a particular embodiment may be used singly or in combination with features, characteristics, and/or elements described in connection with other embodiments unless otherwise specifically indicated. Accordingly, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.