Patent Publication Number: US-2015064536-A1

Title: Battery with multiple electrode engaging portions

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0102120, filed on Aug. 28, 2013, and entitled, “Battery,” is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     One or more embodiments described herein relate to a battery. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Generally speaking, two types of batteries are used in electronics. The first type of battery cannot be recharged and is often referred to as a primary battery. The second type of battery can be recharged and is often referred to as a secondary battery. 
     Batteries may also be classified in terms of their capacities. Low-capacity batteries are typically used in portable compact electronic devices, e.g., as cellular phones, notebook computers, and camcorders. Large-capacity batteries are typically used as power sources for driving motors, e.g., in hybrid vehicles. These batteries may be connected to achieve a required capacity. 
     In order to comply with the requirements of varying applications, it would be desirable for secondary batteries to be flexibly designed to satisfy different standards and shape restrictions. These different standards and shape restrictions are especially evident in small products such as power banks, digital cameras, and portable speakers. 
     An additional consideration relates to converting or preserving the use of facilities used to manufacture batteries that comply with outdated standards. For, example, as the use of compact prismatic cells decreases, the working ratio of factory production lines is lowered for these type batteries. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one embodiment, a battery includes a plurality of first engaging portions of a first electrode; and a plurality of second engaging portions of a second electrode, wherein a (1-1)-th engaging portion of the first engaging portions has a protruding shape and wherein a (2-1)-th engaging portion of the second engaging portions has a groove shape complementary to the protruding shape. 
     The (1-2)-th engaging portion of the first engaging portions may have a protruding shape. A (1-3)-th engaging portion of the first engaging portions may have a groove shape complementary to the protruding shape of the (1-2)-th engaging portion. The (1-3)-th engaging portion and the (1-2)-th engaging portion may be on opposing sides of the battery. The (1-2)-th and (1-3)-th engaging portions may be adjacent to the (1-1)-th engaging portion. 
     A (2-2)-th engaging portion of the second engaging portions may have a groove shape at a same side of the battery at which the (1-2)-th engaging portion is located. A (2-3)-th engaging portion of the second engaging portions may have a protruding shape complementary to the groove shape of the (2-2)-th engaging portion and may be located at a same side of the battery as the (1-3)-th engaging portion. The (2-3)-th engaging portion and the (2-2)-th engaging portion may be at opposing sides of the battery. The (2-2)-th and (2-3)-th engaging portions may be adjacent to the (2-1)-th engaging portion. 
     The protruding shapes of the (1-1)-th, (1-2)-th, and (2-3)-th engaging portions may be of a same size, and the groove shapes of the (1-3)-th, (2-1)-th, and (2-2)-th engaging portions may be of a same size. The battery may include a prismatic cell. Also, the section of each of the first and second engaging portions may have any one of a circular shape or a quadrangular shape. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, a battery includes a first electrode terminal of a first shape, a second electrode terminal of a second shape, a third electrode terminal of a third shape, and a fourth electrode terminal of a fourth shape, wherein the first and third electrode terminals have a first polarity and the second and fourth electrode terminals have a second polarity opposite to the first polarity, wherein the first shape is complementary to the second shape, and wherein the third shape is complementary to the fourth shape. 
     The first and third shapes may be equal. The second and fourth shapes may be equal. The first and second electrode terminals may be on opposing sides of the battery, and the third and fourth electrodes may be on a same side of the battery. The first and second electrode terminals may establish series connections of the battery, and the third and fourth electrode terminals may establish parallel connections of the battery. 
     The battery may further include a fifth electrode terminal of the first polarity; and a sixth electrode terminal of the second polarity, wherein the third and fifth electrode terminals may be on opposing sides of the battery and wherein the fourth and sixth electrode terminals may be on opposing sides of the battery. The fifth and sixth electrode terminals may be on a same side of the battery. The fifth and sixth electrode terminals may have complementary shapes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Features will become apparent to those of skill in the art by describing in detail exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a battery; 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a view along section line A-A in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 2B  illustrates an example of an internal power connection relationship of this battery; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of batteries connected in series; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of batteries connected in parallel; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of batteries connected in series and parallel; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment of a battery; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a view along section line A-A in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates another embodiment of batteries connected in series; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates another embodiment of batteries connected in parallel; and 
         FIG. 10  illustrates another embodiment of batteries in series and parallel. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Example embodiments are 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 exemplary implementations to those skilled in the art. 
     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 layer or substrate, it can be directly on the other layer or substrate, or intervening layers may also be present. Further, it will be understood that when a layer is referred to as being “under” another layer, it can be directly under, and one or more intervening layers may also be present. In addition, it will also be understood that when a layer is referred to as being “between” two layers, it can be the only layer between the two layers, or one or more intervening layers may also be present. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a battery  100 .  FIG. 2A  illustrates a view taken along section line A-A in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2B  illustrates an example of an internal power connection relationship of battery  100 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A, and  2 B, battery  100  includes a plurality of first engaging portions  10   a,    10   b  and  10   c  and a plurality of second engaging portions  20   a,    20   b,  and  20   c.  A first electrode (e.g., a positive electrode) is formed at the plurality of first engaging portions, and a second electrode (e.g., negative electrode) is formed at the second engaging portions. That is, in this embodiment, the first engaging portions  10   a,    10   b  and  10   c  may have positive polarity, and the second engaging portions  20   a,    20   b  and  20   c  may have negative polarity. In other embodiments, the first engaging portions may have negative polarity and the second engaging portions may have positive polarity. 
     Conventional batteries have only one electrode member of a positive polarity and only one electrode member of a negative polarity. However, in the present embodiment, battery  100  has a plurality of positive-polarity electrode members and/or a plurality of negative-polarity electrode members. This arrangement may allow battery  100  to have an internal power connection relationship, for example, as illustrated in  FIG. 2B . 
     The plurality of engaging portions  10   a,    10   b,    10   c,    20   a,    20   b,  and  20   c  may be made of a conductive material for establishing a connection to a battery and/or a load. For example, engaging portions  10   a,    10   b,    10   c,    20   a,    20   b,  and  20   c  may be made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. In other embodiments, the engaging portion may be made of one or more other metals or conductive materials. 
     In one embodiment, the engaging portions  10   a,    10   b,    10   c,    20   a,    20   b,  and  20   c  are formed to have protruding and/or groove shapes. These shapes may be complementary to one another, e.g., the protruding shape may be complementary to the groove shape to allow multiple batteries  100  to be physically and electrically connected to one another. The electrical connection may be a series or parallel connection, or both. For example, a (1-1)-th engaging portion  10   a  at a top of the battery  100  may have a protruding shape, and a (2-1)-th engaging portion  20   a  at a bottom of the battery  100  may have a groove shape of a size to be engaged with the protruding shape. 
     Also, according to one embodiment, the (1-1)-th and (2-1)-th engaging portions  10   a  and  20   a  may be used for serial connection between the batteries, corresponding to various set designs. For example, (1-2)-th and (1-3)-th engaging portions  10   b  and  10   c  may be formed at respective sides of the battery  100 , while at the same time being adjacent to the (1-1)-th engaging portion  10   a.  That is, the (1-2)-th and (1-3)-th engaging portions  10   b  and  10   c  are formed at respective opposing sides of the battery  100 . 
     In this embodiment, the (1-2)-th and (1-3)-th engaging portions  10   b  and  10   c  are shown to be positioned at right and left sides of the battery  100 , respectively. In an alternative embodiment, the positions of the (1-2)-th and (1-3)-th engaging portions  10   b  and  10   c  may be reversed. That is, the (1-2)-th and (1-3)-th engaging portions  10   b  and  10   c  may be positioned at left and right sides of the battery  100 , respectively. 
     In order to prevent mis-coupling between the batteries, caused by a worker, the (1-2)-th engaging portion  10   b  and a (2-2)-th engaging portion  20   b  may be positioned at the same side, and the (1-3)-th engaging portion  10   c  and a (2-3)-th engaging portion  20   c  may be positioned at the same side. 
     Also, the (1-2)-th engaging portion  10   b  may have a protruding shape at the right side of the battery  100 , the (1-3)-th engaging portion  10   c  may have a groove shape at the left side of the battery  100  of a size to engaged the protruding shape of the (1-2)-th engaging portion  10   b.    
     The (1-2)-th engaging portion  10   b  and the (1-3)-th engaging portion  10   c  may be used, together with the (2-2)-th engaging portion  20   b  and the (2-3)-th engaging portion  20   c,  to establish a parallel connection between two batteries, corresponding to various set designs. For example, the (1-1)-th and (1-2)-th engaging portions  10   a  and  20   a  may be used to establish a serial connection between batteries, and the (1-2)-th, (1-3)-th, (2-2)-th and (2-3)-th engaging portions  10   b,    10   c,    20   b,  and  20   c  may be used to establish a parallel connection between batteries. The (2-2)-th and (2-3)-th engaging portions  20   b  and  20   c  may be used to establish a parallel connection between batteries. 
     The (2-2)-th engaging portion  20   b  may have a groove shape at the right side of the battery  100 , which is the same side at which the (1-2)-th engaging portion  10   b  is formed. The (2-3)-th engaging portion  20   c  may be located in opposing relation to the (2-2)-th engaging portion  20   b  and may have a protruding shape of a size to engage the groove shape of (2-2)-th engaging portion  20   b  at the left side of an adjacent battery  100 . The engaging portion  20   c  is at the same side at which the (1-3)-th engaging portion  10   c  is formed. 
     Thus, similar to the (1-2)-th and (1-3)-th engaging portions  10   b  and  10   c,  the (2-2)-th and (2-3)-th engaging portions  20   b  and  20   c  are positioned adjacent to the (2-1)-th engaging portion  20   a.  In this case, the (2-2)-th and (2-3)-th engaging portions  20   b  and  20   c  are at opposing positions at respective sides of the battery  100 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the (1-2)-th and (2-2)-th engaging portions  10   b  and  10   c  at the left side of the battery  100  are respectively formed in protruding and groove shapes respectively. This structure prevents mis-coupling in a parallel connection arrangement between batteries. 
     That is, a parallel connection between batteries is possible may be established when (1-2)-th and (2-2)-th engaging portions  10   b  and  20   b  have protruding and groove shapes, respectively. Because (1-2)-th and (2-2)-th engaging portions  10   b  and  20   b  have different shapes, it is possible to prevent mis-coupling of batteries caused by a worker in a battery module process (e.g., to prevent a problem where one battery is turned over in a coupling between batteries in a manner that violates Kirchhoff s voltage law). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the protruding shapes of the (1-1)-th (1-2)-th and (2-3)-th engaging portions  10   a,    10   b,  and  20   c  have the same size. Also, the groove shapes of the (1-3)-th, (2-1)-th and (2-2)-th engaging portions  10   c,    20   a  and  20   b  have the same size. This may be advantageous in terms of efficient manufacturing of the battery. However, in other embodiments the aforementioned engaging portions may have different sizes or shapes. For example, the protruding and groove shapes may be different from rectangular shapes. 
     In order to prevent mis-coupling of batteries caused, for example, by worker error, one pair of engaging portions on adjacent batteries to be coupled to each other may have shapes different from another pair of engaging portions. For example, (1-1)-th and (2-1)-th engaging portions  10   a  and  20   a,  which are coupled between batteries at respective sides of an intermediate battery, may be manufactured so that sections of (1-1)-th and (2-1)-th engaging portions  10   a  and  20   a  have a square shape. The (1-2)-th and (1-3)-th engaging portions  10   b  and  10   c,  which are coupled to additional batteries on respective sides of the intermediate battery, may be manufactured so that sections of (1-2)-th and (1-3)-th engaging portions  10   b  and  10   c  have a different (e.g., circular) shape. The (2-2)-th and (2-3)-th engaging portions  20   b  and  20   c,  which are also coupled to the aforementioned batteries, may be manufactured so that sections of the (2-2)-th and (2-3)-th engaging portions  20   b  and  20   c  have another shape or the same shape as engaging portions  10   a  and  20   a.    
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example of a series connection between batteries  100 .  FIG. 4  illustrates an example of a parallel connection between batteries  100 .  FIG. 5  illustrates an example of series and parallel connections between batteries  100 . In  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the batteries  100  have the flexibility of complying with the same or different battery standards. That is, batteries  100  serving as basic units may be connected in series and parallel in various manners at the same or different times. Further, connection between the batteries may be established without using a separate connecting member. 
     Also, engaging portions of some the connected batteries may be connected to a load. Other engaging portions of these batteries may be simultaneously connected to other batteries, to thereby form an entire circuit structure. 
     For example, in the parallel connection of  FIG. 4 , (1-2)-th and (2-2)-th engaging portions  10   b  and  20   b  of a left battery  100  are respectively connected in parallel to the (1-3)-th and (2-3)-th engaging portions  10   c  and  20   c  of a right battery  101 . Some other electrodes (e.g., the (1-1)-th, (1-3)-th, (2-1)-th and (2-3)-th engaging portions  10   a,    10   c,    20   a,  and  20   c  of the left battery  100  and (1-1)-th, (1-2)-th, (2-1)-th and (2-2)-th engaging portions  10   a,    10   b,    20   a,  and  20   b  of the right battery  101 ) are connected to a load. 
     In this case, the (1-3)-th and (2-3)-th engaging portions  10   c  and  20   c  of the left battery  100  may be connected to a load, to thereby form the entire circuit structure. In addition, the (1-1)-th and (2-1)-th engaging portions  10   a  and  20   a  of the left battery  100  may be connected to the same or a different load. In the same manner, the (1-2)-th and (2-2)-th engaging portions  10   b  and  20   b  of the right battery  101  or the (1-1)-th and (2-1)-th engaging portions  10   a  and  20   a  of the right battery  101  may be connected to one or more loads. 
     In one embodiment, battery  100  may be a prismatic cell. The engaging portions  10   b,    10   c,    20   b,  and  20   c  are positioned at left and right sides of battery  100 . In another embodiment, engaging portions  10   b,    10   c,    20   b,  and  20   c  are positioned at front and rear sides of the battery  100 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment of a battery  200 , and  FIG. 7  illustrates a sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 6 . As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , engaging portions  30   b,    30   c,    40   b  and  40   c  may be formed at front and rear sides of a prismatic ell. Other portions may be formed in the same manner as  FIGS. 1 to 5 . 
     In this embodiment, battery  200  may be more suitable for use in a high-capacity battery module because engaging portions  30   b,    30   c,    40   b  and  40   c  are formed at the front and rear sides of the battery  200 , which is a prismatic cell. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a series connection of batteries  200 ,  FIG. 9  illustrates a parallel connection of batteries  200 , and  FIG. 10  illustrates series and parallel connections of batteries  200 . As shown in  FIGS. 8 to 10 , batteries  200  may be flexible to comply with a variety of battery standards. For example, as shown in  FIG. 9 , battery  200  may advantageously be used to form a high-capacity battery module. 
     Particularly, in  FIG. 9 , some electrodes may be connected to one or more loads. These electrodes include, for example, (1-1)-th, (1-3)-th, (2-1)-th and (2-3)-th engaging portions  30   a,    30   c,    40   a,  and  40   c  of a first battery  200  from the left side, (1-1)-th and (2-1)-th engaging portions  30   a  and  40   a  of a second battery  201  from the left side, (1-1)-th and (2-1)-th engaging portions  30   a  and  40   a  of a third battery  202  from the left side, and (1-1)-th, (1-2)-th, (2-1)-th and (2-2)-th engaging portions  30   a,    30   b,    40   a,  and  40   b  of a fourth battery  203  from the left side. Other electrodes may be used for connection between batteries  200 ,  201 ,  202 , and  203 . 
     The (1-3)-th and (2-3)-th engaging portions  30   c  and  40   c  of the first battery  200  from the left side may be connected to a load. In addition, (1-1)-th and (2-1)-th engaging portions  30   a  and  40   a  of the first battery  200  from the left side may be connected to the load. In the same manner, the (1-1)-th and (2-1)-th engaging portions  30   a  and  40   a  of the second battery  201  from the left side may be connected to the load, or the (1-1)-th and (2-1)-th engaging portions  30   a  and  40   a  of the third battery  202  from the left side or the (1-1)-th and (2-1)-th engaging portions  30   a  and  40   a  of the fourth battery  203  from the left side may be connected to the load. 
     In accordance with one or more of the aforementioned embodiments, a battery is provided to secure flexibility to a variety of a battery standards and connections, so that it is possible to form a battery module suitable for various set designs. Further, at least one embodiment provides a battery that may be produced using an existing compact prismatic cell production line, so that it is possible to reduce facility investment costs. 
     Also, in accordance with at least one embodiment, a battery is provided to be identically applied as or to a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery or lithium polymer battery, as well as a primary battery which cannot be charged. 
     Also, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a battery is provided which can constitute a battery module suitable for a set design without using any separate connecting members, thereby ensuring flexibility of a battery standard for dealing with various set designs. 
     Also, in accordance with at least one embodiment, a battery module is provided to be suitable for various set designs without use of separate connecting members. 
     Also, in accordance with at least one embodiment, productivity may be increased and facility investment costs may be reduced using an existing compact prismatic cell production line to manufacture one or more of the aforementioned embodiments of the battery and/or battery modules. 
     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 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.