Electrode assembly configured such that pressure welding portions of electrode tab welding portions have different sizes and ultrasonic welding apparatus configured to manufacture the same

Abstract

Disclosed is an electrode assembly formed in a structure in which a plurality of positive electrodes with bundled positive electrode tabs and a plurality of negative electrodes with bundled negative electrode tabs are alternately stacked, each of the bundles of electrode tabs includes a first surface connected to a corresponding electrode lead and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface includes a plurality of first pressure welding portions and a plurality of first non-pressure, the second surface includes a plurality of second pressure welding portions and a plurality of second non-pressure welding portions The area of one of the first pressure welding portions is less than the area of one of the second pressure welding portions.

Claims

1. An electrode assembly configured to have a structure in which a plurality of positive electrodes and a plurality of negative electrodes are alternately stacked, the electrode assembly comprising: positive electrode tabs protruding from an outer edge of the positive electrodes and negative electrode tabs protruding from an outer edge of the negative electrodes, the positive electrode tabs being coupled to each other in order to form a bundle of positive electrode tabs and the bundle of positive electrode tabs being connected to a positive electrode lead, the negative electrode tabs being coupled to each other in order to form a bundle of negative electrode tabs and the bundle of negative electrode tabs being connected to a negative electrode lead, wherein each of the bundles of electrode tabs comprises a first surface connected to a corresponding one of the electrode leads and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein in each of the bundles, the first surface has a plurality of first pressure welding portions as an intaglio welding portion and a plurality of first non-pressure welding portions excluding the first pressure welding portions as a relief welding portion, the second surface has a plurality of second pressure welding portions as an intaglio welding portion and a plurality of second non-pressure welding portions excluding the second pressure welding portions as a relief welding portion, and wherein an area of one of the first pressure welding portions is less than an area of one of the second pressure welding portions.

2. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein, in each bundle, a vertical section of each of the first pressure welding portions or the second pressure welding portions is formed in a shape of at least one of a trapezoid, a rectangle, a semiellipse, a semicircle, or a combination thereof.

3. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein, in each bundle, a vertical section of each of the first pressure welding portions and a vertical section of each of the second pressure welding portions are different in shape from each other.

4. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein, in each bundle, a maximum surface-side diameter of each of the first pressure welding portions in vertical section is less than a maximum surface-side diameter of each of the second pressure welding portions in vertical section.

5. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein, in each bundle, distances between the first pressure welding portions and distances between the second pressure welding portions are uniformly formed.

6. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein, in each bundle, an entire area of the first pressure welding portions of the first surface is less than an entire area of the first non-pressure welding portions of the first surface.

7. The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the bundles of electrode tabs is connected to the corresponding electrode lead by laser welding, and laser welding portions are formed at portions that overlap the second pressure welding portions.

8. The electrode assembly according to claim 7, wherein an area of one of the laser welding portions is greater than an area of one of the first pressure welding portions, and is less than an area of one of the second pressure welding portions.

9. An ultrasonic welding apparatus configured to manufacture the electrode assembly according to claim 1, the ultrasonic welding apparatus comprising: a horn configured to apply ultrasonic waves while pressurizing an upper surface of the electrode assembly and an anvil configured to locate the electrode assembly at an upper surface thereof, the anvil facing a lower surface of the electrode assembly, a plurality of horn protrusions and a plurality of anvil protrusions configured to pressurize the electrode assembly in order to form pressure welding portions are provided at surfaces of the horn and the anvil, respectively, wherein a size of a welding surface of one of the anvil protrusions and a size of a welding surface of one of the horn protrusions are different from each other, and wherein the anvil protrusions and the horn protrusions are disposed opposite each other.

10. The ultrasonic welding apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, in any one having a smaller size of the welding surface selected from between one of the anvil protrusions or one of the horn protrusions, a sum of areas of portions of the welding surface of the anvil or the horn at which the protrusions are formed is less than a sum of areas of the portions at which no protrusions are formed.

11. A method of manufacturing a secondary battery comprising the electrode assembly according to claim 1, the method comprising: stacking the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes such that a separator is located on at least one surface of each of the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes; locating the electrode tabs between a horn and an anvil for ultrasonic welding; performing ultrasonic welding in order to form the bundles of electrode tabs; performing laser welding in order to connect the electrode leads to the bundles of electrode tabs; and disposing the electrode assembly connected to the electrode lead in a battery case, wherein sizes of pressure welding portions formed at opposite surfaces of the bundle of electrode tabs in the step of performing ultrasonic welding are different from each other, and a size of one of the pressure welding portions formed in a direction in which coupling with the electrode lead is performed is less than a size of one of the pressure welding portions formed in an opposite direction.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of performing laser welding comprises applying a laser above an outer surface of the bundle of electrode tabs or above an outer surface of the electrode lead to melt the bundle of electrode tabs and the electrode lead.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrode assembly according to the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a side view showing the state in which electrode tabs are located between a horn and an anvil of an ultrasonic welding apparatus in order to form a bundle of electrode tabs.

(3) FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a bundle of electrode tabs according to a concrete embodiment.

(4) FIG. 4 is an upward perspective view and a downward perspective view of the bundle of electrode tabs of FIG. 3.

(5) FIG. 5 is a side view of the state in which the bundle of electrode tabs is coupled to an electrode lead.

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a horn and an anvil of an ultrasonic welding apparatus according to the present invention.

BEST MODE

(7) Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings such that the preferred embodiments of the present invention can be easily implemented by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. In describing the principle of operation of the preferred embodiments of the present invention in detail, however, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when the same may obscure the subject matter of the present invention.

(8) In addition, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to parts that perform similar functions or operations. In the case in which one part is said to be connected to another part in the specification, not only may the one part be directly connected to the other part, but also, the one part may be indirectly connected to the other part via a further part. In addition, that a certain element is included does not mean that other elements are excluded, but means that such elements may be further included unless mentioned otherwise.

(9) An electrode assembly according to the present invention includes a structure in which flat electrode plates having electrode tabs protruding from one side or opposite sides thereof are stacked in the state in which separators are interposed therebetween, and may be a stacked type electrode assembly configured such that a plurality of positive electrode plates and a plurality of negative electrode plates are stacked in the state in which separators are interposed therebetween, a stacked/folded type electrode assembly configured such that stacked type unit cells, each of which includes two or three electrodes, are wound in the state of being located on a separation film so as to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, or a laminated/stacked type electrode assembly configured such that the unit cells are laminated in the state of being stacked in a plurality of numbers in the vertical direction.

(10) The electrode tabs protruding from the electrode assembly are coupled to each other by welding in order to form a bundle of positive electrode tabs and a bundle of negative electrode tabs, which are then coupled to a positive electrode lead and to a negative electrode lead, respectively, so as to function as electrode terminals.

(11) In connection therewith, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electrode assembly according to the present invention.

(12) Referring to FIG. 1, the electrode assembly 10 is a stacked type electrode assembly having a structure in which flat electrode plates 11 are stacked, wherein positive electrode tabs 12 are coupled to each other in the state of protruding to one side thereof in order to form a bundle of positive electrode tabs 14 and negative electrode tabs 13 are coupled to each other in the state of protruding to one side thereof in order to form a bundle of negative electrode tabs 15. The bundle of positive electrode tabs 14 is coupled to a positive electrode lead 16, which extends outside a battery case to constitute a positive electrode terminal, and the bundle of negative electrode tabs 15 is coupled to a negative electrode lead 17, which extends outside the battery case to constitute a negative electrode terminal.

(13) FIG. 2 is a side view showing the state in which electrode tabs are located between a horn and an anvil of an ultrasonic welding apparatus in order to form a bundle of electrode tabs.

(14) Referring to FIG. 2, the ultrasonic welding apparatus includes a horn 210 located at the upper surface of electrode tabs, the horn being configured to pressurize the electrode tabs while applying ultrasonic waves, and an anvil 310 configured to locate the electrode tabs 101 and 102 at the upper surface thereof.

(15) The electrode tabs 101 and 102 in the stacked state are located between the horn 210 and the anvil 310, and ultrasonic waves are applied to the electrode tabs 101 and 102 in order to couple the electrode tabs to each other and thus to form a bundle of electrode tabs 110.

(16) In general, the ultrasonic welding apparatus includes an ultrasonic oscillator, an ultrasonic vibrator, a booster, a horn, and an anvil.

(17) The ultrasonic oscillator converts an AC current of 60 Hz into a high-frequency current of 20 kHz or higher, and supplies the high-frequency current to the ultrasonic vibrator.

(18) The ultrasonic vibrator functions to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy, and is also called an ultrasonic piezoelectric element. That is, a high-frequency current generated by the ultrasonic oscillator is converted into ultrasonic waves by the ultrasonic vibrator, and the ultrasonic waves converted as described above are transmitted to the booster. The booster amplifies the received ultrasonic waves, and transmits the amplified ultrasonic waves to the horn.

(19) The horn pressurizes the surface of the electrode tabs placed on the anvil at a predetermined load, and at the same time applies the amplified ultrasonic waves, received from the booster, to the electrode tabs in order to weld a plurality of positive electrode tabs to each other and to weld a plurality of negative electrode tabs to each other.

(20) In FIG. 2, horn protrusions 211, each of which is formed so as to have a trapezoidal shape in vertical section, are formed on the horn 210, and anvil protrusions 311, each of which is formed so as to have a semielliptical shape in vertical section, are formed on the anvil 310.

(21) In a concrete example, one of the opposite sides of a bundle of electrode tabs formed by welding electrode tabs is coupled to an electrode lead. In order to increase the force of coupling between the electrode lead and the bundle of electrode tabs, the area of a pressure welding portion formed at one side of the bundle of electrode tabs, which is coupled to the electrode lead, is preferably formed so as to be less than the area of a pressure welding portion formed at the other side of the bundle of electrode tabs, which is not coupled to the electrode lead.

(22) For example, in the case of FIG. 2, the size of a welding surface 312 of each of the anvil protrusions 311 formed at the anvil 310 is formed so as to be less than the size of a welding surface 212 of each of the horn protrusions 211 formed at the horn 210, and a pressure welding portion by each of the horn protrusions 211 is formed so as to be larger than a pressure welding portion by each of the anvil protrusions 311.

(23) That is, in the case in which electrode tabs are coupled to each other to form a bundle of electrode tabs, an electrode lead is preferably coupled to the electrode tab 102, since the size of a pressure welding portion formed at the electrode tab 102 side that faces the anvil 310 is formed so as to be relatively small.

(24) In addition, since the electrode lead is attached to the outer surface of the bundle of electrode tabs 110 that faces the anvil 310, non-pressure welding portions of the outer surface of the bundle of electrode tabs to which the electrode lead is attached are wide. The distance between the respective protrusions 311 formed at the anvil 310 may be formed so as to be greater than the distance between the respective protrusions 211 formed at the horn 210.

(25) The bundle of electrode tabs is coupled to the electrode lead at the outer surface of the uppermost electrode tabs or the outer surface of the lowermost electrode tabs. The outer surface of the electrode tab that is connected to the electrode lead is referred to as a first surface, and the outer surface of the electrode tab that is located so as to be opposite the first surface based on the bundle of electrode tabs is referred to as a second surface.

(26) The first surface includes a plurality of first pressure welding portions and a plurality of first non-pressure welding portions excluding the first pressure welding portions, the second surface includes a plurality of second pressure welding portions and a plurality of second non-pressure welding portions excluding the second pressure welding portions, and the area of one of the first pressure welding portions is formed so as to be less than the area of one of the second pressure welding portions.

(27) The pressure welding portion, more specifically the first pressure welding portions and the second pressure welding portions, is a portion at which coupling is performed by welding, and is used as the same meaning as an intaglio welding portion, and the non-pressure welding portion, more specifically the first non-pressure welding portions and the second non-pressure welding portions, is a non-coupling portion that is not welded, and is used as the same meaning as a relief welding portion.

(28) Specifically, since the first surface is a portion at which the bundle of electrode tabs and the electrode lead are connected to each other, the intaglio welding portion is preferably narrow and the relief welding portion is preferably wide in order to widen an adhesive surface with the electrode lead. Since the coupling portion of the electrode tabs is narrowed as the intaglio welding portion is narrowed, however, poor joining between the electrode tabs may occur, for example, a gap may be formed between the electrode tabs. In order to prevent this, the entire area of the second pressure welding portions, which are an intaglio welding portion, of the second surface is formed so as to be greater than the entire area of the first pressure welding portions of the first surface.

(29) In addition, the area of one of the first pressure welding portions is formed so as to be less than the area of one of the second pressure welding portions, whereby the second pressure welding portions and the first pressure welding portions may overlap each other. When considering that the relief welding portion of the first surface is preferably relatively wide and the intaglio welding portion of the second surface is preferably relatively wide, the sum of the areas of the first pressure welding portions of the first surface may be less than the sum of the areas of the second pressure welding portions of the second surface.

(30) The vertical section of each of the first pressure welding portions and the second pressure welding portions may be formed in the shape of at least one of a straight line, a curved line, a trapezoid, a rectangle, a semiellipse, a semicircle, or a combination thereof, and the vertical section of each of the first pressure welding portions and the vertical section of each of the second pressure welding portions may be different in shape from each other.

(31) In connection therewith, FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a bundle of electrode tabs according to a concrete embodiment, and FIG. 4 is an upward perspective view and a downward perspective view of the bundle of electrode tabs of FIG. 3. The bundle of electrode tabs is configured to have an integral structure in which a plurality of electrode tabs is welded in the state of being stacked, and the border between the stacked tabs is not shown for convenience of understanding.

(32) Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, opposite surfaces of a bundle of electrode tabs 120, 130, 140, or 150 include a first surface 121, 131, 141, or 151, which is coupled to an electrode lead, and a second surface 122, 132, 142, or 152, which is opposite the first surface.

(33) First pressure welding portions 123, 133, 143, or 153 and first non-pressure welding portions 125, 135, 145, or 155 are formed at the first surface 121, 131, 141, or 151, and second pressure welding portions 124, 134, 144, or 154 and second non-pressure welding portions 126, 136, 146, or 156 are formed at the second surface 122, 132, 142, or 152. When considering that the vertical sectional shape of each of the pressure welding portions is variously formed, the maximum surface-side diameter a1, b1, c1, or d1 of each of the first pressure welding portions 123, 133, 143, or 153 is formed so as to be less than the maximum surface-side diameter a2, b2, c2, or d2 of each of the second pressure welding portions 124, 134, 144, or 154.

(34) Specifically, the diameter a1, b1, c1, or d1 of each of the first pressure welding portions 123, 133, 143, or 153 may be formed so as to be 70% or less, more specifically 50% or less, of the diameter a2, b2, c2, or d2 of each of the second pressure welding portions 124, 134, 144, or 154. Consequently, each of the second pressure welding portions overlaps at least one of the first pressure welding portions, whereby it is possible to prevent an empty space from being formed between the electrode tabs.

(35) Also, in order to secure uniform weldability at the entirety of the bundle of electrode tabs and to easily perform the process of forming the first pressure welding portions and the second pressure welding portions so as to overlap each other, the distances a3, b3, c3, or d3 between the first pressure welding portions 123, 133, 143, or 153 in the x direction and the y direction are formed so as to have uniform sizes, and the distances a4, b4, c4, or d4 between the second pressure welding portions 124, 134, 144, or 154 in the x direction and the y direction are formed so as to have uniform sizes.

(36) FIG. 5 is a side view of the state in which the bundle of electrode tabs is coupled to an electrode lead.

(37) Referring to FIG. 5, the bundle of electrode tabs 120 is formed such that the first pressure welding portions 123 of the first surface 121 and the second pressure welding portions 124 of the second surface 122 overlap each other in the vertical direction, the first surface 121 of the bundle of electrode tabs 120 is coupled to the electrode lead 160.

(38) In FIG. 5, the state in which a laser is applied from outside the electrode lead 160 in order to couple the bundle of electrode tabs 120 to the electrode lead 160 is shown. However, the direction in which the laser is applied is not limited to the direction toward the electrode lead, and the laser may be applied from outside the bundle of electrode tabs 120.

(39) The laser passes through the electrode lead 160 and the bundle of electrode tabs 120, and melts the overlapping portion of the electrode lead 160 and the bundle of electrode tabs 120 to couple the electrode lead and the bundle of electrode tabs to each other. The size of one of laser welding portions 170 is greater than the size of one of the first pressure welding portions 123, and is less than the size of one of the second pressure welding portions 124. The laser passes through the overlapping portions of the first pressure welding portions 123 and the second pressure welding portions 124, and the laser welding portions 170 may be formed so as to overlap the second pressure welding portions 124 therein. Consequently, the electrode lead 160 may be coupled to the coupling portions of the electrode tabs.

(40) As a result, no space is formed between the bundle of electrode tabs 120 and the electrode lead 160, and it is possible to increase the area of the tight coupling portions thereof.

(41) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a horn and an anvil of an ultrasonic welding apparatus according to the present invention.

(42) Referring to FIGS. 6(a) to 6(d), the size of the welding surface of one of anvil protrusions 321, 331, 341, or 351 formed at an anvil 320, 330, 340, or 350 is formed so as to be less than the size of the welding surface of one of horn protrusions 221, 231, 241, or 251 formed at a horn 220, 230, 240, or 250.

(43) Although FIG. 6 exemplarily shows the shape of the horn protrusions 221, 231, 241, and 251 and the anvil protrusions 321, 331, 341, and 351, the combination of the anvil and the horn is not limited to what is shown in FIG. 6 as long as the size of the welding surface of one of the protrusions formed at the anvil is selected so as to be less than the size of the welding surface of one of the protrusions formed at the horn.

(44) Also, in the case in which the surface of a bundle of electrode tabs that contacts the anvil, which is one of the opposite surfaces of the bundle of electrode tabs, is coupled to an electrode lead, the area of a relief welding portion is preferably greater than the area of an intaglio welding portion at the contact surface between the electrode lead and the bundle of electrode tabs in order to widen the contact surface, and the sum of the areas of the welding surfaces of the protrusions formed at the anvil may be formed so as to be less than the sum of the areas of the portions at which no protrusions are formed.

(45) Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will appreciate that various applications and modifications are possible based on the above description, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(46) 10: Electrode assembly

(47) 11: Electrode plates

(48) 12: Positive electrode tabs

(49) 13: Negative electrode tabs

(50) 14: Bundle of positive electrode tabs

(51) 15: Bundle of negative electrode tabs

(52) 16: Positive electrode lead

(53) 17: Negative electrode lead

(54) 101, 102: Electrode tabs

(55) 110, 120, 130, 140, 150: Bundles of electrode tabs

(56) 121, 131, 141, 151: First surfaces

(57) 122, 132, 142, 152: Second surfaces

(58) 123, 133, 143, 153: First pressure welding portions

(59) 124, 134, 144, 154: Second pressure welding portions

(60) 125, 135, 145, 155: First non-pressure welding portions

(61) 126, 136, 146, 156: Second non-pressure welding portions

(62) 160: Electrode lead

(63) 170: Laser welding portions

(64) 210, 220, 230, 240, 250: Horns

(65) 211, 221, 231, 241, 251: Horn protrusions

(66) 212, 312: Welding surfaces of protrusions

(67) 310, 320, 330, 340, 350: Anvils

(68) 311, 321, 331, 341, 351: Anvil protrusions

(69) a1, b1, c1, d1: Diameters of first pressure welding portions

(70) a2, b2, c2, d2: Diameters of second pressure welding portions

(71) a3, b3, c3, d3: Distances between first pressure welding portions

(72) a4, b4, c4, d4: Distances between second pressure welding portions

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(73) As is apparent from the above description, the present invention is capable of forming pressure welding portions at one surface of a bundle of electrode tabs that is coupled to an electrode lead, among welding portions of the bundle of electrode tabs, so as to be relatively small at the time of ultrasonic welding to form the bundle of electrode tabs, whereby it is possible to widen the contact surface with the electrode lead.

(74) Consequently, it is possible to improve coupling strength of the portions at which the bundle of electrode tabs is connected to the electrode lead.

(75) In addition, relatively large pressure welding portions are formed at the other surface of the bundle of electrode tabs that is not coupled to the electrode lead, whereby it is possible to prevent ultrasonic non-welding portions from being formed at the time of forming the bundle of electrode tabs.

(76) In addition, the connection portions between the bundle of electrode tabs and the electrode lead are formed in the relatively large pressure welding portions so as to overlap each other, whereby it is possible to prevent a space from being formed between the bundle of electrode tabs and the electrode lead and thus to achieve tight coupling.