JP2004022478A

JP2004022478A - Battery

Info

Publication number: JP2004022478A
Application number: JP2002179377A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Masaaki Kaneda; 金田　正明; Kanehito Masumoto; 増本　兼人; Hajime Konishi; 小西　始
Original assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
Priority date: 2002-06-20
Filing date: 2002-06-20
Publication date: 2004-01-22

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery in which distinction between the positive electrode of the battery and the negative electrode thereof is made clear when the positive electrode is so formed as to be flush with the negative electrode. <P>SOLUTION: A connection mistake is prevented by making the shapes and/or the areas of a positive electrode external connection terminal 3 and a negative electrode external connection terminal 4 both exposed to the outside different from each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、任意面に開口させた端子穴から外部露出させて外部接続端子を形成した電池に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
電池はその構造上から正極及び負極の外部接続端子は同一平面上には形成されていない。円筒形の電池では両端面に正極と負極の外部接続端子が形成されている。角形の電池において電池缶にその開口部を封口する封口板を溶接により接合した構造のものでは、封口板上に正極、負極を形成することができるが、両極の間には段差があり、同一平面上には形成されない。正極、負極が同一平面上に形成されていると、機器側からの電池接続が容易になる。
【０００３】
そこで、電池の封口板上に端子台を構成し、それに正極、負極を形成すると、同一平面上に正極、負極が存在する電池が得られる。
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかし、同一平面上に正極、負極が存在すると、正極、負極を間違って接続する恐れがある。正極、負極を正確に識別できる外部接続端子構造が不可欠となる。
【０００５】
本発明が目的とするところは、電池の正極外部接続端子と負極外部接続端子とを明確に区別することができる端子構造を備えた電池を提供することにある。
【０００６】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記目的を達成するための本発明は、任意面上に開口する端子穴から外部露出させて少なくとも正極及び負極の外部接続端子が設けられてなる電池において、前記端子穴は、任意形状に形成され、その開口面積は、正極外部接続端子と負極外部接続端子とで異なるように形成されてなることを特徴とするもので、端子を外部露出させる開口部の形状及び面積を正極、負極で異なるように形成すると、正極外部接続端子と負極外部接続端子との区別が明確となる。
【０００７】
上記構成において、正極外部接続端子の端子穴と、負極外部接続端子の端子穴との開口面積の差が１．５倍以上に形成すると、正極、負極の区別が明確となる。
【０００８】
また、端子穴の開口形状は、正極外部接続端子と負極外部接続端子とで異なるようにしても、正極、負極の区別が明確になる。
【０００９】
また、正極又は負極の外部接続端子を中央に設けることにより、正極及び負極の外部接続端子は非対称位置に配設され、正極及び負極の逆接続が防止できる。
【００１０】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、添付図面を参照して本発明の実施形態について説明し、本発明の理解に供する。尚、以下に示す実施形態は本発明を具体化した一例であって、本発明の技術的範囲を限定するものではない。
【００１１】
図１は、本実施形態に係る電池１の外観を示すもので、扁平角形のリチウムイオン二次電池として構成されたものである。この電池１は、図２に示すように、有底角筒状の電池缶５内に発電要素（図示省略）を収容し、開口端を封口板６によって封口した電池本体２の封口板６上に、後述する電池保護手段及び正極外部接続端子３及び負極外部接続端子４を構成し、正極外部接続端子３及び負極外部接続端子４を外部露出させてキャップ７により封口板６上の構成物を被覆している。
【００１２】
図２において、電池缶５の開口端にレーザー溶接により接合され、電池缶５を封口する封口板６に形成された中央開口部には、上ガスケット１１及び下ガスケット１２で封口板６と絶縁すると共に密閉性を確保してリベット１０が締結されている。このリベット１０の締結時には電気的接続を行うための金属板１３が同時に締結される。リベット１０の電池缶５内側には、電池缶５内に収容された図示しない極板群を構成する正極板から延出する正極リードが溶接接続され、リベット１０は電池本体２の正極を構成する。負極板は電池缶５に接続されるので、それに溶接された封口板６は電池本体２の負極を構成する。また、封口板６の一部は金属箔２１を貼り合わせたクラッド板に形成されており、封口板６のクラッド板部分に開口部２２を形成して安全弁２０が形成されている。尚、１９は封栓であって、電池缶５が封口板６により封口された後、注液口から電池缶５内に電解液を注入し、注液口に封栓１９が挿入され、封口板６に溶接される。
【００１３】
上記構成になる電池本体２の封口板６上に電池保護手段及び外部接続端子が形成される。前記金属板１３には接続板１４の一方面が接続され、接続板１４の他方面にはＰＴＣ素子８の下電極板８ａが接続される。ＰＴＣ素子８の上電極板８ｂには温度ヒューズ９の一方リード９ａが接続され、温度ヒューズ９の他方リード９ｂは正極端子板１８に接続され、正極端子板１８の端部は正極外部接続端子３に形成されているので、電池本体２の正極が正極外部接続端子３にＰＴＣ素子８と温度ヒューズ９とを直列接続して電気的接続された状態が得られる。
【００１４】
図２〜図４に示すように、前記ＰＴＣ素子８及び温度ヒューズ９を囲むように封口板６上に樹脂カバー１７が配設され、樹脂成形によって形成された樹脂カバー１７には前記正極端子板１８及び負極端子板１６がそれぞれ正極外部接続端子３部位及び負極外部接続端子４部位を外部露出させて樹脂成形時にインサートされて端子台が構成されている。前記負極端子板１６の一端は負極外部接続端子４に形成され、図４に示すように、封口板６側に向けて折り曲げられ、樹脂カバー１７から露出する部分の先端部が封口板６に接合されるので、電池本体２の負極が負極外部接続端子４に電気的接続された状態が得られる。尚、前記正極端子板１８の正極外部接続端子３の形成部位及び負極端子板１６の負極外部接続端子４の形成部位は、接触導通性のよい金属薄板の接合もしくはメッキが施される。
【００１５】
上記のように電池本体２の封口板６上に構成された構成要素は、正極側がＰＴＣ素子８及び温度ヒューズ９がリベット１０から正極端子板１８に接続され、負極側が樹脂カバー１７にインサートされた負極端子板１６が封口板６に接合されることにより電池本体２に固定されるので、金属キャップ７を樹脂カバー１７に接着もしくは電池缶５に溶接することにより、図１に示すような外観形状の電池１に形成される。また、正極外部接続端子３及び負極外部接続端子４の周囲には金属キャップ７と絶縁して絶縁部材１５が貼着される。
【００１６】
この電池１は、これが接続された機器の故障や異物の接触等により正極外部接続端子３と負極外部接続端子４との間が外部短絡されたような場合に、正極外部接続端子３に直列接続されたＰＴＣ素子８に過大な短絡電流が流れるので、ＰＴＣ素子８は短絡電流により自己発熱して温度上昇し、その温度が設定されたトリップ温度に達したとき、トリップにより抵抗値を急上昇させるので、短絡電流が制限され、外部短絡状態の継続に伴う電池１の温度上昇を抑える。また、この電池１が装填された機器が暖房機の傍らや炎天下の車内に放置されたような場合に、ＰＴＣ素子８は環境温度の上昇によりトリップして抵抗値を増大させるので、高温環境での電池使用を制限する作用をなす。ＰＴＣ素子８は環境温度が低下し、短絡状態が解除されたときには抵抗値が平常状態にほぼ等しい僅少値に低下するので、電池１の使用は可能となる。
【００１７】
上記ＰＴＣ素子８の作動環境を越える高温状態に電池１が曝された場合に、温度ヒューズ９が作動して溶断により入出力回路を遮断するので、高温環境による電池本体２の破裂等が防止される。この温度ヒューズ９の作動による回路遮断を越えて高温状態が継続されたような場合に、電池本体２は電池缶５内の電解液の気化、分解等によりガスが発生し、内圧が異常上昇すると、安全弁２０を構成する金属箔２１が破断して異常内圧を開口部２２から外部放出するので、電池本体２の破裂が防止される。外部放出されたガスは金属キャップ７に囲まれた中に噴出するが、図１に示すように、金属キャップ７の両側面にはガス抜き孔２３が設けられているので、金属キャップ７内に噴出したガスは、ガス抜き孔２３から外部放出される。
【００１８】
電池１は上記構成により、正極外部接続端子３及び負極外部接続端子４が同一の平面上に形成できるので、機器との電気的接続構造を簡易に構成できる。また、図１に示すように、正極外部接続端子３及び負極外部接続端子４は形状、面積が異なるので、正極、負極の判別が容易になる。正極外部接続端子３の開口面積に対して、負極外部接続端子４の開口面積は１．５倍以上になるように形成しておくことにより、正極及び負極の判別がより容易となる。また、正極外部接続端子３及び負極外部接続端子４の形状は、例えば、図６に示すように、絶縁部材１５の開口部形状を変更することにより円形及び長円形にしたり、自在な形状で外部露出させることができる。また、正極外部接続端子３及び負極外部接続端子４は一方側に偏った位置に形成されているので、機器に対して電池１が逆装填されることが防止できる。また、本実施形態の構成においては、正極外部接続端子３及び負極外部接続端子４は電池上面の一方に偏った位置に配設しているが、図７に示すように、正極外部接続端子３又は負極外部接続端子４のいずれかを中央に配設することによっても非対称配置が可能であり、電池１の逆接続を防止することができる。
【００１９】
以上説明した構成において、金属キャップ７は薄板をプレス加工して形成されるが、電池本体２上に被せられたとき電池本体２の外形寸法より材厚分だけ段差が生じることになる。薄板であるから電池１としての外形寸法の増加は僅少であるが、段差が生じることに違和感がある場合には、図５に示すように、電池本体２の金属キャップ７が被さる部位、即ち、電池缶５に上部に縮口加工を施すと、金属キャップ７を被せることにより発生する段差をなくすことができる。
【００２０】
【発明の効果】
以上の説明の通り本発明によれば、電池の正極、負極を同一平面上に形成したときの両極は形状及び／又は面積が異なるように形成されるので、正極外部接続端子と負極外部接続端子との識別が明確であり、接続間違いの発生を防止することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】実施形態に係る角型電池の外観を示す（ａ）は平面図、（ｂ）は側面図。
【図２】同上電池Ａ−Ａ線矢視断面図。
【図３】同上電池の金属キャップを取り外した状態の平面図。
【図４】同上電池の負極端子板の構成を示す断面図。
【図５】同上電池の金属キャップ装着部分の変形例を示す断面図。
【図６】正極及び負極の各外部接続端子の変形例を示す平面図。
【図７】正極及び負極の各外部接続端子の変形例を示す平面図。
【符号の説明】
１　電池
２　電池本体
３　正極外部接続端子
４　負極外部接続端子
７　金属キャップ
１６　負極端子板
１８　正極端子板[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a battery in which an external connection terminal is formed by externally exposing from a terminal hole opened on an arbitrary surface.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Due to the structure of the battery, the external connection terminals of the positive electrode and the negative electrode are not formed on the same plane. In a cylindrical battery, external connection terminals of a positive electrode and a negative electrode are formed on both end surfaces. In the case of a prismatic battery in which a sealing plate that seals the opening of the battery can is joined to the battery can by welding, a positive electrode and a negative electrode can be formed on the sealing plate, but there is a step between both electrodes, and the same It is not formed on a plane. When the positive electrode and the negative electrode are formed on the same plane, battery connection from the device side becomes easy.
[0003]
Therefore, when a terminal block is formed on a sealing plate of a battery and a positive electrode and a negative electrode are formed thereon, a battery having the positive electrode and the negative electrode on the same plane can be obtained.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, if the positive electrode and the negative electrode exist on the same plane, the positive electrode and the negative electrode may be erroneously connected. An external connection terminal structure that can accurately identify the positive electrode and the negative electrode is indispensable.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to provide a battery provided with a terminal structure capable of clearly distinguishing a positive electrode external connection terminal and a negative electrode external connection terminal of the battery.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention for achieving the above object is directed to a battery provided with external connection terminals of at least a positive electrode and a negative electrode which are externally exposed from a terminal hole opened on an arbitrary surface, wherein the terminal hole is formed in an arbitrary shape. The opening area is characterized by being formed differently between the positive external connection terminal and the negative external connection terminal, and the shape and area of the opening for exposing the terminal to the outside are different between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. In this case, the distinction between the positive external connection terminal and the negative external connection terminal becomes clear.
[0007]
In the above configuration, when the difference in the opening area between the terminal hole of the positive external connection terminal and the terminal hole of the negative external connection terminal is 1.5 times or more, the distinction between the positive electrode and the negative electrode becomes clear.
[0008]
Further, even if the opening shape of the terminal hole is made different between the positive external connection terminal and the negative external connection terminal, the distinction between the positive electrode and the negative electrode becomes clear.
[0009]
Further, by providing the positive or negative external connection terminal at the center, the positive and negative external connection terminals are disposed at asymmetric positions, and reverse connection of the positive and negative electrodes can be prevented.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to facilitate understanding of the present invention. The embodiment described below is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
[0011]
FIG. 1 shows an appearance of a battery 1 according to the present embodiment, which is configured as a flat rectangular lithium ion secondary battery. As shown in FIG. 2, the battery 1 contains a power generating element (not shown) in a bottomed rectangular tube-shaped battery can 5, and has an open end sealed on a sealing plate 6 of a battery body 2. In addition, a battery protection means and a positive external connection terminal 3 and a negative external connection terminal 4 which will be described later are configured, and the positive external connection terminal 3 and the negative external connection terminal 4 are externally exposed, and the components on the sealing plate 6 are closed by the cap 7. Coated.
[0012]
In FIG. 2, a central opening formed in a sealing plate 6 that is joined to the opening end of the battery can 5 by laser welding and seals the battery can 5 is insulated from the sealing plate 6 by an upper gasket 11 and a lower gasket 12. At the same time, the rivet 10 is fastened while ensuring airtightness. When the rivet 10 is fastened, the metal plate 13 for electrical connection is fastened simultaneously. A positive electrode lead extending from a positive electrode plate (not shown) included in the battery can 5 and constituting a group of electrode plates housed in the battery can 5 is welded to the inside of the battery can 5 of the rivet 10, and the rivet 10 forms a positive electrode of the battery main body 2. . Since the negative electrode plate is connected to the battery can 5, the sealing plate 6 welded thereto forms the negative electrode of the battery body 2. Further, a part of the sealing plate 6 is formed in a clad plate on which a metal foil 21 is bonded, and an opening 22 is formed in the cladding plate portion of the sealing plate 6 to form a safety valve 20. Reference numeral 19 denotes a plug. After the battery can 5 is sealed with the sealing plate 6, an electrolytic solution is injected into the battery can 5 from the liquid inlet, and the plug 19 is inserted into the liquid inlet. It is welded to the plate 6.
[0013]
Battery protection means and external connection terminals are formed on the sealing plate 6 of the battery main body 2 having the above configuration. One surface of a connection plate 14 is connected to the metal plate 13, and a lower electrode plate 8 a of the PTC element 8 is connected to the other surface of the connection plate 14. One lead 9a of the thermal fuse 9 is connected to the upper electrode plate 8b of the PTC element 8, the other lead 9b of the thermal fuse 9 is connected to the positive terminal plate 18, and the end of the positive terminal plate 18 is connected to the positive external connection terminal 3. Therefore, a state in which the positive electrode of the battery main body 2 is electrically connected to the positive external connection terminal 3 by connecting the PTC element 8 and the thermal fuse 9 in series is obtained.
[0014]
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a resin cover 17 is disposed on the sealing plate 6 so as to surround the PTC element 8 and the thermal fuse 9, and the resin cover 17 formed by resin molding has the positive electrode terminal plate. A terminal block 18 is formed by inserting the negative electrode terminal plate 16 and the negative electrode external connection terminal 4 at the time of resin molding by exposing the positive electrode external connection terminal 3 and the negative electrode external connection terminal 4 to the outside. One end of the negative electrode terminal plate 16 is formed on the negative electrode external connection terminal 4 and is bent toward the sealing plate 6 as shown in FIG. Therefore, a state in which the negative electrode of the battery main body 2 is electrically connected to the negative electrode external connection terminal 4 is obtained. The portion of the positive electrode terminal plate 18 where the positive external connection terminal 3 is formed and the portion of the negative electrode terminal plate 16 where the negative external connection terminal 4 is formed are bonded or plated with a thin metal plate having good contact conductivity.
[0015]
As for the components configured on the sealing plate 6 of the battery body 2 as described above, the PTC element 8 and the thermal fuse 9 were connected to the positive terminal plate 18 from the rivet 10 on the positive electrode side, and the negative electrode side was inserted into the resin cover 17 on the negative electrode side. Since the negative electrode terminal plate 16 is fixed to the battery main body 2 by being joined to the sealing plate 6, the external shape as shown in FIG. 1 is obtained by bonding the metal cap 7 to the resin cover 17 or welding it to the battery can 5. Formed in the battery 1. An insulating member 15 is adhered around the positive external connection terminal 3 and the negative external connection terminal 4 insulated from the metal cap 7.
[0016]
The battery 1 is connected in series to the positive external connection terminal 3 when the external positive short terminal between the positive external connection terminal 3 and the negative external connection terminal 4 is short-circuited due to failure of a device to which the battery 1 is connected or contact of foreign matter. Since an excessive short-circuit current flows through the set PTC element 8, the PTC element 8 self-heats due to the short-circuit current and rises in temperature. In addition, the short circuit current is limited, and the temperature rise of the battery 1 due to the continuation of the external short circuit state is suppressed. Further, when the device loaded with the battery 1 is left in the vicinity of a heater or in a car under the scorching sun, the PTC element 8 trips due to an increase in the environmental temperature and increases the resistance value. It acts to limit battery use. When the environmental temperature decreases and the short-circuit state is released, the resistance value of the PTC element 8 decreases to a small value almost equal to the normal state, so that the battery 1 can be used.
[0017]
When the battery 1 is exposed to a high temperature state exceeding the operating environment of the PTC element 8, the thermal fuse 9 operates to cut off the input / output circuit by fusing, thereby preventing the battery main body 2 from being ruptured due to the high temperature environment. You. If the high temperature state continues beyond the circuit interruption due to the operation of the thermal fuse 9, the battery body 2 generates gas due to the vaporization and decomposition of the electrolyte in the battery can 5 and the internal pressure rises abnormally. Since the metal foil 21 constituting the safety valve 20 breaks and an abnormal internal pressure is released from the opening 22 to the outside, the rupture of the battery body 2 is prevented. The gas released to the outside is ejected into the space surrounded by the metal cap 7. As shown in FIG. 1, gas vent holes 23 are provided on both side surfaces of the metal cap 7, so that the gas is discharged into the metal cap 7. The jetted gas is discharged outside from the gas vent hole 23.
[0018]
In the battery 1, the positive external connection terminal 3 and the negative external connection terminal 4 can be formed on the same plane by the above configuration, so that the electrical connection structure with the device can be easily configured. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, since the positive external connection terminal 3 and the negative external connection terminal 4 have different shapes and areas, it is easy to distinguish between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. By forming the opening area of the negative electrode external connection terminal 4 to be 1.5 times or more the opening area of the positive electrode external connection terminal 3, it becomes easier to distinguish between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The shape of the positive external connection terminal 3 and the negative external connection terminal 4 may be circular or oblong by changing the shape of the opening of the insulating member 15 as shown in FIG. Can be exposed. In addition, since the positive external connection terminal 3 and the negative external connection terminal 4 are formed at positions deviated to one side, it is possible to prevent the battery 1 from being reversely loaded into the device. In addition, in the configuration of the present embodiment, the positive external connection terminal 3 and the negative external connection terminal 4 are disposed at positions deviated to one side of the upper surface of the battery, but as shown in FIG. Alternatively, the asymmetric arrangement is possible by disposing any one of the negative electrode external connection terminals 4 at the center, and the reverse connection of the battery 1 can be prevented.
[0019]
In the configuration described above, the metal cap 7 is formed by pressing a thin plate. However, when the metal cap 7 is covered on the battery main body 2, a step is generated by the material thickness from the outer dimensions of the battery main body 2. Since the battery 1 is a thin plate, the increase in the outer dimensions of the battery 1 is small. However, when there is a sense of discomfort due to the occurrence of a step, as shown in FIG. When the upper end of the battery can 5 is subjected to a shrinking process, a step caused by covering the metal cap 7 can be eliminated.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the positive electrode and the negative electrode of a battery are formed on the same plane, both electrodes are formed so as to have different shapes and / or areas, so that the positive external connection terminal and the negative external connection terminal Is clearly identified, and occurrence of a connection error can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a plan view and FIG. 1B is a side view showing the appearance of a prismatic battery according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of the battery.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the battery with the metal cap removed.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a negative electrode terminal plate of the battery.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the metal cap mounting portion of the battery.
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a modified example of each external connection terminal of a positive electrode and a negative electrode.
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a modified example of each external connection terminal of the positive electrode and the negative electrode.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Battery 2 Battery body 3 Positive external connection terminal 4 Negative external connection terminal 7 Metal cap 16 Negative terminal plate 18 Positive terminal plate

Claims

任意面上に開口する端子穴から外部露出させて少なくとも正極及び負極の外部接続端子が設けられてなる電池において、
前記端子穴は、任意形状に形成され、その開口面積は、正極外部接続端子と負極外部接続端子とで異なるように形成されてなることを特徴とする電池。In a battery provided with external connection terminals of at least a positive electrode and a negative electrode which are externally exposed from a terminal hole opened on an arbitrary surface,
The battery according to claim 1, wherein the terminal hole is formed in an arbitrary shape, and an opening area thereof is formed to be different between the positive external connection terminal and the negative external connection terminal.

正極外部接続端子の端子穴と、負極外部接続端子の端子穴との開口面積の差が１．５倍以上である請求項１に記載の電池。2. The battery according to claim 1, wherein a difference in an opening area between the terminal hole of the positive external connection terminal and the terminal hole of the negative external connection terminal is 1.5 times or more. 3.

端子穴の開口形状は、正極外部接続端子と負極外部接続端子とで異なる請求項１又は２に記載の電池。The battery according to claim 1, wherein an opening shape of the terminal hole is different between the positive external connection terminal and the negative external connection terminal.

正極又は負極の外部接続端子が中央に設けられてなる請求項１〜３いずれか一項に記載の電池。The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an external connection terminal of a positive electrode or a negative electrode is provided at a center.