Method of resistance welding thin elements
US5593604A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 4, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jan 14, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 4, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/10
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A battery pack (30) is assembled with a flexible circuit board (38), a first tab (40), and a second tab (42). The flexible circuit board (38) has an exposed area of isolated conductor (46) which is located directly under the intersection of the first tab (40) and the second tab (42), a point where the two are resistance welded together (44). When a weld current is applied at this point (44), the isolated conductor area (46) acts as a current sink such that current flows primarily through the second (lower) tab (42). This method allows both tabs or elements to be of the same or similar thickness and electrical properties, and facilitates automated battery pack assembly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.