United States Patent im
Warren
US005705297A [li] Patent Number: [45] Date of Patent:
[54] ELECTRICAL CONNECTION FOR A POLYMERIC LAMINATE BATTERY STRUCTURE
[75] Inventor: Paul C. Warren, Far Hills, NJ.
[73] Assignee: Bell Communications Research, Inc., Morristown, N.J.
[21] Appl. No.: 610,023
[22] Filed: Mar. 4,1996
[51] Int CI.6 H01M 2/22
[52] U.S. CI 429/244; 29/623.21
[58] Field of Search 429/233. 234,
429/236, 241, 243, 244, 192; 29/623.4
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
5,476,734 12/1995 Pulley et al 429/244
5,520,850 5/1996 Chaloner-GiU et al 252/500
5,580,686 12/1996 Shi et al 429/245
Primary Examiner—M. Nuzzolillo
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Lionel N. White; Joseph Giordano
[57] ABSTRACT
Electrical connection is maintained between an electrical conductor element (32) and a fragile expanded-metal grid current collector element (12) of a flexible laminate structure rechargeable battery (10) by means of thermally-activated adhesive sheet material (34) which provides physical reinforcement as well as maintaining stable electricallyconductive contact between the elements. Such adhesive materials comprising a metal foil surface (46) may also provide direct electrical connection between current collector or battery electrode elements and external utilization devices.
5,441,830 8/1995 Moultan et al. 5,456,000 10/1995 Gozdzetal. .
14 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
