Claims
- 1. A current collector, which comprises:
a) a substrate comprising at least one frame conductor providing a closed perimeter; b) a plurality of first openings in the substrate extending from the frame conductor to a first transition; and c) a plurality of second openings in the substrate extending from the first transition, wherein a majority of the first openings are larger than a majority of the second openings.
- 2. The current collector of claim 1 wherein the first and second openings are interior of the frame conductor.
- 3. The current collector of claim 1 wherein the first openings extend from a tab portion of the frame conductor.
- 4. The current collector of claim 3 wherein the second openings extend to a second transition spaced from the tab further than the first transition and wherein the current collector further comprises a plurality of third openings in the substrate extending from the second transition to the perimeter of the frame.
- 5. The current collector of claim 4 wherein the first openings are larger than the second openings, which are larger than the third openings.
- 6. The current collector of claim 4 wherein the first openings extend from a tab extending outwardly from the frame conductor with the third openings being at a greater distance from the tab than the second openings which, in turn, are at a greater distance from the tab than the first openings.
- 7. The current collector of claim 3 wherein the first transition forms either a circular or an elliptical arch with the tab.
- 8. The current collector of claim 1 wherein the first and second openings are of either a rectangular or a circular shape.
- 9. The current collector of claim 1 wherein the tab is either centered or offset along the at least one frame conductor.
- 10. The current collector of claim 1 wherein the substrate has a generally rectangular shape.
- 11. The current collector of claim 3 wherein the tab has an imaginary focal point and a first distance from the focal point to the first transition is of an x length such that a second distance from the first transition to an end of the second openings ranges from about 0.2x to about 10x in length.
- 12. The current collector of claim 4 wherein the tab has an imaginary focal point and a first distance from the focal point to the first transition is of an x length such that a second distance from the first transition to an end of the second openings ranges from about 0.2x to about 10x and wherein a third distance from the second transition to an end of the third openings ranges from about a 0.2x to about 10x in length.
- 13. The current collector of claim 1 of a conductive material selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper, titanium, cobalt, tantalum, aluminum and stainless steel, and alloys thereof.
- 14. A current collector, which comprises:
a) a substrate comprising at least one frame conductor providing a closed perimeter; b) a plurality of first openings in the substrate interior of the frame conductor and extending from a tab extending outwardly from the frame conductor to a first transition spaced from the tab; c) a plurality of second openings in the substrate interior of the frame conductor and extending from the first transition to a second transition spaced from the tab further than the first transition; and d) a plurality of third openings in the substrate interior of the frame conductor and extending from the second transition to the perimeter of the frame conductor.
- 15. The current collector of claim 14 wherein the first openings are larger than the second openings which are larger than the third openings.
- 16. The current collector of claim 14 wherein the first, the second and the third openings radiate outwardly from an imaginary focal point residing on the tab.
- 17. The current collector of claim 16 wherein the first and the second transitions form either a circular or an elliptical arch with the focal point.
- 18. The current collector of claim 14 wherein the first, the second and the third openings are of either a rectangular or a circular shape.
- 19. The current collector of claim 14 wherein the frame has a rectangular shape.
- 20. The current collector of claim 14 wherein the tab has an imaginary focal point and a first distance from the focal point to the first transition is of an x length such that a second distance from the first transition to an end of the second openings ranges from about 0.2x to about 10x and wherein a third distance from the second transition to an end of the third openings ranges from about a 0.2x to about 10x in length.
- 21. A current collector, which comprises:
a) a substrate comprising at least one frame conductor providing a closed perimeter; b) a tab extending from the frame conductor and intended for connection to a terminal lead; and c) a plurality of openings in the substrate extending from the tab to a distal portion of the frame conductor, the openings having a size gradient such that the size of the openings gradually decreases as the distance from the tab increases.
- 22. A method for providing an electrochemical cell, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a current collector comprising: a substrate comprising at least one frame conductor providing a closed perimeter; a plurality of first openings in the substrate extending from the frame conductor to a first transition; and a plurality of second openings in the substrate extending from the first transition, wherein a majority of the first openings are larger than a majority of the second openings; b) contacting a first electrode active material to at least one of a first and second major sides of the current collector having its frame conductor connected to a first terminal to provide a first electrode; c) electrically associating the first electrode with a second counter electrode connected to a second terminal and housed inside of a casing; and d) activating the first and second electrodes with an electrolyte.
- 23. The method of claim 22 including providing the first and second openings radiating outwardly from an imaginary focal point on a tab of the frame conductor.
- 24. The method of claim 23 including the first transition forming either a circular or an elliptical arch with the focal point.
- 25. A method for providing an electrochemical cell, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a current collector comprising: a substrate comprising at least one frame conductor providing a closed perimeter and a tab extending outwardly from the frame conductor; a plurality of first openings in the substrate interior of the frame conductor and extending from the tab to a first transition spaced from the tab; a plurality of second openings in the substrate interior of the frame conductor and extending from the first transition to a second transition spaced from the tab further than the first transition; and a plurality of third openings in the substrate interior of the frame conductor extending from the second transition to the perimeter of the frame conductor; b) contacting a first electrode active material to at least one of a first and second major sides of the current collector having its tab connected to a first terminal to provide a first electrode; c) electrically associating the first electrode with a second counter electrode connected to a second terminal and housed inside of a casing; and d) activating the first and second electrodes with an electrolyte.
- 26. The method of claim 25 including providing the first, the second and the third openings radiating outwardly from an imaginary focal point on the tab.
- 27. The method of claim 26 including the first and the second transitions forming either a circular or an elliptical arch with the focal point.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from provisional application Serial No. 60/333,943 filed Nov. 28, 2001.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60333943 |
Nov 2001 |
US |