IP Library Granted Patent US 8,986,861
Granted Patent B2
US 8,986,861 · App. 13/687,554 · Granted Mar 24, 2015

Electricity accumulation device

Inventors: Masaru Murayama (Komaki, JP); Atsushi Muramatsu (Komaki, JP); Yuuki Saitou (Komaki, JP)
Assignee: Sumitomo Riko Company Limited
H01M10/425H01G11/14H01G11/78H01M2/1016H01M10/48H01G9/0003Y02T10/7022Y02E60/13
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,986,861
App. No.
13/687,554
Granted
Mar 24, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electricity accumulation device includes an electricity accumulation element, an outer jacket material configured to house the electricity accumulation element, and a deformation sensor disposed on an expansive surface of the outer jacket material. The deformation sensor includes a sensor membrane having a base material made of an elastomer or a resin and conductive fillers filling the base material, the sensor membrane being subjected to bending deformation along with expansion of the outer jacket material, and a pair of electrodes connected to the sensor membrane. A three-dimensional conductive path is formed in the sensor membrane through contact between the conductive fillers. An electric resistance is increased along with an increase in amount of deformation of the sensor membrane from a natural state. The electricity accumulation device senses expansion of the outer jacket material on the basis of variations in electric resistance along with bending deformation of the sensor membrane.

Claims (26)

1. An electricity accumulation device comprising:

an electricity accumulation element; an outer jacket configured to house the electricity accumulation element;

a deformation sensor disposed on an expansive surface of the outer jacket; and

a deformation input member that comprises a bar or a string member having a curved cross-sectional surface that abuts against the deformation sensor,

wherein the deformation sensor includes a substrate, a sensor membrane having a base material comprising an elastomer or a resin and conductive fillers that fill the base material at a filling rate equal to or more than 30 % by volume, the sensor membrane being subjected to bending deformation in association with expansion of the outer jacket, the sensor membrane positioned on the substrate, and at least a pair of electrodes connected to the sensor membrane, the sensor membrane provided on an expansive side surface of the outer jacket, a three-dimensional conductive path provided in the sensor membrane by contact between the conductive fillers, an electric resistance is increased in association with an increase in an amount of deformation of the sensor membrane, and

the deformation input member is positioned on a substrate side of the deformation sensor so as to intersect a line that connects the pair of electrodes and is configured to press the sensor membrane together with the outer jacket in association with expansion of the outer jacket to increase an amount of bending deformation of the sensor membrane, and

the deformation sensor is configured to sense expansion of the outer jacket on the basis of variations in electric resistance associated with bending deformation of the sensor membrane, and

wherein the base material of the sensor membrane comprises a resin, and the sensor membrane comprises cracks that extend in a direction and are configured to break the conductive path when the sensor membrane is subjected to bending deformation.

2. The electricity accumulation device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor membrane is positioned to extend from one end to the other end of the expansive surface of the outer jacket.

3. An electricity accumulation device comprising:

an electricity accumulation element;

an outer jacket that houses the electricity accumulation element; and

a deformation sensor disposed on an expansive surface of the outer jacket, wherein

the deformation sensor includes: a sensor membrane having a base material that comprises an elastomer or a resin and conductive fillers that fill the base material at a filling rate equal to or more than 30% by volume, the sensor membrane being subjected to bending deformation in association with expansion of the outer material and at least a pair of electrodes connected to the sensor membrane, the expansive surface of the outer jacket includes a recessed portion, the sensor membrane is configured to be subjected to bending deformation along the recessed portion, a three-dimensional conductive path is provided in the sensor membrane by contact between the conductive fillers, and an electric resistance is increased in association with an increase in an amount of deformation of the sensor membrane, and

the deformation sensor is configured to sense expansion of the outer jacket based upon variations in electric resistance associated with bending deformation of the sensor membrane,

wherein the base material of the sensor membrane comprises a resin, and

the sensor membrane comprises cracks that extend in a direction and are configured to break the conductive path when the sensor membrane is subjected to bending deformation.

4. An electricity accumulation device comprising:

an electricity accumulation element;

an outer jacket comprising a film member that is configured to house the electricity accumulation element; and

a deformation sensor disposed on an expansive surface of the outer jacket, wherein

the expansive surface of the outer jacket includes a seal portion at which end portions of the film member are affixed to each other,

the deformation sensor includes a sensor membrane disposed on the expansive surface and the seal portion which is continuous with the expansive surface and has a base material comprising an elastomer or a resin and conductive fillers that fill the base material at a filling rate equal to or more than 30% by volume, the sensor membrane is configured to be subjected to bending deformation in association with expansion of the outer jacket material to cause the seal portion to stand upright, and at least a pair of electrodes connected to the sensor membrane, a three-dimensional conductive path is provided in the sensor membrane by contact between the conductive fillers, an electric resistance is increased in association with an increase in an amount of deformation of the sensor membrane, and

the deformation sensor is configured to sense expansion of the outer jacket based upon variations in electric resistance associated with bending deformation of the sensor membrane,

wherein the base material of the sensor membrane comprises a resin, and

the sensor membrane comprises cracks that extend in a direction and are configured to break the conductive path when the sensor membrane is subjected to bending deformation.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 20, 2014
From: TOKAI RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
To: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 034016/0556 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 28, 2012
From: MURAYAMA, MASARU; MURAMATSU, ATSUSHI; SAITOU, YUUKI
To: TOKAI RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 029366/0774 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2010-266909 · Nov 30, 2010 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2011076976 · Nov 24, 2011
Related Publication 20130089765A1 · Apr 11, 2013