Apple Inc.

Junhua Liu

Brian Kinting Shiu

Christopher R Pasma

Haran Balaram

George V Anastas

YooEup Hyung

Bookeun Oh

Siddharth Mohapatra

Katharine R Chemelewski

Hirotsugu Oba

Erik D Gillow

Steven Labovitz

Xiao Liu

Michael P Zhang

Michael H Tsai

Stephan P Abdo

Gerald K Cheung

Joshua Walter

Battery systems according to embodiments of the present technology may include a battery including a first electrode terminal and a second electrode terminal accessible along a first surface of the battery. The battery may define a recessed portion of the battery along the first surface of the battery between the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal. The battery systems may include a module electrically coupled with the battery. The module may include a circuit board. The module may include a first conductive tab extending from a second surface of the circuit board opposite the first surface of the circuit board. The first conductive tab may be electrically coupling the module with the first electrode terminal. The module may include a second conductive tab extending from the second surface of the circuit board. The second conductive tab may be electrically coupling the module with the second electrode terminal.

Non-rectangular metal batteries

Aspects of the present disclosure involve various battery can designs. In general, the battery can design includes two fitted surfaces oriented opposite each other and seam welded together to form an enclosure in which a battery stack is located. To form the enclosure, the two fitted surfaces are welded together along the large perimeter. Other swelling-resisting advantages may also be achieved utilizing the battery can design described herein including, but not limited to, the ability to modify one or more can wall thicknesses to control a pressure applied to the battery stack by the can, overall reduction in wall thickness of the can through the use of stronger materials for the can surfaces, additional supports structures included within the can design, and/or bossing or other localized thinning of surfaces of the can.

Battery can

The disclosed technology relates to an electrical feedthrough for a cylindrical battery cell. The electrical feedthrough may include an annular channel having an outer sidewall, an inner sidewall, and a base; an insulator formed of glass having an overmold portion; and a pin extending through the insulator and configured to form an external battery terminal. The insulator is bonded to the inner sidewall of the annular channel and a portion of the base of the annular channel. The overmold portion prevents electrical contact between a set of electrodes and the electrode feedthrough.

Cylindrical battery cell with overmolded glass feedthrough

Methods for forming seamless and jointless metal parts suitable in a manufacturing environment are disclosed. The metal parts can be used in the manufacture of electronic devices and accessories of electronic devices, such as connectors. In particular embodiments, the methods involve forming a seamless cylindrical tube. The seamless cylindrical tube can then undergo a series of shaping processes that retain and exterior seamless surface of the tube. In some embodiments, the shaping processes include a hydroforming process. The methods can be performed without the use of dovetails and other types of visible joints that can complicate the manufacturing process and result in a part with aesthetically unappealing visible joints and seams.

Tube hydroforming of jointless USB stainless steel shell

Growing community of inventors

Hayward, CA, United States of America

Junhua Liu