Battery module
By including the antenna part in the top cover of the battery module and exposing it to the outside through the through hole, the problem of ineffective wireless communication and easy damage of the antenna part in traditional battery modules is solved, and stable wireless communication and the formation of an internal shielding structure are achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202410955034.X
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-07-21
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-17
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-21
AI Technical Summary
In traditional battery modules, when the antenna part is located inside the housing, the radio waves are blocked, resulting in invalid wireless communication; while when the antenna part is located outside the housing, it is easy to be damaged.
Design a battery module whose top cover contains an antenna part and is exposed to the outside through a through hole. The antenna part is attached to the rear surface of the cover body and is prevented from entering by external foreign matter through a sealing part.
It achieves stable wireless communication with the outside, prevents damage to the antenna part, and forms an internal shielding structure to prevent radio waves from being shielded.
Smart Images
Figure CN119340577A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery module. Background Art
[0002] Rechargeable batteries are batteries that are repeatedly charged and discharged.
[0003] A conventional battery module includes a plurality of unit batteries arranged in one direction, a case accommodating the plurality of unit batteries therein, and an antenna part for wirelessly communicating wireless signals associated with the plurality of unit batteries with the outside of the battery module.
[0004] However, in conventional battery modules, when the antenna unit is located inside the housing, radio waves from the antenna unit are shielded by the housing, thereby invalidating wireless communication. However, when the antenna unit is located outside the housing, the antenna unit may be damaged due to interference. Summary of the invention
[0005] The present disclosure is to provide a battery module having stable wireless communication with the outside of the battery module by including a top cover including an antenna part.
[0006] The present disclosure provides a battery module, which includes a plurality of unit batteries arranged in a first direction and a top cover covering the plurality of unit batteries in a second direction intersecting the first direction, wherein the top cover includes a cover body and an antenna part, the cover body includes a through hole, the antenna part is attached to the rear surface of the cover body, and the antenna part is located between the through hole and the plurality of unit batteries.
[0007] The antenna portion is exposed to the outside of the battery module through the through hole in the second direction.
[0008] The top cover may further include a first sealing portion engaged between a rear surface of the cover body and the antenna portion.
[0009] The first sealing portion may be located between the antenna portion and a rear surface of the cover body along an edge of the antenna portion.
[0010] The top cover may further include a second sealing portion adjacent to the first sealing portion and engaged between the rear surface of the cover body and the antenna portion.
[0011] The second sealing portion may be adjacent to the first sealing portion, and may be located between the antenna portion and a rear surface of the cover body along an edge of the antenna portion.
[0012] The battery module may further include a bus bar located between the plurality of unit cells and the top cover and connected to terminals of the plurality of unit cells.
[0013] The battery module may further include a control unit located between the top cover and the bus bar and connected to the bus bar and the antenna unit.
[0014] The control unit can exchange signals with the outside of the battery module through the antenna unit.
[0015] The antenna part may include an antenna printed circuit board.
[0016] The battery module may further include a pair of end plates located at ends of the plurality of unit cells in the first direction and supporting the plurality of unit cells.
[0017] The battery module may further include a pair of side plates that support the plurality of unit batteries at ends of the plurality of unit batteries in a third direction that intersects the first direction and the second direction.
[0018] The battery module may further include a side insulating member located between the plurality of unit batteries and the side plate.
[0019] The through hole may be located at the center of the cover body.
[0020] The through hole is in one of the shapes of circle, oval, triangle, square and polygon.
[0021] According to another embodiment, a battery module includes: a container providing an internal space, the container including a cover having a through hole; a plurality of unit batteries located in the internal space of the container; and an antenna portion connected to a surface of the cover facing the internal space such that the antenna portion is located between the through hole and the plurality of unit batteries.
[0022] The container includes a plurality of side plates arranged on opposite sides of the plurality of unit batteries and a plurality of end plates arranged at opposite ends of the plurality of unit batteries.
[0023] The present disclosure provides a battery module having stable wireless communication with the outside of the battery module by including a top cover including an antenna part. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a battery module according to an embodiment.
[0025] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery module according to an embodiment.
[0026] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a front surface of a top cover of a battery module according to an embodiment.
[0027] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a rear surface of a top cover of a battery module according to an embodiment.
[0028] Figure 5 It is along Figure 3 A cross-sectional view taken along line VV.
[0029] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of a top cover of a battery module according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that a person skilled in the art can easily implement the present disclosure. The present disclosure can be implemented in various forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.
[0031] Throughout the specification, when a part “includes” or “comprises” a component, unless otherwise stated to the contrary, it means that it may include or comprise more other components, rather than excluding other components.
[0032] In the following, reference will be made to Figures 1 to 5 A battery module according to an embodiment is described.
[0033] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a battery module according to an embodiment. Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery module according to an embodiment.
[0034] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The battery module according to the embodiment may include a plurality of unit batteries 100 , a pair of end plates 200 , a pair of side plates 300 , a pair of side insulators 400 , a top cover 500 , a bus bar 600 , and a control part 700 .
[0035] The plurality of unit cells 100 may be arranged in the first direction X to be electrically connected to each other. Each of the plurality of unit cells 100 includes various known rechargeable batteries that can be charged and discharged. For example, each of the plurality of unit cells 100 may include a lithium ion battery, but is not limited thereto, and may include, for example, a lithium polymer battery, etc.
[0036] Here, each of the first direction X, the second direction Y, and the third direction Z may refer to directions that intersect each other, and the directions that intersect each other may refer to directions that are perpendicular to each other, but are not limited thereto. For example, the second direction Y may intersect the first direction X, and the third direction Z may intersect the first direction X and the second direction Y.
[0037] Each of the plurality of unit cells 100 may include a terminal 110. The terminal 110 of each of the plurality of unit cells 100 may be located on a long side of the unit cell 100, and the plurality of terminals 110 of the plurality of unit cells 100 may be electrically connected to each other through the bus bar 600. Meanwhile, in another embodiment, the terminal 110 of each of the plurality of unit cells 100 may be located on a short side of the unit cell 100, and the terminal 110 may have various known terminal structures.
[0038] A pair of end plates 200 may be located at both ends in the first direction X, and may support a plurality of unit cells 100. The end plates 200 may be provided as a pair and provided at both ends in the first direction X to support the outermost unit cells 100 among the plurality of unit cells 100. The end plates 200 may include metals such as stainless steel and aluminum, but are not limited thereto. An insulating material may be located between the end plates 200 and the plurality of unit cells 100, and thus the end plates 200 may be insulated from the plurality of unit cells 100. The pair of end plates 200 may be coupled to a top cover 500 covering the plurality of unit cells 100 in a second direction Y intersecting the first direction X, but are not limited thereto.
[0039] A pair of side plates 300 may support a plurality of unit cells 100 at both ends of a third direction Z intersecting the first direction X and the second direction Y. A pair of side plates 300 may be connected to a pair of end plates 200 at both ends in the third direction Z, and may be spaced apart from a plurality of unit cells 100 at a predetermined interval, but is not limited thereto. A pair of side plates 300 may be connected to a pair of end plates 200 to accommodate and support a plurality of unit cells 100. A pair of side plates 300 may be coupled to a top cover 500, but is not limited thereto. The bus bar 600 and the control part 700 may be located above a plurality of unit cells 100 accommodated in an internal space defined by a pair of end plates 200 and a pair of side plates 300 connected to the top cover 500. The top cover 500 connected to a pair of end plates 200 and a pair of side plates 300 may be located on the control part 700. The side plate 300 may include metals such as stainless steel and aluminum, but is not limited thereto. Each of the pair of side insulators 400 as an insulating member may be located between each of the pair of side plates 300 and the plurality of unit batteries 100 .
[0040] The side insulator 400 may be an insulating member located between the plurality of unit batteries 100 and each of the pair of side plates 300. The side insulator 400 may be adhered to the side plate 300 by an adhesive portion such as an adhesive tape, but is not limited thereto.
[0041] The top cover 500 may be connected to the end plate 200 and the side plate 300 to cover the upper portion of the unit cell 100 in the second direction Y crossing the first direction X and the third direction Z. As shown in FIG.
[0042] Figure 3is a perspective view showing a front surface of a top cover of a battery module according to an embodiment. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a rear surface of a top cover of a battery module according to an embodiment. Figure 5 It is along Figure 3 A cross-sectional view taken along line VV.
[0043] Reference Figures 2 to 5 , the top cover 500 may include a cover body 510 , an antenna portion 520 , and a first sealing portion 530 .
[0044] The cover body 510 may include a front surface 510 a exposed to the outside of the battery module, a rear surface 510 b exposed to the inside of the battery module and facing the plurality of unit batteries 100 , and a through hole 511 extending between the front surface 510 a and the rear surface 510 b .
[0045] The through hole 511 may be located in the central area of the cover body 510. The through hole 511 may extend between the front surface 510a and the rear surface 510b of the cover body 510, thereby exposing the antenna part 520 in the second direction Y. The through hole 511 may expose a portion of the antenna part 520 that performs wireless communication, but is not limited thereto. The through hole 511 may be circular in a plan view, but is not limited thereto, and may be, for example, in an elliptical, triangular, square, and polygonal shape. The through hole 511 may expose a portion of one antenna part 520 corresponding to one antenna part 520, but is not limited thereto. For example, the through hole 511 may include a plurality of sub-through holes that expose each of a plurality of antenna parts or each of a plurality of parts of the antenna part. As another example, the through hole 511 may have a shape corresponding to the shape of an antenna formed in the antenna part 520. When the shape of the antenna is circular, the through hole 511 may have a circular shape corresponding to the shape of the antenna, or when the shape of the antenna is triangular, the through hole 511 may have a triangular shape corresponding to the shape of the antenna.
[0046] The antenna part 520 may be attached to the rear surface 510b of the cover body 510. The antenna part 520 may be located between the through hole 511 and the plurality of unit batteries 100 in the second direction Y. In this way, the antenna part 520 covers the through hole 511 in the second direction Y. The antenna part 520 may be attached to the rear surface 510b of the cover body 510 by the first sealing part 530, but is not limited thereto, and may be attached to the rear surface 510b of the cover body 510 by a separate adhesive part, for example. The antenna part 520 may be located between the cover body 510 and the control part 700. The antenna part 520 may be connected to the control part 700 by various known connection means to wirelessly transmit a signal received from the control part 700 through the antenna part 520 to the outside of the battery module, or to transmit a signal wirelessly received from the outside of the battery module to the control part 700. Here, various known battery control parts for exchanging battery-related signals with the control part 700 of the battery module may be provided outside the battery module. The antenna part 520 may include an antenna printed circuit board (PCB), and the antenna PCB may include a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) having various known antennas.
[0047] The first sealing portion 530 may be bonded between the rear surface 510b of the cover body 510 and the antenna portion 520 on the rear surface 510b of the cover body 510. The first sealing portion 530 may seal between the rear surface 510b of the cover body 510 and the antenna portion 520. The first sealing portion 530 may be located between the antenna portion 520 and the rear surface 510b of the cover body 510 along the edge of the antenna portion 520 to seal between the rear surface 510b of the cover body 510 and the antenna portion 520. In another embodiment, the first sealing portion 530 may be located between the antenna portion 520 and the rear surface 510b of the cover body 510 along the edge of the through hole 511 to seal between the rear surface 510b of the cover body 510 and the antenna portion 520. The first sealing portion 530 may have a rectangular ring shape in a plan view, but is not limited thereto, and may have various ring shapes such as a circular ring, an elliptical ring, a triangular ring, a rectangular ring, and a polygonal ring. The first sealing portion 530 may be formed of a polymer material such as polypropylene, polyimide, or polyethylene, a metal material such as aluminum or copper, a glass material such as frit, or a ceramic material.
[0048] Reference Figure 2 , the bus bar 600 may be located between the unit battery 100 and the top cover 500. The bus bar 600 may be connected to the terminal 110 of the unit battery 100. The bus bar 600 may have an assembled shape, but is not limited thereto, and may have various other structures.
[0049] The control part 700 may be located between the antenna part 520 of the top cover 500 and the bus bar 600. The control part 700 may be connected to the bus bar 600 and the antenna part 520, and may control a plurality of unit batteries 100 or monitor the status of the unit batteries 100 by exchanging radio signals with the outside of the battery module via the antenna part 520. Here, outside the battery module, various known battery control parts for exchanging battery-related signals with the control part 700 of the battery module may exist. The control part 700 may include various rechargeable battery control devices and various rechargeable battery monitoring devices.
[0050] As described above, in a battery module according to an example, the antenna part 520 attached to the rear surface of the top cover 500 can be exposed to the outside of the battery module through the through hole 511. In this way, the antenna part 520 can be located inside the housing (or referred to as a "container") including the top cover 500 to protect the antenna part 520 and prevent the antenna part 520 from being damaged. At the same time, because the antenna part can smoothly send and receive radio waves through the through hole 511, wireless communication between the battery module and the external battery control unit using the antenna part 520 can be stabilized.
[0051] Furthermore, even when the antenna part 520 is attached to the rear surface of the top cover 500 and exposed through the through hole 511 , the first sealing part 530 seals between the cover body 510 and the antenna part 520 , thereby preventing external foreign matter from penetrating into the battery module through the through hole 511 .
[0052] Therefore, by including the top cover including the antenna part 520 and the first sealing part 530, a battery module is provided in which wireless communication with the outside is stabilized, damage to the antenna part 520 can be prevented, and an internal shielding structure is formed.
[0053] In the following, reference will be made to Figure 6 A battery module according to another embodiment is described. Specifically, parts different from the above-described embodiment will be described.
[0054] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of a top cover of a battery module according to another embodiment.
[0055] Reference Figure 6 , a top cover 500 of a battery module according to another embodiment may include a cover body 510 , an antenna part 520 , a first sealing part 530 , and a second sealing part 540 .
[0056] The second sealing portion 540 may be located between the rear surface 510b of the cover body 510 and the antenna portion 520, and may be adjacent to the first sealing portion 530. The second sealing portion 540 seals between the rear surface 510b of the cover body 510 and the antenna portion 520 together with the first sealing portion 530. The second sealing portion 540 may be located between the antenna portion 520 and the rear surface 510b of the cover body 510 adjacent to the first sealing portion 530 along the edge of the antenna portion 520, thereby sealing between the rear surface 510b of the cover body 510 and the antenna portion 520. In another embodiment, the second sealing portion 540 may be located between the antenna portion 520 and the rear surface 510b of the cover body 510 adjacent to the first sealing portion 530 and along the edge of the through hole 511, so that the gap between the rear surface 510b of the cover body 510 and the antenna portion 520 may be sealed. The second sealing portion 540 may have a rectangular ring shape in a plan view, but is not limited thereto, and may have various ring shapes such as a circular ring, an elliptical ring, a triangular ring, a rectangular ring, and a polygonal ring. The second sealing portion 540 may be formed of a polymer material such as polypropylene, polyimide, or polyethylene, a metal material such as aluminum or copper, a glass material such as glass frit, or a ceramic material. In another embodiment, the second sealing portion 540 may be formed of a material different from that of the first sealing portion 530.
[0057] As described above, in the battery module according to the embodiment, the antenna part 520 attached to the rear surface of the top cover 500 can be exposed through the through hole 511. In this way, the antenna part 520 can be located inside the housing including the top cover 500 to protect the antenna part 520 and prevent the antenna part 520 from being damaged. At the same time, by smoothly transmitting and receiving radio waves from the antenna part 520 through the through hole 511, wireless communication between the battery module and the external battery control unit using the antenna part 520 can be stabilized.
[0058] In addition, in a battery module according to another embodiment, even if the antenna portion 520 attached to the rear surface of the top cover 500 is exposed through the through hole 511, the first sealing portion 530 and the second sealing portion 540 provide a double seal between the cover body 510 and the antenna portion 520, thereby preventing external foreign matter from penetrating into the battery module through the through hole 511.
[0059] Therefore, by including the top cover including the antenna part 520, the first sealing part 530 and the second sealing part 540, a battery module is provided in which wireless communication with the outside is stabilized, damage to the antenna part 520 is prevented, and an internal shielding structure is formed.
[0060] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present disclosure defined in the appended claims also belong to the scope of the present disclosure.
[0061] <Description of Reference Numerals> The unit cell 100 , the end plate 200 , the side plate 300 , the side insulator 400 , the top cover 500 , the cover body 510 , the through hole 511 , the antenna unit 520 , the bus bar 600 , and the control unit 700 .
Claims
1. A battery module, comprising: A plurality of unit cells arranged in a first direction; as well as a top cover covering the plurality of unit batteries in a second direction intersecting the first direction, The top cover includes: a cover body including a through hole; and an antenna part attached to a rear surface of the cover body, the antenna part being located between the through hole and the plurality of unit batteries.
2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: The antenna portion is exposed to the outside of the battery module through the through hole in the second direction.
3. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: The top cover further includes a sealing portion that joins the rear surface of the cover body and the antenna portion.
4. The battery module according to claim 3, wherein: The sealing portion is located between the antenna portion and the rear surface of the cover body along an edge of the antenna portion.
5. The battery module according to claim 3, wherein: The sealing portion is a first sealing portion, and The top cover further includes a second sealing portion, the second sealing portion being adjacent to the first sealing portion and engaging the rear surface of the cover body and the antenna portion.
6. The battery module according to claim 5, wherein: The second sealing portion is adjacent to the first sealing portion and is located between the antenna portion and the rear surface of the cover body along an edge of the antenna portion. 7 . The battery module according to claim 1 , further comprising a bus bar between the plurality of unit batteries and the top cover, the bus bar being connected to terminals of the plurality of unit batteries. 8 . The battery module according to claim 7 , further comprising a control part located between the top cover and the bus bar, the control part being connected to the antenna part.
9. The battery module according to claim 8, wherein: The control unit exchanges signals with the outside of the battery module through the antenna unit.
10. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: The antenna portion includes an antenna printed circuit board. 11 . The battery module according to claim 1 , further comprising a pair of end plates located at ends of the plurality of unit batteries in the first direction and supporting the plurality of unit batteries. 12 . The battery module according to claim 11 , further comprising a pair of side plates supporting the plurality of unit batteries at ends of the plurality of unit batteries in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction. 13 . The battery module according to claim 12 , further comprising a side insulator between the plurality of unit batteries and the side plate.
14. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: The through hole is located at the center of the cover body.
15. The battery module according to claim 14, wherein: The through hole is in a shape of a circle, an ellipse, a triangle, a quadrilateral and a polygon.
16. A battery module, comprising: a container providing an inner space, the container comprising a cover having a through hole, a plurality of unit cells located in the interior space of the container; as well as An antenna portion is connected to a surface of the cover facing the inner space such that the antenna portion is located between the through hole and the plurality of unit cells.
17. The battery module according to claim 16, wherein: The container includes a plurality of side plates arranged on opposite sides of the plurality of unit batteries and a plurality of end plates arranged at opposite ends of the plurality of unit batteries.