Battery module

Abstract

A battery module includes a bus bar configured to electrically connect a plurality of battery cells to each other, a holder bus bar configured to fix the bus bar, and a voltage measurement circuit portion configured to measure a voltage of each of the plurality of battery cells, and the voltage measurement circuit portion is integrally formed with the holder bus bar.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0174885 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on December 5, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] Aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure relate to battery modules. Background Art

[0004] Unlike non-rechargeable primary batteries, secondary batteries are rechargeable. Low-capacity secondary batteries can be used in small portable electronic devices such as smart phones, feature phones, laptop computers, digital cameras and video cameras, and high-capacity secondary batteries can be used as motor drive power sources, energy storage batteries, etc. for hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, etc. The secondary battery may include an electrode assembly having a cathode and an anode, a housing accommodating the electrode assembly, an electrode terminal connected to the electrode assembly, etc.

[0005] The battery module includes a plurality of battery cells. The battery module is configured to measure voltage to identify the state of charge of each of the plurality of battery cells. Examples of electronic components that measure the voltage of each battery cell may include a wiring harness, a flexible printed circuit assembly (FPCA), and the like. In the related art, a wiring harness has been used as an electronic component. However, as the number of battery cells in the battery module increases, it becomes difficult to use the structure using the wiring harness due to the large volume of the structure. FPCA can be used as a substitute for the wiring harness. However, since the manufacturing process of FPCA is complicated compared to the manufacturing process of the wiring harness, the manufacturing cost of FPCA is high.

[0006] The above information disclosed in the background of the present disclosure is provided to improve understanding of the background of the present disclosure and therefore may include information that does not constitute related art. Summary of the invention

[0007] According to one aspect of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a battery module including a circuit for measuring the voltage of a battery cell and a coupling structure of a retainer bus bar is provided. According to another aspect of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a battery module is provided, which has a reduced manufacturing cost due to an improved formation structure of an electronic component for measuring the voltage of a battery cell included in the battery module.

[0008] However, the aspects and technical problems to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to those mentioned herein, and a person of ordinary skill in the art can clearly understand other aspects and problems to be solved from the description of the present disclosure described below.

[0009] Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments of the disclosure.

[0010] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a battery module includes a bus bar configured to electrically connect a plurality of battery cells to each other, a holder bus bar configured to fix the bus bar, and a voltage measuring circuit portion configured to measure a voltage of each of the plurality of battery cells.

[0011] The voltage measuring circuit portion may be formed integrally with the holder bus bar.

[0012] The voltage measurement circuit portion may be formed on the surface of the holder bus bar by laser direct structuring (LDS).

[0013] The battery module may further include an insulating film covering the voltage measurement circuit portion.

[0014] The insulating film may also include polyimide (PI) resin or polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) resin.

[0015] The voltage measurement circuit portion and the bus bar may be electrically connected to each other through a wire bonding structure.

[0016] The voltage measuring circuit portion and the bus bar may be electrically connected to each other through a flexible printed circuit (FPC) component.

[0017] The voltage measuring circuit portion and the bus bar may be electrically connected to each other through a flexible die cut (FDC) member.

[0018] The voltage measuring circuit portion and the bus bar may be electrically connected to each other through a lug terminal.

[0019] The component electrically connecting the voltage measuring circuit portion to the bus bar may include a fuse portion configured as an FPC.

[0020] The component electrically connecting the voltage measuring circuit part to the bus bar may include a fuse part having a hybrid structure of FDC and FPC. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certain embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0022] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate some example embodiments of the present disclosure and are intended to provide a further understanding of the technical concept of the present disclosure together with the detailed description of the present disclosure described below; however, the present disclosure should not be construed as being limited to the contents shown in the drawings.

[0023] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an assembly structure of a bus bar, a bus bar holder, and a voltage measurement circuit portion included in a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] Figure 2 It is shown Figure 1 A perspective view in which some of the components shown are separated;

[0025] Figure 3 is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line III-III shown in FIG.

[0026] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A magnified view of area "A" is shown;

[0027] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing an assembly structure of a bus bar, a bus bar holder, and a voltage measurement circuit portion included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] Figure 6 It is shown Figure 5 A perspective view in which some of the components shown are separated;

[0029] Figure 7 is a diagram showing that the fuse portion is formed in Figure 5 A view of the construction in the components shown electrically connecting the voltage measurement circuit portion to the bus bar; and

[0030] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing an example shape of a tab terminal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Reference will now be made in more detail to some embodiments, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals represent the same elements throughout. In this regard, the present embodiment may have different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the description set forth herein. Therefore, the embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings to explain the various aspects of this specification. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more associated listed items. Expressions such as "at least one" if before an element list modify the entire element list without modifying a single element in the list.

[0032] In this article, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to the common or dictionary meaning, but should be interpreted as having the meaning and concept consistent with the technical concept of the present disclosure based on the concept that the inventor can appropriately define the terms in order to describe the principle of its invention in the best way. Therefore, it should be understood that the configurations shown in the drawings and embodiments described in this specification are some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, and do not necessarily represent all the technical ideas of the present disclosure, so that various equivalents and variations that replace them may exist when submitting this application. If used in this article, "including", "including", "containing" and / or "containing" specify the existence of the shapes, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts and / or these groups mentioned, but do not exclude the existence or addition of one or more different shapes, numbers, operations, components, parts and / or groups. If an embodiment of the present disclosure is described, "may" or "may" may include "one or more embodiments of the present disclosure".

[0033] To facilitate understanding of the present disclosure, the accompanying drawings may not be shown according to actual scale, but the sizes of some components may be exaggerated. In different embodiments, the same reference numerals may be given to the same components.

[0034] A statement that two comparison targets are "the same" as one another may mean that they are identical or substantially identical to one another. Thus, the case where the comparison targets are "identical" or "substantially identical" to one another may include the case where they have a deviation that is considered to be a low level (e.g., a deviation of 5% or less). If a uniform parameter is uniform in a predetermined area, this may mean that it is uniform from an average perspective.

[0035] Although the terms "first", "second", etc. may be used to describe various components, these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one component from other components, and unless specifically described otherwise, a first component may be described as a second component.

[0036] Throughout the specification, unless specifically described otherwise, each component may be in the singular or in the plural.

[0037] If a component is arranged on the “top (or bottom)” of another component or is arranged “above (or below)” another component, it may refer not only to the case where the component is arranged near the top surface (or bottom surface) of the other component, but also to the case where other components may be inserted between the other component and the component arranged above (or below) the other component.

[0038] If a component is described as being “connected,” “coupled,” or “connectable” to another component, it should be understood that the components may be directly connected, coupled, or connectable to each other, but other components may also be interposed between the components, or the components may be “connected,” “coupled,” or “connectable” to each other through other components. Similarly, if one part is electrically coupled to another part, this may include not only the case where they are directly connected to each other, but also the case where they are connected to another device in between.

[0039] Throughout the specification, "A and / or B" may mean A, B, or A and B, unless otherwise specifically stated. That is, "and / or" may include all or any combination of the listed multiple items. Unless otherwise specifically stated, "C to D" may mean at least C but no more than D.

[0040] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an assembly structure of a bus bar, a bus bar holder, and a voltage measuring circuit portion included in a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 It is shown Figure 1 A perspective view in which some of the components shown are separated. Figure 3 is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line III-III is shown. Figure 4 yes Figure 3 An enlarged view of area "A" is shown in FIG. Figure 5 is a perspective view showing an assembly structure of a bus bar, a bus bar holder, and a voltage measuring circuit portion included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 6 It is shown Figure 5 A perspective view in which some of the components shown are separated. Figure 7 is a diagram showing that the fuse portion is formed in Figure 5 A view of the construction in which a voltage measurement circuit portion is electrically connected to a bus bar is shown. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing an example shape of a tab terminal.

[0041] Reference Figures 1 to 8 , a battery module according to the present disclosure may include a plurality of battery cells 20. In an embodiment, the battery cell 20 may be a prismatic (eg, square) battery cell. A plurality of battery cells 20 may be provided. The battery cells 20 may be arranged (eg, regularly arranged) in a housing (not shown).

[0042] In one embodiment, the battery module may include a bus bar 30 , a retainer bus bar 40 , a voltage measurement circuit portion 50 , an insulating film 60 , and a connection member 70 .

[0043] The bus bar 30 is a component that electrically connects the plurality of battery cells 20 to each other. In one embodiment, the bus bar 30 may include a metal having electrical conductivity.

[0044] The retainer bus bar 40 is a component that fixes the bus bar 30 at a specific position. In one embodiment, the retainer bus bar 40 may include a synthetic resin. The bus bar 30 may be coupled in a structure supported by upper and lower supports formed on the retainer bus bar 40.

[0045] The voltage measurement circuit part 50 may perform a function of measuring the voltage of the battery cell 20. The voltage measurement circuit part 50 may be connected to the battery cell 20 through the bus bar 30. The voltage measurement circuit part 50 may be integrally formed with the holder bus bar 40. The voltage measurement circuit part 50 may be inseparably coupled to the holder bus bar 40.

[0046] The voltage measurement circuit portion 50 may be formed on the surface of the retainer bus bar 40. The voltage measurement circuit portion 50 may be formed on the upper surface of the retainer bus bar 40. For example, the voltage measurement circuit portion 50 may be formed by using a laser direct structuring (LDS) method. In one embodiment, LDS may be implemented by irradiating a laser to surface-treat a portion constituting the voltage measurement circuit portion 50, and then plating it with copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni) to constitute a circuit. The voltage measurement circuit portion 50 may be formed before the retainer bus bar 40 and the bus bar 30 are coupled to each other.

[0047] The insulating film 60 is a structure covering the voltage measurement circuit portion 50. The insulating film 60 can electrically protect the voltage measurement circuit portion 50. In one embodiment, the insulating film 60 may include an insulating synthetic resin. For example, the insulating film 60 may also include a polyimide (PI) resin or a polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) resin. The insulating film 60 may be attached to the voltage measurement circuit portion 50 using, for example, a thermal compression or bonding method.

[0048] Reference Figures 1 to 3 , the voltage measuring circuit portion 50 and the bus bar 30 may be electrically connected to each other through a connection member 70 of a wire bonding structure.

[0049] Reference Figures 5 to 7 , the voltage measuring circuit part 50 and the bus bar 30 may be electrically connected to each other through a connection member 70 including a flexible printed circuit (FPC) member. Although the FPC member has a relatively high manufacturing cost, it has an advantage of configuring the accurate fuse part 90. In this case, the connection member 70 may be configured in a structure in which, for example, a nickel tab and the FPC are coupled to each other.

[0050] The voltage measurement circuit portion 50 and the bus bar 30 can be electrically connected to each other through a connection component 70 including a flexible die cut (FDC) component. In one embodiment, the FDC component can be formed by cutting a conductive metal thin plate into a pattern (e.g., a predetermined pattern) using an upper roller and a lower roller, and then adhering it to a resin film. The FDC component can have the advantage of low manufacturing cost. In this case, the connection element 70 can be configured in a structure in which, for example, a nickel terminal tab and an FPC are coupled to each other.

[0051] In the embodiment, the voltage measuring circuit portion 50 and the bus bar 30 may be electrically connected to each other through a lug terminal as the connection member 70. The lug terminal may have an advantage of being easily used as a connection member of a known structure that is conventionally used.

[0052] The connection member 70 electrically connecting the voltage measuring circuit part 50 to the bus bar 30 may include a fuse part 90 configured as an FPC. If an overcurrent flows from the battery cell 20, the fuse part 90 may electrically protect the voltage measuring circuit part 50. In one embodiment, the FPC may have an advantage of accurately forming a structure of the fuse part 90 having a width of 0.08 mm or less.

[0053] In an embodiment, the connection component 70 that electrically connects the voltage measurement circuit part 50 to the bus bar 30 may include a fuse part 90 in a hybrid structure that is a mixture of FDC and FPC. FDC can be produced at low cost, but may be limited in manufacturing the width of a circuit pattern formed to be less than a certain size. Although the manufacture of FPC may be expensive, it may be advantageous to manufacture the precise fuse part 90 because the width of the formed circuit pattern can be formed to be much smaller than the width of FDC. Therefore, a hybrid component in which most circuits are manufactured with FDC and the precise fuse part 90 (for example, only the precise fuse part 90) is manufactured with FPC and coupled to each other using a method such as thermal pressing can provide the effect of maintaining stable quality and reducing manufacturing costs.

[0054] In an embodiment, the voltage measurement circuit portion 50 may include a temperature sensor 80. In an embodiment, a FDC / FPC hybrid structure may also be used to connect the temperature sensor 80 to components of the voltage measurement circuit portion 50. The temperature sensor 80 is a sensor that measures the temperature of the battery cell 20.

[0055] As described above, in the battery module according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the voltage measurement circuit portion that measures the voltage of the battery cell is formed integrally with the retainer bus bar, and therefore, the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the assembly process can be simplified, thereby providing an innovative effect of improving productivity. The voltage measurement circuit portion and the bus bar can be connected to each other in various forms. If the component that electrically connects the voltage measurement circuit portion to the bus bar is formed in a hybrid structure of FDC and FPC, as in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the manufacturing cost can be reduced by applying FDC, and by applying FPC, a precise safety device can effectively configure the fuse portion 90.

[0056] As described above, in one or more embodiments of the battery module according to the present disclosure, the voltage measurement circuit portion for measuring the voltage of the battery cell is formed integrally with the retainer bus bar, and therefore, there is no need to assemble the voltage measurement circuit portion and the retainer bus bar through a separate process, thereby providing a significant cost reduction effect.

[0057] Furthermore, as in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, if the voltage measuring circuit portion is formed on the holder bus bar using the LDS method, the quality and durability of the voltage measuring circuit portion may be improved.

[0058] Furthermore, as in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, if the components connecting the voltage measuring circuit portion to the bus bar include FPC and FDC, the cost of configuring a fuse portion that prevents or substantially prevents the voltage measuring circuit portion from being damaged by overcurrent can be reduced.

[0059] However, aspects and effects that can be obtained by the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned aspects and effects, and other technical aspects and effects that are not mentioned can be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art from the description of the present disclosure described herein.

[0060] Although the present disclosure has been described through some example embodiments and the accompanying drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and a person skilled in the art may make various modifications and changes within the technical spirit of the present disclosure and the equivalent scope of the claims set forth below.

[0061] In a battery module according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a voltage measurement circuit portion for measuring the voltage of a battery cell is integrally formed with a retainer bus bar, and therefore, there is no need to assemble the voltage measurement circuit portion and the retainer bus bar through a separate process, thereby providing a significant cost reduction effect.

[0062] It should be understood that the embodiments described herein should be considered descriptive and not for limiting purposes. The description of features or aspects within each embodiment should generally be considered applicable to other similar features or aspects in other embodiments. Although one or more embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A battery module, comprising: a bus bar configured to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells to each other; a retainer bus bar configured to secure the bus bar; as well as a voltage measurement circuit portion configured to measure a voltage of each of the plurality of battery cells, Wherein, the voltage measurement circuit portion is formed integrally with the retainer bus bar.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: The voltage measurement circuit portion is formed on a surface of the holder bus bar by laser direct structuring (LDS). 3 . The battery module according to claim 2 , further comprising an insulating film covering the voltage measurement circuit portion.

4. The battery module according to claim 3, wherein: The insulating film includes polyimide (PI) resin or polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) resin.

5. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: The voltage measurement circuit portion and the bus bar are electrically connected to each other through a wire bonding structure.

6. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: The voltage measuring circuit portion and the bus bar are electrically connected to each other through a flexible printed circuit (FPC) member.

7. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: The voltage measuring circuit portion and the bus bar are electrically connected to each other through a flexible die cut (FDC) member.

8. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: The voltage measuring circuit portion and the bus bar are electrically connected to each other through a tab terminal.

9. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: A component electrically connecting the voltage measuring circuit portion to the bus bar includes a fuse portion configured as an FPC.

10. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: A component electrically connecting the voltage measuring circuit portion to the bus bar includes a fuse portion having a hybrid structure of FDC and FPC.

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