Bus bar heating apparatus and battery module

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a bus bar heating apparatus and a battery module, and aims to provide a bus bar heating apparatus that heats a bus bar to suppress deterioration of a battery module in a low-temperature environment, and a battery module including the same. To this end, the present disclosure provides a bus bar heating device comprising: a plurality of heating parts, each of which includes a heating material heated by electrical energy, and which are in contact with a plurality of bus bars of a battery module to heat the plurality of bus bars; and one or more connecting parts electrically connecting the plurality of heating parts. According to the embodiment of the invention, the bus bar can be heated in a low-temperature environment, so that the temperature of the battery monomers and the battery module connected to the bus bar can be quickly increased. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress deterioration in charge / discharge performance of the battery cell and the battery module including the plurality of battery cells.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a bus bar heating device and a battery module. Background Art

[0002] Generally, as the demand for portable electronic products such as laptop computers, cameras, and mobile phones has rapidly increased and the commercialization of robots, electric vehicles, etc. has officially started, research on high-performance secondary batteries capable of repeated charging and discharging has been actively carried out.

[0003] Secondary batteries for driving devices or energy storage are widely used not only in small devices such as portable electronic devices but also in medium to large devices such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS). Specifically, in the case of medium to large devices, a battery module is formed in a form in which a plurality of battery cells are electrically connected to each other to increase the output power and / or capacity of the battery.

[0004] It is known that the charge and discharge performance of a battery module at temperatures below zero degrees (i.e., at low temperatures) is lower than that at room temperature, and the decrease in charge and discharge performance is proportional to the decrease in temperature.

[0005] The above information disclosed in this background art section is only for enhancing the understanding of the background art of the present disclosure, and thus may include information that does not constitute the prior art. Summary of the Utility Model

[0006] Aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure relate to providing a bus bar heating device and a battery module, the bus bar heating device heating a bus bar to inhibit deterioration of the battery module in a low-temperature environment.

[0007] However, the technical objectives to be achieved by the present disclosure are not limited to the above objectives, and those skilled in the art will clearly understand other objectives not described above through the following description of the disclosure.

[0008] According to one or more embodiments, a bus bar heating device includes: a plurality of heating parts, each of the plurality of heating parts including a heating material heated by electric energy, and the plurality of heating parts being in contact with a plurality of bus bars of a battery module to heat the plurality of bus bars; and at least one connection part electrically connecting the plurality of heating parts.

[0009] The heating material may include carbon nanotubes.

[0010] The heating material may be in direct contact with the bus bar.

[0011] The plurality of heating parts and the at least one connection part may be alternately arranged.

[0012] The connection part may be spaced apart from the bus bar.

[0013] The connecting part may include: a pair of protective film layers that are stacked and joined; and an electric wire, which is formed of a conductive material and extends in the pair of protective film layers.

[0014] The heating part may further include a protective film layer attached to the heating material; and the bus bar heating device may further include a bus bar joint part, which is arranged around a plurality of heating parts and fixedly joined to the protective film layer and the bus bar, so as to maintain the contact between the plurality of heating parts and the plurality of bus bars.

[0015] The bus bar joint part may be welded to the bus bar.

[0016] The bus bar joint part may include a metal layer, which is formed of a metal material, one side of the metal layer is welded to the bus bar, and the other side of the metal layer is attached to the protective film layer.

[0017] The bus bar joint part may include a double-sided adhesive tape, one side of the double-sided adhesive tape is fixedly attached to the bus bar and the other side of the double-sided adhesive tape is fixedly attached to the protective film layer.

[0018] The bus bar heating device may further include a plurality of terminal parts, which are electrically joined to the bus bar to supply electric energy to the plurality of heating parts.

[0019] The bus bar heating device may further include a switch part, which supplies current to the plurality of heating materials to heat the plurality of heating materials when the temperature of the battery module is lower than a predetermined reference temperature, and blocks the current supplied to the plurality of heating materials when the temperature of the battery module is higher than or equal to the reference temperature.

[0020] The switch part may be accommodated in one of the one or more connecting parts.

[0021] According to one or more embodiments, a battery module includes: a plurality of battery cells; a plurality of bus bars that electrically connect the plurality of battery cells; and a bus bar heating device, which includes a heating material heated by electric energy, a plurality of heating parts that contact the plurality of bus bars to heat the plurality of bus bars, and one or more connecting parts that electrically connect the plurality of heating parts.

[0022] Each of the plurality of bus bars may include: a first cell joint part that is electrically joined to one of the plurality of battery cells; a second cell joint part that is electrically joined to another of the plurality of battery cells; and an intermediate part that is located between the first cell joint part and the second cell joint part and contacts the heating part.

[0023] The plurality of battery cells may be arranged in a row in one direction; the bus bar heating device may be provided as a pair of bus bar heating devices; and the pair of bus bar heating devices may be spaced apart from each other and extend in one direction.

[0024] The battery module may further include a flexible printed circuit assembly (FPCA). The flexible printed circuit assembly includes: a voltage sensor for measuring the voltage of a plurality of busbars; a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of a plurality of battery cells; and a control line for electrically connecting the voltage sensor and the temperature sensor to a battery management system (BMS).

[0025] Each of the plurality of battery cells may include a cell vent for discharging gas from the inside of the battery cell to the outside, and the cell vent may be located in a surface of the battery cell that does not face the FPCA.

[0026] The heating material may include carbon nanotubes.

[0027] The plurality of heating portions and one or more connecting portions may be alternately arranged.

[0028] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the busbars can be heated in a low-temperature environment, so that the temperatures of the battery cells and the battery module connected to the busbars can be rapidly increased. Therefore, deterioration of the charge and discharge performance of the battery cells and the battery module including a plurality of battery cells can be suppressed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The drawings attached to this specification illustrate embodiments of the present invention and further describe aspects and features of the present invention together with the detailed description of the present invention. However, the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the drawings, in which:

[0030] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] Figure 2 is a plan view showing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a plurality of battery cells, a plurality of busbars, and a pair of busbar heating devices included in a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of Figure 3 ;

[0034] Figure 5 is a sectional view showing Figure 4 an enlarged view of part A of;

[0035] Figure 6 is a sectional view showing Figure 3 an enlarged plan view of a pair of busbar heating devices shown in;

[0036] Figure 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line B-B showing the state of a bus bar incorporated into a bus bar heating device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 6 of the line B-B;

[0037] Figure 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the state of connection of a bus bar heating device and a bus bar according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0038] Figure 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the state of connection of a bus bar heating device and a bus bar according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0039] Figure 10 shows Figure 3 an enlarged perspective view of a part of a bus bar heating device and a bus bar aligned with the part of the bus bar heating device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Here, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Terms or words used in this specification and the claims should not be construed as limited to the ordinary meaning or dictionary meaning, but should be interpreted as having a meaning and concept consistent with the technical concept of the present disclosure based on the principle that the inventor can be his / her own lexicographer to appropriately define the terms.

[0041] The embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are provided as some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and do not represent all of the technical ideas, aspects, and features of the present disclosure. Therefore, it will be understood that various equivalents and modifications may exist that can replace or modify the embodiments described herein at the time of filing this application.

[0042] It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being "on", "connected to", or "coupled to" another element or layer, the element or layer may be directly on, directly connected to, or directly coupled to the other element or layer, or there may also be one or more intervening elements or layers. When an element or layer is referred to as being "directly on", "directly connected to", or "directly coupled to" another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers. For example, when a first element is described as being "coupled" or "connected" to a second element, the first element may be directly coupled or directly connected to the second element, or the first element may be indirectly coupled or indirectly connected to the second element via one or more intervening elements.

[0043] In the drawings, for clarity of illustration, the dimensions of various elements, layers, etc. are exaggerated. The same reference numerals denote the same or similar elements. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any combination and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Further, when describing embodiments of the present disclosure, the use of "may" refers to "one or more embodiments of the present disclosure". Expressions such as "at least one of" and "any one of" modify the entire list of elements following a list of elements and not individual elements in the list. When phrases such as "at least one of A, B, and C", "at least one of A, B, or C", "at least one selected from the group consisting of A, B, and C", or "at least one selected from among A, B, and C" are used to denote a list of elements A, B, and C, the phrase can refer to any and all suitable combinations or subsets of A, B, and C, such as A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. As used herein, the terms "use" and its variants can be considered to be synonymous with the terms "utilize" and its variants, respectively. As used herein, the terms "substantially", "about", and similar terms are used as terms of approximation and not as terms of degree, and are intended to account for the inherent deviations of measured or calculated values that would be recognized by a person of ordinary skill in the art.

[0044] It will be understood that although the terms "first", "second", "third", etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and / or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or section from another element, component, region, layer, or section. Thus, a first element, first component, first region, first layer, or first section discussed below may be referred to as a second element, second component, second region, second layer, or second section without departing from the teachings of the exemplary embodiments.

[0045] For ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "under", "below", "lower", "above", "upper", etc. may be used herein to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another (other) element or feature as shown in the figures. It will be understood that the spatial relative terms are intended to cover different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, an element described as "under" or "below" other elements or features will be oriented "above" or "over" the other elements or features. Thus, the term "below" can cover both an upper and a lower orientation. The device may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptors used herein should be interpreted accordingly.

[0046] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms "a" and "an" are also intended to include the plural forms. It will also be understood that when the terms "comprises," "comprising," and / or their variants are used in this specification, it is specified that there are the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0047] In addition, any numerical range recited herein is intended to include all sub-ranges having the same numerical precision included within the recited range. For example, a range of "1.0 to 10.0" is intended to include all sub-ranges between the recited minimum value of 1.0 and the recited maximum value of 10.0 (and including the recited minimum value of 1.0 and the recited maximum value of 10.0), that is, having a minimum value equal to or greater than 1.0 and a maximum value equal to or less than 10.0, such as, for example, 2.4 to 7.6. Any maximum numerical limit recited herein is intended to include all lower numerical limits contained therein, and any minimum numerical limit recited in this specification is intended to include all higher numerical limits contained therein. Accordingly, the applicant reserves the right to amend this specification and the claims to expressly recite any sub-ranges included within the ranges expressly recited herein.

[0048] Two compared elements, features, etc. being referred to as "identical" may mean that they are substantially identical. Thus, the phrase "identical" or "substantially identical" may include cases having a deviation considered low in the art (e.g., a deviation of 5% or less). In addition, when a certain parameter is said to be uniform in a given region, this may mean that it is uniform in terms of the average value.

[0049] Throughout the specification, unless otherwise stated, each element may be single or multiple.

[0050] When any element is referred to as being disposed (or positioned or located) "above (or below)" or "on (or under)" a component, this may mean that the any element is placed in contact with the upper (or lower) surface of the component, or it may mean that another component may be disposed between the component and the any element disposed (or positioned or located) "on (or under)" the component.

[0051] In addition, it will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "coupled", "linked" or "connected" to another element, these elements can be directly "coupled", "linked" or "connected" to each other, or there can be one or more intervening elements therebetween through which the elements can be "coupled", "linked" or "connected" to the other element. In addition, when a component is referred to as being "electrically coupled" to another component, the component can be directly electrically connected to the other component, or there can be one or more intervening components therebetween such that the component and the other component are indirectly electrically connected to each other.

[0052] Throughout the specification, unless otherwise specified, when stating "A and / or B", it means A, B, or both A and B. That is, "and / or" includes any combination or all combinations of the listed multiple items. Unless otherwise specified, when stating "C to D", it means C or greater and D or less.

[0053] The terms used in this specification are for the purpose of describing embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

[0054] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 2 is a plan view showing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a plurality of battery cells, a plurality of busbars, and a pair of busbar heating devices included in a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 4 is along Figure 3 a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV. Figure 5 is showing Figure 4 an enlarged cross-sectional view of part A of Figure 6 is showing Figure 3 an enlarged plan view of a pair of busbar heating devices shown in Figure 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line B-B showing the state in which a busbar is coupled to a busbar heating device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 6 along Figure 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the state in which a busbar heating device and a busbar are connected according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the state in which a busbar heating device and a busbar are connected according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 10 is showing Figure 3 an enlarged perspective view of a part of a busbar heating device and a busbar aligned with the part of the busbar heating device according to

[0055] Referring to Figures 1 to 7 and Figure 10, a battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of battery cells 11, a plurality of busbars 40, and busbar heating devices 100A and 100B. Each of the battery cells 11 may include a cell housing 12, a pair of cell terminals 25, and an electrode assembly 23.

[0056] The electrode assembly 23 may be accommodated in the cell housing 12. The electrode assembly 23 may be formed by winding or stacking a stack including a first electrode plate, a separator, and a second electrode plate, and each of the first electrode plate, the separator, and the second electrode plate is formed in a thin plate shape or a thin film shape.

[0057] When the electrode assembly 23 is a wound stack, the winding axis of the electrode assembly 23 may be parallel to the length direction of the cell housing 12. In addition, the electrode assembly 23 may be a stacked type rather than a wound type, and the present disclosure does not limit the shape of the electrode assembly 23. In addition, the electrode assembly 23 may be a Z-stack electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate are interposed between both sides of a separator bent into a Z-stack. In addition, one or more electrode assemblies 23 may be stacked or accommodated in the cell housing 12 such that their long side surfaces are close to each other, and the present disclosure does not limit the number of electrode assemblies. The first electrode plate of the electrode assembly 23 may be used as a negative electrode, and the second electrode plate may be used as a positive electrode. However, the opposite is also possible.

[0058] The first electrode plate may be formed by coating a first current collector plate formed of a metal foil (such as a copper foil, a copper alloy foil, a nickel foil, or a nickel alloy foil) with a first electrode active material (such as graphite or carbon), and may include a first electrode tab (or a first uncoated portion) as an area not coated with the first electrode active material. The first electrode tab may be a current flow path between the first electrode plate and the first current collector portion. In some examples, the first electrode tab may be formed to protrude toward one side by cutting the first electrode plate during the manufacture of the first electrode plate, and may protrude toward one side farther than the separator without additional cutting.

[0059] The second electrode plate may be formed by coating a second current collector plate formed of a metal foil (such as an aluminum foil or an aluminum alloy foil) with a second electrode active material (such as a transition metal oxide), and may include a second electrode tab (or a second uncoated portion) as an area not coated with the second electrode active material. The second electrode tab may be a current flow path between the second electrode plate and the second current collector portion. In some examples, the second electrode tab may be formed to protrude toward the other side by cutting the second electrode plate during the manufacture of the second electrode plate, and may protrude toward the other side farther than the separator without additional cutting.

[0060] In some examples, the first electrode tab may be located on the side surface of the left end of the electrode assembly, the second electrode tab may be located on the side surface of the right end of the electrode assembly, or the first electrode tab and the second electrode tab may be located on one surface in the same direction. In this case, the left and right sides are for ease of description, and these sides may change when the battery cell 11 rotates in the left-right or vertical direction.

[0061] The first electrode tab of the first electrode plate and the second electrode tab of the second electrode plate are located at two ends of the electrode assembly 23. In some examples, the electrode assembly 23 may be accommodated in a housing together with an electrolyte. Further, in the electrode assembly 23, the first current collector portion and the second current collector portion are respectively welded and connected to the first electrode tab of the first electrode plate and the second electrode tab of the second electrode plate, and are respectively located at the first electrode tab of the first electrode plate and the second electrode tab of the second electrode plate.

[0062] The cell housing 12 may have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and accommodate the electrode assembly 23 and the electrolyte therein. The cell housing 12 may include a metal can having an open side and a cover plate for closing the open side of the metal can. A pair of cell terminals 25 may be mounted on the cover plate to protrude outward from the cover plate.

[0063] One of the pair of cell terminals 25 may be electrically connected to one of the first current collector portion and the second current collector portion, and the other cell terminal 25 may be electrically connected to the other of the first current collector portion and the second current collector portion. Accordingly, one of the pair of cell terminals 25 may be a positive electrode terminal and the other cell terminal 25 may be a negative electrode terminal.

[0064] The pair of cell terminals 25 may be located at two ends of the cover plate in the length direction. The one surface of the cell housing 12 from which the pair of cell terminals 25 protrude may be the upper surface 17 of the cell housing 12, the one surface of the cell housing 12 opposite to the upper surface 17 may be the lower surface 18 of the cell housing 12, and the pair of surfaces connecting the upper surface 17 and the lower surface 18 and arranged opposite to each other may be a pair of side surfaces 15 of the cell housing 12.

[0065] Each of the battery cells 11 includes a cell vent 19, which ruptures when high-temperature gas, combustible substances, etc. are generated in the cell housing 12 due to overcharging or abnormal operation, to discharge emissions such as gas and combustible substances from the inside of the battery cell 11 to the outside. The cell vent 19 may be located in the lower surface 18 of the cell housing 12.

[0066] A plurality of battery cells 11 may be arranged in columns in the front - rear direction. The rear surface of the cell housing 12 of one battery cell 11 among an adjacent pair of battery cells 11 among the plurality of battery cells 11 may be set to face the front surface 13 of the cell housing 12 of the other battery cell 11.

[0067] Hereinafter, the front - rear direction in which the plurality of battery cells 11 are arranged in columns is referred to as the first direction, the width direction (i.e., the left - right direction) of the cell housing 12 perpendicular to the first direction is referred to as the second direction, and the vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction is referred to as the third direction.

[0068] The battery module 10 may further include a pair of end frames 30 and a pair of side plates 33. One end frame 30 of the pair of end frames 30 may be disposed in front of the plurality of battery cells 11 to hide the front surface 13 of the foremost battery cell 11 among the plurality of battery cells 11 arranged in the first direction.

[0069] The other end frame 30 of the pair of end frames 30 may be disposed behind the plurality of battery cells 11 to hide the rear surface of the rearmost battery cell 11 among the plurality of battery cells 11 arranged in the first direction.

[0070] The pair of side plates 33 may be disposed to hide a pair of side surfaces 15 of the plurality of battery cells 11 and face the side surfaces 15 to be in close contact with the side surfaces 15. The front end portions and the rear end portions of the pair of side plates 33 may be connected to both end portions of the pair of end frames 30 in the second direction by methods such as welding or applying an adhesive.

[0071] A plurality of bus bars 40 electrically connect the plurality of battery cells 11. Each of the bus bars 40 may contact the positive cell terminal 25 of one battery cell 11 among an adjacent pair of battery cells 11 in the first direction and the negative cell terminal 25 of the other battery cell 11 among the pair of battery cells 11 to electrically connect the positive cell terminal 25 and the negative cell terminal 25. The plurality of bus bars 40 may be arranged along two imaginary lines extending in the first direction and separated from each other.

[0072] Each of the bus bars 40 may include a first cell bonding portion 41, a second cell bonding portion 43, and an intermediate portion 50. The first cell bonding portion 41 may be electrically bonded to the cell terminal 25 of one battery cell 11 among an adjacent pair of battery cells 11. The second cell bonding portion 43 may be electrically bonded to the cell terminal 25 of the other battery cell 11 among an adjacent pair of battery cells 11. The intermediate portion 50 may be located between the first cell bonding portion 41 and the second cell bonding portion 43. The first cell bonding portion 41 and the second cell bonding portion 43 may be joined to the corresponding cell terminals 25 by welding.

[0073] The battery module 10 may further include a bus bar holder 36. A plurality of bus bars 40 may be supported by the bus bar holder 36, and the bus bar holder 36 may be coupled to upper end portions of a pair of side plates 33.

[0074] When the plurality of battery cells 11 and the battery module 10 are in a low temperature state, the bus bar heating devices 100A, 100B heat the plurality of bus bars 40. The bus bar heating devices 100A, 100B may be provided as a pair of bus bar heating devices 100A, 100B. A first bus bar heating device 100A among the pair of bus bar heating devices 100A, 100B heats a plurality of bus bars 40 arranged along one column among the plurality of bus bars 40 arranged in two columns, and a second bus bar heating device 100B among the pair of bus bar heating devices 100A, 100B heats a plurality of bus bars 40 arranged along the other column among the plurality of bus bars 40 arranged in two columns.

[0075] Each of the first bus bar heating device 100A and the second bus bar heating device 100B includes a plurality of heating parts 101, a plurality of connection parts 110, a plurality of bus bar coupling parts, a plurality of terminal parts 115, and a switch part 120. Each of the plurality of heating parts 101 includes a heating material 102 that emits heat using electric energy. The plurality of heating parts 101 may contact an intermediate part 50 of the plurality of bus bars 40 to heat the plurality of bus bars 40.

[0076] The heating material 102 may be formed by curing a paste mixed with carbon nanotubes and a metal. For example, the metal included in the heating material 102 may be at least one of silver (Ag), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), gold (Au), platinum (Pt), and palladium (Pd).

[0077] The plurality of connection parts 110 electrically connect the plurality of heating parts 101. The plurality of heating parts 101 and the plurality of connection parts 110 may be alternately arranged in a first direction. The heating part 101 may be positioned to overlap the intermediate part 50 in a third direction, and the connection part 110 may be positioned to overlap a first cell coupling part 41 or a second cell coupling part 43 of the bus bar 40 in the third direction.

[0078] The connection part 110 is spaced apart from the bus bar 40. In other words, the connection part 110 may be spaced apart from the overlapping first cell coupling part 41 or second cell coupling part 43 in the third direction. The number of connection parts 110 may be the number of heating parts 101 spaced apart in the first direction minus 1. Therefore, when the number of heating parts 101 spaced apart from each other in the first direction is two, the number of connection parts 110 may be one.

[0079] Each of the first bus bar heating device 100A and the second bus bar heating device 100B may include a pair of protective film layers 130 and 140 that are stacked and connected. The protective film layers 130 and 140 may be formed of, for example, a polyimide (PI) material or a polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) material. The pair of protective film layers 130 and 140 may be distributed over the regions of the plurality of heating portions 101 and the plurality of connection portions 110. The second protective film layer 140 in the pair of protective film layers 130 and 140 may be disposed closer to the bus bar 40 than the first protective film layer 130.

[0080] The connection portion 110 may include a pair of protective film layers 130 and 140 that are stacked and connected and a wire 160 formed of a conductive material and extending in the pair of protective film layers 130 and 140.

[0081] In the region of the heating portion 101, the surface of the first protective film layer 130 facing the bus bar 40 (i.e., the lower surface of the first protective film layer 130) is attached to the heating material 102. In other words, the heating material 102 may be attached to the lower surface of the first protective film layer 130 and supported by the lower surface of the first protective film layer 130.

[0082] The bus bar coupling portion may be provided around the heating portion 101 and fixedly coupled to the bus bar 40. The bus bar coupling portion may be welded to the bus bar 40. The bus bar coupling portion may include a metal layer 105 formed of a metal material. One side of the metal layer 105 is welded to the bus bar 40, and the other side of the metal layer 105 is attached to the first protective film layer 130 in the third direction.

[0083] The metal layer 105 may be formed of, for example, a copper material. The metal layer 105 may be spaced apart from the heating material 102 so as not to be electrically connected to the heating material 102, and may be formed in a planar shape surrounding the heating material 102. One surface of the metal layer 105 facing the bus bar 40 (i.e., the lower surface of the metal layer 105) is welded to the bus bar 40.

[0084] The other surface of the metal layer 105 (i.e., the upper surface of the metal layer 105 opposite to the lower surface of the metal layer 105) may be attached to the lower surface of the first protective film layer 130 and supported by the lower surface of the first protective film layer 130. An open opening 141 for exposing the heating material 102 and the metal layer 105 to face the bus bar 40 may be formed in the second protective film layer 140.

[0085] According to the above configuration, the heating material 102 can be in direct contact with the middle portion 50 of the bus bar 40. Since the metal layer 105 of the bus bar joint is welded to the bus bar 40, the contact between the heating portion 101 and the bus bar 40 can be reliably maintained. The heating device joint 52 welded to the metal layer 105 can be formed around the middle portion 50 of the bus bar 40.

[0086] The heating portion 101 and the bus bar joint can have Figure 8 the shapes of the heating portion 101 and the bus bar joint of each of the bus bar heating devices 100A and 100B according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure shown in. Refer to Figure 8 , the heating portion 101 includes a heating material 102 that emits heat using electric energy. The heating portion 101 can be in contact with the middle portion 50 of the bus bar 40 to heat the bus bar 40.

[0087] The heating material 102 can be formed by curing a paste mixed with carbon nanotubes and a metal. For example, the metal included in the heating material 102 can be at least one metal among silver (Ag), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), gold (Au), platinum (Pt), and palladium (Pd).

[0088] In the region of the heating portion 101, the heating material 102 can be disposed between the first protective film layer 130 and the second protective film layer 140. The upper surface of the heating material 102 can be attached to the lower surface of the first protective film layer 130, and the lower surface of the heating material 102 can be attached to the upper surface of the second protective film layer 140.

[0089] The bus bar joint can be provided around the heating portion 101 and fixedly joined to the bus bar 40. The bus bar joint can be welded to the bus bar 40. The bus bar joint can include a metal layer 105 formed of a metal material, one side of the metal layer 105 is welded to the bus bar 40, and the other side of the metal layer 105 is attached to the second protective film layer 140.

[0090] The metal layer 105 can be formed of, for example, a copper material. The metal layer 105 can be spaced apart from the heating material 102 so as not to be electrically connected to the heating material 102, and can be formed in a planar shape surrounding the heating material 102. One surface of the metal layer 105 facing the bus bar 40 (i.e., the lower surface of the metal layer 105) is welded to the bus bar 40.

[0091] Another surface of the metal layer 105 (i.e., the upper surface of the metal layer 105 opposite to the lower surface of the metal layer 105) may be attached to the lower surface of the second protective film layer 140 and supported by the lower surface of the second protective film layer 140. The metal layer fixing portion 145 attached to the metal layer 105 to support the metal layer 105 may be formed around the heating material 102 in the second protective film layer 140.

[0092] According to the above configuration, the heating material 102 may be indirectly in contact with the middle portion 50 of the bus bar 40 and the second protective film layer 140 is disposed between the heating material 102 and the middle portion 50 of the bus bar 40. The metal layer 105 of the bus bar joint portion may be welded to the heating device joint portion 52 around the middle portion 50 of the bus bar 40. Therefore, the contact between the heating portion 101 and the bus bar 40 can be reliably maintained.

[0093] The heating portion 101 and the bus bar joint portion may have Figure 9 the shape of the heating portion 101 and the bus bar joint portion of each of the bus bar heating devices 100A and 100B according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure as shown in. Refer to Figure 9 , the heating portion 101 includes a heating material 102 that emits heat using electric energy. The heating portion 101 may be in contact with the middle portion 50 of the bus bar 40 to heat the bus bar 40.

[0094] The heating material 102 may be formed by curing a paste mixed with carbon nanotubes and a metal. For example, the metal included in the heating material 102 may be at least one metal among silver (Ag), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), gold (Au), platinum (Pt), and palladium (Pd).

[0095] In the area of the heating portion 101, the surface of the first protective film layer 130 facing the bus bar 40 (i.e., the lower surface of the first protective film layer 130) is attached to the heating material 102. In other words, the heating material 102 may be attached to the lower surface of the first protective film layer 130 and supported by the lower surface of the first protective film layer 130.

[0096] The bus bar joint portion may be provided around the heating portion 101 and fixedly joined to the bus bar 40. The bus bar joint portion may include a double-sided adhesive tape 155, and one side and the other side of the double-sided adhesive tape 155 are fixedly attached to the bus bar 40 and the second protective film layer 140.

[0097] The double-sided adhesive tape 155 may be spaced apart from the heating material 102 and formed in a planar shape surrounding the heating material 102. The tape attachment portion 148 attached to the double-sided adhesive tape 155 to support the double-sided adhesive tape 155 may be formed around the heating material 102 in the second protective film layer 140.

[0098] An open opening 142 for exposing the heating material 102 to face the bus bar 40 may be formed in the second protective film layer 140. According to the above configuration, the heating material 102 may be in direct contact with the middle portion 50 of the bus bar 40. The double-sided adhesive tape 155 may be firmly attached around the middle portion 50 of the bus bar 40 to the heating device junction 52. Accordingly, the contact between the heating portion 101 and the bus bar 40 may be reliably maintained.

[0099] Referring again to Figures 1 to 7 and Figure 10 , a pair of bus bar heating devices 100A, 100B according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure may include a plurality of terminal portions 115 and a switch portion 120.

[0100] The plurality of terminal portions 115 may be electrically coupled to the bus bar 40 to supply electric energy to the plurality of heating portions 101 (specifically, the heating material 102). In each of the bus bar heating devices 100A, 100B, the terminal portions 115 may be provided as a pair of terminal portions 115. The pair of terminal portions 115 may be respectively positioned beside the heating portions 101 at two ends in the longitudinal direction of each of the bus bar heating devices 100A, 100B.

[0101] The pair of terminal portions 115 may be formed of a metallic material. Each of the terminal portions 115 may be welded to the bus bar 40 provided to overlap with the terminal portion 115. Specifically, the terminal portion 115 and the first monomer junction portion 41 of the bus bar 40 that overlaps with the terminal portion 115 in the third direction may be welded. Annular solder joints 117 and 47 to which welding has been performed may be formed on the terminal portion 115 and the first monomer junction portion 41.

[0102] The switch portion 120 supplies current to the plurality of heating materials 102 belonging to the bus bar heating devices 100A, 100B when the temperature of the battery module 10 is lower than a preset reference temperature, such that the plurality of heating materials 102 emit heat, and cuts off the current supplied to the plurality of heating materials 102 when the temperature of the battery module 10 is higher than or equal to the reference temperature.

[0103] The temperature of the battery module 10 may be measured in real time by a temperature sensor 175 of a flexible printed circuit assembly (FPCA) 170. The switch portion 120 may be accommodated in one of the plurality of connection portions 110 belonging to the bus bar heating devices 100A, 100B. The switch portion 120 may be provided between a pair of protective film layers 130, 140 that are stacked and joined. The switch portion 120 may be electrically connected to the pair of terminal portions 115 and the plurality of heating materials 102.

[0104] The battery module 10 may further include an FPCA 170. The FPCA 170 may include a temperature sensor 175, a voltage sensor 180, and a control line 171. The temperature sensor 175 may measure the temperatures of a plurality of battery cells 11. The temperatures of the plurality of battery cells 11 measured by the temperature sensor 175 may be the temperature of the battery module 10.

[0105] The temperature sensor 175 may be provided as a plurality of temperature sensors 175. The temperature sensor 175 may be provided as a pair of temperature sensors 175. It may be that one of the pair of temperature sensors 175 may be arranged closer to the first bus bar heating device 100A than to the second bus bar heating device 100B, and the other of the pair of temperature sensors 175 may be arranged closer to the second bus bar heating device 100B than to the first bus bar heating device 100A.

[0106] The voltage sensor 180 may measure the voltages of a plurality of bus bars 40. The voltage sensor 180 may be provided as a plurality of voltage sensors 180 to correspond one-to-one with the number of bus bars 40. Each of the voltage sensors 180 may be electrically connected to a voltage sensor connection portion 45 by a method such as welding. The voltage sensor connection portion 45 is closer to the second cell bonding portion 43 of the bus bar 40 than to the first cell bonding portion 41 of the bus bar 40.

[0107] The control line 171 connects the plurality of voltage sensors 180 and the pair of temperature sensors 175 to a battery management system (BMS) (not shown). The control line 171 may be provided as a plurality of control lines 171. The plurality of control lines 171 may be connected to the BMS through a connector (not shown). The detection signals detected by the plurality of voltage sensors 180 and the pair of temperature sensors 175 may be transmitted to the BMS through the control line 171.

[0108] The switch unit 120 may be electrically connected to the BMS. For example, between the pair of temperature sensors 175, when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 175 closer to the first bus bar heating device 100A than to the second bus bar heating device 100B is lower than a reference temperature, the BMS transmits a control signal corresponding to "on" of the heating unit 101 to the switch unit 120 of the first bus bar heating device 100A. Thus, the plurality of heating materials 102 of the first bus bar heating device 100A are heated to heat the plurality of battery cells 11. The plurality of heating materials 102 may be heated by the electric energy released from the plurality of battery cells 11.

[0109] When multiple heating materials 102 are continuously heated and the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 175 closer to the first bus bar heating device 100A becomes higher than or equal to the reference temperature, the BMS transmits a control signal corresponding to "OFF" of the heating unit 101 to the switch unit 120 of the first bus bar heating device 100A, so that the heating of the multiple heating materials 102 of the first bus bar heating device 100A stops.

[0110] Similarly, among the pair of temperature sensors 175, when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 175 closer to the second bus bar heating device 100B than to the first bus bar heating device 100A is lower than the reference temperature, the BMS transmits a control signal corresponding to "ON" of the heating unit 101 to the switch unit 120 of the second bus bar heating device 100B, so that the multiple heating materials 102 of the second bus bar heating device 100B are heated to heat the multiple battery cells 11. The multiple heating materials 102 can be heated by the electric energy released by the multiple battery cells 11.

[0111] When multiple heating materials 102 are continuously heated and the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 175 closer to the second bus bar heating device 100B becomes higher than or equal to the reference temperature, the BMS transmits a control signal corresponding to "STOP" of the heating unit 101 to the switch unit 120 of the second bus bar heating device 100B, so that the heating of the multiple heating materials 102 of the second bus bar heating device 100B stops.

[0112] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the bus bar can be heated in a low temperature environment, so that the temperature of the battery cells connected to the bus bar and the temperature of the battery module can be rapidly increased. Therefore, the charge and discharge performance deterioration of the battery cells and the battery module including multiple battery cells can be suppressed.

[0113] However, the aspects and features of the present utility model are not limited to the aspects and features described above, and those skilled in the art will clearly understand other aspects and features not mentioned through the detailed description given above.

[0114] Although the present utility model has been described with reference to some embodiments and the drawings showing its aspects, the present utility model is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art to which the present utility model pertains can make various modifications and variations within the scope of the technical spirit of the utility model, the claims, and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A bus bar heating device, characterized in that, The bus bar heating device includes: A plurality of heating parts, each of the plurality of heating parts includes a heating material heated by electric energy, and the plurality of heating parts are in contact with a plurality of bus bars of the battery module to heat the plurality of bus bars; and One or more connection parts that electrically connect the plurality of heating parts.

2. The bus bar heating device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heating material is formed using carbon nanotubes.

3. The bus bar heating device according to claim 1, wherein, The heating material is in direct contact with the bus bar.

4. The bus bar heating device according to claim 1, wherein The plurality of heating parts and the one or more connection parts are alternately arranged.

5. The bus bar heating device according to claim 1, wherein, The connection part is spaced apart from the bus bar.

6. The bus bar heating device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connection part includes: A pair of protective film layers that are stacked and joined; and A wire formed of a conductive material and extending in the pair of protective film layers.

7. The bus bar heating device according to claim 1, wherein The heating part further includes a protective film layer attached to the heating material; and The bus bar heating device further includes a bus bar coupling part that is disposed around the plurality of heating parts and fixedly coupled to the protective film layer and the bus bar, thereby maintaining contact between the plurality of heating parts and the plurality of bus bars.

8. The bus bar heating device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The bus bar coupling part is welded to the bus bar.

9. The bus bar heating device according to claim 8, wherein, The bus bar coupling part includes a metal layer formed of a metal material, one side of the metal layer is welded to the bus bar, and the other side of the metal layer is attached to the protective film layer.

10. The bus bar heating device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The bus bar coupling part includes a double-sided adhesive tape, one side of the double-sided adhesive tape is fixedly attached to the bus bar and the other side of the double-sided adhesive tape is fixedly attached to the protective film layer.

11. The bus bar heating device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bus bar heating device further includes a plurality of terminal parts that are electrically coupled to the bus bar to supply electric energy to the plurality of heating parts.

12. The bus bar heating device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bus bar heating device further includes a switch part that is configured to supply current to the plurality of heating materials to heat the plurality of heating materials when the temperature of the battery module is lower than a predetermined reference temperature, and block the current supplied to the plurality of heating materials when the temperature of the battery module is higher than or equal to the reference temperature.

13. The bus bar heating device according to claim 12, characterized in that, The switch part is accommodated in one of the one or more connection parts.

14. A battery module, characterized in that, The battery module includes: A plurality of battery cells; A plurality of bus bars that electrically connect the plurality of battery cells; and A bus bar heating device including a heating material heated by electric energy, a plurality of heating parts that are in contact with the plurality of bus bars to heat the plurality of bus bars, and one or more connection parts that electrically connect the plurality of heating parts.

15. The battery module according to claim 14, characterized in that, Each of the plurality of bus bars includes: A first cell coupling part electrically coupled to one of the plurality of battery cells; A second cell coupling part electrically coupled to another one of the plurality of battery cells; and An intermediate part located between the first cell coupling part and the second cell coupling part and in contact with the heating part.

16. The battery module according to claim 14, wherein The plurality of battery cells are arranged in a row in one direction; The bus bar heating device is provided as a pair of bus bar heating devices; and The pair of bus bar heating devices are spaced apart from each other and extend in the one direction.

17. The battery module according to claim 16, wherein, The battery module further includes a flexible printed circuit assembly, the flexible printed circuit assembly including: a voltage sensor for measuring the voltage of the plurality of bus bars; a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the plurality of battery cells; and a control line electrically connecting the voltage sensor and the temperature sensor to a battery management system.

18. The battery module according to claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of battery cells includes a cell exhaust port for discharging gas from the inside of the cell to the outside; and the cell exhaust port is located in one surface of the cell that does not face the flexible printed circuit assembly.

19. The battery module according to claim 14, wherein, The heating material is formed using carbon nanotubes.

20. The battery module according to claim 14, wherein, The plurality of heating portions and the one or more connection portions are alternately arranged.

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