Battery module and electric equipment

Abstract

The utility model relates to a battery module and electric equipment, and relates to the technical field of power batteries. The battery module comprises a flexible circuit board, an insulating separator and at least two columns of battery cells, any two adjacent battery cells in the same column are connected and conducted through a bar, and any two adjacent columns of battery cells are communicated with each other. The flexible circuit board is arranged between two adjacent columns of battery cells, and two wall surfaces of the flexible circuit board respectively face the two columns of battery cells on the two sides. And the battery cell and the flexible circuit board are at least partially clamped on the insulating separator so as to respectively fix the battery cell and the flexible circuit board. Wherein a connecting sheet is led out from the flexible circuit board, and the connecting sheet is electrically connected with the flexible circuit board and the bar sheet respectively. The battery module provided by the utility model can solve the problem that in the prior art, a battery module with a relatively small battery cell size cannot meet the requirement of an integrated busbar layout space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of power battery technology, specifically to a battery module and electrical equipment. Background Technology

[0002] In the structure of a power battery, the integrated busbar (Cells Contact System, CCS) module is an important component. In use, the integrated busbar module can be directly or indirectly connected to the cell module, enabling not only the measurement of the cell module's voltage and temperature, but also the control of current flow to achieve circuit protection.

[0003] In the prior art, integrated busbar modules typically include flexible printed circuit boards (FPCs) and wire harness structures. The flexible printed circuit board is usually located at one end of the cell module near the platen. The flexible printed circuit board is connected to the platen structure on the cell module through nickel strips and connecting wire harnesses, thereby measuring the voltage and temperature at each cell and platen location.

[0004] However, when using the aforementioned integrated busbar structure, the space required for flexible circuit board wiring also increases as the requirements for battery data acquisition increase. Furthermore, when this integrated busbar structure is applied to battery modules with smaller cell sizes, such as cylindrical battery modules, the cell arrangement is relatively dense, and the end space of the battery module is small, making it impossible to meet the space requirements for the integrated busbar structure. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this application is to provide a battery module and electrical equipment, which can solve the problem that existing battery modules with small cell sizes cannot meet the space requirements for integrated busbar layout.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, in a first aspect, this application provides a battery module comprising a flexible circuit board, an insulating separator, and at least two rows of battery cells. Any two adjacent cells within the same row are electrically connected via a connector, and any two adjacent rows of cells are interconnected. The flexible circuit board is disposed between adjacent rows of cells, with its two walls facing the two rows of cells on either side. The cells and the flexible circuit board are at least partially snapped into the insulating separator to secure them respectively. Connecting tabs extend from the flexible circuit board and are electrically connected to both the flexible circuit board and the connector.

[0007] Based on the embodiments described above, during the assembly of the battery module, a flexible circuit board is vertically positioned between two rows of battery cells. Connecting tabs are extended from the flexible circuit board and overlapped with the battery terminals to measure and collect voltage and temperature data for both the cells and the terminals. Compared to the prior art where the flexible circuit board is directly positioned at the end of the battery cell module's terminals, when the battery cell size is small (i.e., the area at the end of the battery cell module's terminals is small), the height of the battery cell module needs to be correspondingly larger to ensure its capacity. Therefore, vertically positioning the flexible circuit board between the two rows of cells provides sufficient space, thus meeting higher data acquisition requirements while reducing the impact on the horizontal arrangement of the batteries, thereby reducing the impact on the battery's energy density.

[0008] In some embodiments, the battery module includes at least four rows of battery cells and at least two flexible circuit boards, with at least two rows of battery cells disposed between any two adjacent flexible circuit boards. At least two sets of connecting tabs extend from the flexible circuit boards, each set of connecting tabs being connected to a tab corresponding to one of the rows of battery cells on the side of the flexible circuit board.

[0009] Based on the embodiments described above, a flexible circuit board is disposed between two rows of battery cells. Taking a four-row battery cell configuration and two flexible circuit boards as an example, two rows of battery cells are disposed between the two flexible circuit boards, and one row of battery cells is disposed on each of the sides of the two flexible circuit boards that are far apart from each other. Simultaneously, each flexible circuit board extends a set of connecting tabs to each side, and these two sets of connecting tabs are connected to the tabs on the two rows of battery cells on each side of the flexible circuit board. This allows for data measurement and collection of two rows of battery cells using a single flexible circuit board, and further, for data measurement and collection of four rows of battery cells using two flexible circuit boards. Further, when two flexible circuit boards are still used, but the number of battery cells is increased to five, six, or more rows, the number of connecting tabs extended from a single flexible circuit board can be increased. For example, three, four, or more sets of connecting tabs can be extended simultaneously from a single flexible circuit board, allowing for simultaneous data measurement and collection of three, four, or more rows of battery cells using a single flexible circuit board.

[0010] In some embodiments, the insulating separator is provided with at least two rows of receiving cavities, and at least two rows of battery cells are correspondingly disposed in the at least two rows of receiving cavities. Each row of receiving cavities is divided into multiple receiving sub-cavities for accommodating multiple battery cells in one row.

[0011] Based on the above embodiments of this application, a receiving cavity is provided to accommodate the battery cell, which can also serve to position and insulate the battery cell. By forming a receiving sub-cavity, not only can a single battery cell be positioned and fixed more specifically, but also insulation protection can be provided between two adjacent battery cells.

[0012] In some embodiments, the insulating insulating member has a receiving groove located between two adjacent rows of receiving cavities, and the flexible circuit board is disposed in the receiving groove.

[0013] Based on the above embodiments of this application, a receiving groove is used to accommodate the flexible circuit board, thereby achieving the effects of insulation protection and positioning fixation of the flexible circuit board.

[0014] In some embodiments, at least one end of the receiving groove along a first direction is provided with a first opening penetrating the insulating separator, the first direction corresponding to the length direction of the receiving groove.

[0015] Based on the above embodiments of this application, by providing a first opening at one end of the receiving groove, it is convenient for one end of the flexible circuit board to extend from the first opening to the outside of the receiving groove, thereby facilitating the connection of the flexible circuit board with other components on the side of the cell module and reducing the impact on the dimensions in the height direction of the battery module.

[0016] In some embodiments, the receiving groove has a second opening along the second direction, and the connecting piece passes through the second opening.

[0017] Based on the above embodiments of this application, the second opening provided in the second direction of the receiving groove facilitates the setting of the connecting piece and also facilitates the processing of the receiving groove.

[0018] In some embodiments, a connector is connected to the flexible circuit board, and at least one end of the flexible circuit board protrudes from the opening of the receiving groove in a first direction and is connected to the connector.

[0019] Based on the embodiments described above in this application, the flexible circuit board is connected to other components and structures such as the battery management system via connectors to realize the measurement and control of the voltage and temperature of the battery cell module.

[0020] In some embodiments, the insulating spacer includes at least two insulators connected sequentially, and each insulator has at least one row of receiving cavities. Grooves are formed on the adjacent wall surfaces of two adjacent insulators to close and form receiving grooves at the connection point of the two adjacent insulators.

[0021] Based on the above embodiments of this application, by separating the insulating isolation component into insulator components, it is easier to assemble according to the size of the battery cell, making it more flexible in use. On the other hand, it is also easier to assemble and fix the flexible circuit board and connecting pieces.

[0022] In some embodiments, the connecting piece is configured as an L-shaped structure.

[0023] Based on the above embodiments of this application, by setting the connecting piece to an L-shaped structure, it is convenient for both ends of the connecting piece to be connected to the flexible circuit board and the plate, respectively.

[0024] According to a second aspect of this application, an electrical device is provided, comprising a housing and the aforementioned battery module. A battery cavity is provided within the housing, and the battery module is disposed within the battery cavity.

[0025] Based on the above embodiments of this application, the electrical equipment provided by this application includes the above-mentioned battery module, and therefore also has the above-mentioned beneficial effects. To avoid repetition, it will not be described again here.

[0026] Other features and advantages of this application will be described in detail in the following detailed description section. Attached Figure Description

[0027] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the present application and form part of the specification. They are used together with the following detailed description to explain the present application, but do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings:

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of flexible circuit boards and panels in the existing technology.

[0029] Figure 2 This is a partial explosion diagram of flexible circuit boards and panels in existing technology.

[0030] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the battery module provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0031] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the battery module provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0032] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the flexible circuit board and connecting piece provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0033] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the plaster provided in the embodiments of this application. Figure 1 .

[0034] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the plaster provided in the embodiments of this application. Figure 2 .

[0035] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the insulator provided in the embodiment of this application.

[0036] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0037] 1. Battery cell; 2. Connector; 21. First connecting part; 22. Second connecting part; 3. Flexible circuit board; 4. Insulating component; 41. Receiving cavity; 411. Receiving sub-cavity; 42. Receiving groove; 421. First opening; 422. Second opening; 43. Insulator; 5. Connecting piece; 6. Terminal; 7. Connecting connector; 8. Circuit board; 9. Nickel sheet. Detailed Implementation

[0038] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0039] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of this application described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0040] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of this application provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed application, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of the application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0041] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0042] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise stated, the terms "inner," "outer," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly used when the product is in use. They are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on this application. In addition, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0043] In the description of this application, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "setup" and "connection" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0044] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in the prior art, a positive terminal and a negative terminal are respectively arranged on the top of the battery module. A connecting bar 7 is arranged at the terminal position. A single connecting bar 7 is simultaneously connected to the positive terminal of one cell structure and the negative terminal of an adjacent cell structure. Thus, two rows of connecting bars 7 are arranged on both sides of the top of the battery module, thereby ultimately realizing the series connection of the various cell structures. In this process, a circuit board 8 is arranged between the two rows of connecting bars 7. The two sides of the circuit board 8 are connected to the connecting bars 7 through structures such as nickel sheets 9 to realize data acquisition and measurement.

[0045] As data acquisition requirements increase, the required layout size of circuit board 8 will also increase. When applied to battery modules with smaller cell structures, such as cylindrical battery modules, the dimensions between two adjacent cell structures and between terminals will be even smaller, resulting in less space for laying out circuit board 8. This makes it impossible to meet the layout space requirements of circuit board 8 and integrated busbar, and consequently, the data acquisition requirements cannot be met.

[0046] To address the aforementioned problems in the prior art, reference is made to... Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown in some embodiments of this application, a battery module is provided, comprising a flexible circuit board 3, an insulating separator 4, and at least two rows of battery cells 1. Any two adjacent battery cells 1 within the same row are connected and conductively connected via a connector 2, and any two adjacent rows of battery cells 1 are interconnected. The flexible circuit board 3 is disposed between two adjacent rows of battery cells 1, with its two walls facing the two rows of battery cells 1 on either side. The battery cells 1 and the flexible circuit board 3 are at least partially snapped into the insulating separator 4 to fix the battery cells 1 and the flexible circuit board 3 respectively. Connecting tabs 5 extend from the flexible circuit board 3, and the connecting tabs 5 are electrically connected to both the flexible circuit board 3 and the connector 2.

[0047] Specifically, in this application, the insulating separator 4 is partially snapped into the battery cell 1 and the flexible circuit board 3, respectively, thus providing a positioning and fixing effect for both. Simultaneously, the insulating separator 4 also provides a certain degree of insulation protection between the battery cell 1 and the circuit board 2. Therefore, in the specific manufacturing process, the insulating separator 4 can be made of materials such as plastic and resin, thereby ensuring both the strength of the insulating separator 4 itself and its insulation effect.

[0048] Meanwhile, in this application, the connecting piece 5 is used between the flexible circuit board 3 and the switch plate 2. During the specific manufacturing process, the connecting piece 5 can be made of any suitable material, such as copper, nickel, aluminum, or other alloys, utilizing the excellent conductivity of these materials to connect the flexible circuit board 3 and the switch plate 2. Furthermore, the connecting piece 5 and the switch plate 2 can be fixed together by welding or other methods. The connecting piece 5 first overlaps with the switch plate 2 to achieve conductivity between them, and then welding is used to reinforce the connection, preventing the connection from breaking due to shaking or other reasons.

[0049] Based on the above embodiments of this application, during the assembly process of the battery module, the flexible circuit board 3 is vertically arranged between two rows of battery cells 1, and the connecting piece 5 on the flexible circuit board 3 is led out to overlap the position of the battery cell 1 and the battery cell 2 to measure and collect voltage and temperature data.

[0050] Compared to the existing technology where the flexible circuit board 3 is directly placed at the end of the battery cell module, when the size of the battery cell 1 is small, that is, when the area of ​​the end of the battery cell module where the end of the battery cell module is located is small, the height dimension of the battery cell module will be set to be larger in order to ensure the capacity of the battery cell module. Therefore, when the flexible circuit board 3 is placed vertically between two rows of battery cells 1, there is enough space for layout, thereby meeting higher data acquisition requirements while reducing the impact on the horizontal arrangement of the battery, and thus reducing the impact on the battery energy density.

[0051] Specifically, in use, the battery module of this application consists of multiple rows of cells 1 arranged sequentially, with a connector 2 connecting two adjacent cells 1 simultaneously, thus ultimately connecting multiple cells in series to form a cell module. Additionally, lead-out tabs or other structures can be provided on both sides of the cell module for connection and conduction with the external environment. A flexible circuit board 3 is positioned between two adjacent rows of cells 1, and connecting tabs 5 extending from the flexible circuit board 3 connect to the connector 2, thereby measuring and collecting voltage and temperature data at the cell 1 and connector 2 positions.

[0052] Meanwhile, the insulating spacer 4 can fix the positions of the battery cell 1 and the flexible circuit board 3 respectively. Taking the cylindrical battery cell 1 as an example, the cylindrical battery cells 1 are prone to relative movement between adjacent cylindrical battery cells 1 during installation. The insulating spacer 4 can fix the position of the cylindrical battery cell 1. The flexible circuit board 3 is prone to deformation due to its flexibility. The insulating spacer 4 can limit and fix the flexible circuit board 3.

[0053] Furthermore, it should be noted that the vertical arrangement of the flexible circuit board 3 mentioned above in this application refers to the situation where the battery module is vertically upward in the direction of the electrode post. In this case, the two surfaces of the flexible circuit board 3 are oriented horizontally, making the entire flexible circuit board 3 vertically arranged. For example, when the battery cell 1 is a cylindrical battery cell 1, the battery cell 1 has a cylindrical structure, and the electrode post is located at one end of the battery cell 1. When the battery cells 1 are arranged in groups, multiple cylindrical battery cells 1 are arranged sequentially. In this case, the vertical arrangement of the flexible circuit board 3 means that the flexible circuit board 3 is arranged between two rows of battery cells 1, and the surface of the flexible circuit board 3 faces the side wall of the cylindrical battery cell 1. At the same time, the length direction of the flexible circuit board 3 is set to the extension direction of a row of battery cells 1, so that the flexible circuit board 3 can simultaneously connect and measure the positions of multiple terminals 2 on a row of battery cells 1.

[0054] Meanwhile, the above structure in this application is not only applicable to battery modules composed of cylindrical cells 1, but also applicable to square and other irregularly shaped battery modules. In specific settings, the structure and relative position of the insulating separator 4 and the flexible circuit board 3 can be adjusted according to the adaptability of the cell 1 structure.

[0055] In this application, the number of battery cells 1 and the number of flexible circuit boards 3 in the battery module can be set arbitrarily.

[0056] refer to Figures 3 to 5 As shown in the exemplary embodiment of this application, the battery module may include at least four rows of battery cells 1 and at least two flexible circuit boards 3, with at least two rows of battery cells 1 disposed between any two adjacent flexible circuit boards 3. At least two sets of connecting tabs 5 are led out from the flexible circuit board 3, and each set of connecting tabs 5 is correspondingly connected to the tab 2 of one of the rows of battery cells 1 on the side of the flexible circuit board 3.

[0057] Based on the above embodiments of this application, the flexible circuit board 3 is disposed between two rows of battery cells 1. Taking a four-row battery cell 1 and two flexible circuit boards 3 as an example, two rows of battery cells 1 are disposed between the two flexible circuit boards 3, and one row of battery cells 1 is disposed on each of the sides of the two flexible circuit boards 3 that are far apart from each other. At this time, each flexible circuit board 3 leads out a set of connecting pieces 5 to each side, and the two sets of connecting pieces 5 are respectively connected to the tabs 2 on the two rows of battery cells 1 on both sides of the flexible circuit board 3. Thus, data measurement and collection for two rows of battery cells 1 can be achieved through a single flexible circuit board 3, and data measurement and collection for four rows of battery cells 1 can be achieved through two flexible circuit boards 3. Further, when there are still two flexible circuit boards 3 and the number of battery cells 1 is increased to five, six or more rows, the number of connecting pieces 5 led out from a single flexible circuit board 3 can be increased. For example, three, four or more sets of connecting pieces 5 can be led out from a single flexible circuit board 3 at the same time, so that data measurement and collection for three, four or more rows of battery cells 1 can be achieved through a single flexible circuit board 3 at the same time.

[0058] Specifically, the case where four rows of battery cells 1 are arranged and two flexible circuit boards 3 are arranged has already been explained. When five rows of battery cells 1 are arranged and two flexible circuit boards 3 are still arranged, three rows of battery cells 1 can be arranged between the two flexible circuit boards 3, with one row of battery cells 1 arranged on each of the sides of the two flexible circuit boards 3 that are far apart from each other. When the connecting pieces 5 are arranged, one flexible circuit board 3 extends a set of connecting pieces 5 to each side, thereby connecting and measuring the corresponding pads 2 positions of the battery cells 1 on both sides. The other flexible circuit board 3 extends one set of connecting pieces 5 from one side and two sets of connecting pieces 5 from the other side, thus simultaneously collecting data from three rows of battery cells 1 through this flexible circuit board 3. Therefore, data collection from all five rows of battery cells 1 can be achieved through the two flexible circuit boards 3.

[0059] Furthermore, when the battery cell 1 is configured with six, seven, or even more columns, measurement collection can also be achieved by increasing the number of sets of connecting pieces 5 led out on a single flexible circuit board 3.

[0060] Meanwhile, based on the above settings, when a single flexible circuit board 3 needs to simultaneously lead out three or more sets of connecting pieces 5, in order to avoid problems such as short circuits caused by mutual contact between the connecting pieces 5, it is necessary to plan and set the structure and arrangement of the connecting pieces 5. For example, the connecting pieces 5 can be stacked, and insulating structures such as insulating films can be set between each layer of connecting pieces 5. However, the above settings will also make the assembly process of the connecting pieces 5 and other structures cumbersome and costly during actual assembly. As the number of connecting pieces 5 led out on a single flexible circuit board 3 further increases, the assembly difficulty will also further increase. Therefore, in the actual assembly process, the number of connecting pieces 5 led out on a single flexible circuit board 3 can be set to two sets as much as possible, that is, a single flexible circuit board 3 can simultaneously measure two rows of cells 1 on both sides. At this time, two rows of cells 1 are set between two adjacent flexible circuit boards 3.

[0061] Furthermore, it should be noted that the plate 2 in this application can be configured with any suitable structure, as shown in the reference. Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown in the exemplary embodiment provided in this application, the battery cell 1 is configured as a cylindrical battery cell 1 structure. The battery strip 2 may include a first connecting portion 21 and a second connecting portion 22. The first connecting portion 21 and the second connecting portion 22 are connected and conductive. The end of the second connecting portion 22 is provided with an arc-shaped concave structure adapted to the outer wall contour of the cylindrical battery cell 1, and the end of the first connecting portion 21 is provided with an outward convex structure adapted to the end of the second connecting portion 22. The horizontal height of the arc-shaped concave structure is lower than that of the outward convex structure.

[0062] When connecting adjacent cells 1, refer to Figure 6 As shown, the bar plate 2 is disposed between two adjacent cells 1, and the terminal of the cylindrical cell 1 is positively charged and the outer shell is negatively charged. At this time, between two adjacent cells 1 in the same column, the convex structure at the end of the first connecting part 21 contacts and conducts with the terminal of one cell 1, while the arc-shaped concave structure of the second connecting part 22 contacts and matches the outer shell of another cell 1, thereby realizing series conduction between two adjacent cells 1. Subsequently, multiple bar plates 2 are disposed in sequence, thereby realizing series conduction of multiple cells 1 in the same column.

[0063] Subsequently, between two adjacent rows of cells 1, reference Figure 7 As shown, the electrode of one of the cells 1 in one row is connected to the outer casing of one of the cells 1 in another row via a plate 2, thus achieving series conduction between two adjacent rows of cells 1. The specific structure and relative position of the first connecting part 21 and the second connecting part 22 can be adaptively adjusted according to the position between the two rows of cells 1.

[0064] Similarly, when cell 1 is configured as a square cell 1, the series connection of each cell 1 in the same column is achieved by placing the strip 2 between two adjacent cells 1 in the same column. Then, the strip 2 is placed between two adjacent columns of cells 1 to achieve the connection between the two adjacent columns of cells 1. At this time, the specific structure of the strip 2 can be any suitable structure, and this application does not impose any specific restrictions on it.

[0065] In this application, the specific structure of the insulating separator 4 can be configured in any suitable way. (See reference) Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown in the exemplary embodiment provided in this application, the insulating separator 4 may be provided with at least two rows of receiving cavities 41, and at least two rows of battery cells 1 are correspondingly disposed in at least two rows of receiving cavities 41. Each row of receiving cavities 41 is divided into multiple receiving sub-cavities 411 for accommodating multiple battery cells 1 in one row.

[0066] Based on the above embodiments of this application, the receiving cavity 41 is provided to receive the battery cell 1, and also serves to position and insulate the battery cell 1. By forming the receiving sub-cavity 411, not only can a single battery cell 1 be positioned and fixed more specifically, but also insulation protection can be provided between two adjacent battery cells 1.

[0067] Furthermore, when cell 1 is specifically configured as a cylindrical cell 1, the cylindrical cell 1 is typically configured such that the terminal posts are positively charged while the outer casing of cell 1 is negatively charged. Therefore, when cells 1 are grouped together, there is a risk of short circuit between adjacent cells 1 due to contact between their outer casings. Therefore, by separating the receiving cavity 411, not only can the positioning effect of cell 1 be further enhanced, but insulation protection can also be provided between adjacent cells 1.

[0068] Specifically, the insulating separator 4 can be configured as a rectangular parallelepiped structure. During installation, receiving cavities 41 can be vertically formed on the insulating separator 4. Multiple rows of receiving cavities 41 are arranged parallel to each other, and each receiving cavity 41 is further divided into multiple receiving sub-cavities 411. For example, when the battery cell 1 is cylindrical, the receiving sub-cavities 411 can be independent cylindrical hole structures; when the battery cell 1 is square, the receiving sub-cavities 411 can be independent square hole structures. In the specific manufacturing process, the insulating separator 4, made of plastic or resin, can be directly manufactured by injection molding, and the receiving cavities 41 and receiving sub-cavities 411 can also be integrally formed by injection molding.

[0069] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown in some other embodiments of this application, the insulating isolation member 4 may also be provided with a receiving groove 42, which is disposed between two adjacent rows of receiving cavities 41, and the flexible circuit board 3 is disposed in the receiving groove 42.

[0070] Based on the above embodiments of this application, the flexible circuit board 3 is accommodated by the receiving groove 42, thereby achieving the effects of insulation protection and positioning fixation of the flexible circuit board 3.

[0071] Specifically, by placing the receiving groove 42 between two adjacent rows of receiving cavities 41, the receiving groove 42 can be stably positioned between the two adjacent rows of battery cells 1, thereby allowing for the measurement of voltage and temperature data at the positions of the battery cells 1 and the battery pads 2. Simultaneously, by placing the flexible circuit board 3 within the receiving groove 42, the possibility of damage to the flexible circuit board 3 due to friction or corrosion with other components during use can be reduced. This not only extends the service life of the flexible circuit board 3 but also prevents short circuits caused by damage. Furthermore, since the flexible circuit board 3 is inherently flexible and prone to deformation, the receiving groove 42 not only provides space for the flexible circuit board 3 but also restricts its deformation, facilitating its assembly and connection.

[0072] Further, refer to Figure 4 As shown in some embodiments of this application, the receiving groove 42 has a first opening 421 penetrating the insulating separator 4 at at least one end along the first direction, and a second opening 422 is formed on the surface of the receiving groove 42 along the second direction, with the connecting piece 5 passing through the second opening 422. The first direction corresponds to the length direction of the receiving groove 42, and the second direction corresponds to the height direction of the receiving groove 42.

[0073] Based on the embodiments described above, by providing an opening at one end of the receiving groove 42, it is convenient for one end of the flexible circuit board 3 to extend from the opening to the outside of the receiving groove 42. This facilitates the connection of the flexible circuit board 3 to other components on the side of the battery cell module, reducing the impact on the dimensions of the battery module in the height direction. The opening in the second direction of the receiving groove 42 facilitates the installation of the connecting piece 5 and also facilitates the processing of the receiving groove 42.

[0074] Specifically, when the receiving slot 42 is set, the flexible circuit board 3 is connected to the battery cell 1 for measurement and data collection through the connecting piece 5 set at the second opening 422, and the first opening 421 facilitates the connection and conduction between the flexible circuit board 3 and the external battery module.

[0075] Meanwhile, the second opening 422 can be configured as multiple independent openings depending on the number of connecting pieces 5, or it can be configured as a single, integral elongated groove structure. When the second opening 422 is configured as a single elongated groove structure, it can be further directly connected to the first opening 421 as a single unit, i.e., integrally connected at one side of the insulating isolator 4. This facilitates the machining of the groove 42 and the integral machining of the first and second openings 421 and 422.

[0076] Furthermore, it should be noted that in this application, the flexible circuit board 3 is disposed between two adjacent rows of battery cells 1, and the receiving groove 42 is provided to accommodate and fix the flexible circuit board 3. Therefore, the length direction of the aforementioned receiving groove 42 is also the length direction of the flexible circuit board 3, that is, the extension direction of a single row of battery cells 1. The height direction of the aforementioned receiving groove 42 is also the height direction when the flexible circuit board 3 is vertically disposed, that is, the height direction of a single battery cell 1. When the battery cell 1 is set as a cylindrical battery cell 1, it is the axial direction of the cylindrical battery cell 1; when the battery cell 1 is set as a square battery cell 1, it is the direction between the side where the upper electrode post of the battery cell 1 is located and the opposite side.

[0077] refer to Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments of this application, a connector 6 is connected to the flexible circuit board 3, and at least one end of the flexible circuit board 3 protrudes from the opening of the receiving groove 42 in a first direction and is connected to the connector 6.

[0078] Based on the above embodiments of this application, the flexible circuit board 3 is connected to other components and structures such as the battery management system via the connector 6 to realize the measurement and control of the voltage and temperature of the battery cell module.

[0079] Specifically, the flexible circuit board 3 is connected to the battery cell 1 and the battery cell 2 via the connecting piece 5 to collect voltage and temperature data. The collected data is transmitted back to the flexible circuit board 3. The flexible circuit board 3 is connected to the external battery management system (BMS) and other modules via the connector 6 to transmit the measurement data to the battery management system. The battery management system analyzes and processes the measurement data and can also regulate the operation of the battery module.

[0080] Furthermore, when multiple flexible circuit boards 3 are provided, the connector 6 can be individually connected to the end of each flexible circuit board 3 to connect to the outside of the battery module, or multiple flexible circuit boards 3 can be interconnected first, and then connected to the outside of the battery module through a single connector 6. The specific configuration can be determined based on factors such as the internal space layout of the battery module and cost requirements, and this application does not impose specific restrictions in this regard.

[0081] refer to Figure 8 As shown in some embodiments of this application, the insulating spacer 4 may include at least two insulators 43 connected in sequence, and each insulator 43 is provided with at least one row of battery cells 1. Grooves are formed on the wall surfaces of two adjacent insulators 43 that are close to each other, so as to close and form a receiving groove 42 at the connection position of the two adjacent insulators 43.

[0082] Based on the above embodiments of this application, by dividing the insulating spacer 4 into insulator sub-parts 43, it is convenient to assemble according to the size of the battery cell 1, etc. For example, when battery modules are assembled, a certain number of battery cells 1 need to be set according to the capacity requirements of the battery module, and then divided into a certain number of columns according to the number of battery cells 1. By dividing the insulating spacer 4 into insulator sub-parts 43, the corresponding number of insulator sub-parts 43 can be selected to form the insulating spacer 4 according to the number of columns of battery cells 1 when the battery modules are assembled. This can not only meet the assembly requirements, but also reduce the waste of processing costs and battery space, and make it more flexible in use. On the other hand, by dividing the insulating spacer 4 into insulator sub-parts 43, and forming the receiving groove 42 at the connection position of the two insulator sub-parts 43, when assembling the flexible circuit board 3 and the connecting piece 5, the flexible circuit board 3 is first placed in the groove of one insulator sub-part 43, and then the other insulator sub-part 43 is fastened and fixed, thereby realizing the assembly and fixation of the flexible circuit board 3 and solving the problem that the flexible circuit board 3 is difficult to assemble into the receiving groove 42 due to its own flexibility.

[0083] Specifically, when the insulating isolation component 4 is configured as a cuboid structure or other structure, the insulator 43 can be configured as a strip structure. The specific extension direction of the strip structure is consistent with the length direction of the receiving cavity 41. Multiple insulators 43 are interconnected to form the insulating isolation component 4 as a whole.

[0084] Furthermore, when multiple insulators 43 are interconnected to form an insulating isolator 4, the insulators 43 can be connected and fixed using various methods, including bolt connections, adhesive connections, or snap-fit ​​connections. For example, a snap-fit ​​structure can be provided on the sides of two adjacent insulators 43, with one insulator 43 having a snap-fit ​​groove and the other having a snap-fit ​​block, to achieve connection and fixation between the two insulators 43. Simultaneously, since the insulator 43 is designed as a long strip structure, the impact on the strength along the length of the insulator 43 should be considered when connecting adjacent insulators 43. For example, when the connection structure is a snap-fit ​​structure, multiple sets of snap-fit ​​structures can be evenly spaced along the length of the insulator 43.

[0085] In this application, the connecting piece 5 can be configured with any suitable structure. (See reference) Figure 4 As shown in the exemplary embodiment provided in this application, the connecting piece 5 can be configured as an L-shaped structure.

[0086] Based on the above embodiments of this application, by setting the connecting piece 5 in the L-shaped structure, in specific connection, the connecting piece 5 passes through the second connection port, one end of the L-shaped structure extends vertically to the position of the flexible circuit board 3 and connects with the flexible circuit board 3, and the other end extends horizontally to the position of the bar piece 2 and overlaps and fixes with the bar piece 2, thereby realizing the connection and conduction between the flexible circuit board 3 and the bar piece 2.

[0087] Specifically, in order to make the structure of the connecting piece 5 more stable and to prevent the connection between the connecting piece 5 of the battery cell 1 and the plate 2 or the flexible circuit board 3 from being broken due to shaking or other reasons, a fixing groove can also be set on the insulating isolation member 4 when the connecting piece 5 is set. The fixing groove can be set on the inner wall of the receiving groove 42 or on the outer wall of the insulating isolation member 4 where the plate 2 is located. When the connecting piece 5 is set, it can be at least partially set in the fixing groove. The width of the fixing groove is slightly larger than the width of the connecting piece 5, so that the connecting piece 5 can be limited to a certain extent after it is fixed, reducing or even avoiding the possibility of the connecting piece 5 being broken due to shaking.

[0088] Furthermore, it should be noted that the battery module in this application is not limited to the above-mentioned structural components. In specific configurations, the battery module can also include structures such as a cold plate, which can directly contact the end of the battery cell 1 for heat dissipation and cooling. More specifically, a temperature sensing module can also be connected to the flexible circuit board 3, which can be configured as a negative temperature coefficient thermistor (NTC) or similar component. The NTC thermistor circuit can directly contact the electrode plate 2 and other structures to measure the temperature at the locations of the battery cell 1 and electrode plate 2.

[0089] Based on the above technical solution, according to a second aspect of this application, an electrical device is provided, comprising a housing and the aforementioned battery module. A battery cavity is provided within the housing, and the battery module is disposed within the battery cavity.

[0090] Specifically, in this application, the electrical equipment can be, but is not limited to, mobile phones, tablets, laptops, electric toys, power tools, electric vehicles, electric cars, ships, spacecraft, etc. Among them, electric toys can include stationary or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric ship toys, and electric airplane toys, etc., and spacecraft can include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, and spacecraft, etc.

[0091] Based on the above embodiments of this application, the electrical equipment provided by this application includes the above-mentioned battery module, and therefore also has the above-mentioned beneficial effects. To avoid repetition, it will not be described again here.

[0092] The preferred embodiments of this application have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, this application is not limited to the specific details of the above embodiments. Within the scope of the technical concept of this application, various simple modifications can be made to the technical solution of this application, and these simple modifications all fall within the protection scope of this application.

[0093] It should also be noted that the various specific technical features described in the above specific embodiments can be combined in any suitable way without contradiction. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, this application will not describe the various possible combinations separately.

[0094] Furthermore, various different implementations of this application can be combined in any way, as long as they do not violate the spirit of this application, they should also be regarded as the content disclosed in this application.

Claims

1. A battery module, characterized in that, The battery module includes: At least two rows of cells, any two adjacent cells in the same row are connected by a plate, and any two adjacent rows of cells are interconnected. A flexible circuit board is disposed between two adjacent rows of the battery cells, and the two walls of the flexible circuit board face the two rows of battery cells on both sides respectively; An insulating isolator is provided, wherein the battery cell and the flexible circuit board are at least partially snapped into the insulating isolator to fix the battery cell and the flexible circuit board respectively; The flexible circuit board has connecting tabs extending out from it, and the connecting tabs are electrically connected to the flexible circuit board and the plate, respectively.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The battery module includes at least four rows of the battery cells and at least two of the flexible circuit boards; At least two rows of battery cells are disposed between any two adjacent flexible circuit boards; At least two sets of connecting tabs are led out from the flexible circuit board, and each set of connecting tabs is connected to the tab corresponding to one of the columns of the battery cells on the side of the flexible circuit board.

3. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The insulating isolation component is provided with at least two rows of receiving cavities, and at least two rows of the battery cells are correspondingly arranged in at least two rows of receiving cavities; Each column of the receiving cavity is divided into multiple receiving sub-cavities for accommodating multiple cells within a column.

4. The battery module according to claim 3, characterized in that, The insulating isolation component has a receiving groove, which is located between two adjacent rows of receiving cavities, and the flexible circuit board is disposed in the receiving groove.

5. The battery module according to claim 4, characterized in that, The receiving groove has a first opening penetrating the insulating insulating member at at least one end along a first direction, the first direction corresponding to the length direction of the receiving groove.

6. The battery module according to claim 4, characterized in that, The receiving groove has a second opening along a second direction, and the connecting piece passes through the opening. The second direction corresponds to the height direction of the receiving groove.

7. The battery module according to claim 5, characterized in that, The flexible circuit board is connected to a connector, and at least one end of the flexible circuit board protrudes from the first opening and is connected to the connector.

8. The battery module according to claim 4, characterized in that, The insulating isolation component includes at least two insulators connected in sequence, and each insulator has at least one row of receiving cavities. Grooves are formed on the walls of two adjacent insulators that are close to each other, so as to close and form the receiving groove at the connection position of the two adjacent insulators.

9. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting piece is configured as an L-shaped structure.

10. An electrical appliance, characterized in that, The electrical equipment includes: A housing, wherein a battery cavity is provided within the housing; and, The battery module as described in any one of claims 1-9, wherein the battery module is disposed within the battery cavity.

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