An electrical connector and battery pack

Abstract

The utility model relates to the external connection technical field of battery pack discloses an electric connector and battery pack for the charge-discharge connection of battery pack, comprising: insulating base, the rear end outer periphery of insulating base is equipped with the plug flange that extends outward in diameter, at least two power transmission terminals, are fixed on insulating base, and the front end is the plug end, and the rear end stretches out in the rear end of insulating base, are used for with battery pack total positive pole, total negative pole electric connection, at least one signal transmission terminal, are fixed on insulating base, and the front end is the plug end, and the rear end stretches out in the rear end of insulating base, are used for with battery pack circuit electric connection. Its integrated charge-discharge, voltage sampling or communication function, will be applied to battery pack, improve the charge-discharge safety and controllability of battery pack, improve the market competitiveness of battery pack.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of external connection technology for battery packs, specifically to a multifunctional, compact electrical connector for a lithium-ion battery pack charging, discharging and management system, and a battery pack including the electrical connector. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of lithium-ion battery technology, its application in consumer electronics, power tools, drones, energy storage systems, and other fields is becoming increasingly widespread. The requirements for supporting battery packs are also trending towards higher energy density, higher safety, and intelligent management. Against this backdrop, battery packs not only need to provide power interfaces for charging and discharging, but also sampling interfaces for monitoring the voltage of individual cells, as well as communication interfaces for data exchange with external devices (such as smart chargers and main unit devices).

[0003] Existing technologies employ a multi-connector approach, where separate connectors are used for power transmission, voltage sampling, and communication functions. The drawbacks of this approach are obvious: it results in a bulky battery pack interface, occupies a large amount of space, involves complex wiring, and is costly, failing to meet the current design trend towards miniaturization and compactness in devices. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One of the objectives of this utility model is to provide a novel electrical connector that integrates charging / discharging, voltage sampling, or communication functions. When applied to battery packs, this improves the charging / discharging safety and controllability of the battery packs, thereby enhancing their market competitiveness.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides an electrical connector for charging and discharging connection of a battery pack, comprising: An insulating base, wherein the outer periphery of the rear end of the insulating base is provided with a radially outwardly extending insertion flange; At least two power transmission terminals are fixed on the insulating base, with the front end being a plug-in end and the rear end extending out of the rear end of the insulating base, for electrical connection with the main positive and main negative terminals of the battery pack; At least one signal transmission terminal is fixed on the insulating base, with a front end as a plug-in end and a rear end extending out from the rear end of the insulating base, for electrical connection with the battery pack circuit.

[0006] Optionally, the insulating base is a male component adhesive base. The power transmission terminal and the signal transmission terminal are both female terminals. The front end of each female terminal is embedded in the male component socket, the front end of which is located in the respective socket at the front end of the male component socket, and the rear end extends out of the rear end of the male component socket.

[0007] Optionally, the outer peripheral wall of the male component holder is provided with an axially extending ridge or groove.

[0008] Optionally, at least one outer corner of the male component holder is configured as an anti-reverse corner that is asymmetrical in shape with any other outer corner.

[0009] Optionally, the insulating base is a female plastic shell with the shell opening located at the front end. The power transmission terminal and the signal transmission terminal are both common terminals. The front end of each common terminal is located inside the cavity of the female housing, and the front end is located inside the opening of the housing.

[0010] Optionally, the inner peripheral wall of the mother shell is provided with an axially extending groove or ridge.

[0011] Optionally, each of the aforementioned component terminals has an axially extending axial groove and a plurality of axially extending axial grooves located on the pipe wall at its front end, forming a plurality of lobes capable of radial elastic deformation.

[0012] Optionally, at least one inner corner of the mother housing is configured as an anti-reverse corner that is asymmetrical with any other inner corner.

[0013] Optionally, the rear end of each terminal is an axially extending weld portion, or the rear end of each terminal is bent downward at 90 degrees and the end forms a planar patch portion for surface mounting.

[0014] Secondly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a battery pack comprising: The battery pack body includes at least two individual cells connected in series; A battery management system is installed on the battery pack body and electrically connected to each of the individual batteries, used to control the charging, discharging and status monitoring of the battery pack body; Any of the electrical connectors described above; The power transmission terminal of the electrical connector is electrically connected to the total positive and total negative terminals of the battery pack body. The signal transmission terminal of the electrical connector is electrically connected to the voltage sampling node of the corresponding single cell in the battery pack body, or electrically connected to the communication port of the battery management system.

[0015] As can be seen from the above, by adopting the technical solution of this embodiment, the user can simultaneously establish a power transmission circuit and a signal sampling circuit through a single plug-in / plug-out operation. Furthermore, each terminal is fixed to the insulating base at intervals, maintaining a safe distance and eliminating the risk of displacement and short circuits, thus preventing short circuit risks. In addition, the integrated design reduces the number of components, improves product reliability, and reduces production costs. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and form part of this application, do not constitute an undue limitation of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of an electrical connector using male rubber base and female terminal provided for Embodiment 1 of this utility model; Figure 2 An exploded view of the electrical connector provided in Embodiment 1 of this utility model; Figure 3 A three-dimensional structural diagram of an electrical connector using a female housing and male terminals, provided for Embodiment 2 of this utility model; Figure 4 This is an exploded structural diagram of the electrical connector provided in Embodiment 2 of this utility model; Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of an electrical connector using a female housing and a male terminal (bent downward at the rear end) provided in Embodiment 3 of this utility model; Figure 6 An exploded view of the electrical connector provided in Embodiment 3 of this utility model; Figure 7 , 8 9 are schematic diagrams of the connection structure of the electrical connectors provided in Embodiments 1 and 2 of this utility model (one of which is connected to the battery pack, and the other is connected to the electrical equipment or charger). Figure 10 for Figure 9 AA section view; Figure 11 for Figure 9 BB section view; Figure 12 , 13 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of the electrical connectors provided in Embodiments 1 and 3 of this utility model (one of which is connected to the battery pack, and the other is connected to the electrical device or charger). Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of the electrical connectors provided in embodiments one, two, and three of this utility model on a battery pack.

[0018] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 11: Male component plastic base; 12: Female component plastic shell; 2: Power transmission terminal; 3: Signal transmission terminals; 4: Insert and remove flanges; 5: Anti-reverse installation chamfer; 6: Protruding edge; 7: Groove; 8: Battery Management System (BMS); 9: Raised Rib; 10: Flat Patch Section. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of the present invention are used to explain the present invention, but are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0020] Examples of embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in a detailed description below, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout.

[0021] The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that terms such as "length," "width," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," indicating orientation or positional relationships, are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the drawings and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention 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 limiting the present invention.

[0022] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this utility model, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0023] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0024] This utility model embodiment provides an integrated electrical connector, the overall structure of which is as follows: Figures 1-6 As shown, it includes an insulating base, two power transmission terminals 2, and one signal transmission terminal 3. A radially outwardly extending insertion flange 4 is provided on the outer periphery of the rear end of the insulating base.

[0025] The electrical connector could be used in the battery pack as an external interface. For example... Figure 7 , Figure 12 As shown, one of the electrical connectors in the diagram is installed on the battery pack, while the other electrical connector is installed on the electrical device or charger. Specifically, power transmission terminal 2 is directly connected to the main positive and negative terminals of the battery pack, undertaking the main energy transmission function. Signal transmission terminal 3, as a general-purpose interface, can be selectively connected to the voltage sampling node of the individual cells in the battery pack (for voltage acquisition) or the communication port of the battery management system (BMS 8) (for data exchange), depending on the circuit design requirements.

[0026] After the two electrical connectors are plugged in, the battery pack and the electrical equipment or charger form a high-current charging and discharging loop through the power transmission terminal 2, and form a signal transmission channel through the signal transmission terminal 3, so as to facilitate charging and discharging control and avoid overcharging and over-discharging.

[0027] As can be seen above, in addition to the power terminals, the connector also has at least one third terminal, integrating power, sampling, and communication (selectable) functions within a small connector size, achieving ultimate simplification and miniaturization of the connector. The mating flange 4 located at the rear end of the insulating base provides users with a clear point of force application, greatly improving the mating experience of the connector.

[0028] Example 1: Male component base 11 and female component terminal.

[0029] like Figure 1 , 2 and Figures 7-14 As shown.

[0030] This embodiment specifically discloses an electrical connector with an insulating base of male component base 11, a power transmission terminal 2 and a signal transmission terminal 3, both of which are female component terminals. The front end of each female component terminal is a tubular structure for inserting the male component terminal at the opposite end.

[0031] The male component holder 11 has a plurality of axially extending insertion holes. The front end (connection section) of each female component terminal is located in each insertion hole, and the front end does not extend beyond the insertion hole, so as to connect with the male component terminal of the opposite connector. The live female component terminal is hidden inside the male component holder 11 to ensure electrical safety. The rear end of each female component terminal extends axially from the rear end face of the male component holder 11, and is provided with a wire soldering part for connecting to the battery pack circuit through wires.

[0032] As an illustration of this embodiment, an axially extending groove 7 (or protrusion) is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the male component base 11. Correspondingly, an axially extending protrusion 6 (or groove) can be provided on the inner peripheral wall of the mating female component shell. When they are connected, the outer peripheral wall of the male component base 11 is in contact with the inner peripheral wall of the female component shell, and the opposing protrusions are respectively confined in the groove, serving as a guide for connection and insertion, facilitating connection and positioning, and preventing reverse connection.

[0033] As an illustration of this embodiment, at least one corner of the outer periphery of the male connector housing 11 is asymmetrical to any other corner to serve as an anti-reverse-connection chamfer 5. Correspondingly, at least one corner of the inner periphery of the mating female connector housing is also designed as a matching anti-reverse-connection chamfer 5. When plugged into the other connector (as in Embodiment 2), the male connector housing 11 guides the male terminal into the socket of the female terminal, ensuring that the male connector housing 11 can only align with its corresponding female connector housing in the only correct direction, preventing reverse connection. It is evident that the guiding structure and the anti-reverse-connection chamfer 5 work together to make the plugging operation simple and intuitive, effectively preventing short circuits and equipment damage caused by misoperation.

[0034] The electrical connector in this embodiment can be located on the battery pack side, or on the electrical device or charger side.

[0035] This embodiment is illustrated by setting it on the battery pack side, with the rear end of the female terminal soldered to the main electrode and BMS 8 circuit inside the battery pack.

[0036] When installed on the side of the electrical equipment, the rear end of the female terminal is soldered to the internal cable of the equipment. Its front end is inserted into the female terminal of the battery pack side connector (as in Embodiment 2 or 3) to complete the circuit connection.

[0037] Example 2: Female housing 12 and male terminal (wire bonding type).

[0038] like Figures 3-4 and Figures 7-11 As shown in Figures 1 and 14, this embodiment specifically discloses an insulating base that is a female housing 12, and a power transmission terminal 2 and a signal transmission terminal 3 that are both male terminals that can be inserted into the female terminals at the opposite end.

[0039] The female housing 12 is a cavity with its opening facing forward. The middle part of each male terminal is fixed inside the female housing 12. The front end section (connection section) of each male terminal is located within the cavity of the female housing 12. There is a predetermined gap between each male terminal, and the front end of each male terminal does not extend beyond the front opening of the housing to ensure electrical safety. The rear end of each male terminal extends axially from the rear end face of the male housing 11, and each has a wire soldering part for connecting to the battery pack circuit via wires.

[0040] For example, when connecting to the electrical connector at the other end (the electrical connector of Embodiment 1), the male connector base 11 at the other end is inserted into the cavity of the female connector shell 12 in this embodiment, with the inner and outer walls touching. Each male terminal inside the female connector shell 12 is inserted into the female terminal through the corresponding insertion hole on the front end face of the male connector base 11, and the terminals are in close contact. Power transmission terminals 2 are connected to each other, and signal transmission terminals 3 are connected to each other, forming a power circuit and a signal circuit between the battery pack and the load (electrical equipment) or charger. The signal circuit can transmit, but is not limited to, voltage sampling signals of the series nodes within the battery pack or communication signals of the BMS 8.

[0041] As an illustration of this embodiment, each male terminal has an axially extending groove at its center, making the center hollow. Multiple axially extending grooves are formed on the tube wall of the front end of each male terminal, creating a plurality of lobes. These lobes are circumferentially distributed, arranged around their axial grooves, and can each undergo radial elastic deformation. During insertion, the lobes are compressed and contract towards the center, continuously applying radial contact pressure to the inner wall of the female terminal at the opposite end, ensuring reliable contact and low contact resistance. Therefore, the elastic lobe structure ensures the stability of the electrical connection and low contact resistance, and significantly improves the connector's mating and extraction life.

[0042] As an illustration of this embodiment, the inner peripheral wall of the female housing 12 in this embodiment is provided with an axially extending protruding rib 6, which serves as a connection guide that matches the groove 7 on the outer peripheral wall of the workpiece seat 11, facilitating connection and positioning, and preventing reverse connection.

[0043] As an illustration of this embodiment, at least one chamfer on the inner peripheral wall of the female housing 12 in this embodiment is an anti-reverse chamfer 5 that is asymmetrical with any other inner chamfer. When the male housing 11 is inserted into the opposite end, the anti-reverse chamfers 5 on the male housing 11 and the female housing 12 correspond to each other, so that the two can only correspond to their corresponding female housing in the only correct direction, preventing reverse connection and ensuring smooth and safe insertion.

[0044] As an illustration of this embodiment, a plurality of circumferentially protruding ribs 9 are also provided on the outer peripheral wall of the female housing 12, with each protruding rib 9 distributed perpendicularly to its outer periphery. This is to facilitate the use of the user as a point of force when inserting or removing the parts.

[0045] The electrical connector in this embodiment can be located on the battery pack side, or on the electrical device or charger side.

[0046] When located on the battery pack side, the rear end of the female component terminal is soldered to the battery electrodes and BMS circuit within the battery pack.

[0047] When installed on the side of the electrical equipment, the rear end of the male terminal is soldered to the internal cable of the equipment. Its front end is inserted into the female terminal of the battery pack side connector (Example 1) to complete the electrical circuit connection.

[0048] Example 3: Female housing 12 and male terminal (surface mount type).

[0049] like Figures 5-6 and Figures 12-14 As shown.

[0050] This embodiment demonstrates another implementation of the electrical connector. The front-end insertion principle of the electrical connector in this embodiment is the same as that in Embodiment 2. The main difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 2 lies in the rear-end structure of each component terminal.

[0051] Specifically, in this embodiment, the rear end of each male component terminal protruding from the female housing 13 is bent downwards at a 90-degree angle, with a flat surface mount portion 10 at the bottom end. This flat surface mount portion is directly soldered to the pads of the PCBA that are electrically connected to the battery pack using SMT (Surface Mount Technology). Specifically, the power transmission terminal 2 is soldered to the PCBA pads that serve as the total positive and negative pads for the battery pack, while the signal transmission terminal 3 is soldered to the voltage sampling point pads on the PCB or the communication interface pads of the BMS 8, depending on the current application requirements. The flat surface mount portion 10 at the rear end of each male component terminal achieves a stable mechanical and electrical connection with the PCB through reflow soldering. This design is more conducive to automated production, improves the assembly efficiency and consistency of electrical connectors on the battery pack, and helps save internal space in the battery pack, making it particularly suitable for ultra-thin devices.

[0052] The electrical connector of this embodiment is suitable for scenarios where connections are made via circuit boards (PCBs), such as compact electrical devices or chargers.

[0053] Example 4: Battery pack with electrical connector.

[0054] like Figures 1-14 As illustrated, this embodiment provides a battery pack that includes any of the above-mentioned electrical connectors.

[0055] The battery pack body is connected to the positive and negative terminals of the battery pack via the power transmission terminal 2 of the electrical connector, enabling energy input and output with external electrical equipment or chargers. It interacts with external electrical equipment or chargers via the signal transmission terminal 3 of the electrical connector (such as, but not limited to, voltage sampling signal transmission or communication signal exchange). The connection method of the signal transmission terminal 3 determines the intelligence level of the system: if soldered to the voltage sampling node, BMS 8 can monitor the voltage of individual batteries and achieve precise charge and discharge management; if soldered to the communication port of BMS 8, the battery pack can communicate with the smart charger or host device to report status and receive instructions.

[0056] In this embodiment, the battery pack is connected to the outside via only one of the electrical connectors from Embodiments 1, 2, or 3. This connector is safe, compact, and intelligent. It not only meets basic charging and discharging requirements but also provides advanced functions such as real-time voltage monitoring or intelligent communication through configurable signal terminals, enhancing the battery pack's market competitiveness and user experience.

[0057] The above embodiments do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this technical solution. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the above embodiments should be included within the scope of protection of this technical solution.

Claims

1. An electrical connector for charging and discharging connection of a battery pack, characterized in that, include: An insulating base, wherein the outer periphery of the rear end of the insulating base is provided with a radially outwardly extending insertion flange; At least two power transmission terminals are fixed on the insulating base, with the front end being a plug-in end and the rear end extending out of the rear end of the insulating base, for electrical connection with the main positive and main negative terminals of the battery pack; At least one signal transmission terminal is fixed on the insulating base, with a front end as a plug-in end and a rear end extending out from the rear end of the insulating base, for electrical connection with the battery pack circuit.

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The insulating base is a male component adhesive base. The power transmission terminal and the signal transmission terminal are both female terminals. The front end of each female terminal is embedded in the male component socket, the front end of which is located in the respective socket at the front end of the male component socket, and the rear end extends out of the rear end of the male component socket.

3. The electrical connector according to claim 2, characterized in that, The outer peripheral wall of the male component base is provided with axially extending protrusions or grooves.

4. The electrical connector according to claim 2, characterized in that, At least one of the outer corners of the component mounting base is configured as an anti-reverse corner with a shape asymmetrical to any other outer corner.

5. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The insulating base is a female plastic shell with the shell opening located at the front end. The power transmission terminal and the signal transmission terminal are both common terminals. The front end of each common terminal is located inside the cavity of the female housing, and the front end is located inside the opening of the housing.

6. The electrical connector according to claim 5, characterized in that, The inner peripheral wall of the mother part housing is provided with an axially extending groove or ridge.

7. The electrical connector according to claim 5, characterized in that, Each of the aforementioned component terminals has an axially extending axial groove and a plurality of axially extending axial grooves located on the tube wall, forming a plurality of lobes capable of radial elastic deformation.

8. The electrical connector according to claim 5, characterized in that, At least one inner corner of the mother housing is configured as an anti-reverse corner that is asymmetrical in shape with any other inner corner.

9. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rear end of each terminal is an axially extending welded portion, or the rear end of each terminal is bent downward at 90 degrees and the end forms a planar patch portion for surface mounting.

10. A battery pack, characterized in that, include, The battery pack body includes at least two individual cells connected in series; A battery management system is installed on the battery pack body and electrically connected to each of the individual batteries, used to control the charging, discharging and status monitoring of the battery pack body; The electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 9; The power transmission terminal of the electrical connector is electrically connected to the total positive and total negative terminals of the battery pack body. The signal transmission terminal of the electrical connector is electrically connected to the voltage sampling node of the corresponding single cell in the battery pack body, or electrically connected to the communication port of the battery management system.

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