Battery connection module

Abstract

Battery connection module (100, 200, 300), with: a plurality of busbars (101) which is provided on a battery stack (10) in which a plurality of battery packs (11) are mounted, and is attached to electrodes of the battery packs (11); a flexible printed circuit board (110) provided on the battery stack (10); and a first electronic component (110E, 110F) which is electrically connected to the flexible printed circuit board (110), wherein the flexible printed circuit board (110) has a side surface section (110B) extending outwards from above the battery stack (10) and bent to be fixed to a side surface (10A) of the battery stack (10), and the first electronic component (110E, 110F) is provided on the side surface section (110B), characterized by a holder (320) to which the side surface section (110B) of the flexible printed circuit board (110) is attached, wherein the holder (320) has projections (322) which are inserted into and engage with holes (10H) provided in the side surface (10A) of the battery stack (10).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery connection module. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] A battery module comprising a plurality of cells is known, which includes a frame for holding and packaging a plurality of cells and a cell monitoring circuit module installed on the frame (see, for example, JP 2014-182945 A). In the battery module described in JP 2014-182945 A, electronic components such as connectors and the like are mounted on a substrate of the cell monitoring circuit module installed on the frame. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In the battery module described in JP 2014-182945 A, the high height of the electronic components, such as connectors and the like, is limited by the large height of the substrate mounted on the frame. US 2019 / 0 391 209 A1 relates to the preamble of claim 1, and further battery modules are known from WO 2019 159 732 A1, KR 10 2020 080 079 A, ​​US 2019 / 0 348 720 A1, US 2011 / 0 027 634 A1, and US 2008 / 0 286 634 A1.

[0004] The present disclosure has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and one objective of the present disclosure is to provide a battery connection module capable of reducing the height of the battery module.

[0005] A battery connection module of the present invention comprises the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are described in the further claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view representing a battery connection module and a battery module comprising the battery connection module, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a battery connection module before a cover is attached to it, and the battery module with the battery connection module. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a side surface section of the in Fig. 2 represents the battery connection module shown. Fig. 4 is a perspective view that represents a state when the side surface section of the in Fig. The battery connection module shown in section 3 is attached to a side surface of a battery stack. Fig. Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing a side surface section of a battery connection module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing a side surface section of a battery connection module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 7 is a perspective view that represents a state when the side surface section of the in Fig. The battery connection module shown in section 6 is attached to a side surface of a battery stack. DESCRIPTION OF THE EXECUTION FORMS

[0006] The present disclosure is described below according to preferred embodiments. This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described below and may be reasonably modified within the scope of its purpose. In the embodiments described below, the descriptions and explanations of certain configurations may be omitted, but it is obvious that publicly known or well-known techniques may be reasonably applied to the details of the omitted techniques, provided that no contradiction arises with the content described below.

[0007] Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a battery connection module 100 and a battery module 1 comprising the battery connection module 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the battery module 1 comprises a battery stack 10 and the battery connection module 100. The battery module 1 is mounted, for example, on an electric vehicle that uses a motor as a drive source, a hybrid vehicle that combines and uses an internal combustion engine and a motor as a drive source, and the like, and serves as an energy source for the motor and the like.

[0008] The battery stack 10 is a battery pack comprising a plurality of plate-shaped battery packs 11. The plurality of battery packs 11 are arranged and mounted side by side in one direction and electrically connected in series. Hereinafter, the direction in which the battery packs 11 are arranged is referred to as an arrangement direction.

[0009] The battery pack 11 is a single battery, such as a lithium-ion secondary battery or the like, for example. A pair of electrodes 12 (see Fig. 2) is provided on an upper surface of the battery pack 11. The electrodes 12 are arranged longitudinally closer to one end face or the other end face of the upper surface of the battery pack 11. One of the pair of electrodes 12 is a positive electrode, and the other of the pair of electrodes 12 is a negative electrode.

[0010] The battery connection module 100 comprises an upper surface section 100A and a side surface section 100B. The upper surface section 100A comprises a plurality of busbars or current rails 101 (see Fig. 2), a housing 102, a cover 103 and an upper surface section 110A (see Fig. 2) a circuit substrate 110 for battery monitoring. The side surface section 100B comprises a side surface section 110B (see Fig. 2) of the circuit substrate 110, a holder 120 and a cover 130.

[0011] The housing 102 is made of resin or the like, extended in the direction of arrangement, and installed on the battery stack 10. The housing 102 accommodates the busbars 101 and the circuit substrate 110. A plurality of openings 102A are formed along the direction of arrangement in a central section of the housing 102 in a lateral direction (direction orthogonal to the direction of arrangement). Each opening 102A is arranged to face a valve (not shown) provided on an upper surface of the battery pack 11.

[0012] The housing 102 is open at the top, and the cover 103 is attached to the housing 102 to close the opening of the housing 102. The cover 103 is a plate made of metal or the like and is extended in the direction of the arrangement. A plurality of openings 103A are formed along the direction of the arrangement in the central section of the cover 103 in the width direction (direction orthogonal to the direction of the arrangement). Each opening 103A is arranged to face the opening 102A.

[0013] The cover 130 is integrally formed at an end section of the cover 103 in the longitudinal direction. The cover 130 is perpendicular to the cover 103. The cover 130 is attached to the holder 120. The holder 120 is attached to a side surface 10A of the battery stack 10.

[0014] Fig. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a battery connection module 100 before the cover 103 is attached to it, and battery module 1 with the battery connection module 100. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the busbar 101 is a conductive metal plate with an oval shape. A pair of mounting holes 101A is formed in the busbar 101. The spacing between the mounting holes 101A is the same as the spacing of the electrodes 12 in the arrangement direction. A mounting bolt (not shown) is inserted into the mounting hole 101A. This bolt is screwed into a screw hole formed in the electrode 12. As a result, the busbar 101 and the electrodes 12 are fastened together, and the electrodes 12 of the adjacent battery packs 11 are electrically connected to each other.

[0015] The circuit substrate 110 is a flexible printed circuit board. The circuit substrate 110 comprises the upper surface section 110A, which is extended in the arrangement direction within the housing 102, and the side surface section 110B, which is extended and bent outwards longitudinally from an end section of the upper surface section 110A. A plurality of openings 110C are formed along the arrangement direction in the central section of the upper surface section 110A in the width direction (direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction). Each opening 110C is arranged to face each opening 102A.

[0016] Here, on the upper surface section 110A, electronic components with a large height above the circuit substrate 110, such as connectors, coils or windings, high-capacity chip capacitors, and the like, are not mounted. Only electronic components 110D, such as battery monitoring ICs, chip resistors, fuses, and chip-type NTC resistors, are mounted. That is, only those electronic components 110D that have a lower height above the circuit substrate 110 than the connectors, coils, high-capacity chip capacitors, and the like, are mounted. Therefore, the height from the upper surface section 110A to the cover 103 of the circuit substrate 110 is preferably equal to or greater than the height of the low-profile electronic component 110D, such as the battery monitoring IC, and the like.

[0017] In contrast, a connector 110E and an inductor 110F are mounted on the side surface section 110B of the circuit substrate 110. A high-capacitance chip capacitor can be mounted on the side surface section 110B. A low-profile electronic component can also be mounted on the side surface section 110B, if necessary.

[0018] Fig. Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the side surface section 100B of the diagram in Fig. 2 shows the battery connection module 100. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the side surface section 110B is fixed to the side surface 10A at one end in the arrangement direction of the battery stack 10 via the holder 120. The holder 120 is made of resin or the like. The holder 120 comprises a rectangular plate-shaped plate section 120A to which the side surface section 110B is attached, a pair of side wall sections 120B provided on both, the left and the right sides of the plate section 120A, and an engagement section 120C provided on each side wall section 120B.

[0019] Fig. 4 is a perspective view that represents a state when the side surface section 100B of the in Fig. The battery connection module 100 shown in Figure 3 is attached to the side surface 10A of the battery stack 10. As shown in Figure 3. Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the side wall section 120B of the holder 120 is a rectangular, plate-shaped section that extends along the left or right side of the plate section 120A. The side wall section 120B extends from the left or right side of the plate section 120A to both a front surface side (side of side surface section 110A) of the plate section 120A and a rear surface side (side of side surface 10A of the battery stack 10) of the plate section 120A.

[0020] In this case, a pair of slots 10B is formed parallel to each other in the side surface 10A of the battery stack 10. The pair of slots 10B extends from an upper end of the side surface 10A along a vertical direction to an intermediate section in the vertical direction. An end section of the pair of side wall sections 120B in the lateral direction is inserted into the pair of slots 10B. Each slot 10B extends or widens from the front side to the rear side in the lateral direction, and an engaged section 10C is formed in the rear section.

[0021] In contrast, the engagement section 120C is formed at an end section of the side wall section 120B in the width direction. The engagement section 120C extends from an end section of the side wall section 120B in the width direction to both sides of the side wall section 120B in the thickness direction and engages with the engaged section 10C of the slot 10B.

[0022] A pair of ribs 10D is formed between the lower end sections of the pair of slots 10B on the side surface 10A. The pair of ribs 10D is horizontal and horizontally spaced from each other. A lower end of the holder 120 comes into contact with the pair of ribs 10D.

[0023] As described above, in the battery connection module 100 according to the present embodiment, the circuit substrate 110 on the battery stack 10 is formed from a flexible printed circuit board, and the side surface section 110B, which is part of the circuit substrate 110, extends outwards from above the battery stack 10 and is bent, thereby being fixed to the side surface 10A of the battery stack 10. A connector 110E and a coil 110F, which are electronic components with a significant height above the circuit substrate 110, are mounted on the side surface section 110B.As a consequence, since only the electronic component 110D, which has a lower height than the connector 110E, and the coil 110F are mounted on the upper surface section 110A of the circuit substrate 110 on the battery stack 10, it is possible to prevent the reduction in the height of the battery module 1 from being hindered by the heights of the electronic components mounted on the circuit substrate 110, and, in combination with the fact that the circuit substrate 110 is formed from the flexible printed circuit board, the reduction in the height of the battery module 1 can be achieved.

[0024] The side wall section 120B of the holder 120 is inserted into the slot 10B formed on the side surface 10A of the battery stack 10, and the engagement section 120C of the side wall section 120B engages with the engaged section 10C of the slot 10B, so that the side surface section 110B of the circuit substrate 110 can be attached to the side surface 10A of the battery stack 10. Therefore, the side surface section 110B of the circuit substrate 110 can be easily attached to the side surface 10A of the battery stack 10, and it can be prevented from coming loose. A separate component for fixing the holder 120 to the side surface 10A of the battery stack 10 can be eliminated.

[0025] Fig. Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing a side surface section 200B of a battery connection module 200 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the same configurations as those in the embodiment described above are designated with the same reference numerals and refer to the description of the embodiment described above.

[0026] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the battery connection module 200 according to the present embodiment comprises a holder 220 instead of the holder 120 according to the embodiment described above. The holder 220 is attached and fixed to the side surface 10A of the battery stack 10 by a plurality of screws 221.

[0027] A pair of bosses 220D and a pair of screw insertion holes (not shown) are formed in the plate section 220A of the holder 220. The pair of bosses 220D are located on the upper-left and upper-right sides of the plate section 220A, and a pair of holes are formed in the side surface section 110B of the circuit substrate 110 to mate with the bosses 220D. A pair of screw insertion holes are located on the lower-left and lower-right sides of the plate section 220A, and holes are formed in the side surface section 110B of the circuit substrate 110 to receive the screws 221. A screw hole is formed in the side surface 10A of the battery stack 10 to be screwed in with the screw 221.

[0028] That is, in the battery connection module 200 according to the present embodiment, the side surface section 110B of the circuit substrate 110 and the holder 220 are fastened together with the side surface 10A of the battery stack 10 by a plurality of screws 221. Therefore, the side surface section 110B of the circuit substrate 110 can be easily attached to the side surface 10A of the battery stack 10, and it can be prevented from coming loose.

[0029] Fig. Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing a side surface section 300B of a battery connection module 300 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 7 is a perspective view representing a state when the side surface section 300B of the in Fig. The battery connection module 300 shown in Figure 6 is attached to the side surface 10A of the battery stack 10. Furthermore, the same configurations as those in the embodiment described above are provided with the same reference numerals and refer to the description of the embodiment described above.

[0030] As in Fig. 6 and Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the battery connection module 300 according to the present embodiment comprises a holder 320 instead of the holders 120, 220 according to the embodiments described above. The holder 320 is attached to the side surface 10A of the battery stack 10 by projections 322 (see Figure 7). Fig. 7) fixed.

[0031] As in Fig.Figure 7 shows a pair of projections 322 formed on a rear surface of the holder 320. The projections 322 are engagement elements that are brought into engagement with holes by so-called snap connections. The projections 322 are divided into a plurality of parts in a circumferential direction by a plurality of slots and are elastically deformed in a radial direction. A base end face of the projection 322 has a cylindrical shape, and a tip end face of the projection 322 is an engagement section with a frustoconical shape.

[0032] The projections 322 are arranged on the lower left and lower right sides of the rear surface of the holder 320, and a pair of holes 10H is formed in the side surface 10A of the battery stack 10, into which the projections 322 are inserted and engaged. Thus, in the battery connection module 300 according to the present embodiment, the holder 320 can be fixed to the side surface 10A of the battery stack 10 simply by pressing the projections 322 into the holes 10H. Therefore, the side surface section 110B of the circuit substrate 110 can be easily attached to the side surface 10A of the battery stack 10, and it can be prevented from coming loose. A separate component for fixing the holder 320 to the side surface 10A of the battery stack 10 can be eliminated.

[0033] As described above, while the disclosure has been described based on certain embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and modifications may be made without deviating from the meaning of the present disclosure, and well-known and publicly known techniques may be combined as appropriate.

[0034] For example, while the connector 110E and the inductor 110F are mounted as a first electronic component on the side surface section 110B of the circuit substrate 110 in the embodiments described above, it is also possible that only the connector 110E, or only the inductor 110F, or only the high-capacitance chip capacitor is mounted on the side surface section 110B. Furthermore, other electronic components with the same height dimensions as the related connector 110E and inductor 110F can be mounted on the side surface section 110B.

[0035] In the battery connection module, the flexible printed circuit board can have an upper surface section that is fixed to the battery stack and can have a second electronic component provided on the upper surface section that has a lower height from the flexible printed circuit board than that of the first electronic component.

[0036] The first electronic component of the battery connection module may include at least one connector, a coil, and a chip capacitor.

[0037] The battery connection module can have a holder to which the side surface section of the flexible printed circuit board is attached, and the holder can have an insertion section that is inserted into a slot provided on the side surface of the battery stack, and an engagement section provided on the insertion section that engages with an engaged section provided on a rear side of the slot.

[0038] The battery connection module can have a holder to which the side surface section of the flexible printed circuit board is attached, and the holder and the side surface section can be fastened together to the side surface of the battery stack by a fastening element.

[0039] The battery interconnect module may have a holder to which the side surface section of the flexible printed circuit board is attached, and the holder may have projections that are inserted into and engage with holes provided in the side surface of the battery stack.

[0040] According to the present disclosure, the substrate on the battery stack is formed from a flexible printed circuit board, and a side surface section, which is a section of the flexible printed circuit board and on which the first electronic component is provided, is extended outwards from above the battery stack and is bent and fixed to a side surface of the battery stack, thereby reducing the height of the battery connection module from above the battery stack. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the height of the battery module with the battery connection module according to the present disclosure.

Claims

[1] Battery connection module (100, 200, 300), with: a plurality of busbars (101) which is provided on a battery stack (10) in which a plurality of battery packs (11) are mounted, and is attached to electrodes of the battery packs (11); a flexible printed circuit board (110) provided on the battery stack (10); and a first electronic component (110E, 110F) which is electrically connected to the flexible printed circuit board (110), wherein the flexible printed circuit board (110) has a side surface section (110B) extending outwards from above the battery stack (10) and bent to be fixed to a side surface (10A) of the battery stack (10), and the first electronic component (110E, 110F) is provided on the side surface section (110B), characterized by a holder (320) to which the side surface section (110B) of the flexible printed circuit board (110) is attached, wherein the holder (320) has projections (322) which are inserted into and engage with holes (10H) provided in the side surface (10A) of the battery stack (10). [2] Battery connection module (100, 200, 300) according to claim 1, wherein the flexible printed circuit board (110) comprises: an upper surface section (110A) that is fixed to the battery stack (10); and a second electronic component (110D) which is provided on the upper surface section (110A) and has a lower height from the flexible printed circuit board (110) than that of the first electronic component (110E, 110F). [3] Battery connection module (100, 200, 300) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first electronic component (110E, 110F) comprises at least one of a connector, a coil and a chip capacitor.

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