Cell management controller for a battery module

Abstract

cell management controller (16) for a battery module (10) with several battery cells (12) arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction (13) of the battery module, comprising: two rows of multiple cell connectors (18) along the longitudinal direction (13) of the battery module (10) for electrically connecting cell terminals of different battery cells (12), wherein at least some of the multiple cell connectors (18) each have at least one signal source (20, 22); several conductors (24) to the signal line, each of which is coupled to a signal source (20, 22) at one of the several cell connectors (18); and an electronic unit (30) arranged in an end region of the battery module (10) facing a longitudinal end face (28) between the cell connector rows and extending over less than half the length of the battery module (10), wherein the electronic unit (30) has a printed circuit board (32) on which a signal management circuit (34) is mounted and which has several electrical contacts (38) for electrically connecting the signal management circuit (34) to one of the several conductors (24), wherein the electronic unit (30) further comprises a connection socket (40) for inserting the circuit board (32), which has on its edge facing away from the battery module end face (28) a socket (42) for connecting all conductors (24) therein to the electrical contacts (38) of the circuit board (32) and has at least one guide rail (44) for sliding the circuit board (32) from the battery module end face (28) towards the socket (42); the multiple electrical contacts (38) of the circuit board (32) of the electronic unit (30) are all arranged on the edge of the circuit board (32) facing the socket (42), so that when the circuit board (32) is inserted into the connector (40) they also protrude into the socket (42) at the end; and the several conductors (24), each of which is coupled to a signal source (20, 22) at one of the several cell connectors (18), are simple conductors for the signal line that can be directly coupled to the signal sources (20, 22).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cell management controller (CMC) for a battery module with a plurality of battery cells and a battery module with such a cell management controller.

[0002] Cell management controllers (CMCs), which monitor the individual battery cells of the battery module to perform tasks such as charging, balancing voltages and charge states, temperature control, etc., require a cell contact system to contact the battery cells and obtain corresponding measurement signals for the potentials and temperatures of the battery cells, as well as an electronic system for recording and evaluating the measurement signals received from the cell contact system. The cell contact system typically contains a row of several cell connectors on each of the two long sides of the battery module for electrically connecting the cell terminals of different battery cells. Signal sources are also provided at the cell connectors.The electronic system typically includes a printed circuit board arranged between the two rows of cell connectors along the entire length of the battery module. It contains a signal management circuit for evaluating the measurement signals or, usually, a connection interface to an external signal management circuit, as well as several signal lines, each for transmitting measured values ​​from one of the several cell connectors to the signal management circuit or the connection interface. Conventional cell management controllers usually require significant manufacturing and assembly effort for installing the printed circuit board and connecting the signal sources to the signal line system formed by the printed circuit board.

[0003] EP 3 226 342 B1, for example, discloses a cell management controller with an electronics unit only in one end region facing the longitudinal end face between the cell connector rows. Furthermore, DE 10 2013 207 357 A1, for example, discloses a cell management controller in which several simple conductors are provided for signal transmission from the signal sources to the electronics unit without integration into a further printed circuit board.

[0004] It is the object of the present invention to provide a cell management controller with a compact and reliable design in which the electronic system can be installed as simply and reliably as possible and, if necessary, can also be maintained, dismantled and replaced simply and reliably.

[0005] This object is achieved by the cell management controller defined in independent claim 1. Particularly advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0006] The cell management controller according to the invention for a battery module with a plurality of battery cells arranged next to one another in the longitudinal direction of the battery module has two rows of a plurality of cell connectors along the longitudinal direction of the battery module for electrically connecting cell terminals of different battery cells, wherein at least some of the plurality of cell connectors each have at least one signal source; a plurality of conductors for signal conduction, each coupled to a signal source on one of the plurality of cell connectors; and an electronics unit arranged in an end region of the battery module facing a longitudinal end face between the cell connector rows and extending over less than half the length of the battery module, wherein the electronics unit has a printed circuit board,on which a signal management circuit is mounted and which has a plurality of electrical contacts, each for electrically connecting the signal management circuit to one of the plurality of conductors. According to the claimed invention, this electronic unit further comprises a connection socket for inserting the printed circuit board, which has, on its edge facing away from the battery module front side, a socket for connecting all conductors therein to the electrical contacts of the printed circuit board and has at least one guide rail for inserting the printed circuit board from the battery module front side towards the socket. Furthermore, according to the claimed invention, the plurality of electrical contacts of the printed circuit board of the electronic unit are all arranged on the edge of the printed circuit board facing the socket, so that when the printed circuit board is inserted into the connection socket, they also extend into the socket at the end; and the plurality of conductors,which are each coupled to a signal source at one of the several cell connectors, are simple conductors for signal conduction that can be coupled directly to the signal sources.,

[0007] The arrangement of the electronics unit in the end region of the battery module facing the longitudinal end face means that the electronics unit is only located in the end region, i.e., it does not extend over the entire length of the battery module as is usually the case with conventional systems. In particular, the electronics unit extends over less than half the length of the battery module, for example, only about a third or a quarter of the length of the battery module. In this respect, the dimensions of the electronics unit are also somewhat adapted to the respective variant of the battery module, in particular to the number of cell connectors and the number of existing signal sources in order to be able to receive and evaluate the corresponding number of measurement signals. The electronics unit can generally be combined with any basic construction of the cell connectors, any number of signal sources, and any dimensions of the battery module (i.e.,In particular, the number and size of the battery cells). As signal sources, preferably all or at least a majority of the cell connectors each have a voltage tapping point for measuring the voltage of the battery cells, and at least a few or all of the cell connectors are equipped with a sensor. The sensor is preferably a temperature sensor (e.g., NTC resistor or NTC thermistor) for measuring the temperature of the battery cells, but other sensors (e.g., pressure, etc.) can also be provided alternatively or additionally.

[0008] The inventive cell management controller concept has several advantages. Since no large circuit board is required running the entire length of the battery module and the signal management circuit is integrated into the electronics unit within the battery module, the cell management controller and consequently the battery module are designed to be compact. Since the signal line system does not contain a circuit board with integrated signal lines that are complicatedly connected to the signal sources at the cell connectors via special connecting elements, but instead consists of simple signal line conductors that can be directly connected to the signal sources of the cell connectors and easily connected to the electrical contacts of the circuit board of the integrated electronics unit via the socket, the cell management controller is easier to manufacture and assemble in the battery module.And since the electronics unit is located in one end area of ​​the battery module and has a connection socket for inserting the printed circuit board with the signal management circuit and the electrical contacts, this electrical evaluation system (printed circuit board with signal management circuit and electrical contacts) can, on the one hand, be easily and reliably integrated into the battery module and, on the other hand, enable easy maintenance, removal, and replacement of this electrical evaluation system.

[0009] According to the invention, the connection socket of the electronics unit has at least one guide rail for inserting the circuit board from the battery module front side towards the socket. Preferably, two guide rails are provided, each extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the battery module, and the at least one guide rail is preferably positioned adjacent to one of the two cell connector rows. Preferably, the connection socket of the electronics unit additionally has at least one snap hook on its end region facing the battery module front side for holding the fully inserted circuit board in the connection socket. The use of the guide rails and optionally also the snap hooks supports the simple and reliable installation of the electrical evaluation system in the battery module.In order to also support easy maintenance, removal and replacement of this electrical evaluation system, the at least one snap hook is preferably movable and accessible from the battery module front side in order to release and pull out the circuit board from the connection socket.

[0010] In one embodiment of the invention, the connection socket of the electronics unit further comprises a cover on the upper side facing away from the battery cells. This cover serves to protect the electronic components of the electronics unit. The cover can, for example, be clamped onto the connection socket, in particular onto its guide rails. Optionally, the cover of the connection socket of the electronics unit can be integrated into a housing cover of a battery module housing.

[0011] The plurality of cell connectors preferably each have two contact areas, each connected to a cell terminal of a battery cell, and an elastic compensation area between the two contact areas. The signal sources are then arranged at one of the two contact areas of the respective cell connector.

[0012] The electronics unit of the cell management controller preferably further comprises a connection interface mounted on the circuit board, which is connected to the signal management circuit and to which an external battery module controller can be connected. The battery module controller serves, for example, to carry out charging processes, balancing voltages and charge states, temperature control processes, such as cooling processes, etc., at least partially dependent on the measured values ​​obtained by the signal management circuit of the electronics unit.

[0013] The invention also relates to a battery module comprising a plurality of battery cells and a cell management controller of the invention described above. This battery module can achieve the same advantages as those explained above in connection with the cell management controller of the invention.

[0014] The battery cells are connected to one another via the cell connectors of the cell management controller and can be connected to a consumer or a charging system via an electrical connection of the battery module. The battery cells and the cell management controller are preferably both housed in a module housing (typically with a base plate, side walls along the longitudinal direction, and a housing cover). The invention is not limited to a specific type, number, size, or arrangement of the multiple battery cells. The invention is particularly applicable to Li-ion battery modules.

[0015] The battery module typically also includes at least one battery module controller for operating the battery module, which controller is connected to the electronics unit of the cell management controller. The battery module controller performs, for example, charging processes, balancing of voltages and charge states, temperature control processes, particularly cooling processes, and the like, at least partially dependent on the measurement signals received by the cell management controller.

[0016] In one embodiment of the invention, the cell management controller is arranged on a support plate above the battery cells. In this case, the connection socket of the electronics unit is preferably mounted on this support plate. The support plate also preferably has at least one ventilation opening (e.g., in the form of several holes or a gap) to enable cooling of the battery cells.

[0017] The invention is advantageously applicable to battery modules for vehicles, in particular electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, and in particular motor vehicles and motorcycles, as well as for energy storage systems and other electrical devices (e.g., electronic household appliances). The invention is also particularly applicable to lithium-ion battery modules.

[0018] The subject matter of the invention is defined by the appended claims. The above and other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of preferred, non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings show, mostly schematically: Fig. 1 is a perspective top view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 a more detailed top view of the cell management controller for the battery module of Fig. 1 according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 a perspective partial plan view of Fig. 2 with the circuit board not yet inserted; Fig. 4 a perspective partial plan view of Fig. 2 with inserted circuit board; and Fig. 5 a perspective partial top view of the cell management controller of Fig. 2 with an added cover.

[0019] Referring to Fig. 1 to 5, an exemplary embodiment of a battery module with a cell management controller according to the invention is explained.

[0020] The battery module 10 has a plurality of battery cells (e.g. Li-ion battery cells) 12. In this embodiment, the battery cells 12 are arranged in the longitudinal direction 13 of the battery module 10 (top-bottom direction of Fig. 1) arranged side by side and each have a negative connection in the Fig. 1 left or right end area and a positive connection in the Fig. 1 right or left end region, wherein the negative and positive terminals of the battery cells 12 are arranged alternately, so that a negative terminal of a battery cell is located next to a positive terminal of an adjacent battery cell.

[0021] The battery module 10 further comprises a cell management controller (CMC) 16, which is arranged above the battery cells 12, preferably on a carrier plate 14. The battery cells 12, together with the cell management controller 16, are typically arranged in a module housing (not shown). As shown in Fig. 1, the support plate 14 preferably also has some holes as ventilation openings 26 to support a cooling process of the battery cells 12 located thereunder.

[0022] The cell management controller 16 has a plurality of cell connectors 18 that form a power line system. In this exemplary embodiment, the cell connectors 18 each have two contact areas 18a, 18b and a preferably elastic compensation area 18c between the two contact areas 18a, 18b. The cell connectors 18 are mounted on the battery cells 12 in two rows along the longitudinal direction 13 of the battery module 10 such that they each couple the negative terminal of a battery cell 12 to the positive terminal of an adjacent battery cell 12 via their two contact areas 18a, 18b, resulting in a series connection of the battery cells 12 in the battery module 10. The battery cells 12 can also be connected to a consumer or a charging system via an electrical connection of the battery module 10.

[0023] As in Fig. 1 and Fig. As shown in Figure 2, this cell management controller 16 contains two types of signal sources. Firstly, all (optionally only a majority of) cell connectors 18 each have a voltage tap 20 as a first type of signal source for measuring the voltage of the battery cells 12. Furthermore, a few (optionally also all) cell connectors 18 each have a sensor 22 as a second type of signal source for measuring parameters of the battery cells 12. The sensors 22 are, for example, temperature sensors, for example in the form of an NTC resistor or an NTC thermistor, optionally in SMD version.

[0024] A conductor 24 for signal conduction is coupled to each of the signal sources 20, 22 at the cell connectors 18, wherein the coupling can be carried out directly, i.e., without additional connecting elements. These conductors 24 for signal conduction each run to an electronic unit 30 of the cell management controller 16 integrated in the battery module 10. The electronic unit 30 is located in an end region of the battery module 10, which faces an end face 28 of the battery module in the longitudinal direction 13 of the battery module (top in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). In this exemplary embodiment, this electronic unit 30 extends, for example, only just over a third of the length of the battery module 10. The structure and functioning of this electronic unit 30 are particularly shown in the partial views of Fig. 3 to 5 illustrates.

[0025] The conductor 24 can be embodied, for example, as a wire, in particular as an insulated or uninsulated wire. Alternatively, the conductor 24 can be embodied as a conductor track, a cable, a stranded wire, a conductive print, etc.

[0026] The electronics unit 30 has a (preferably rigid and preferably substantially rectangular) printed circuit board 32 on which a signal management circuit 34 is mounted. Also mounted on the printed circuit board 32 is a connection interface 36, which is connected to the signal management circuit 34 and to which an external battery module controller can be connected. This controller carries out, for example, charging processes, balancing of voltages and charge states, temperature control processes, such as cooling processes, and the like, at least partially dependent on the measurement signals received by the cell management controller 16. The printed circuit board 32 also has a plurality of electrical contacts 38, through which the signal management circuit 34 can be connected to the conductors 24 for signal conduction in order to receive and evaluate the measurement signals from the signal sources 20, 22.

[0027] As particularly in Fig. 3, the electronics unit 30 also has a connection socket 40 for inserting the printed circuit board 32, which is mounted on the carrier plate 14. This connection socket 40 preferably has two guide rails 44 and two snap hooks 46. The two guide rails 44 run in the longitudinal direction 13 of the battery module 10 on the edges of the connection socket 40 facing the cell connector rows. The two snap hooks 46 are located close to the end face 28 of the battery module 10 and close to the inner sides of the two guide rails 44. The connection socket 40 is thus open at the end face 28 of the battery module 10, so that the printed circuit board 32 can be inserted into the connection socket 40 from outside this end face 28. When the printed circuit board 32 is fully inserted, the printed circuit board 32 is held in the connection socket 40 by the snap hooks 46 (see Fig. 4). As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 4, the snap hooks 46 are accessible from the front side 28 when the printed circuit board 32 is inserted and held in place. Since the snap hooks 46 are movable, the printed circuit board 32 can be pulled out of the connection socket 40 again, for example, to perform maintenance and to remove or replace the printed circuit board 32 if necessary.

[0028] As particularly in Fig. 2 to 4, the connection socket 40 has at its edge facing away from the front side 28 of the battery module 10 (bottom in Fig. 2 or left in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4) a socket 42. The conductors 24 for the signal line all extend into this socket 42 with their ends. The electrical contacts 38 are arranged on the edge of the printed circuit board 32 facing this socket 42, so that when the printed circuit board 32 is inserted into the connection socket 40, they also extend into the socket 42 at the end. In this way, within the socket 42, all conductors 24 are each connected to an electrical contact 38 of the printed circuit board 32, so that the printed circuit board 32 and thus its signal management circuit 34 receive the measurement signals from all signal sources 20, 22 at the cell connectors 18.

[0029] As in Fig. 1 and Fig. 5, the electronics unit 30 also has a cover 48 on its upper side facing away from the battery cells 12. This cover 48 can, for example, be a separate element or integrated into the housing cover of the battery module 10. The cover 48 is, for example, only applied to the guide rails 44 of the connection socket 40 after the printed circuit board 32 has been inserted into the connection socket 40, or is already attached thereto, i.e., even without the printed circuit board 32 inserted. The cover 48 protects the electrical components of the electronics unit 30, in particular the signal management circuit 34 on the printed circuit board 32.

[0030] As explained in the Fig.1 to 5, the cell management controller 16, and thus also the battery module 10 with integrated signal management circuit 34, has a compact design. Furthermore, the cell management controller 16 can be easily installed into the battery module 10, in particular due to the simple coupling of the conductors 24 for signal conduction to the signal sources 20, 22 and to the printed circuit board 32, and due to the simple construction and assembly of the connection socket 40 and the simple insertion of the relatively small printed circuit board 32 with the signal management circuit 34 mounted thereon into the connection socket 40. Furthermore, the printed circuit board 32 with the signal management circuit 34 mounted thereon can also be easily pulled out of the connection socket 40 and thus out of the battery module 10 in order to carry out maintenance, removal, or replacement for this electrical evaluation system (printed circuit board with signal management circuit and electrical contacts).

[0031] The described battery module 10 with the cell management controller 16 according to the invention can be used, for example, for vehicles, in particular electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles and in particular motor vehicles and motorcycles, or for energy storage systems or for other electrical devices (e.g. electronic household appliances).

[0032] The subject matter of the invention is defined by the appended claims. The exemplary embodiment explained above serves only to facilitate a better understanding of the invention, but is not intended to limit the scope of protection defined by the claims. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, other embodiments are also possible within the scope of the invention, in particular by omitting individual features from or adding additional features to the exemplary embodiment described above. REFERENCE NUMBER LIST 10 Battery module 12 battery cells 13 Longitudinal direction of the battery module 14 Carrier plate 16 cell management controllers (CMC) 18 cell connectors (power line system) 18a first contact area of ​​the cell connector 18b second contact area of ​​the cell connector 18c Compensation area of ​​the cell connector 20 voltage tap point 22 Sensor (especially temperature sensor) 24 conductors for signal line 26 Ventilation opening 28 Front side of the battery module in longitudinal direction 30 Electronic unit 32 circuit board 34 Signal management circuit 36 Connection interface 38 electrical contacts 40 connection socket 42 socket 44 Guide rail 46 snap hooks 48 Cover

Claims

[1] Cell management controller (16) for a battery module (10) with a plurality of battery cells (12) arranged next to one another in the longitudinal direction (13) of the battery module, comprising: two rows of a plurality of cell connectors (18) along the longitudinal direction (13) of the battery module (10) for electrically conductively connecting cell terminals of different battery cells (12), wherein at least some of the plurality of cell connectors (18) each have at least one signal source (20, 22); a plurality of conductors (24) for signal conduction, each coupled to a signal source (20, 22) at one of the plurality of cell connectors (18); and an electronics unit (30) which is arranged in an end region of the battery module (10) facing a longitudinal end face (28) between the cell connector rows and extends over less than half the length of the battery module (10), wherein the electronics unit (30) has a printed circuit board (32) on which a signal management circuit (34) is mounted and which has a plurality of electrical contacts (38) each for electrically connecting the signal management circuit (34) to one of the plurality of conductors (24), wherein the electronics unit (30) further comprises a connection socket (40) for inserting the printed circuit board (32), which has, on its edge facing away from the battery module end face (28), a socket (42) for connecting all conductors (24) therein to the electrical contacts (38) of the printed circuit board (32) and at least one guide rail (44) for inserting the printed circuit board (32) from the battery module end face (28) in the direction of the socket (42); the plurality of electrical contacts (38) of the printed circuit board (32) of the electronics unit (30) are all arranged on the edge of the printed circuit board (32) facing the socket (42), so that when the printed circuit board (32) is inserted into the connection socket (40), they also protrude into the socket (42) at the end; and the plurality of conductors (24), each coupled to a signal source (20, 22) on one of the plurality of cell connectors (18), are simple conductors for signal conduction which can be coupled directly to the signal sources (20, 22). [2] Cell management controller (16) according to claim 1, wherein the connection socket (40) of the electronics unit (30) has at least one snap hook (46) at its end region facing the battery module end face (28) for holding the fully inserted printed circuit board (32) in the connection socket (40). [3] Cell management controller (16) according to claim 2, wherein the at least one snap hook (46) is movable and accessible from the battery module end face (28) in order to release and pull out the circuit board (32) from the connection socket (40). [4] Cell management controller (16) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection socket (40) of the electronic unit (30) further comprises a cover (48) on the upper side facing away from the battery cells (12). [5] Cell management controller (16) according to claim 4, wherein the cover (48) of the connection socket (40) of the electronic unit (30) is integrated in a housing cover of the battery module (10). [6] Cell management controller (16) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the plurality of cell connectors (18) each have two contact areas (18a, 18b) each to a cell terminal of a battery cell (12) and an elastic compensation area (18c) between the two contact areas (18a, 18b). [7] Cell management controller (16) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronics unit (30) further comprises a connection interface (36) mounted on the circuit board (32), which is connected to the signal management circuit (34) and to which an external battery module controller can be connected. [8] Battery module (10), comprising: several battery cells (12); and a cell management controller (16) according to one of claims 1 to 7. [9] Battery module (10) according to claim 8, wherein the cell management controller (16) is arranged on a carrier plate (14) above the battery cells (12). [10] Battery module (10) according to claim 9, wherein the connection socket (40) of the electronic unit (30) is mounted on the carrier plate (14). [11] Battery module (10) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the carrier plate (14) has at least one ventilation opening (26).

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