Protective device and busbar module

Abstract

A protective device (1) comprises: a first passage area (10) extending in a first direction (X);and a second passage portion (20) extending in a second direction (Y) orthogonal to the first direction, the second direction being an attachment direction in which a connector connected to a flexible circuit board is attached to a mating connector, the first passage portion having a bottom wall (11) and side walls (14) arranged on both sides of the bottom wall in a width direction, the bottom wall having a distal end (13b) which is an end on the second passage portion side, the first passage portion having slits extending between the bottom wall and the side walls such that the distal end is pivotable in the second direction, and the second passage portion being connected to the distal end of the bottom wall and pivotable in the second direction;

Description

Background of the invention 1. Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a protective device and a busbar module. 2. Description of the related art

[0002] Related art technology includes a technology for connecting a connector connected to a flexible printed circuit board to a mating connector. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. JP 2020-021595 A discloses a circuit body with a connector that includes a circuit body having a flexible circuit board with a wiring pattern, and a connector attached to the circuit body.

[0003] It is desirable to improve the operability of a process in which a connector connected to a flexible printed circuit board is connected to a mating connector. For example, in a configuration where the flexible printed circuit board is protected by a protective device, it is desirable that the connector be positioned at an appropriate position relative to the mating connector, even when both the protective device and the mating connector are fixed. Summary of the invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a protection device and a bus bar module that can improve the operability of an operation in which a connector connected to a flexible circuit board is connected to a mating connector.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned object, a protection device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a first passage region extending in a first direction and capable of accommodating a flexible circuit board;and a second passage portion extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and capable of receiving the flexible circuit board, the second direction being an attachment direction in which a connector connected to the flexible circuit board is attached to a mating connector, the first passage portion having a bottom wall supporting the flexible circuit board and side walls disposed on both sides of the bottom wall in a width direction, the bottom wall having a distal end that is an end on the second passage portion side, the first passage portion having slits extending between the bottom wall and the side walls such that the distal end is pivotable in the second direction, and the second passage portion being connected to the distal end of the bottom wall, the second passage portion being pivotable in the second direction;

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned object, a bus bar module according to another aspect of the present invention comprises the protection device; the flexible circuit board; the connector connected to the flexible circuit board; and a plurality of bus bars connected to the flexible circuit board, wherein the plurality of bus bars can be connected to electrodes of battery cells.

[0007] The above and other objects, features, advantages, as well as technical and industrial significance of this invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Short description of the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a busbar module according to an embodiment; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a protective device of the embodiment; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a protector body of the embodiment; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the protector body according to the embodiment; Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the protective device of the embodiment; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the busbar module according to the embodiment; and Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a pivot portion pivoted toward a second side. Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

[0008] Below, a protective device and a busbar module according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the invention is not limited to the embodiments. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include those that can be easily designed by those skilled in the art and those that are substantially the same. Embodiments

[0009] Embodiments are described with reference to the Fig. 1 to 7. The present embodiments relate to a protective device and a busbar module. Fig. 1 is a plan view of the busbar module according to the embodiment, Fig. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the protective device of the embodiment, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a protective device body of the embodiment, Fig. 4 is a plan view of the protective device body of the embodiment, Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the protective device of the embodiment, Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the busbar module of the embodiment and Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a pivot portion pivoted toward a second side. Fig. Figure 6 represents a cross-section taken along the line VI-VI in Fig. 2 was created.

[0010] A protective device 1 of the embodiment is a protective element for a flexible printed circuit board. The protective device 1 forms, for example, part of a busbar module 100. The busbar module 100 is mounted on a battery module 210 of a battery pack 200. The battery module 210 includes a plurality of battery cells 220. The battery cells 220 are arranged along a first direction X.

[0011] The busbar module 100 includes a plurality of busbars 110, a housing 120, a flexible printed circuit board 3, a connector 50, and a protective device 1. A busbar 110 can be connected to an electrode of a battery cell 220. For example, the busbar 110 connects electrodes of two adjacent battery cells 220.

[0012] The housing 120 accommodates the plurality of busbars 110 and the flexible printed circuit board 3. The housing 120 is molded, for example, from an insulating resin. The housing 120 has holding portions that hold the busbars 110. The busbars 110 are arranged and held by the housing 120 in the first direction X. The housing 120 is attached to the battery module 210, holding the plurality of busbars 110 and the flexible printed circuit board 3.

[0013] The flexible printed circuit board 3 comprises a carrier film, a conductive layer, and a cover layer. The conductive layer is arranged between the carrier film and the cover layer and protected by them. The conductive layer is, for example, a conductive metal foil and has a circuit pattern with a plurality of detection lines. A detection line is connected to a corresponding busbar 110 or a thermistor. The detection lines are connected to a monitoring unit 230 of the battery pack 200 via the connector 50.

[0014] The protective device 1 is arranged, for example, at one end of the housing 120 in the first direction X. The flexible printed circuit board 3 is guided from the housing 120 via the protective device 1 to the connector 50.

[0015] As in Fig. 2, the protective device 1 comprises a protective device body 2 and a sliding body 4. The sliding body 4 is displaceable in a second direction Y, being guided by the protective device body 2. As shown in Fig. 3, the protector body 2 includes a first passage portion 10 and a second passage portion 20. The protector body 2 is molded, for example, from insulating synthetic resin. The first passage portion 10 extends in the first direction X and can accommodate the flexible circuit board 3. The second passage portion 20 extends in the second direction Y and can accommodate the flexible circuit board 3. The second direction Y is orthogonal to the first direction X and is, for example, a direction along an end surface of the battery module 210.

[0016] As described below, the protector body 2 of the present embodiment is configured so that the second passage portion 20 is pivotable relative to the first passage portion 10. In the protector 1 of the present embodiment, the connector 50 can be moved in the second direction Y to be attached to a mating connector 240.

[0017] The protector body 2 is connected to one end of the housing 120 in the first direction X. The protector body 2 may be part of the housing 120, engage with the end of the housing 120, or be attached to the battery module 210 or the like in such a way that it is adjacent to the end of the housing 120.

[0018] As in the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the first passage portion 10 includes a bottom wall 11 and a pair of side walls 14. The bottom wall 11 supports the flexible circuit board 3. The pair of side walls 14 are arranged on both sides of the bottom wall 11 in a width direction W. The width direction W is a width direction of the bottom wall 11 and a width direction of the flexible circuit board 3 placed on the bottom wall 11. The width direction W is orthogonal to both the first direction X and the second direction Y. The protector body 2 is attached to the battery module 210 such that the bottom wall 11 and the side walls 14 extend in the first direction X. The pair of side walls 14 face each other in the width direction W. The bottom wall 11 and the pair of side walls 14 form a groove-shaped passage for receiving the flexible circuit board 3.

[0019] The bottom wall 11 has a distal end 13b, which is an end on the side of the second passage portion 20. The first passage portion 10 has a slot 11s extending between the bottom wall 11 and a side wall 14. The slot 11s is formed such that the distal end 13b is pivotable in the second direction Y.

[0020] The bottom wall 11 includes a base portion 12 and a pivot portion 13. The pivot portion 13 is separated from the side wall 14 by the slot 11s. The slot 11s is located between each pair of side walls 14 and the bottom wall 11. The base portion 12 is a region adjacent to the housing 120 and is formed integrally with the side walls 14. In other words, the base portion 12 does not have a slot 11s between the bottom wall 11 and the side walls 14. The base portion 12 is fixed to the housing 120 or the battery module 210 and supports the pivot portion 13 in a pivotable manner.

[0021] A deformable portion 15 is provided at a boundary between the base portion 12 and the pivot portion 13 in the bottom wall 11. The deformable portion 15 is configured to be more elastically deformable than the pivot portion 13. The deformable portion 15 of the embodiment is curved in an arc shape. The deformable portion 15 having a curved shape is more likely to be flexurally deformed than, for example, the pivot portion 13. This flexural deformation is an elastic deformation that causes the pivot portion 13 to pivot in the second direction Y, and is a deformation in which the deflection R of the deformable portion 15 increases or decreases.

[0022] The arcuately curved deformable portion 15 is expandable in the first direction X. Therefore, the deformable portion 15 can displace the pivot portion 13 in the first direction X. The second through portion 20 is connected to the pivot portion 13 and is displaced together with the pivot portion 13 in the first direction X. Since the protector body 2 of the embodiment includes the deformable portion 15, the operability of attaching and detaching the connector 50 to and from the mating connector 240 can be improved.

[0023] The pivot portion 13 has a proximal end 13a and a distal end 13b. The proximal end 13a is a portion connected to the deformable portion 15 and is an end near the base portion 12. The distal end 13b is an end on a side far from the base portion 12 and is connected to the second through portion 20. The pivot portion 13 is provided with a protrusion 13c for positioning the flexible circuit board 3. The shape of the protrusion 13c is, for example, a cylindrical shape. The protrusion 13c is inserted into a through hole of the flexible circuit board 3.

[0024] The pivoting portion 13 is provided with a pair of protective walls 13d. The protective walls 13d are arranged near the distal end 13b of the pivoting portion 13. The protective walls 13d are arranged along extension lines of the side walls 14 and are adjacent to the side walls 14 in the first direction X. The pair of protective walls 13d face each other in the width direction W. There is a gap between a protective wall 13d and a side wall 14 so that the protective wall 13d and the side wall 14 do not interfere with each other when the pivoting portion 13 pivots. This gap is formed continuously with the slot 11s.

[0025] The length of the pivoting portion 13 in the first direction X is determined depending on a pivoting range required for the pivoting portion 13. The length of the pivoting portion 13 is set based on a required stroke length of the connector 50 when the connector 50 is inserted into and removed from the mating connector 240. The stroke length of the connector 50 is a movement range in the second direction Y. The height of the side walls 14 is set such that the flexible printed circuit board 3 does not extend beyond the side walls 14 when the pivoting portion 13 pivots.

[0026] The second passage portion 20 includes a bottom wall 21, a pair of guide portions 22, and a support portion 23. The bottom wall 21 supports the flexible circuit board 3. The guide portions 22 guide the slider 4 in the second direction Y. The second passage portion 20 has a pair of side walls 24. The pair of side walls 24 are arranged on the two sides of the bottom wall 21 in the width direction W and extend in the second direction Y. The bottom wall 21 and the pair of side walls 24 form a groove-shaped passage for receiving the flexible circuit board 3. A guide portion 22 is a through hole formed in a side wall 24 and extends in the second direction Y.

[0027] The support portion 23 forms a first folded portion 32a on the flexible printed circuit board 3. The support portion 23 is located at one end of the second through portion 20 on a first side Y1. In the second direction Y, the first side Y1 is a front side in an attachment direction in a case where the connector 50 is attached to the mating connector 240. A second side Y2 is a side from which the connector 50 is peeled off when the connector 50 is detached from the mating connector 240.

[0028] The support portion 23 is an arm-shaped portion extending in the width direction W and is pivotable with respect to the bottom wall 21. In Fig. 3, the support area 23 is shown in engagement with the bottom wall 21. The support area 23 in Fig. 3 faces the bottom wall 21 and has a gap with the bottom wall 21. The flexible printed circuit board 3 is housed in the second passage area 20 in a state in which it is wrapped around the support area 23 and folded back.

[0029] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the sliding body 4 includes a body 41 and a cover 42. The body 41 and the cover 42 are molded, for example, from insulating synthetic resin. The body 41 is mounted on the second passage portion 20 of the protector body 2 and slides relative to the second passage portion 20. The body 41 includes a main wall 43 and a pair of legs 44.

[0030] The main wall 43 is in the shape of a substantially flat plate and supports the flexible circuit board 3. The main wall 43 has a first surface 43a and a second surface 43b. The first surface 43a is a surface facing the cover 42. The first surface 43a is provided with projections 45 that lock the flexible circuit board 3 in place.

[0031] The second surface 43b is a surface facing the bottom wall 21 of the second passage portion 20. The second surface 43b forms a space between the second surface 43b and the bottom wall 21. The flexible printed circuit board 3, which is folded back, is housed in the space between the bottom wall 21 and the second surface 43b. The flexible printed circuit board 3 is folded back so as to be wrapped around an end surface 43c of the main wall 43. That is, the flexible printed circuit board 3 is folded back substantially in the shape of a letter U, in such a manner that a part of it faces the first surface 43a and a part of it faces the second surface 43b. The end surface 43c is an end surface of the main wall 43 on the second side Y2.

[0032] The legs 44 are inserted into the guide portions 22 of the protector body 2. The legs 44 protrude from the second surface 43b of the main wall 43 in the first direction X. A claw 44a protruding in the width direction W is provided at the tip of a leg 44. The claw 44a is locked by the side wall 24 of the second passage portion 20. The sliding body 4 is connected to the protector body 2 by the legs 44 and slides in the second direction Y.

[0033] The cover 42 is connected to the body 41 to protect the flexible circuit board 3. The cover 42 includes a cover wall 46 and a holding portion 47. The cover wall 46 faces the first surface 43a, and the flexible circuit board 3 is housed between the first surface 43a and the cover wall 46. The cover wall 46 includes through holes 46a and an engaging part 46b. The projections 45 of the body 41 are inserted into the through holes 46a. The engaging part 46b is arranged on a side surface of the cover wall 46 and engages with the body 41. The holding portion 47 is a portion that holds the connector 50. The holding portion 47 is arranged at one end of the cover 42 on the first side Y1.

[0034] In Fig. 6, the protective device 1 is shown in a state in which the connector 50 is attached to the mating connector 240. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 6, the monitoring unit 230 is arranged on an end surface 210a of the battery module 210 in the first direction X. The monitoring unit 230 is fixed to the battery module 210. The monitoring unit 230 may be configured to be removable from the battery module 210. The monitoring unit 230 includes the mating connector 240 that mates with the connector 50.

[0035] One end 3d of the flexible circuit board 3 is connected to the connector 50. The detection lines of the flexible circuit board 3 are connected to the monitoring unit 230 via the connector 50. The sliding body 4 is movable in the second direction Y together with the connector 50.

[0036] As in Fig. 6, the flexible printed circuit board 3 is accommodated in the second passage portion 20 in a state where an excess length portion is bent substantially in the shape of a letter S. In a case where the sliding body 4 moves toward the first side Y1 with respect to the second passage portion 20, a part of the excess length portion of the flexible printed circuit board 3 is fed out. At this time, the sliding body 4 slides toward the first side Y1, and the excess length portion is pulled out from an accommodation space of the second passage portion 20. On the other hand, in a case where the sliding body 4 moves toward the second side Y2 with respect to the second passage portion 20, the supplied excess length portion is accommodated in an inner space of the second passage portion 20.

[0037] For example, the protector body 2 is shaped such that, in a state where the pivot portion 13 is not pivoted in the second direction Y, the connector 50 is completely attached to the mating connector 240. In this case, when the connector 50 is completely attached to the mating connector 240, no load is applied to the pivot portion 13 in the second direction Y. When a force F1 directed toward the second side Y2 is applied to the connector 50 from the Fig. 6, the pivoting section 13 of the protective device body 2 pivots towards the second side Y2. In Fig. 7 shows the protective device body 2 deformed by the force F1 directed towards the second side Y2.

[0038] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the protector body 2 can pivot the pivot portion 13 around the deformable portion 15 as the rotation center. The protector body 2 can also bend the pivot portion 13. When the pivot portion 13 is applied with the force F1 directed toward the second side Y2, it pivots in such a manner that the distal end 13b is moved toward the second side Y2. The second passage portion 20 moves toward the second side Y2 in association with the pivoting of the pivot portion 13. When the second passage portion 20 moves toward the second side Y2, the connector 50 is pulled out from the mating connector 240. That is, the protector 1 of the embodiment allows the connector 50 to be removed from the mating connector 240 in a state where the protector body 2 and the monitoring unit 230 are respectively fixed.

[0039] As in Fig. As shown in Fig. 7, the protector body 2 has a thin portion 13e. The thin portion 13e is located between the distal end 13b of the pivot portion 13 and the bottom wall 21 of the second passage portion 20. The thin portion 13e is thinner than the pivot portion 13 and the bottom wall 21, and has high deformability with respect to the pivot portion 13 and the bottom wall 21. The thin portion 13e is elastically deformed when the pivot portion 13 pivots in the second direction Y and can prevent the second passage portion 20 from tilting with respect to the second direction Y. This reduces the force required to insert and remove the connector 50 from the mating connector 240.

[0040] Furthermore, the deformable portion 15 can be deformed to increase or decrease the opening width of an opening 15a. That is, the deformable portion 15 is expandable in the first direction X. As the deformable portion 15 expands and contracts, the pivot portion 13 can be displaced in the first direction X. Accordingly, the tracking ability of the connector 50 with respect to the mating connector 240 is improved.

[0041] A height WH of the side walls 14 is set so that the flexible printed circuit board 3 can be accommodated between the pair of side walls 14 when the pivoting section 13 pivots. Fig. 7 shows the pivot portion 13 when the connector 50 is located in a space outside the mating connector 240. At this time, the side walls 14 face the side surfaces of the flexible circuit board 3. Therefore, the side walls 14 can prevent displacement of the flexible circuit board 3 and prevent the flexible circuit board 3 from sitting on a side wall 14.

[0042] When the connector 50 is inserted into the mating connector 240, the pivoting section 13 pivots out of the Fig. 7 toward the first side Y1. The elastic restoring force of the protector body 2 assists the insertion force when the connector 50 is inserted into the mating connector 240. The protector 1 of the embodiment allows the connector 50 to be attached to the mating connector 240 in a state in which the protector body 2 and the monitoring unit 230 are respectively fixed.

[0043] As described above, the protection device 1 of the embodiment includes the first through-passage portion 10 and the second through-passage portion 20. The first through-passage portion 10 extends in the first direction X and can accommodate the flexible circuit board 3. The second through-passage portion 20 extends in the second direction Y orthogonal to the first direction X and can accommodate the flexible circuit board 3. The second direction Y is an attachment direction in which the connector 50 connected to the flexible circuit board 3 is attached to the mating connector 240.

[0044] The first through portion 10 includes the bottom wall 11 supporting the flexible printed circuit board 3, and side walls 14 arranged on both sides of the bottom wall 11 in the width direction W. The bottom wall 11 has a distal end 13b that is an end on the second through portion 20 side. The first through portion 10 has slits 11s extending between the bottom wall 11 and the side wall 14 so that the distal end 13b is pivotable in the second direction Y. The second through portion 20 is connected to the distal end 13b of the bottom wall 11 and is pivotable in the second direction Y. The protector 1 of the embodiment pivots the second through portion 20 in the attachment direction, whereby the operability of the work of inserting and removing the connector 50 into and from the mating connector 240 can be improved.

[0045] The bottom wall 11 of the embodiment includes the pivot portion 13 and the base portion 12. The pivot portion 13 is separated from the side wall 14 by the slot 11s. The base portion 12 is formed integrally with the side walls 14. The deformable region 15 may be provided at the boundary between the base portion 12 and the pivot portion 13 in the bottom wall 11. The deformable region 15 has a higher deformability than the pivot portion 13. For example, the deformable region 15 may be shaped to have a lower rigidity than the pivot portion 13 with respect to a force in the first direction X, or it may be shaped to have a lower rigidity than the pivot portion with respect to a force in the width direction W. The deformable region 15 can improve the trackability of the connector 50 with respect to the mating connector 240.

[0046] The deformable region 15 shown as an example is curved in an arcuate manner and is expandable in the first direction X. The deformable region 15 expandable in the first direction X can enable displacement of the connector 50 in the first direction X.

[0047] The busbar module 100 of the embodiment includes the protection device 1, the flexible circuit board 3, the connector 50 connected to the flexible circuit board 3, and the plurality of busbars 110 connected to the flexible circuit board 3 and connectable to electrodes of the battery cells 220. The busbar module 100 of the embodiment can improve the operability of the operation of inserting and removing the connector 50 into and from the mating connector 240.

[0048] The protector 1 of the embodiment includes the sliding body 4, which is displaceable in the second direction Y relative to the protector body 2. The sliding body 4 is directly or indirectly connected to the connector 50 and can slide together with the connector 50. The sliding body 4 can assist the stroke of the connector 50 in the second direction Y. For example, part of the required stroke length of the connector 50 can be realized by a sliding structure including the sliding body 4.

[0049] It should be noted that the shape of the deformable portion 15 is not limited to the arcuate shape shown as an example. The deformable portion 15 may, for example, be a hinge portion formed integrally with the base portion 12 and the pivot portion 13.

[0050] The content disclosed in the above-mentioned embodiments may be implemented in combination as needed.

[0051] In a protection device according to the present embodiment, a bottom wall of a first through portion has a distal end that is an end on the side of a second through portion, the first through portion having a slit extending between the bottom wall and a side wall so that the distal end is pivotable in a second direction, and a second through portion is connected to a distal end of the bottom wall and pivotable in the second direction. According to the protection device of the present embodiment, it is possible to achieve the effect of improving the operability of the work of connecting a connector connected to a flexible circuit board to a mating connector. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2020 - 021 595 A

[0002]

Claims

[1] Protective device (1) with: a first passage area (10) extending in a first direction (X) and capable of receiving a flexible printed circuit board (3); and a second passage area (20) extending in a second direction (Y) orthogonal to the first direction (X) and capable of receiving the flexible printed circuit board (3), wherein the second direction (Y) is an attachment direction in which a connector (50) connected to the flexible circuit board (3) is attached to a mating connector (240), the first passage area (10) has a bottom wall (11) supporting the flexible circuit board (3) and side walls (14) arranged on both sides of the bottom wall (11) in a width direction, the bottom wall (11) has a distal end (13b) which is an end on the side of the second passage area (20), the first passage area (10) has slots (11s) extending between the bottom wall (11) and the side walls (14) such that the distal end (13b) is pivotable in the second direction (Y), and the second passage region (20) is connected to the distal end (13b) of the bottom wall (11), wherein the second passage region (20) is pivotable in the second direction (Y). [2] Protective device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the bottom wall (11) has a pivoting section (13) and a base section (12), wherein the pivoting section (13) is separated from the side walls (14) by the slots (11s), and the base section (12) is formed integrally with the side walls (14), and the bottom wall (11) is provided at a boundary between the base portion (12) and the pivoting portion (13) with a deformable region (15) having a higher deformability than the pivoting portion (13), which is provided in the bottom wall (11). [3] Protective device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the deformable region (15) is curved in an arcuate manner and is stretchable in the first direction (X). [4] Busbar module (100) with: the protective device (1) according to claim 1; the flexible circuit board (3); the connector (50) connected to the flexible circuit board (3); and a plurality of busbars (110) connected to the flexible circuit board (3), wherein the plurality of busbars (110) can be connected to electrodes of battery cells (220).

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