Electrical connection structure

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical connection structure (10) consisting of an flexible film (1) and at least one electrical conductor path (2), wherein the at least one electrical conductor path (2) is applied to a surface of the flexible film (1) in a protruding manner, preferably a conductive metal is printed directly onto the corresponding surface by means of a direct printing method, wherein the flexible film (1) is formed without a coating and / or covering in non-printed surface regions. The invention also relates to a method for producing the electrical connection structure (10).

Description

[0001] Electrical connection structure

[0002] Description:

[0003] The invention relates to an electrical connection structure consisting of a flexible film and at least one electrical conductor track or contact surface. Furthermore, the invention relates to a manufacturing method for the electrical connection structure. In the prior art, busbars and flexible printed circuit boards (FPCs) are typically fixed between two films by lamination. However, the provision of the corresponding electrical conductor tracks and the lamination using two films is very complex and time-consuming. Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved electrical connection structure and an optimized manufacturing method for the electrical connection structure.

[0004] This problem is solved by the combination of features according to patent claim 1.

[0005] According to the invention, an electrical connection structure consisting of a flexible film and at least one electrical conductor track is proposed. The at least one electrical conductor track is applied in a protruding manner to a film surface of the flexible film, preferably printed directly onto the film surface using a direct printing process with a conductive metal. Furthermore, in non-printed surface areas, the film is formed without a coating and / or covering.

[0006] The advantage of this is that the electrical conductors are printed directly onto the flexible film and do not need to be arranged and aligned between two films. The electrical conductors are printed onto the flexible film according to a predetermined topology or a predetermined path. Accordingly, the electrical connection structure is optimally adapted or designed for a specific application. This also reduces manufacturing costs and material usage, for example. Furthermore, the conventional flexible printed circuit boards (Flex Printed Circuits) are no longer required.

[0007] In an advantageous embodiment, the film has a plurality of equidistantly spaced transport openings on at least one edge for the engagement of a conveying tool and / or openings (12) for contacting a busbar. As a result, the electrical connection structure can be manufactured automatically in a production line or automatically fed to a corresponding manufacturing device and, after processing, conveyed by means of the conveying tool for further processing and / or storage. Current connectors, such as busbars or current collectors, can be arranged in the openings for contacting a busbar and connected to the printed conductor structure. The printed conductor tracks serve for monitoring and connection to corresponding sensors in order to communicate with a battery management system (BMS).Furthermore, the openings are designed for contacting a busbar with battery cells, in particular cylindrical, prismatic and / or pouch cells.

[0008] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a further flexible film is provided and the electrical conductor track is fixed, in particular laminated, between the two flexible films.

[0009] In one embodiment, the electrical connection structure according to the invention is designed such that at least one fuse is provided, and the fuse is a fusible conductor track. The corresponding fuse is integrated into the conductor track as a so-called "fusible trace." In this way, a fuse can be integrated into the electrical conductor track without additional components, particularly during the manufacture of the electrical connection structure.

[0010] Furthermore, an embodiment in which at least one temperature sensor is provided is advantageous. The temperature sensor is, in particular, an NTC sensor and / or an NTC resistor and / or a thermistor.

[0011] In a further advantageous variant, the invention provides that connecting elements are connected to the electrical conductor track by means of a wire connection. This enables the electrical conductor track or the connecting structure to be connected to, for example, a power connection or a continuing line or a consumer. In one embodiment, the electrical connection structure according to the invention is designed such that the film is made of a plastic, in particular a PE plastic. Furthermore, a design is favorable in which the electrical conductor track is made of copper and / or silver and / or copper alloys and / or silver alloys. These materials are particularly suitable for the film or the conductor track.

[0012] The invention further proposes a method for producing an electrical connection structure according to the above disclosure, in which a flexible film is first provided. Subsequently, at least one electrical conductor track is printed onto the flexible film using a printing device. In this case, either the film is guided relative to a fixedly positioned print head, or the print head is guided relative to the fixedly positioned film along a predetermined pattern, or the print head is moved synchronously during the transport of the film in a processing direction. Furthermore, the at least one electrical conductor track is printed onto the flexible film, in particular according to a predetermined topology.

[0013] The advantage of this is that the electrical conductor track is printed directly onto the flexible film. The electrical conductor track is printed onto the flexible film according to a predetermined topology or path. Accordingly, the electrical connection structure is optimally adapted or designed for a specific application. This also reduces manufacturing costs and material usage, for example.

[0014] In an advantageous embodiment, the printing device prints the at least one electrical conductor track using screen printing, flexographic printing, gravure printing, or inkjet printing from the liquid phase of the metal to be printed. In one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that after printing, a further flexible film is provided, and then the further flexible film is laminated to the first flexible film using a laminating device, such that the at least one conductor track is laminated between the two flexible films. The electrical conductor track is printed on one side of the flexible film on which the at least one electrical conductor is arranged.

[0015] The features disclosed above can be combined as desired, as long as this is technically possible and they do not contradict each other.

[0016] Other advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims or are presented in more detail below, together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the figures. They show:

[0017] Fig. 1 an electrical connection structure consisting of a flexible film and at least one electrical conductor track.

[0018] The figures are schematic examples. Identical reference numerals in the figures indicate identical functional and / or structural features.

[0019] Figure 1 shows an electrical connection structure 10 consisting of a flexible film 1 and at least one electrical conductor track 2. The film 1 is made of a plastic, in particular a PE plastic, and the electrical conductor track 2 is made of copper and / or silver. The at least one electrical conductor track 2 is applied in a protruding manner to a surface of the flexible film. In particular, the conductor track 2 is printed directly onto the corresponding surface using a direct printing process with a conductive metal. Furthermore, in non-printed surface areas, the film is formed without a coating and / or covering. Furthermore, a fuse 3 is provided, which is a fusible conductor track. In addition, there is a temperature sensor 4, which is an NTC sensor.The electrical connection structure 10 comprises connecting elements 5, which are connected to the electrical conductor track 2 by means of a wire connection. Furthermore, the film 1 has a plurality of equidistantly spaced transport openings 11 for the engagement of a conveying tool on both edges along a longitudinal extent of the film 1. The invention is not limited in its implementation to the preferred embodiments specified above. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable, which also utilize the illustrated solution in fundamentally different designs.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Electrical connection structure (10) consisting of a flexible film (1) and at least one electrical conductor track (2), wherein the at least one electrical conductor track (2) is applied to a surface of the flexible film (1) in a protruding manner, preferably by means of a direct printing process with a conductive metal printed directly onto the corresponding surface, wherein in non-printed surface areas the flexible film (1) is formed without a coating and / or covering.

2. Electrical connection structure (10) according to claim 1, wherein the film (1) has on at least one edge side a plurality of equidistantly spaced transport openings (11) for engagement of a conveying tool and / or openings (12) for contacting a busbar.

3. Electrical connection structure (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a further flexible film (1) is provided, wherein the electrical conductor track (2) is fixed, in particular laminated, between the two flexible films.

4. Electrical connection structure (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one fuse (3) is provided, wherein the fuse (3) is a fusible conductor track.

5. Electrical connection structure (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one temperature sensor (4) is provided, wherein the temperature sensor (4) is in particular an NTC sensor and / or an NTC resistor and / or a thermistor.

6. Electrical connection structure (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein connecting elements (5) are connected to the electrical conductor track (2) by means of a wire connection.

7. Electrical connection structure (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the film is formed from a plastic, in particular a PE plastic.

8. Electrical connection structure (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical conductor track (2) is formed from copper and / or silver and / or alloys of copper and / or alloys of silver.

9. A method for producing an electrical connection structure (10) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, comprising the steps of: a. providing a flexible film (1); b. printing at least one electrical conductor track (2) onto the flexible film (1) by means of a pressing device, wherein optionally the film is guided relative to a fixedly positioned print head or the print head is guided relative to the fixedly positioned film along a predetermined pattern or the print head is moved synchronously during the transport of the film in a processing direction.

10. Manufacturing method according to claim 9, wherein the printing device prints the at least one electrical conductor track (2) by means of screen printing, flexographic printing, gravure printing or inkjet printing from the liquid phase of the metal to be printed.

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