Vertical configuration electric battery

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric battery (1), comprising: a first stage (2) and a second stage (3) each comprising a plurality of cells (21, 31) of electric charges each having opposite end faces (21a, 21b, 31a, 31b) and each provided with a contact terminal; the second stage being superimposed on the first stage; at least one first printed circuit board (4) arranged between the first stage and the second stage, the first printed circuit board being provided with a plurality of electrical connection elements (5), each located opposite a contact terminal of a cell; characterized in that the first printed circuit board comprises a main portion in which a plurality of notches (43) are formed, each defining an elastically deformable tab (44), each electrical connection element being arranged on one of the tabs. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Vertically configured electric battery

[0001] The invention relates to the field of electric vehicle batteries. More specifically, the invention relates to the field of electrical interconnection of the electric load cells of an electric battery.

[0002] Electric batteries, particularly in the case of electric vehicles, generally consist of an assembly of electrical load cells, also called accumulators. When interconnected, in series or in parallel, these accumulators make it possible to deliver electrical power, for example intended to electrically power the vehicle's equipment or its engine.

[0003] In this context, when it comes to a battery for an electrically assisted bicycle, the cells are usually juxtaposed to form a single block, which can then be housed in a case that can be fixed to the frame of an electric bicycle, on the main tube, or even at the level of a luggage rack, or even be stored in a bag provided for this purpose. However, this solution is not satisfactory, since not all bicycles are necessarily provided with a fixing allowing the case to be attached. In addition, this fixing may not be sufficiently secure, which requires the user to detach and take the battery with them as soon as they leave their bicycle. Finally, this case has a significant bulkiness that can be inconvenient for the user when riding.

[0004] This problem of bulkiness is also transposable to the field of electric and hybrid motor vehicles, insofar as the space required in a car for a battery capable of giving the vehicle satisfactory autonomy is particularly important.

[0005] In this context, there is a need for other geometric battery configurations, such as vertically oriented batteries. Such a configuration would indeed make it possible to arrange a battery in one or more tubes of the frame of a bicycle, a scooter, or even at different locations on the chassis of a motor vehicle.

[0006] Concomitantly, there is a need for a battery in which the cells are interconnected without a welding operation, in order to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of this battery, and to allow operations for replacing used cells as part of a maintenance or reconditioning operation of the battery.

[0007] There is thus a need for a battery having a vertical geometric configuration and which is simple to assemble, repair and recondition. The invention falls within this context and aims to meet this need.

[0008] For these purposes, the invention relates to an electric battery, comprising: a. A first stage comprising a plurality of electric charge cells, each cell having end faces located on opposite sides of the cell, each end face being provided with a contact terminal; b. A second stage comprising a plurality of electrical load cells, each cell having end faces located on opposite sides of the cell, each end face being provided with a contact terminal, the second stage being superimposed on the first stage; c. at least one first printed circuit board disposed between end faces of the cells of the first stage and end faces of the cells of the second stage, the first printed circuit board being provided with a plurality of electrical connection elements, each of the electrical connection elements being located opposite a contact terminal of a cell of the first stage or of the second stage.

[0009] The invention is characterized in that the first printed circuit board comprises a main portion in which a plurality of notches are formed, each notch defining a tab elastically deformable relative to the main portion, each electrical connection element being arranged on one of the tabs of the first printed circuit board.

[0010] It is thus understood that the arrangement of the cells in stages makes it possible, in comparison with a single block configuration, to reduce the longitudinal and lateral dimensions of the battery and to increase its height, so as to obtain a battery having a substantially vertical geometric configuration, such as a cylinder. In order to allow interconnection of the stages with each other, a portion of the electrical connection elements is arranged on one of the faces of the first printed circuit board and the other portion of the electrical connection elements is arranged on the opposite face of the first printed circuit board. The use of a printed circuit board arranged between these stages thus makes it possible to carry out series or parallel assemblies of the stages with each other.Furthermore, the formation, by means of the notches, of elastically deformable tabs makes it possible to maintain contact between the electrical connection elements of the first printed circuit board and the contact terminals of the cells of the first stage and the second stage without requiring soldering, which allows the replacement of one or more cells when they are worn.

[0011] The term “electrical load cell” means an elementary device, for example electrochemical, for storing electricity, which can be discharged and charged. Each cell may be of the lithium type, for example of the lithium-ion type or of the lithium-polymer type. Each cell may for example be of a generally cylindrical shape, the contact terminals being provided on each end face delimiting the cylinder, one of these terminals being a so-called positive terminal and the other being a negative terminal. The term "orientation of an electric load cell" means the orientation of the positive and negative terminals and the term "axis of an electric load cell" means an axis passing through the positive terminal and the negative terminal.

[0012] The term "printed circuit board" means a printed circuit board, or PCB (from the English Printed Circuit Board), provided with electrical tracks interconnecting the connection elements. Preferably, the first printed circuit board may comprise a set of electrical tracks connecting one of its faces to the other of these faces, so that one of the faces can collect the electrical power stored in each of the electrical load cells of one of the first and second stages and transmit it to the other of the first and second stages.

[0013] Advantageously, the cells of each of the first and second stages are juxtaposed with each other, for example in a matrix, circular or staggered arrangement, in particular so that their contact terminals located opposite the first printed circuit board are coplanar.

[0014] Advantageously, the cells of the same stage have an identical orientation. Preferably, the cells of the first stage and the cells of the second stage have an identical orientation. In other words, all the cells of one of the first and second stages will have their positive terminals arranged opposite the first printed circuit board and all the cells of the other of the first and second stages will have their negative terminals arranged opposite the first printed circuit board.

[0015] Advantageously, the battery comprises a housing in which the first and second stages and the first printed circuit board are housed.

[0016] Advantageously still, the battery comprises an upper distal printed circuit board and a lower distal printed circuit board, each of these distal printed circuit boards being provided with a plurality of electrical connection elements and comprising a main portion in which a plurality of notches are formed, each notch defining a tab elastically deformable relative to the main portion, each electrical connection element being arranged on one of the tabs of this distal printed circuit board. Where appropriate, the first and second stages and the first printed circuit board may be arranged between the upper and lower distal printed circuit boards by being electrically connected to them.If desired, one of the upper and lower distal circuit boards may be connected to or may support an output connector capable of collecting electrical power stored in each of the first and second stage electrical load cells and / or an electronic system. battery management (also called BMS, from the English Battery Management System).

[0017] In one embodiment of the invention, each of the electrical connection elements of the upper distal printed circuit board may be located opposite a contact terminal of a cell of the first stage, opposite the contact terminal of this cell located opposite an electrical connection element of the first printed circuit board and each of the electrical connection elements of the lower distal printed circuit board may be located opposite a contact terminal of a cell of the second stage, opposite the contact terminal of this cell located opposite an electrical connection element of the first printed circuit board.

[0018] In another embodiment of the invention, the battery may comprise one or more stages of electrical load cells interposed between the first stage and the upper distal printed circuit board and / or between the second stage and the lower distal printed circuit board.

[0019] Advantageously, the first printed circuit board is arranged relative to the cells of the first and second stages so that each cell of one of the first and second stages creates a mechanical force on one of the tabs directed towards the other of the first and second stages, and each tab of the first printed circuit board, opposite which is located a contact terminal of a cell of the first stage or of the second stage, forms a spring having a restoring force directed towards this cell. In other words, a part of the tabs of the first printed circuit board is thus folded towards one of the first and second stages while the other part of these tabs is folded towards the other of the first and second stages so that the first printed circuit board is compressed between the cells of these stages.

[0020] Advantageously, each cell of the first stage is axially offset with respect to each of the cells of the second stage. For example, the axis of each cell of the first stage may pass between the axes of two neighboring cells of the second stage. According to this characteristic, the tabs in contact with the terminals of the cells of the first stage are alternated with the tabs in contact with the terminals of the cells of the second stage, so that each tab can be folded by one of the cells of one stage without being hindered by a cell of the other stage.

[0021] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, each notch of the first printed circuit board has a U-shape. If necessary, the notches may be oriented radially, towards a center of the first printed circuit board. In this example, it may for example be provided that the fold lines of the tabs are located substantially at the same distance from said center. Alternatively, the notches can be arranged one after the other, for example along a circle.

[0022] Advantageously, each connection element is provided with a bump made of an electrically conductive material coming into contact with the contact terminal of one of the cells of the first stage or of the second stage. This bump can for example be made by depositing the molten electrically conductive material, for example tin, at the level of a termination of an electrical track located on the tab. This embodiment makes it possible to facilitate contact between the electrical track and the contact terminal in the case where the contact terminal is flat.

[0023] In another embodiment of the invention, the contact terminal of each cell intended to come into contact with one of the connection elements projects from the end face of the cell. In this case, the first connection element may be planar.

[0024] In one embodiment of the invention, the battery comprises a spacer provided with a receptacle in which the first printed circuit board is housed, the spacer comprising a first and a second plurality of orifices arranged on either side of said receptacle, each orifice of the first and second pluralities of orifices being arranged opposite a tab of the first printed circuit board and receiving an end face of a cell of the first stage, respectively of the second stage. Preferably, the receptacle has a shape complementary to that of the first printed circuit board, the first circuit board having for example a corrugated periphery.

[0025] Advantageously, the spacer comprises a first separation member comprising said first plurality of orifices and a second separation member comprising said second plurality of orifices, said orifices being in particular through-holes, each separation member comprising a housing and the separation members being assembled to one another so that said housings come opposite each other to form said receptacle.

[0026] Advantageously, each of the first and second separation members comprises a plurality of cavities each formed in this separation member and coming opposite an orifice of the other of the first and second separation members. Each cavity thus allows movement of the tab of the first printed circuit card, located opposite this orifice, towards this separation member.

[0027] In one embodiment of the invention, the first printed circuit board comprises a central bore. Where appropriate, the battery comprises a central connecting rod passing between the cells of the first stage, passing through said central bore and passing between the cells of the second stage, and clamping members cooperating with said central rod to exert a mechanical force on the first stage oriented towards the second stage and to exert a mechanical force on the second stage oriented towards the first floor.

[0028] Advantageously, each end of the central connecting rod passes through a plate, which may be formed by a wall of a battery housing or by a distal printed circuit board, and cooperates with one of the clamping members to constrain said plane so that it exerts a mechanical force on the stage located on the side of this end and oriented towards the other stage. For example, this force may be exerted directly on this stage if this stage is arranged directly between said plate and the first printed circuit board. Alternatively, this force may be a force transmitted by one or more intermediate stages interposed between said plate and this stage.

[0029] If desired, said end may be threaded and said clamping member may comprise a washer and a bolt.

[0030] Advantageously, said spacer comprises a plurality of peripheral holes, which may or may not open out, and the battery comprises a plurality of peripheral connecting rods arranged around the first and second stages and each passing through one of the peripheral holes. These peripheral rods thus participate in maintaining the battery while opposing axial rotational movements of the stages between them.

[0031] In one embodiment of the invention, the battery comprises an additional printed circuit board extending along the first and second stages and substantially perpendicular to the first printed circuit board, and an electrical connector connecting the first printed circuit board with the additional printed circuit board. Advantageously, the additional printed circuit board can be connected to a distal printed circuit board supporting or being connected to an electronic battery management system.According to one example, the first printed circuit board may include a protrusion extending toward the additional printed circuit board, the electrical connector including a spring blade extending from the protrusion, being connected to a track of the first printed circuit board, toward the additional printed circuit board to come into contact with a track of this additional printed circuit board.

[0032] In one embodiment of the invention, the battery comprises: a. at least a third stage comprising a plurality of electrical load cells, each cell having end faces located on opposite sides of the cell, each end face being provided with a contact terminal, the third stage being superimposed on the second stage; b. at least one second printed circuit board disposed between end faces of the cells of the second stage and end faces of the cells of the third stage, the printed circuit board being provided with a plurality of electrical connection elements, each of the elements of electrical connection being located opposite a contact terminal of a cell of the second stage or the third stage.

[0033] Where appropriate, the battery is characterized in that the second printed circuit board comprises a main portion in which a plurality of notches are formed, each notch defining a tab elastically deformable relative to the main portion, each electrical connection element being arranged on one of the tabs of the second printed circuit board.

[0034] The present invention is now described using examples which are purely illustrative and in no way limitative of the scope of the invention, and from the appended drawings, drawings in which the various figures represent:

[0035] [Fig-1] represents, schematically and partially, a perspective view of a electric battery according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0036] [Fig.2] represents, schematically and partially, an exploded view of the battery electric of [Fig.l];

[0037] [Fig.3A] represents, schematically and partially, a sectional view of the electric battery of [Fig.l];

[0038] [Fig.3B] represents, schematically and partially, a view according to another section of the electric battery of [Fig.l];

[0039] [Fig.4] represents, schematically and partially, a separation organ of the electric battery of [Fig.l]; and

[0040] [Fig.5] represents, schematically and partially, a printed circuit board of the electric battery of [Fig.l].

[0041] In the following description, elements that are identical, by structure or by function, appearing in different figures retain, unless otherwise specified, the same references. In addition, the terms "upper", "lower", "top" and "bottom" must be interpreted in the context of the orientation of the electric battery as it has been shown, corresponding to a normal use of this battery, such as for example when it is mounted in a main tube of a frame of an electrically assisted bicycle.

[0042] [Fig.l] shows a partial view of an electric battery 1, for example intended to be integrated inside a frame of an electrically assisted bicycle, in particular in a main tube. [Fig.2] shows an exploded view of this electric battery 1 and [Fig.3A] and [Fig.3B] each show a sectional view, along two diametrical planes P1 and P2, of this electric battery 1.

[0043] The battery 1 comprises a first stage 2, called lower, and a second stage 3, called upper and superimposed on the first stage 2.

[0044] Each stage 2 and 3 comprises a plurality of electrical load cells 21, respectively 31, the cells of the same stage being juxtaposed with each other. In the example described, each cell 21 and 31 is a lithium-ion type accumulator of cylindrical shape and having an upper end face 21a, 31a and a lower end face 21b, 31b, each provided with a positive or negative flat contact terminal. The upper faces 21a, 31a of the cells of the same stage 2, 3 are coplanar, as are the lower faces 21b, 31b of the cells of the same stage 2, 3.

[0045] As shown in [Fig.l] and [Fig.2], each stage 2 and 3 comprises four cells 21, 31, all oriented identically, the positive terminal being located at an upper face 21a, 31a and the negative terminal being located at a lower face 21b, 31b. In addition, the cells of the same stage are arranged in a square. The present invention is not limited to this orientation, this number and this arrangement and it may be provided that the cells have various orientations, in the same stage or from one stage to another or that the stages comprise a distinct number of cells or have distinct arrangements.

[0046] In order to interconnect the cells 21 of the first stage 2 with the cells 31 of the second stage 3, the battery 1 comprises a first printed circuit board 4 interposed between the lower faces 31b of the cells 31 of the second stage 3 and the upper faces 21a of the cells 21 of the first stage 2. This printed circuit board 4 is shown alone in [Fig.4].

[0047] This printed circuit board 4 comprises connection elements 5, provided on the lower face 41 and the upper face 42 of the board 4 and intended to come opposite the terminals of the lower faces 31b and the upper faces 21a. The board 4 is thus provided with a plurality of electrical tracks, forming different external and internal layers of this board 4, and making it possible to connect the connection elements 5 together.

[0048] The printed circuit board 4 comprises a main portion in which a plurality of notches 43 have been cut, in this case eight, each having a U shape and all being oriented radially towards a center of the board 4. Each of the notches 43 defines a tab 44, connected to the main portion by only one of its edges. Each tab 44 is thus elastically deformable relative to the main portion and forms a spring having a restoring force bringing the tab 44 back towards the main portion when a force is exerted on this tab 44. Each tab 44 can thus be folded either towards the first stage 2 or towards the second stage 3.

[0049] Each electrical connection element 5 is formed on one of the tabs 44, either on the side of the lower face 41 or the upper face 42, and for this purpose comprises a tin bump arranged at the level of a termination of an electrical track of the card 4 extending over this tab 44.

[0050] It can be seen from [Fig.4] that only some of the tabs 44 are provided, on their upper face 42, an electrical connection element 5. More precisely, the tabs 44 provided with an electrical connection element 5 on their upper face 42 are alternated with the tabs 44 provided with an electrical connection element 5 on their lower face 41.

[0051] The electric battery 1 comprises a spacer 6 formed by a first lower separation member 61, interposed between the first stage 2 and the printed circuit board 4, and a second upper separation member 62, interposed between the second stage 3 and the printed circuit board 4. These separation members 61 and 62 are of identical shape, so that only one of these members has been shown in [Fig.5].

[0052] Each separating member 61, 62 comprises a housing 63, the housings 63 coming opposite each other, when the separating members 61 and 62 are assembled, to define a receptacle in which the first printed circuit card 4 is housed. It will be noted that, in the example described, the separating members 61, 62 can be assembled by making the housings 63 correspond by a quarter-turn rotation of one of the members 61 or 62, the other remaining fixed. In this way, the periphery of the receptacle thus obtained is substantially identical to that of the first printed circuit card 4, namely a periphery with a substantially undulating profile, which makes it possible to prevent any rotation of this card 4 in the receptacle.

[0053] Each separating member 61 and 62 comprises a plurality of through-orifices 64, in this case four, coming opposite the tabs 44 provided with an electrical connection element 5 on their lower face 41, respectively upper face 42. Each through-orifice 64 of the separating members 61 and 62 is thus intended to be crossed by one of the cells 21 or 31 of the lower stage 2, respectively upper stage 3, so that the upper face 21a, respectively lower face 31b, of this cell comes opposite the electrical connection element 5 provided on the tab 44 extending opposite this orifice 64.

[0054] It will be noted that the assembly of the separation members 61, 62 is carried out so that the orifices 64 of one of these members are axially offset with the orifices 64 of the other of these members, the cells 21 of the first stage 2 thus being, after assembly of the battery 1, also axially offset with the cells 31 of the second stage 3.

[0055] Furthermore, each separation member 61 and 62 comprises a plurality of cavities 65 machined in the housing 63, between the through-orifices 64 of this member. Each cavity 65 of a separation member thus comes, once the separation members 61 and 62 are assembled, opposite an orifice 64 of the other separation member and therefore a tab 44. In this way, each tab 44 of the first printed circuit card 4 can be folded into the cavity 65 opposite which it is arranged, without its movement in this cavity 65 being hindered by one of the cells 21 or 22.

[0056] The separation members 61 and 62 each have a hole 66, these holes coming into alignment with a hole 45 provided in the first printed circuit card 4 when the members 61 and 62 are assembled and the card 4 is housed in its receptacle.

[0057] The battery comprises a lower distal printed circuit board 71 disposed below the first stage 2 and an upper distal printed circuit board 72 disposed above the second stage 3.

[0058] These distal printed circuit boards 71 ​​and 72 have been produced in a similar manner to the first printed circuit board 4 and comprise a plurality of notches 73 defining tabs 74 each forming a spring and being provided with an electrical connection element 5.

[0059] Each distal printed circuit board 71 and 72 faces the lower stage 2, respectively the upper stage 3, so that the lower face 21b, respectively the upper face 31b, of each cell 21 and 31 of this stage faces the electrical connection element 5 provided on one of the tabs 74 of this board. In the example described, the distal printed circuit boards 71 ​​and 72 have fewer tabs 74 than the first printed circuit board 4, it being understood that these boards could be identical, only a portion of the tabs 74 of the distal boards 71 ​​and 72 then being used.

[0060] It could be envisaged to add a separation member, identical to the members 61 and 62, opposite these distal printed circuit boards 71 ​​and 72 to improve the positioning of the cells 21 and 31.

[0061] The electric battery 1 comprises a central rod 8 (not shown in [Fig.2]) passing through holes 75 made in the distal printed circuit boards 71 ​​and 72 and the holes 45 and 66. Each end of the central rod 8 is threaded and cooperates with a clamping member 9, in this case formed by a washer and a bolt (only shown in [Fig.3A] and [Fig.3B]).

[0062] As shown in [Fig.3A] and [Fig.3B], when tightened, each clamping member 9 exerts a mechanical force on the distal printed circuit board 71 or 72 against which it is pressed, this force being oriented towards the other distal printed circuit board. These two forces are transmitted to the cells 21 and 31 of the first and second stages 2 and 3, each of these cells 21 and 31 exerting, at its lower face 21b, respectively upper face 31a, a force on the tab 74 of the distal printed circuit board opposite which it is arranged. Each tab 74 is thus elastically deformed by one of the cells 21 and 31 by being pushed towards the outside of the battery 1. The force created by this cell on this tab 74 being oriented towards the outside of the battery 1, the return force of the spring formed by this tab 74 is therefore exerted towards the inside of the battery 1, which maintains a contact between the terminal of this cell and the electrical connection element 5 carried by this tab 74.

[0063] Similarly, each of the cells 21 and 31 of the first and second stages 2 and 3 exerts, at its upper face 21a, respectively lower face 31b, a force on the tab 44 of the first printed circuit board 4 opposite which it is arranged, this force being oriented towards the other stage. Each tab 44 is thus elastically deformed by one of the cells 21 and 31 of one of the stages 2 and 3 by being pushed towards the other stage. The return force of the spring formed by this tab 44 is therefore exerted towards this cell 21 or 31, which maintains contact between the terminal of this cell and the electrical connection element 5 carried by this tab 44, the first printed circuit board 4 being further compressed between the first and second stages 2 and 3.

[0064] As an alternative to the example described, the clamping members 9 could be pressed against plates secured to the distal printed circuit boards 71 ​​and 72, the force exerted by these clamping members 9 then being exerted on these plates to be transmitted to the distal printed circuit boards 71 ​​and 72. Similarly, one or more stages of additional electrical cells, for example five or six, could be interposed between each of the first and second stages 2 and 3 and one of the distal printed circuit boards 71 ​​and 72, the stages being interconnected two by two by additional printed circuit boards similar to the first printed circuit board 4.It is thus understood that the forces exerted by the clamping members 9 will be transmitted from stage to stage up to the first printed circuit board 4 to constrain the entire electric battery 1 and maintain the electrical contacts between the terminals of the cells of each stage and the electrical connection elements carried by the tabs of the printed circuit boards.

[0065] It will be noted that each of the separation members 61 and 62 comprises peripheral openings 67, the electric battery 1 thus being able to comprise peripheral rods (not shown) passing through these peripheral holes in order to participate in maintaining the electric battery 1 and to ensure correct positioning of its various elements.

[0066] In the example described, one and / or the other of the distal printed circuit boards 71 ​​and 72 supports an output connector capable of collecting the electrical power stored in the cells 21 and 31 and an electronic system for managing the electric battery 1.

[0067] In order to allow this system to operate monitoring, diagnostic and / or protection functions of the different cells 21 and 31, the electric battery 1 comprises an additional printed circuit board 10, extending along the first and second stages 2 and 3 perpendicularly to the printed circuit boards 4, 71 and 72. Each of these cards 4, 71 and 72 can thus include a protrusion on which is mounted a spring blade type connector and coming into contact with the card 10.

[0068] The foregoing description clearly explains how the invention makes it possible to achieve the objectives it has set itself, namely to obtain an electric battery having a vertical geometric configuration and which is simple to assemble, repair and recondition, by superimposing several stages of load cells between which printed circuit boards are interposed, each board being equipped with elastically deformable tabs receiving electrical connection elements intended to be in contact with the contact terminals of the cells of the stages surrounding this board. It is thus understood that a compression exerted on either side of the battery then makes it possible to form and maintain, without welding, contacts between the connection elements and the contact terminals.

[0069] In any event, the invention cannot be limited to the embodiments specifically described in this document, and extends in particular to any equivalent means and to any technically effective combination of these means. For example, other types of electrical load cells could be envisaged, such as lithium polymer type cells. Other shapes of notches and tabs and other methods of distributing these tabs on a printed circuit board could also be envisaged. It could also be envisaged that the connection elements supported by the tabs are flat and that the connection terminals of the cells have a bump shape. Other methods of holding and compressing the electric battery could also be envisaged, and in particular methods not using connecting rods but a housing equipped with internal protuberances exerting a force on the distal printed circuit boards.

Claims

Claims

1. Electric battery (1), comprising: a. A first stage (2) comprising a plurality of cells (21) of electrical charges, each cell having end faces (21a, 21b) located on opposite sides of the cell, each end face being provided with a contact terminal; b. A second stage (3) comprising a plurality of cells (31) of electrical charges, each cell having end faces (31a, 31b) located on opposite sides of the cell, each end face being provided with a contact terminal, the second stage being superimposed on the first stage; c. at least one first printed circuit board (4) arranged between end faces of the cells of the first stage and end faces of the cells of the second stage, the first printed circuit board being provided with a plurality of electrical connection elements (5), each of the electrical connection elements being located opposite a contact terminal of a cell of the first stage or of the second stage;

2.

3. characterized in that the first printed circuit board comprises a main portion in which a plurality of notches (43) are formed, each notch defining a tab (44) elastically deformable relative to the main portion, each electrical connection element being arranged on one of the tabs of the first printed circuit board. Battery (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the first printed circuit board (4) is arranged relative to the cells (21, 31) of the first and second stages (2, 3) so that each cell of one of the first and second stages creates a mechanical force on one of the tabs (44) directed towards the other of the first and second stages, and in which each tab of the first printed circuit board, opposite which is located a contact terminal of a cell of the first stage or of the second stage, forms a spring having a restoring force directed towards this cell. Battery (1) according to the preceding claim, in which each cell (21) of the first stage (2) is axially offset with respect to each of the cells (31) of the second stage (3).

4. Battery (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which each connection element (5) is provided with a bump made of an electrically conductive material coming into contact with the contact terminal of one of the cells (21, 31) of the first stage (2) or of the second stage (3).

5. Battery (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a spacer (6) provided with a receptacle in which the first printed circuit board (4) is housed, the spacer comprising a first and a second plurality of orifices (64) arranged on either side of said receptacle, each orifice of the first and second pluralities of orifices being arranged opposite a tab (44) of the first printed circuit board and receiving an end face (21a, 31b) of a cell (21, 31) of the first stage (2), respectively of the second stage (3).

6. Battery (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the spacer (6) comprises a first separating member (61) comprising said first plurality of orifices (64) and a second separating member (62) comprising said second plurality of orifices (64), each separating member comprising a housing (63) and the separating members being assembled to each other so that said housings come opposite each other to form said receptacle.

7. Battery (1) according to the preceding claim, in which each of the first and second separation members (61, 62) comprises a plurality of cavities (65) each formed in this separation member and coming opposite an orifice (64) of the other of the first and second separation members.

8. Battery (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first printed circuit board (4) comprises a central bore (45), in that it comprises a central connecting rod (8) passing between the cells (21) of the first stage (2), passing through said central bore and passing between the cells (31) of the second stage (3), and in that it comprises clamping members (9) cooperating with said central rod to exert a mechanical force on the first stage oriented towards the second stage and to exert a mechanical force on the second stage oriented towards the first stage.

9. Battery (1) according to the preceding claim when it depends on one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that said spacer (6) comprises a plurality of peripheral holes (67) and in that it comprises a plurality of peripheral connecting rods arranged around the first and second stages (2, 3) and each passing through one of the peripheral holes.

10. Battery (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises an additional printed circuit board (10) extending along the first and second stages (2, 3) and substantially perpendicular to the first printed circuit board (4), and in that it comprises an electrical connector connecting the first printed circuit board with the additional printed circuit board.

11. Battery (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises: a. at least a third stage comprising a plurality of electrical load cells, each cell having end faces located on opposite sides of the cell, each end face being provided with a contact terminal, the third stage being superimposed on the second stage (3); b. at least one second printed circuit board arranged between end faces (31a) of the cells (31) of the second stage (3) and end faces of the cells of the third stage, the printed circuit board being provided with a plurality of electrical connection elements (5), each of the electrical connection elements being located opposite a contact terminal of a cell of the second stage or of the third stage characterized in that the second printed circuit board comprises a main portion in which a plurality of notches are formed, each notch defining a tab elastically deformable relative to the main portion, each electrical connection element being arranged on one of the tabs of the second printed circuit board.

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