electronic circuit board for modular electrical assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic board (4) for a modular electrical assembly, the electronic board (4) being configured to establish, at connection zones (321, 322), a plurality of electrical contacts with an adjacent electrical device. Each connection zone comprises a recess (41) and an elastic deformation element (42) housed within the recess (41), each elastic deformation element (42) forming an electrical contactor and being configured to deform in a direction secant to the electronic board (4) at said recess (41). Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: electronic card for modular electrical assembly

[0001] The technical context of the present invention is that of electric battery modules, and in particular high electric current battery modules. More particularly, the invention relates to an electronic card and an electrical modular assembly.

[0002] In the state of the art, a modular architecture is known in which electric batteries are coupled together in a modular electric assembly, such a modular electric assembly being able to be connected to an external bus allowing data to be sent to a supervisor.

[0003] In such electrical modular assemblies, the electrical batteries are held between two strips which hold the electrical batteries at their terminal ends, i.e. at their electrical poles. This holding is particularly important because it guarantees the stability of the electrical contact between an electrical pole of each electrical battery and an electrical tab making it possible to electrically connect two adjacent batteries. This type of known modular assembly thus makes it possible to produce a series or parallel electrical assembly of the electrical batteries, in order to provide the expected electrical current at the output of the electrical modular assembly.

[0004] For this purpose, an electronic card makes it possible to establish an electrical circuit between the different electric batteries and to condition an output voltage and / or an output current of such a modular assembly, or to carry out electrical measurements on all or part of the electric batteries and / or the electrical circuit. In this regard, it is appropriate to establish a reliable and robust electrical contact between the electronic card and the electronic circuit and / or the electric batteries placed opposite. However, in certain cases of use, such electrical modular assemblies are subject to strong stresses, in particular vibration, which make the stability of such an electrical contact difficult to guarantee.

[0005] The use of a spring is known to facilitate obtaining such electrical and mechanical contact, said spring making it possible, through its elastic deformation, to compensate for possible movements of the electric battery relative to the electronic card.

[0006] However, a disadvantage of using such springs lies in the complexity of industrial manufacturing of such an electronic card. Indeed, the placement and integration of these springs is delicate and sometimes requires, particularly on small production series, to be assembled manually by operators. During such manual assembly, the springs slip and escape from the location where they should be placed, making operations longer and leading to more quality defects on these electronic boards.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to propose a new electronic card in order to respond at least to a large extent to the preceding problems and to further lead to other advantages.

[0008] Another aim of the invention is to facilitate the assembly operations of such an electronic card.

[0009] Another object of the invention is to reduce manufacturing costs.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to improve the production quality of such cards. electronics.

[0011] According to a first aspect of the invention, at least one of the aforementioned objectives is achieved with an electronic card for an electrical modular assembly, the electronic card being configured to establish, at the connection zones, a plurality of electrical contacts with an electrical device located opposite - such as for example the electrical poles of the electric batteries, characterized in that each connection zone of the electronic card comprises a recession and an elastic deformation member housed in the recession, each elastic deformation member being configured to be able to generate a force in a direction secant to the electronic card taken at the level of said recession.

[0012] In the context of the present invention, the electronic card is of the printed circuit type, and more particularly, although not limitingly, of a PCB card, English acronym for "Printed Circuit Board" meaning printed circuit card. The electronic card forms a flexible or, preferably, rigid support. The electronic card can take any shape and / or dimension. The electronic card comprises a plurality of electronic circuits and / or electrical tracks and / or electronic components placed and / or arranged and / or fixed integrally to a surface layer of the electronic card and / or to a lower layer. In particular, the electronic card according to the first aspect of the invention comprises one or more layers superimposed on one another, and on one or more of which the electronic circuits and / or the electrical tracks and / or the electronic components are associated.Generally speaking, the printed circuit formed by the electronic card has the function of electrically interfacing all of the electric batteries of the modular electrical assembly with which said electronic card is intended to be associated, in order to form an electric current and / or an output electric voltage.

[0013] More generally, the electronic card conforming to the first aspect of the invention is of the type of a battery management system module of the electrical modular assembly with which it is intended to collaborate. The electronic card is used to obtain data on the operation and / or the state of health of the electrical batteries of the electrical modular assembly, and / or to manage the electrical batteries.

[0014] In the context of the present invention, the connection zones form electrical and mechanical coupling zones between the electronic card and an electrical device located opposite. The electrical device is the one on which electrical measurements must be carried out by the electronic card, or, more generally, the one with which electrical coupling is sought. According to a preferred embodiment, the electrical coupling sought at the connection zones is a coupling - direct or indirect - with one of the electrical poles of the electrical batteries of the electrical modular element, by direct coupling, it is understood that the elastic deformation member is directly pressed against one of the electrical poles of the electrical batteries. By indirect coupling, it is understood that the elastic deformation member is brought into contact against an electrical conductor itself electrically coupled to all or part of the electrical batteries.In particular, one of the electrical poles of the electric batteries is mechanically and electrically coupled - directly or indirectly - to one of the connection zones of the electric card in order to allow the establishment of an electric current between the electronic card and the corresponding electric battery. For this purpose, the elastic deformation member makes it possible to promote a frank and lasting electrical and mechanical coupling. The elastic deformation member here plays the role of a probe or an electrical contactor between the electronic card and the electrical device intended to be located opposite it.

[0015] In the context of the present invention, the recessions are formed in the upper and surface layers of the electronic card, and in particular of the PCB card. Each recession takes the form of a depression which extends from a surface layer of the electronic card towards lower layers. Thus, the recessions make it easier to position the elastic deformation member during the manufacture of the electronic card according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0016] In the context of the present invention, the elastic deformation member is configured to be able to extend between a compressed configuration and a relaxed configuration. In its relaxed configuration, the elastic deformation member remains in its natural state and spontaneously extends from the recession and protruding from the electronic card. On the other hand, in its compressed configuration, the elastic deformation member is elastically deformed, by compression, in particular when the electric pole of an electric battery is pressed against it. By elastic deformation, we understand that the elastic deformation member can pass from its relaxed configuration to its compressed configuration, and vice versa, a large number of times.

[0017] Thus, the electronic card according to the first aspect of the invention makes it easier to manufacture and to integrate the elastic deformation members into the recesses provided for this purpose. The electronic card is thus easier to manufacture, facilitating the manual assembly operations of the elastic deformation members, and making it possible to improve the quality of the electronic cards produced.

[0018] The electronic card in accordance with the first aspect of the invention advantageously comprises at least one of the improvements below, the technical characteristics forming these improvements being able to be taken alone or in combination:

[0019] - each recession is delimited by a closed contour. This configuration advantageously allows the elastic deformation member to be housed in the recession, in the center of the closed contour, so that it then becomes easier to fix it there, said elastic deformation member being maintained inside the closed contour;

[0020] - the closed contour has a circular profile. This configuration makes it easier to rea lization of the recession, and to reduce the manufacturing costs of the electronic card. Optionally, the closed contour has an elliptical or polygonal profile;

[0021] - the circular profile has a diameter less than 30 mm, preferably included between 5 mm and 15 mm;

[0022] - a bottom surface of each recession is flat. This configuration makes it possible to facilitate the maintenance of the elastic deformation organ in recession;

[0023] - the bottom surface of each recess is parallel to the electronic card;

[0024] - each recession is obtained by milling the electronic card;

[0025] - the elastic deformation member is formed from an electrically conductive material trically. In particular, the material forming the elastic deformation member is metallic;

[0026] - each elastic deformation member comprises a spring fixed integrally to the recession with which it is associated. The spring is preferably of the compression spring type;

[0027] - more particularly, bearing against the bottom surface of each recession;

[0028] - each elastic deformation member comprises a conical spring with a base is fixedly attached to the recession and one free end of which extends directly above the recession. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to improve the stability of the elastic deformation member on the electronic card, in the recession, during the assembly operation of said electronic card;

[0029] - the free edge of the conical springs forming each elastic deformation member extends beyond the electronic card, taken outside the recessions with which said conical springs are associated. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to guarantee good mechanical and electrical coupling between the conical spring and the corresponding electrical pole of the associated electric battery. In particular, in order to allow sufficient clearance between the relaxed configuration and the compressed configuration of the conical spring, the free end of said conical spring is located at least one millimeter from the corresponding recession. Preferably, the end of the conical spring is between one millimeter and three millimeters from the corresponding recession;

[0030] - each elastic deformation member is fixed integrally to the recession by gluing or welding.

[0031] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is proposed a modular electrical assembly comprising:

[0032] - a plurality of electric batteries arranged adjacent to each other others and all extending in a specific direction of elongation;

[0033] - a first bezel and a second bezel placed opposite the first bezel, the electric batteries being all held at each of their ends - along the proper elongation axis - by the first bezel and the second bezel

[0034] - a plurality of electrical connection tabs, each connection tab electric connecting two adjacent electric batteries at their ends;

[0035] - an electronic card according to the first aspect of the invention or according to one of any of its improvements, the electronic card being fixed securely to the first bezel, so that at least part of the end of the electric batteries located opposite the first bezel is placed in abutment against the elastic deformation member of the electronic card.

[0036] In the context of the present invention, the batteries are placed between the first bezel and the second bezel, such that, for each electric battery, a first end forming a first electric pole is housed in a first location of the first bezel, and a second end forming a second electric pole is housed in a first location of the second bezel.

[0037] In the context of the present invention, the electric batteries are electrically interconnected with each other, so as to be able to deliver a high electrical voltage and / or a high electrical current. For this purpose, the electrical connection tabs make it possible to interface two by two of the electric batteries, at one of their electrical poles.

[0038] In the context of the present invention, the electrical modular assembly is type of a

[0039] Various embodiments of the invention are provided, integrating according to all of their possible combinations the different optional characteristics set out here.

[0040] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description on the one hand, and from several examples of embodiment given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the attached schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0041] [Fig-1] illustrates a front view of an exemplary embodiment of an electronic card in accordance with the first aspect of the invention;

[0042] [Fig.2] illustrates a side view of the electronic card illustrated in [Fig.l];

[0043] [Fig.3] illustrates a schematic sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a electrical modular assembly according to the second aspect of the invention;

[0044] [Fig.4] illustrates a detail and front view of electric batteries held in a bezel and connected to each other by the electrical connection tabs.

[0045] Of course, the features, variants and different embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other, in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be imagined comprising only a selection of features described below in isolation from the other features described, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0046] In particular, all the variants and all the embodiments described can be combined with each other if nothing prevents this combination from a technical point of view.

[0047] In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0048] With reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, the electronic card 4 according to the invention is configured to establish, at the connection zones 321, 322, a plurality of electrical contacts with an electrical device located opposite - such as for example the electrical poles 21 of the electric batteries 2. For this purpose, each connection zone of the electronic card 4 comprises:

[0049] - a recession 41; and

[0050] - an elastic deformation member 42 housed in the recession 41, each member of elastic deformation 42 being configured to be able to generate a force in a direction secant to the electronic card 4 taken at the level of said recession 41.

[0051] The elastic deformation member 42 here takes the form of an electrical contactor configured to be able to maintain an electrical coupling with the electrical device. intended to be located opposite, even in highly vibratory usage situations. The elastic deformation member 42 is formed from an electrically conductive material, so as to allow the establishment of an electric current through it. By way of non-limiting example, the electrical deformation member is formed from a metallic material.

[0052] In order to facilitate the manufacture of the electronic card 4 and the integration of the electrical deformation members on a substrate 40 of said electronic card 4, the elastic deformation members 42 are housed in the recesses 41 formed from said substrate 40. Thus, each elastic deformation member 42 extends from a base mechanically coupled to the substrate 40 and electrically coupled to the electrical circuit provided on the electronic card 4, to a free end which projects from the substrate 40 and at a distance from the electronic card 4.

[0053] The free end of the elastic deformation member 42 thus forms an electrical contact zone with the electrical device intended to be located opposite. In addition, the elastic deformation capacity of the elastic deformation members 42 makes them configurable between:

[0054] - a compressed configuration for which the elastic deformation members 42s are elastically deformed towards the substrate 40; and

[0055] - a relaxed configuration for which their free end extends freely to distance from substrate 40.

[0056] Of course, by elastic deformation, it is understood that the elastic deformation member 42 can pass from one to the other of the preceding configurations, and vice versa. This characteristic thus makes it possible to compensate for possible axial movements between the electronic card 4 and the electrical device located opposite, caused for example by vibrations, and which could lead to a loss of electrical contact in the absence of such elastic deformation members 42.

[0057] Each recession 41 is delimited by a closed contour in order to house the elastic deformation member 42 in the recession 41, in the center of the closed contour, so that it then becomes easier to fix it there.

[0058] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, the closed contour has a circular profile, and it has a diameter of between 5 mm and 15 mm.

[0059] Each recession 41 is obtained by milling the electronic card 4, and in particular by milling its substrate 40, on the surface layers, so that each recession 41 has a depth, taken between a bottom surface of said recession 41 and the surface layer of the substrate 40, less than 2 mm, preferably between 500 μm and 1 mm.

[0060] In a particularly advantageous manner, each elastic deformation member 42 comprises a spring fixed integrally to the recession 41 with which it is associated. spring is of the compression spring type. The spring comprises a base bearing against the bottom surface of each recession 41. The base is fixed integrally to the bottom surface of the recession 41 with which it is associated. Preferably, the base of each spring forming the elastic deformation member 42 is glued and / or welded to the bottom surface of the corresponding recession 41.

[0061] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, each elastic deformation member 42 comprises a conical spring, a base of which is fixed integrally to the recession 41 and a free end of which extends directly above the recession 4L. The spring thus forms a spiral which extends from the bottom surface of the associated recession 41 and projects therefrom.

[0062] The free edge 16 of the conical springs forming each elastic deformation member 42 extends beyond the electronic card 4, taken outside the recesses 41 with which said conical springs are associated.

[0063] With reference to [Fig. 4], a partial top view of a bezel 1 on which electric batteries 2 are inserted is illustrated. Each electric battery 2 is engaged in one of the locations, so that a support wall 131 of the locations is placed in abutment against a peripheral contour of the electric batteries 2. [Fig. 4] also illustrates the use of electrical connection tabs 3 which make it possible to connect two by two the electric poles 21 of two adjacent electric batteries 2 on the bezel 1.

[0064] The first electrical connection platform 31 is fixedly attached, for example by welding, to the electrical pole 21 of a first electrical battery 2, and the second electrical connection platform 32 is fixedly attached, for example by welding, to the electrical pole 21 of a second electrical battery 2 located on a location of the bezel 1 adjacent to that on which the first electrical battery 2 is located. The electrical connection tabs 3 thus make it possible to produce an electrical interconnection between all the electrical batteries 2 of a given electrical modular assembly, in order to form a parallel or series electrical assembly.

[0065] With reference to [Fig.3], the invention also relates to a modular electrical assembly comprising:

[0066] - a plurality of electric batteries arranged adjacent to each other others and all extending along a specific elongation axis 01;

[0067] - a first bezel 1 and a second bezel 1, the second bezel 1 being placed opposite the first bezel 1, the electric batteries 2 all being housed at each of their ends in one of the respective locations of the first bezel 1 and the second bezel 1;

[0068] - a plurality of electrical connection tabs 3 as described above previously, each electrical connection tab 3 connecting two batteries 2 adjacent electrical outlets at their ends.

[0069] The electrical modular assembly also comprises an electronic interface 5 in order to shape an output current and / or an output voltage, resulting from the series and / or parallel connection of the electric batteries 2.

[0070] By way of non-limiting example, the electrical modular assembly is of the 8S6P battery pack type.

[0071] Such an electrical modular assembly further comprises an electronic card 4 as described above and making it possible to carry out electrical measurements on all or part of the electric batteries 2. The electronic card 4 and the electronic interface 5 together form a system for managing the electric batteries 2 of the electrical modular assembly. The electronic card 4 makes it possible in particular to check an output voltage at the level of each line of electric batteries 2 defined by the bezels 1. In the event of detection of an overvoltage, an undervoltage or a short circuit for example, the measurements carried out by the electronic card 4 make it possible to trigger safety protocols for the electrical modular assembly and / or to alert the user of an imminent breakdown or a malfunction.

[0072] In summary, the invention relates to an electronic card 4 for an electrical modular assembly, the electronic card 4 being configured to establish, at connection zones 321, 322, a plurality of electrical contacts with an electrical device located opposite. Each connection zone comprises a recession 41 and an elastic deformation member 42 housed in the recession 41, each elastic deformation member 42 forming an electrical contactor and being configured to be able to deform in a direction secant to the electronic card 4 taken at the level of said recession 4L.

[0073] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and numerous adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the different characteristics, forms, variants and embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other in various combinations insofar as they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, all the variants and embodiments described above can be combined with each other.

Claims

Claims

1. Electronic card (4) for an electrical modular assembly, the electronic card (4) being configured to establish, at connection zones (321, 322), a plurality of electrical contacts with an electrical device located opposite - such as for example the electrical poles (21) of the electric batteries (2), characterized in that each connection zone of the electronic card (4) comprises a recession (41) and an elastic deformation member (42) housed in the recession (41), each elastic deformation member (42) being configured to be able to generate a force in a direction secant to the electronic card (4) taken at the level of said recession (41).

2. Electronic card (4) according to the preceding claim, in which each recess (41) is delimited by a closed contour.

3. Electronic card (4) according to the preceding claim, in which the closed contour has a circular profile.

4. An electronic card (4) according to any preceding claim, wherein a bottom surface of each recess (41) is planar.

5. Electronic card (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each recess (41) is obtained by milling the electronic card (4).

6. Electronic card (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each elastic deformation member (42) comprises a spring fixed integrally to the recession (41) with which it is associated.

7. Electronic card (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each elastic deformation member (42) comprises a conical spring, a base of which is fixed integrally to the recession (41) and a free end of which extends directly above the recession (41).

8. Electronic card (4) according to the preceding claim, in which the free edge (16) of the conical springs forming each elastic deformation member (42) extends beyond the electronic card (4), taken outside the recesses (41) with which said conical springs are associated.

9. Electronic card (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each elastic deformation member (42) is fixed solidly to the recession (41) by gluing.

10. Electrical modular assembly comprising: - a plurality of electric batteries arranged adjacent to each other and all extending in a specific direction of elongation; - a first bezel (1) and a second bezel (1) placed opposite the first bezel (1), the electric batteries (2) all being held at each of their ends - along the proper elongation axis (01) - by the first bezel (1) and the second bezel (1); - a plurality of electrical connection tabs (3), each electrical connection tab (3) connecting two adjacent electrical batteries (2) at their ends; - an electronic card (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, the electronic card (4) being fixed integrally to the first bezel (1), so that at least part of the end of the electric batteries (2) located opposite the first bezel (1) is placed in abutment against the elastic deformation member (42) of the electronic card (4).

Images