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 circuit board for modular electrical assembly

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

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

[0003] In such modular electrical assemblies, the batteries are held between two supports that secure them at their terminal ends, i.e., at their electrical poles. This support is particularly important because it ensures stable electrical contact between one electrical pole of each battery and an electrical tab that allows two adjacent batteries to be electrically connected. This type of known modular assembly thus makes it possible to create a series and / or parallel electrical connection of the batteries, in order to provide the expected electrical current at the output of the modular electrical assembly.

[0004] To this end, an electronic board establishes an electrical circuit between the various electrical batteries and conditions an output voltage and / or output current of such a modular assembly, or performs electrical measurements on all or part of the electrical batteries and / or the electrical circuit. In this regard, a reliable and robust electrical contact must be established between the electronic board and the adjacent electronic circuit and / or electrical batteries. However, in certain applications, such modular electrical assemblies are subjected to high stresses, particularly vibrations, which make it difficult to guarantee the stability of such an electrical contact.

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

[0006] However, a drawback of using such springs lies in the complexity of industrially manufacturing such an electronic board. Indeed, the placement and integration of these springs is delicate and sometimes requires, particularly on small production runs, to be assembled manually by operators. During such manual assembly, the springs slip and escape from their intended positions, making operations longer and leading to more numerous quality defects on these electronic boards.

[0007] The present invention aims to provide a new electronic card in order to address at least largely the previous problems and to lead to other advantages.

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

[0009] Another objective 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 a modular electrical assembly, the electronic card being configured to establish, at the level of connection areas, a plurality of electrical contacts with an electrical device located opposite - such as, for example, the electrical poles of electric batteries, characterized in that each connection area of ​​the electronic card has 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 board is of the printed circuit board type, and more particularly, although not limited to, a PCB (Printed Circuit Board). The electronic board forms a flexible or, preferably, rigid substrate. The electronic board can be of any shape and / or size. The electronic board comprises a plurality of electronic circuits and / or electrical traces and / or electronic components placed and / or arranged and / or fixed securely to a surface layer of the electronic board and / or to a lower layer. In particular, the electronic board 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 electrical traces and / or electronic components are associated.In general, the printed circuit board formed by the electronic board has the function of electrically interfacing all the electrical batteries of the modular electrical assembly to which said electronic board is intended to be associated, in order to shape an electrical current and / or an electrical output 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 for the modular electrical assembly with which it is intended to collaborate. The electronic board is used to obtain data on the operation and / or health status of the electrical batteries of the modular electrical 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 board and an adjacent electrical device. The electrical device is the one on which electrical measurements are to be performed by the electronic board, or, more generally, the one with which electrical coupling is desired. According to a preferred embodiment, the desired electrical coupling at the connection zones is a direct or indirect coupling with one of the electrical poles of the electrical batteries of the modular electrical element. By direct coupling, it is understood that the elastic deformation element is directly pressed against one of the electrical poles of the electrical batteries. By indirect coupling, it is understood that the elastic deformation element is made in contact with an electrical conductor that is itself electrically coupled to all or part of the electrical batteries.In particular, one of the electrical terminals of the batteries is mechanically and electrically coupled—directly or indirectly—to one of the connection points on the circuit board to allow the establishment of an electrical current between the circuit board and the corresponding battery. For this purpose, the elastic deformation element facilitates a clear and reliable electrical and mechanical connection. The elastic deformation element acts here as a probe or electrical contactor between the circuit board and the electrical device intended to be located opposite it.

[0015] In the context of the present invention, recesses are formed in the upper and surface layers of the electronic board, and in particular of the PCB. Each recess takes the form of a depression extending from a surface layer of the electronic board to lower layers. Thus, the recesses facilitate the placement of the elastic deformation element during the manufacture of the electronic board according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0016] In the context of the present invention, the elastic deformation element is configured to be able to extend between a compressed and an extended configuration. In its extended configuration, the elastic deformation element remains in its natural state and extends spontaneously from the recession and protrusion of the electronic board. Conversely, in its compressed configuration, the elastic deformation element is deformed elastically, by compression, particularly when The electric pole of an electric battery is placed against it. By elastic deformation, it is understood that the elastic deformation element can pass from its relaxed configuration to its compressed configuration, and vice versa, a large number of times.

[0017] Thus, the electronic board conforming to the first aspect of the invention facilitates its manufacture and the integration of the elastic deformation elements into the recesses provided for this purpose. The electronic board is therefore easier to manufacture, facilitating the manual assembly of the elastic deformation elements, and improving the quality of the electronic boards produced.

[0018] The electronic card conforming to 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 advantageous allows the elastic deformation element to be housed in the recession, in the center of the closed contour, so that it then becomes easier to fix it there, the said elastic deformation element being held inside the closed contour;

[0020] - the closed contour has a circular profile. This configuration facilitates the realization reducing the recession and the manufacturing costs of the electronic board. Possibly, the closed contour has an elliptical or polygonal profile;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0029] - the free edge of the conical springs forming each elastic deformation element extends beyond the electronic board, outside the recesses to which the conical springs are connected. This advantageous configuration ensures good mechanical and electrical coupling between the conical spring and the corresponding electrical terminal of the associated battery. In particular, to allow sufficient travel between the extended and compressed configurations of the conical spring, the free end of the conical spring is located at least one millimeter from the corresponding recess. Preferably, the end of the conical spring is located between one and three millimeters from the corresponding recess.

[0030] - each elastic deformation element is fixed rigidly to the recession by bonding or welding.

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

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

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

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

[0035] - an electronic card conforming to the first aspect of the invention or according to one of the any of its improvements, the electronic board being fixed securely to the first drageoir, so that at least a part of the end of the electric batteries located opposite the first drageoir is placed in contact with the elastic deformation element of the electronic board.

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

[0037] In the context of the present invention, the electric batteries are electrically interconnected so as to be able to deliver a high electrical voltage and / or a high electrical current. To this end, the electrical connection tabs allow the electric batteries to be interfaced in pairs, at one of their electrical terminals.

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

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

[0040] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description on the one hand, and from several illustrative and non-limiting examples of embodiments given with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0041] [Fig-1] illustrates a front view of an example embodiment of an electronic circuit board conforming to the first aspect of the invention;

[0042] [Fig.2] illustrates a side view of the electronic board shown in [Fig.1];

[0043] [Fig.3] illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of an example embodiment of a modular electrical assembly conforming to the second aspect of the invention;

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

[0045] Of course, the features, variants, and different embodiments of the invention can be combined in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be conceived comprising only a selection of features, described hereafter in isolation from the other described features, 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 embodiments described are combinable with each other if there is no technical obstacle to this combination.

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

[0048] With reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, the electronic board 4 according to the invention is configured to establish, at connection zones 321, 322, a plurality of electrical contacts with an adjacent electrical device – such as, for example, the electrical terminals 21 of the electric batteries 2. To this end, each connection zone of the electronic board 4 comprises:

[0049] - a recession 41; and

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

[0051] The elastic deformation element 42 here takes the form of an electrical contactor configured to maintain electrical coupling with the electrical device intended to be positioned opposite, even in highly vibratory operating situations. The elastic deformation element 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 element is formed from a metallic material.

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

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

[0054] - a compressed configuration for which the elastic deformation elements 42s are elastically deformed in the direction of the substrate 40; and

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

[0056] Of course, by elastic deformation, it is understood that the elastic deformation element 42 can move from one of the previous configurations to the other, and vice versa. This feature thus makes it possible to compensate for any axial movements between the electronic board 4 and the adjacent electrical device, caused, for example, by vibrations, which could lead to a loss of electrical contact in the absence of such elastic deformation elements 42.

[0057] Each recession 41 is delimited by a closed contour in order to house the elastic deformation member 42 in the recession 41, at the center of the closed contour, so that it 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 between 5 mm and 15 mm.

[0059] Each recession 41 is obtained by milling the electronic board 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, of less than 2 mm, preferably between 500 pm and 1 mm.

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

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

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

[0063] With reference to [Fig. 4], a partial top view of a candy holder 1 is shown, into which electric batteries 2 are inserted. Each electric battery 2 is engaged in one of the slots, so that a support wall 131 of the slots is pressed against a peripheral contour of the electric batteries 2. [Fig. 4] also illustrates the use of electrical connecting tabs 3 which allow the electrical poles 21 of two adjacent electric batteries 2 on the candy holder 1 to be connected in pairs.

[0064] The first electrical connection platform 31 is fixed securely, for example by welding, to the electrical pole 21 of a first electrical battery 2, and the second electrical connection platform 32 is fixed securely, for example by welding, to the electrical pole 21 of a second electrical battery 2 located on a location of the rack 1 adjacent to that on which the first electrical battery 2 is located. The electrical connection tabs 3 thus make it possible to make 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 addresses a modular electrical assembly comprising:

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

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

[0068] - a plurality of electrical connection tabs 3 as described above Previously, each of the 3 electrical connection tabs linked two batteries electrical 2 adjacent at their ends.

[0069] The modular electrical assembly also includes an electronic interface 5 for shaping an output current and / or output voltage, resulting from the series and / or parallel connection of the electric batteries 2.

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

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

[0072] In summary, the invention relates to an electronic card 4 for a modular electrical assembly, the electronic card 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 be able to deform in a direction secant to the electronic card 4 at said recess 41

[0073] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described, and many modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the various features, forms, variants, and embodiments of the invention can be combined with one another in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, all the variants and embodiments described above are combinable with each other.

Claims

Demands

1. Electronic card (4) for an electrical modular assembly, the electronic card (4) being configured to establish, at the level of connection areas (321, 322), a plurality of electrical contacts with an electrical device located opposite - such as for example the electrical poles (21) of the electrical batteries (2), characterized in that each connection area of ​​the electronic card (4) has 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, wherein each recession (41) is delimited by a closed contour.

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

4. Electronic card (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a bottom surface of each recession (41) is flat.

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

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

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

8. Electronic card (4) according to the preceding claim, wherein 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) to which said conical springs are associated.

9. Electronic card (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each elastic deformation element (42) is fixed securely to the recession (41) by gluing.

10. Modular electrical assembly comprising: - a plurality of electric batteries arranged adjacent to each other and all extending in a direction of their own elongation; - a first drageoir (1) and a second drageoir (1) placed opposite the first drageoir (1), the electric batteries (2) all being held at each of their ends - along the axis of proper elongation (01) - by the first drageoir (1) and the second drageoir (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 securely to the first drageoir (1), so that at least a part of the end of the electric batteries (2) located opposite the first drageoir (1) is placed in contact with the elastic deformation member (42) of the electronic card (4).

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