Conductive module

Abstract

To include a battery monitoring function in an appropriate form.SOLUTION: A conductive module comprises: a terminal connection structure which maintains a first electrode terminal 510 of one battery cell 501 and a second electrode terminal 610 of an other battery cell 601 in an overlapped state; and a conductive member 30 electrically connected to a battery monitoring unit which monitors battery states of the battery cells 501 and 601. The first electrode terminal 510 and the second electrode terminal 610 each include tabular junction parts 512 and 612 which are mutually joined by pressing joint surfaces on the rear side of pressurization surfaces to each other. The terminal connection structure includes a first pressurization member 10, which applies a pressure to the pressurization surface of the junction part 512 of the first electrode terminal 510, and a second pressurization member 20 which applies a pressure to the pressurization surface of the junction part 612 of the second electrode terminal 610. The second pressurization member 20 is physically and electrically connected to the conductive member 30, such that the conductive member 30 is electrically connected to the first electrode terminal 510 and the second electrode terminal 610.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a conductive module. [Background technology]

[0002] A conductive module physically and electrically connects the electrode terminals of adjacent battery cells in a battery module in which multiple battery cells are arranged. For example, Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a terminal connection structure in which the flat plate portions of the electrode terminals of adjacent battery cells are overlapped and then screwed together using male screw members inserted into notches in the flat plate portions. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-086360 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a battery module, the battery status of each battery cell is monitored by a battery monitoring unit. The conductive module may also function to electrically connect the battery cell to the battery monitoring unit. Therefore, there is room for improvement in this respect in conventional conductive modules.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a conductive module that is provided with a battery monitoring function in a suitable manner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention comprises a terminal connection structure that maintains a first electrode terminal of one battery cell and a second electrode terminal of the other battery cell in an overlapping state, and a conductive member that electrically connects the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal to a battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery status of the battery cells, wherein the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal each have a flat joint portion that joins them by pressing the joint surfaces on the back side of the pressure surfaces against each other, and the terminal connection structure comprises a first pressure member that applies pressure to the pressure surface of the joint portion of the first electrode terminal, and a second pressure member that applies pressure to the pressure surface of the joint portion of the second electrode terminal, and the second pressure member is physically and electrically connected to the conductive member, thereby electrically connecting the conductive member to the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The conductive module according to the present invention can establish an electrical connection between the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal with a simple structure that simply clamps the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal between the first pressure member and the second pressure member. In other words, the conductive module according to the present invention allows the first pressure member and the second pressure member to be easily removed, improving the ease of attaching and detaching the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal. Furthermore, the conductive module according to the present invention can utilize a part of the terminal connection structure (the second pressure member) as a voltage detection terminal. Therefore, simply clamping the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal between the first pressure member and the second pressure member not only establishes an electrical connection between the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal, but also electrically connects the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal to the conductive member and the battery monitoring unit. Therefore, the conductive module according to the present invention can efficiently perform the connection work of physically and electrically connecting the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal, and the connection work of electrically connecting the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal to the battery monitoring unit. Furthermore, in the conductive module according to the present invention, part of the terminal connection structure (the second pressure member) also functions as a voltage detection terminal, which reduces the number of parts, and therefore the conductive module according to the present invention can have a battery monitoring function in an appropriate form. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conductive module according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the conductive module according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a first pressure member of the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a second pressure member of the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the conductive module according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating removal of the oxide film. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a modified conductive module. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a second pressure member according to a modified example. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a modified example of a fixing configuration between the second pressure member and the male screw member. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a housing member of a second pressure member according to a modified example. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a modified example of a holding form of the second pressure member and the male screw member by the housing member. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another application example of the modified conductive module. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another application example of the modified conductive module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a conductive module according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0010] [Embodiment] An embodiment of a conductive module according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0011] 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes the conductive module of this embodiment.

[0012] This conductive module 1 has a terminal connection structure for physically and electrically connecting the electrode terminals of adjacent battery cells. For example, a battery module in which a plurality of battery cells are arranged has one adjacent battery cell (hereinafter referred to as a "first battery cell") 501 and the other adjacent battery cell (hereinafter referred to as a "second battery cell") 601 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The terminal connection structure physically and electrically connects the first electrode terminal 510 of the first battery cell 501 with the second electrode terminal 610 of the second battery cell 601, thereby keeping the first electrode terminal 510 and the second electrode terminal 610 overlapping each other. For example, one of the first electrode terminal 510 and the second electrode terminal 610 is a positive electrode and the other is a negative electrode.

[0013] Therefore, the first electrode terminal 510 and the second electrode terminal 610 each have a rectangular, flat, upright portion 511, 611 that extends from the cell body, and are bent from the upright portion 511, 611 toward the connecting partner and overlap each other at their ends (FIG. 2). The first electrode terminal 510 and the second electrode terminal 610 each have a flat, plate-shaped joint portion 512, 612 at their bent ends that are joined together by pressing the joint surfaces on the backsides of the pressure surfaces against each other (FIGS. 1 and 2). In the first electrode terminal 510, a pair of joint portions 512 are arranged opposite each other with a gap in the arrangement direction of the first battery cell 501 and the second battery cell 601. In the second electrode terminal 610, a pair of joint portions 612 are arranged opposite each other with a gap in the arrangement direction.

[0014] The terminal connection structure includes a first pressure member 10 that applies pressure to the pressure surface of the joint 512 of the first electrode terminal 510, and a second pressure member 20 that applies pressure to the pressure surface of the joint 612 of the second electrode terminal 610 (Figures 1 to 5).

[0015] The first pressure member 10 is a receiving member having a receiving portion 11 disposed opposite the pressure application surface of the joint portion 512 of the first electrode terminal 510 (FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5). The first pressure member 10 shown here has a rectangular first bottom portion 12 and rectangular receiving portions 11 disposed opposite each other with a gap between them and erected from two sides of the first bottom portion 12 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 5). The first bottom portion 12 and the receiving portion 11 are each formed in the shape of a rectangular flat plate.

[0016] The first pressure applying member 10 has a groove-shaped first groove surrounded by a first bottom 12 and a pair of receiving portions 11, and a first electrode terminal 510 is inserted into this first groove (FIGS. 2 and 5). The first electrode terminal 510 shown here has, at the end of the bent portion from the upright portion 511 toward the second electrode terminal 610 of the mating connection target, a rectangular flat second bottom 513 that is arranged opposite the first bottom 12 of the first pressure applying member 10 in the first groove of the first pressure applying member 10, and rectangular flat joint portions 512 that are arranged opposite to each other with a gap between them, stand upright from two sides of the second bottom 513, and have their pressure applying surfaces arranged opposite the receiving portions 11 of the first pressure applying member 10 in the first groove of the first pressure applying member 10 (FIGS. 2 and 5).

[0017] Furthermore, this first electrode terminal 510 has a rectangular, flat-plate connecting portion 514 that connects the end of one of the joints 512 on the vertical direction side to the hanging portion 511, and a rectangular, flat-plate protruding piece 515 that protrudes from the end of the other of the joints 512 on the vertical direction side in the opposite direction to one of the joints 512 (FIGS. 2 and 5). In the first electrode terminal 510, the second bottom 513 and the pair of joints 512 are inserted into the first groove of the first pressure applying member 10, and the connecting portion 514 and the protruding piece 515 are positioned outside the first groove of the first pressure applying member 10.

[0018] The first electrode terminal 510 has a groove-shaped second groove surrounded by a second bottom 513 and its pair of joint portions 512, and the second electrode terminal 610 is inserted into this second groove ( FIGS. 2 and 5 ). The second electrode terminal 610 shown here has, at the end of the upright portion 611 bent toward the first electrode terminal 510 to be connected, a rectangular flat third bottom 613 that is arranged opposite the second bottom 513 of the first electrode terminal 510 in the second groove of the first electrode terminal 510, and rectangular flat joint portions 612 that are arranged opposite to each other with a gap between them and that stand upright from two sides of the third bottom 613 and that have their joint surfaces facing the joint surfaces of the joint portions 512 of the first electrode terminal 510 in the second groove of the first electrode terminal 510 ( FIGS. 2 and 5 ).

[0019] Furthermore, this second electrode terminal 610 has a rectangular, flat-plate connecting portion 614 that connects the end of one joint 612 on the vertical side to the hanging portion 611, and a rectangular, flat-plate protruding piece 615 that protrudes from the end of the other joint 612 on the vertical side in the opposite direction to one joint 612 (FIGS. 2 and 5). In the second electrode terminal 610, the third bottom 613 and the pair of joints 612 are inserted into the second groove of the first electrode terminal 510, and the connecting portion 614 and the protruding piece 615 are positioned outside the second groove of the first electrode terminal 510.

[0020] The second electrode terminal 610 has a groove-shaped third groove surrounded by a third bottom 613 and its pair of joint portions 612, and a second pressure member 20 is inserted into this third groove ( FIGS. 2 and 5 ). The second pressure member 20 has an elastic deformation portion 21 that applies a reaction force associated with elastic deformation to a pressure surface of the joint portion 612 of the second electrode terminal 610, thereby pressing the joint surface of the joint portion 612 of the second electrode terminal 610 against the joint surface of the joint portion 512 of the first electrode terminal 510 ( FIGS. 1 , 2 , 4 , and 5 ). In the second pressure member 20, the elastic deformation portion 21 is disposed in the third groove of the second electrode terminal 610. The second pressure member 20 shown here has a rectangular, flat-plate-shaped fourth bottom portion 22 that is disposed opposite the third bottom portion 613 of the second electrode terminal 610 in the third groove portion of the second electrode terminal 610, and rectangular, flat-plate-shaped side wall portions 23 that are disposed opposite to each other with a gap between them, stand upright from two sides of the fourth bottom portion 22, and are disposed opposite to the pressure surface of the joint portion 612 of the second electrode terminal 610 in the third groove portion of the second electrode terminal 610 ( FIGS. 2 , 4 , and 5 ). The side wall portions 23 have elastic deformation portions 21 ( FIGS. 1 , 2 , 4 , and 5 ). Each of the pair of side wall portions 23 shown here has a plurality of elastic deformation portions 21.

[0021] The elastic deformation portion 21 shown here is formed in the shape of a cantilevered rectangular flat plate, and has, for example, a hemispherical contact portion 21a that bulges out toward the pressure application surface of the joint portion 612 of the second electrode terminal 610 (FIGS. 2, 4, and 5). The elastic deformation portion 21 applies a reaction force resulting from elastic deformation from the contact portion 21a to the pressure application surface of the joint portion 612 of the second electrode terminal 610. When the elastic deformation portion 21 applies a reaction force resulting from elastic deformation to the pressure application surface of the joint portion 612 of the second electrode terminal 610, the receiving portion 11 of the first pressure member 10 abuts against the pressure application surface of the joint portion 512 of the first electrode terminal 510 and receives the reaction force. As a result, the joint portion 512 of the first electrode terminal 510 and the joint portion 612 of the second electrode terminal 610 are clamped between the receiving portion 11 of the first pressure applying member 10 and the elastic deformation portion 21 of the second pressure applying member 20 with their joint surfaces pressed against each other, and are physically and electrically connected to each other.

[0022] Furthermore, the second pressure member 20 has a first protruding piece 24 in the shape of a rectangular flat plate that protrudes from the end of one side wall 23 in the vertical direction in the opposite direction to the other side wall 23, and a second protruding piece 25 in the shape of a rectangular flat plate that protrudes from the end of the other side wall 23 in the vertical direction in the opposite direction to the one side wall 23 (FIGS. 2, 4, and 5). In the second pressure member 20, the fourth bottom 22 and the pair of side wall portions 23 are inserted into the third groove of the second electrode terminal 610, and the first protruding piece 24 and the second protruding piece 25 are positioned outside the third groove of the second electrode terminal 610.

[0023] Here, the first electrode terminal 510 and the second electrode terminal 610 are made of, for example, copper, copper alloy, aluminum, or aluminum alloy. The first pressing member 10 and the second pressing member 20 (at least the second pressing member 20) are made of stainless steel. Therefore, an oxide film is formed on the surfaces of the first electrode terminal 510, the second electrode terminal 610, the first pressing member 10, and the second pressing member 20.

[0024] However, in this conductive module 1, when the second pressure member 20 is inserted into the third groove portion of the second electrode terminal 610, the contact portion 21a of the elastic deformation portion 21 of the second pressure member 20 slides on the pressure surface of the joint portion 612 of the second electrode terminal 610, destroying the oxide film on the pressure surface and the contact portion 21a.

[0025] Furthermore, in this conductive module 1, when the second pressing member 20 has been inserted, the pressing force of the contact portion 21a of the elastic deformation portion 21 causes the joint portion 612 of the second electrode terminal 610 to deform along the shape of the contact portion 21a of the elastic deformation portion 21, causing a portion of the joint surface of the joint portion 612 to bulge (FIG. 6). In this conductive module 1, the bulging portion of the joint surface of the joint portion 612 applies a pressing force to the joint surface of the joint portion 512 of the first electrode terminal 510, and the pressing force causes the joint portion 512 of the first electrode terminal 510 to deform along the shape of the bulging portion of the joint portion 612 (FIG. 6). Therefore, in the first electrode terminal 510 and the second electrode terminal 610, the oxide films are destroyed at the deformed portions of the joint portions 512, 612, respectively. Therefore, in this conductive module 1, a good electrical conduction state can be obtained between the contact portion 21a of the elastic deformation portion 21 of the second pressure member 20 and the pressure surface of the joint portion 612 of the second electrode terminal 610, and between the respective joint portions 512, 612 of the first electrode terminal 510 and the second electrode terminal 610.

[0026] Furthermore, in this conductive module 1, not only the elastic deformation portion 21 of the second pressure member 20 but also the entire second pressure member 20 may be given spring properties and elastically deformed. As a result, in this conductive module 1, for example, one side wall portion 23 and the first protruding piece 24 may be elastically deformed relative to the fourth bottom portion 22, and a pressing force may be applied from the first protruding piece 24 to the protruding piece 615 of the second electrode terminal 610, thereby sandwiching the protruding piece 615 of the second electrode terminal 610 and the connecting portion 514 of the first electrode terminal 510 between the first protruding piece 24 and one receiving portion 11 of the first pressure member 10. Furthermore, in this conductive module 1, for example, the other side wall portion 23 and the second protruding piece portion 25 may be elastically deformed relative to the fourth bottom portion 22, and a pressing force may be applied from the second protruding piece portion 25 to the connecting portion 614 of the second electrode terminal 610, thereby clamping the connecting portion 614 of the second electrode terminal 610 and the protruding piece portion 515 of the first electrode terminal 510 between the second protruding piece portion 25 and the other receiving portion 11 of the first pressure member 10.

[0027] The conductive module 1 includes a conductive member 30 that electrically connects to a battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery state of the battery cells (FIGS. 1 and 4). The conductive member 30 is a voltage detection wire, which is one of the components that make up a voltage detection circuit, and allows the battery monitoring unit to monitor the voltage state of the battery cells. For example, the conductive member 30 may be an electric wire or a conductor pattern of a flexible printed circuit board (FPC). If the conductive module 1 includes a flexible printed circuit board, a temperature sensor (e.g., a chip-shaped temperature sensor) that detects the temperature of the battery cells, a circuit protection member (e.g., a chip-shaped circuit protection member) such as a fuse, etc. may be mounted on the flexible printed circuit board.

[0028] In this conductive module 1, the second pressure member 20 also functions as a voltage detection terminal, which is one of the members that constitute the voltage detection circuit. The second pressure member 20 is physically and electrically connected to the conductive member 30. This allows the second pressure member 20 to electrically connect the conductive member 30 to the first electrode terminal 510 and the second electrode terminal 610. For example, the conductive member 30 is physically and electrically connected to the second pressure member 20 by welding or the like before the second pressure member 20 is assembled to the second electrode terminal 610. Note that in this conductive module 1, the first pressure member 10 may also function as a voltage detection terminal.

[0029] As described above, the conductive module 1 of this embodiment has a terminal connection structure that sandwiches the first electrode terminal 510 and the second electrode terminal 610 by utilizing at least the springiness of the elastic deformation portion 21 of the second pressure member 20, and can establish an electrical connection between the first electrode terminal 510 and the second electrode terminal 610 with a simple structure that simply sandwiches the first electrode terminal 510 and the second electrode terminal 610 between the first pressure member 10 and the second pressure member 20. In other words, the conductive module 1 of this embodiment also allows the first pressure member 10 and the second pressure member 20 to be easily removed, improving the ease of attaching and detaching the first electrode terminal 510 and the second electrode terminal 610. Furthermore, the conductive module 1 of this embodiment can utilize a portion of the terminal connection structure (the second pressure member 20) as a voltage detection terminal. Therefore, simply by sandwiching the first electrode terminal 510 and the second electrode terminal 610 between the first pressure member 10 and the second pressure member 20, not only can the first electrode terminal 510 and the second electrode terminal 610 be electrically connected, but the first electrode terminal 510 and the second electrode terminal 610 can also be electrically connected to the conductive member 30 and the battery monitoring unit. Therefore, the conductive module 1 of this embodiment can efficiently perform the connection work of physically and electrically connecting the first electrode terminal 510 and the second electrode terminal 610, and the connection work of electrically connecting the first electrode terminal 510 and the second electrode terminal 610 to the battery monitoring unit. Furthermore, the conductive module 1 of this embodiment has a portion of the terminal connection structure (the second pressure member 20) that also functions as a voltage detection terminal, thereby reducing the number of components. Therefore, the conductive module 1 of this embodiment can preferably provide a battery monitoring function.

[0030] [Variations] Reference numeral 2 in Fig. 7 indicates the conductive module of this modified example. Like the conductive module 1 of the above-described embodiment, this conductive module 2 has a terminal connection structure for physically and electrically connecting the electrode terminals of adjacent battery cells. In this modified example, the first electrode terminal 510 of the first battery cell 501 is replaced with a first electrode terminal 520, and the second electrode terminal 610 of the second battery cell 601 is replaced with a second electrode terminal 620 (Fig. 7). For example, one of the first electrode terminal 520 and the second electrode terminal 620 is a positive electrode, and the other is a negative electrode.

[0031] Like the first electrode terminal 510 and the second electrode terminal 610 of the embodiment, the first electrode terminal 520 and the second electrode terminal 620 of this modified example each have a rectangular, flat, hanging portion 521, 621 that stands up from the cell body, and each has a rectangular, flat, joint portion 522, 622 at the end of the hanging portion 521, 621 that is bent toward the other end to be connected ( FIG. 7 ). However, the first electrode terminal 520 and the second electrode terminal 620 of this modified example form an L-shape outside the cell body, and the end that is bent from the hanging portion 521, 621 toward the other end to be connected serves as the joint portion 522, 622. The respective joint portions 522, 622 are arranged with the joint surfaces on the backsides of the pressing surfaces facing each other in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the first battery cell 501 and the second battery cell 601, and are joined by pressing the joint surfaces against each other.

[0032] Similar to the terminal connection structure of the embodiment, the terminal connection structure of this modified example includes a first pressure member 110 that applies pressure to the pressure surface of the joint portion 522 of the first electrode terminal 520, and a second pressure member 120 that applies pressure to the pressure surface of the joint portion 622 of the second electrode terminal 620 (FIG. 7). However, the second pressure member 120 of this modified example is formed in a flat plate shape and has a male screw portion or a female screw portion. The first pressure member 110 of this modified example is a female screw member that screws into the male screw portion, or a male screw member that screws into a female screw portion. In the terminal connection structure shown here, a female screw member is used for the first pressure member 110, and a male screw portion 121a is provided on the second pressure member 120 (FIG. 7).

[0033] The second pressure applying member 120 shown here is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. The second pressure applying member 120 shown here has a male screw member 121 fixed thereto by welding, crimping, or the like, with the male screw portion 121a extending downward from one flat surface (FIGS. 8 and 9). In other words, the second pressure applying member 120 shown here is formed as a single component integrated with the male screw portion 121a.

[0034] The second pressure applying member 120 is provided with one or more male screw portions 121a. Here, a plurality of male screw members 121 are fixed to the second pressure applying member 120, and a first pressure applying member 110 is prepared to pair with each of the male screw members 121 (FIGS. 7 and 8). Note that when the second pressure applying member 120 is provided with a female screw portion and a male screw member is used for the first pressure applying member 110, the female screw portion may be machined on the second pressure applying member 120, or the female screw member may be fixed to the second pressure applying member 120 by welding, crimping, or the like.

[0035] Each of the joints 522, 622 is formed with a male screw insertion portion 523, 623 through which the male screw portion 121a of the male screw member 121 is inserted (FIG. 7). The male screw insertion portion 523, 623 is formed as a through-hole or a U-shaped notch. However, such a notch may cause a bias in the stress generated when the male screw portion 121a of the first pressure member 110 and the second pressure member 120 are completely screwed together, which may reduce the stability of the electrical connection. Therefore, it is desirable to provide each of the joints 522, 622 with a male screw insertion portion 523, 623 in the form of a through-hole.

[0036] In the terminal connection structure of this modified example, the joint portion 622 of the second electrode terminal 620 is placed on the second pressure member 120 while the male screw portion 121a is inserted into the male screw insertion portion 623, and then the joint portion 522 of the first electrode terminal 520 is placed on the joint portion 622 of the second electrode terminal 620 while the male screw portion 121a is inserted into the male screw insertion portion 523 (FIG. 7). Then, in the terminal connection structure of this modified example, the first pressure member 110, which serves as a female screw member, is screwed into each male screw portion 121a (FIG. 7). As a result, the conductive module 2 of this modified example physically and electrically connects the joint portion 522 of the first electrode terminal 520 and the joint portion 622 of the second electrode terminal 620.

[0037] Furthermore, the conductive module 2 of this modification includes a conductive member 130 that electrically connects to the battery monitoring unit, similar to the conductive module 1 of the embodiment (FIG. 7). As the conductive member 130, an electric wire or a conductor pattern of a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) is used, similar to the conductive member 30 of the embodiment. When the conductive module 2 includes a flexible printed circuit board, a temperature sensor (e.g., a chip-shaped temperature sensor), a circuit protection member (e.g., a chip-shaped circuit protection member), etc. may be mounted on the flexible printed circuit board, similar to the conductive module 1 of the embodiment. In this example, a flexible printed circuit board 130A is provided (FIG. 7).

[0038] In the conductive module 2 of this modified example, the second pressure applying member 120 also functions as a voltage detection terminal, similar to the conductive module 1 of the embodiment. The second pressure applying member 120 is physically and electrically connected to the conductive member 130 by welding or the like, thereby electrically connecting the conductive member 130 to the first electrode terminal 520 and the second electrode terminal 620. Note that in this conductive module 2, the first pressure applying member 110 may also function as a voltage detection terminal.

[0039] As described above, the conductive module 2 of this modified example uses a screw mechanism for fastening the first electrode terminal 520 and the second electrode terminal 620 together in the terminal connection structure, and can establish an electrical connection between the first electrode terminal 520 and the second electrode terminal 620 with a simple structure that simply clamps the first electrode terminal 520 and the second electrode terminal 620 between the first pressure member 110 and the second pressure member 120 that make up the screw mechanism. In other words, the conductive module 2 of this modified example also allows the first pressure member 110 and the second pressure member 120 to be easily removed, improving the ease of attaching and detaching the first electrode terminal 520 and the second electrode terminal 620. Furthermore, the conductive module 2 of this modified example can utilize a part of the terminal connection structure (the second pressure member 120) as a voltage detection terminal. Therefore, simply by sandwiching the first electrode terminal 520 and the second electrode terminal 620 between the first pressure member 110 and the second pressure member 120, not only can the first electrode terminal 520 and the second electrode terminal 620 be electrically connected to the conductive member 130 and the battery monitoring unit, but the first electrode terminal 520 and the second electrode terminal 620 can also be electrically connected to the conductive member 130 and the battery monitoring unit. Therefore, the conductive module 2 of this modified example can efficiently perform the connection work of physically and electrically connecting the first electrode terminal 520 and the second electrode terminal 620, and the connection work of electrically connecting the first electrode terminal 520 and the second electrode terminal 620 to the battery monitoring unit. Furthermore, the conductive module 2 of this modified example has a part of the terminal connection structure (the second pressure member 120) that also functions as a voltage detection terminal, thereby reducing the number of parts. Therefore, the conductive module 2 of this modified example can have a battery monitoring function in a suitable manner.

[0040] Here, the conductive module 2 of this modified example may include a flat conductive washer member 140 that functions as a washer between the pressure application surface of the joint portion 522 of the first electrode terminal 520 and the plurality of first pressure application members 110 (female screw members or male screw members) (FIG. 7). This washer member 140 is formed into a rectangular flat plate from a metal material or the like, and has a through hole 141 formed for each first pressure application member 110. Furthermore, in this case, in order to make the second pressure application member 120 also function as a washer, this second pressure application member 120 is formed from a metal material or the like to have conductivity.

[0041] In this case, in the conductive module 2 of this modification, the first electrode terminal 520 and the second electrode terminal 620 are sandwiched between the flat second pressure member 120 and the flat washer member 140, which increases the cross-sectional area of the electrical connection therebetween. Therefore, the conductive module 2 of this modification can reduce the electrical resistance by using the washer member 140.

[0042] Furthermore, the conductive module 2 of this modified example may include an insulating housing member 150 that houses the flat second pressure member 120 and holds the head 121b (or female screw member) of the male screw member 121 (Figures 10 and 11).

[0043] Furthermore, although the conductive module 2 of this modification has been described as being applied to first electrode terminals 520 and second electrode terminals 620 that are bent from upstanding portions 521, 621 on the cell body side toward the other end to which they are to be connected, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the conductive module 2 of this modification may be applied to first electrode terminals 530 and second electrode terminals 630 that are bent from upstanding portions 531, 631 on the cell body side in the same direction in the battery cell arrangement direction, with the ends of the bent portions forming flat joints 532, 632 ( FIG. 12 ). Furthermore, the conductive module 2 of this modification may be applied to first electrode terminals 540 and second electrode terminals 640 that are bent from first upstanding portions 541, 641 on the cell body side toward the other end to which they are to be connected, with the second upstanding portions further hanging down in the same direction as the first upstanding portions 541, 641 at the ends of the bent portions, forming flat joints 542, 642 ( FIG. 13 ). [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1,2 Conductive module 10,110 First pressure member 11 Receiving part 12 1st bottom 20,120 Second pressure member 21 Elastic deformation part 22 4th bottom 23 Side wall 30,130 Conductive materials 121a Male thread part 501 First battery cell (one of the battery cells) 510,520,530,540 1st electrode terminal 512,522,532,542 Joint 513 2nd bottom 601 Second battery cell (the other battery cell) 610,620,630,640 2nd electrode terminal 612,622,632,642 Joint 613 3rd bottom

Claims

1. a terminal connection structure that maintains a state in which the first electrode terminal of one battery cell and the second electrode terminal of the other battery cell are overlapped; a conductive member electrically connected to a battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery state of the battery cell; Equipped with the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal each have a flat-plate-shaped joining portion that joins the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal by pressing joining surfaces on the back sides of a pressure surface against each other; the terminal connection structure includes a first pressure member that applies pressure to the pressure surface of the joint portion of the first electrode terminal, and a second pressure member that applies pressure to the pressure surface of the joint portion of the second electrode terminal, a second pressure member that is physically and electrically connected to the conductive member, thereby electrically connecting the conductive member to the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal;

2. the first pressure member is a receiving member having a receiving portion disposed opposite the pressure surface of the joint portion of the first electrode terminal, the second pressure member has an elastic deformation portion that applies a reaction force resulting from elastic deformation to the pressure surface of the joint portion of the second electrode terminal, thereby pressing the joint surface of the joint portion of the second electrode terminal against the joint surface of the joint portion of the first electrode terminal, The conductive module described in claim 1, characterized in that when the elastic deformation portion applies a reaction force associated with elastic deformation to the pressure surface of the joint portion of the second electrode terminal, the receiving portion abuts against the pressure surface of the joint portion of the first electrode terminal and receives the reaction force.

3. the first pressure member has a rectangular first bottom and rectangular receiving portions disposed opposite to each other with a gap therebetween and erected from two sides of the first bottom, and the first electrode terminal is inserted into a groove-shaped first groove surrounded by the first bottom and the pair of receiving portions; the first electrode terminal has a rectangular flat second bottom portion disposed opposite the first bottom portion of the first pressure member in the first groove portion, and the joining portions disposed opposite each other with a gap therebetween and erected from two side portions of the second bottom portion, with the pressing surface of the first electrode terminal disposed opposite the receiving portion in the first groove portion; and the second electrode terminal is inserted into the groove-shaped second groove portion surrounded by the second bottom portion and the pair of joining portions; the second electrode terminal has a rectangular flat-plate-shaped third bottom portion disposed opposite the second bottom portion of the first electrode terminal in the second groove portion, and the joining portions disposed opposite each other with a gap therebetween, standing upright from two side portions of the third bottom portion, and having the joining surface of the second electrode terminal disposed opposite the joining surface of the joining portion of the first electrode terminal in the second groove portion; and the second pressure member is inserted into the groove-shaped third groove portion surrounded by the third bottom portion and the pair of joining portions; the second pressure member has a rectangular flat plate-like fourth bottom portion disposed in the third groove portion opposite the third bottom portion of the second electrode terminal, and rectangular flat plate-like side wall portions disposed opposite to each other with a gap therebetween, erected from two sides of the fourth bottom portion, and disposed in the third groove portion opposite the pressure surface of the joint portion of the second electrode terminal, The conductive module according to claim 2 , wherein the side wall portion has the elastically deforming portion.

4. the second pressure member is formed in a flat plate shape and has a male screw portion or a female screw portion, 2. The conductive module according to claim 1, wherein the first pressure member is a female screw member that is screwed onto the male screw portion or a male screw member that is screwed onto the female screw portion.

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