Power module and electrical appliance

Abstract

The present application provides a power supply module and an electrical device. The power supply module includes a battery cell and a circuit board electrically connected to the battery cell. The number of battery cells is only one, and the battery cell is used to supply a first voltage to the circuit board. The battery cell includes a housing and an electrode assembly provided in the housing. The circuit board includes a step-up / step-down circuit and at least two output terminals. The step-up / step-down circuit receives the first voltage and is used to step up or step down the first voltage and output at least two different second voltages to at least two output terminals. The output terminals supply the second voltage to a drive circuit of a load electrically connected to the output terminals. Thereby, the above power supply module can output different second voltages through a single battery cell, saving the manufacturing cost of the power supply module and improving the energy density of the power supply module.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Cross - reference to related applications) This application claims the priority of a Chinese patent filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on June 27, 2022, with the application number 202210734401.4 and the invention title "Power Module and Electrical Appliance", the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] This application relates to the technical field of batteries, and particularly to a power module and an electrical appliance.

Background Art

[0003] Battery cells are widely used in electronic products such as mobile electronic devices, and people's requirements for each performance of battery cells are also increasing. A battery pack composed of multiple battery cells connected in series and parallel can provide a larger supply voltage, but has a complex structure, high manufacturing cost, and low energy density of the battery pack.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the deficiencies of the prior art, it is necessary to propose a power module.

[0005] In addition, it is also necessary to provide an electrical appliance equipped with this power module.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a power module. The power module includes a battery cell and a circuit board electrically connected to the battery cell, and the number of battery cells in the power module is only one. The battery cell is used to provide a first voltage to the circuit board. The battery cell includes a housing and an electrode assembly provided within the housing. The circuit board includes a step-up / step-down circuit and at least two output terminals. The step-up / step-down circuit receives the first voltage and is used to step up or step down the first voltage and output at least two different second voltages to the at least two output terminals. The output terminals are used to provide the second voltage to a drive circuit in a load electrically connected to the output terminals. By providing the step-up / step-down circuit, the supply voltage range of a single battery cell can be expanded by stepping up or stepping down the first voltage provided by the single battery cell, and power can be supplied to different drive circuits within the load powered by the power module respectively. Compared with a battery pack formed by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series or in parallel, the power module provided by the present application reduces the sealing space of the battery cells, does not require parameter matching for a plurality of battery cells according to parameters such as capacity, voltage, and internal resistance, and reduces the risk of affecting the quality of the battery cells due to the existence of a voltage difference between the plurality of battery cells, thereby improving the production yield, quality, and service life of the battery cells.

[0007] In some possible embodiments, the circuit board is used to receive at least one feedback signal output by a drive circuit within a load. The feedback signal is used to indicate the rated voltage of the drive circuit. The step-up / step-down circuit adjusts the corresponding second voltage to the rated voltage according to the feedback signal and outputs it to the drive circuit through the corresponding output terminal. By receiving the feedback signal, the circuit board enables the step-up / step-down circuit to know the rated voltage of the drive circuit, thereby controlling the voltage value of the second voltage output thereby and forming a feedback mechanism so that the step-up / step-down circuit can meet the power supply needs of different drive circuits.

[0008] In some possible embodiments, the feedback signal is a pulse signal, and the drive circuit may feedback different rated voltages to the circuit board by adjusting the duty ratio of the pulse signal. By outputting a pulse signal having a specific duty ratio, the drive circuit indicates its rated voltage. By adjusting the duty ratio of the pulse signal to output a feedback signal indicating different rated voltages, the drive circuit can be adapted to a plurality of electronic components having different rated voltage values, and the application range of the drive circuit can be expanded.

[0009] In some possible embodiments, the boost - buck circuit includes a switching element. The switching element includes a control terminal and a first connection terminal. The control terminal is used to receive a feedback signal. The first connection terminal receives a first voltage. The switching element adjusts the voltage value of a second voltage by switching between an on - state and an off - state according to the duty ratio of the feedback signal. By switching between the on - state and the off - state of the switching element, the duty of the second voltage is adjusted, the voltage value of the second voltage is adjusted, and the duty ratio of the second voltage corresponds to the duty ratio of the feedback signal, so that the second voltage can be made to match the rated voltage of the drive circuit.

[0010] In some possible embodiments, the boost - buck circuit further includes an inductor. The switching element further includes a second connection terminal. The second connection terminal is electrically connected to the inductor. The inductor is electrically connected to the drive circuit. By adjusting the inductance value of the inductor, the voltage value of the second voltage is adjusted. By providing the inductor and charging and discharging the inductor based on the switching element, the inductor supplies energy to the drive circuit to supply power to the drive circuit. By adjusting the inductance value of the inductor, the voltage drop of the inductor can be adjusted, thereby affecting the charging and discharging process of the inductor and, ultimately, the voltage value of the second voltage can be adjusted.

[0011] In some possible embodiments, the capacity of a single battery cell in the voltage module is 5 to 100 A / h, the first voltage is 3.0 V to 5.0 V, and the ratio of the second voltage to the first voltage is 0.2 to 3 so as to meet the demands for the battery capacities of different electrical devices. Since this application adopts the combination of a single battery cell and a boost-buck circuit to meet the power demand of a load (an external electrical device), the ratio of the second voltage to the first voltage is preferably 1.5 to 2.5. Thus, when used in electrical devices such as tablets, notebook computers, cleaning robots, and power tools that require a use voltage significantly higher than the output voltage of a normal single battery cell, the boost-buck circuit can raise the voltage of the single battery cell to meet the usage needs.

[0012] In some possible embodiments, the power module further includes a housing in which the battery cell and the power module are accommodated, and the circuit board is fixed to the battery cell or the housing. Thereby, the housing can enclose the battery cell and the circuit board together, can better adapt to the power demands of different loads, facilitates the attachment of the power module and the load, and eliminates the need to consider the problems of attachment and arrangement of the circuit board with the boost-buck function during the load design.

[0013] In some implementation forms, the housing includes a first sealing film and a second sealing film provided opposite to each other. The first sealing film includes a first metal layer. The second sealing film includes a second metal layer. The thickness of at least one of the first metal layer and the second metal layer is greater than 40 μm. By providing the first sealing film and the second sealing film and sealing them as the housing to protect the battery cell, since the weight of a single battery cell is greater than that of small battery cells connected in series or in parallel, the first metal layer or the second metal layer with a thickness greater than 40 μm can reduce the safety risks that occur when the battery cell is mechanically abused.

[0014] In some possible embodiments, the electrode assembly has a laminated structure or a wound structure.

[0015] In some possible embodiments, the electrode assembly has a multi-electrode structure to improve the charge and discharge capacity and reduce the influence on heat generation and safety performance caused by the sharp change in the current inside the battery cell in a single battery cell due to step-up and step-down.

[0016] The electrode assembly according to the present application can have various structures and has a relatively wide application range.

[0017] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly includes a positive electrode sheet. The positive electrode sheet includes a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer. A safety undercoat layer is further provided between the positive electrode current collector and the positive electrode active material layer. By providing a safety undercoat layer between the positive electrode current collector and the positive electrode active material layer, the positive electrode current collector can be protected, the risk of short circuit of the electrode assembly can be reduced, and thereby the safety performance of the battery cell can be improved. The safety undercoat layer is preferably a lithium iron phosphate coating layer.

[0018] In some possible embodiments, the housing includes a first end wall and a second end wall provided opposite to each other. The battery cell has a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The positive electrode and the negative electrode are drawn out from the first end wall and electrically connected to the circuit board. A first insulating material is provided between the circuit board and the first end wall. By providing a first insulating material between the circuit board and the first end wall, mechanical collision and friction between the circuit board and the battery cell can be reduced, and the risk of poor contact between the circuit board and the battery cell can be reduced.

[0019] In some possible embodiments, the power module further includes a second insulating material. The second insulating material is connected to the surface of the housing and forms an accommodation space in surrounding cooperation with the first end wall. The circuit board and the first insulating material are provided in the accommodation space. By providing the second insulating material and accommodating the circuit board and the first insulating material in the accommodation space, the mechanical impact received when the power module is mechanically overused can be reduced, and thereby the working stability of the power module can be improved.

[0020] In some possible embodiments, a third insulating material is provided on the second end wall. By providing the third insulating material, the mechanical collision when the power module is mechanically overused can be reduced, and the working stability of the power module can be improved.

[0021] In some possible embodiments, the first insulator is a silica gel pad, which can provide good seismic resistance performance for the circuit board and the battery cell, and at the same time does not affect the electrical connection between the battery cell and the circuit board.

[0022] In a second aspect, the present application provides an electrical use device. The electrical use device includes a load and the power module electrically connected to the load, and the load includes at least two drive circuits.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] The following describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application clearly and in detail. Obviously, the described embodiments are some of the embodiments of this application, not all of them. All technical and scientific terms used in this specification have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the technical field of this application, unless specifically defined otherwise. The terms used in the specification of this application are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application.

[0025] The following will explain the embodiments of the present application in detail. However, the present application can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments described in this document. By providing these exemplary embodiments, the present application is thoroughly and detailedly communicated to those skilled in the relevant technical field. In the embodiments of the present application, terms such as "first" and "second" are only used to distinguish different objects and should not be understood as indicating or suggesting relative importance, nor should they be understood as indicating or suggesting an order. For example, the first application, the second application, etc. are used to distinguish different applications and are not used to describe a specific order of the applications. The features limited to "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of those features.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 1, the present application provides a power module 100. The power module 100 is electrically connected to a load 200 and is used to supply power to the load 200. The load 200 includes at least two drive circuits 201 and an electronic component (not shown) electrically connected to the drive circuit 201.

[0027] The power supply module 100 includes a battery cell 10 and a circuit board 20, and the number of battery cells 10 is only one. The circuit board 20 includes a boost / buck circuit 21 and at least two output terminals 22. The boost / buck circuit 21 is electrically connected to the battery cell 10. At least two output terminals 22 are electrically connected corresponding to at least two drive circuits 201 of the load 200. In one embodiment, the load 200 is an application terminal, for example, an electrical device such as a smartphone or a notebook computer.

[0028] In the embodiments of the present application, the battery cell 10 can include all types of primary batteries, secondary batteries, fuel cells or solar cells. Optionally, the battery cell 10 may be a lithium secondary battery, which includes lithium metal secondary batteries, lithium ion secondary batteries, sodium ion secondary batteries, etc.

[0029] The battery cell 10 supplies a first voltage to the circuit board 20 to supply power to the circuit board 20. Specifically, the battery cell 10 outputs the first voltage to the boost / buck circuit 21, and the boost / buck circuit 21 boosts or buck-boosts the first voltage and outputs at least two different second voltages to at least two of the output terminals 22, and further outputs different second voltages to different drive circuits 201 through the output terminals 22.

[0030] The drive circuit 201 is used to drive and operate the electronic components in the load 200 based on the second voltage. As can be understood, a plurality of different electronic components are provided in the load 200, and since the plurality of different electronic components each have different operating voltages, different drive circuits 201 can drive the corresponding electronic components based on different second voltages and operate them normally under the operating voltage.

[0031] As can be understood, as shown in FIG. 1, the drive circuit 201 is also electrically connected to the boost-buck circuit 21. In this way, the drive circuit 201 can also feedback the rated operating voltage of the electronic component to the circuit board 20. Specifically, the electronic component can provide its rated operating voltage to the drive circuit 201, and the drive circuit 201 can output a feedback signal to the boost-buck circuit 21 based on the rated operating voltage of the electronic component. As can be understood, the boost-buck circuit 21 can grasp the rated operating voltage of the electronic component from the feedback signal, and thereby adjust the voltage value of the second voltage to be output.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 2, the boost-buck circuit 21 according to the present application includes a switching element 211 and an inductor 212. In some embodiments, the switching element 211 may be an electronic component such as a diode, a transistor, a field effect transistor, a switching transistor, etc., and the inductor 212 may be a coil, a chip inductor, a plug-in inductor, etc.

[0033] In an embodiment of the present application, the switching element 211 includes a control terminal 2111, a first connection terminal 2112, and a second connection terminal 2113. The control terminal 2111 of the switching element 211 is electrically connected to the drive circuit 201, the first connection terminal 2112 of the switching element 211 is electrically connected to the battery cell 10, and the second connection terminal 2113 of the switching element 211 is electrically connected to the inductor 212. The inductor 212 is electrically connected to the drive circuit 201 in the load 200. The drive circuit 201 is electrically connected to the first connection terminal 2112 of the switching element 211.

[0034] In the embodiments of the present application, the switching element 211 receives the first voltage provided by the battery cell 10 and the feedback signal output from the drive circuit 201, and is used to switch between the on state and the off state according to the feedback signal. Specifically, in some embodiments, the feedback signal may be a pulse signal. As can be understood, the duty ratio of the feedback signal indicates the rated voltage of the drive circuit 201 and the electronic components. The drive circuit 201 can feedback different rated voltages to the switching element 211 by adjusting the duty ratio of the feedback signal. For example, a feedback signal with a duty ratio of 100% indicates that the rated voltage of the drive circuit 201 is 12V, and a feedback signal with a duty ratio of 50% indicates that the rated voltage of the drive circuit 201 is 6V. Therefore, the switching element 211 can detect the duty ratio of the feedback signal, grasp the rated voltage of the drive circuit 201 and the electronic components, and thereby switch between the on state and the off state to output drive signals with different voltage values.

[0035] For example, if the switching element 211 is an N-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) transistor, the gate of the switching element 211 is the control terminal 2111. When the feedback signal is at a low level, the switching element 211 is in an off state. When the feedback signal is at a high level, the switching element 211 is turned on, and the switching element 211 can be switched between the on state and the off state based on the duty ratio of the feedback signal.

[0036] As can be understood, in this embodiment, the inductance values of the inductors 212 connected to different drive circuits 201 may be the same or different, and no specific limitation is made here.

[0037] To be understandable, the switching element 211 actually adjusts the voltage value of the driving signal by adjusting the duty ratio of the driving signal between the on state and the off state, that is, by boosting or bucking the first voltage to obtain the driving signal. In some embodiments, the duty ratios of the feedback signal and the driving signal may be the same. For example, when the duty ratio of the feedback signal is 20%, the switching element 211 can be controlled such that the duty ratio of the output driving signal becomes 20%. Of course, in other embodiments, the duty ratios of the feedback signal and the driving signal may be complementary to each other. Here, the duty ratios of the feedback signal and the driving signal being complementary to each other means that the sum of the duty ratios of the feedback signal and the driving signal is 100%. For example, when the duty of the feedback signal is 20%, the switching element 211 can be controlled such that the duty ratio of the output driving signal becomes 80%. In some other embodiments, the voltage value of the driving signal can also be adjusted by adjusting the inductance value of the inductor 212. For example, when the inductor 212 is an adjustable inductor, by adjusting the inductance value of the inductor 212 in real time, the voltage drop in the inductor 212 is changed, thereby affecting the charge and discharge process of the inductor 212, and ultimately the energy provided by the inductor 212 to the driving circuit 201 can be changed, and the adjustment of the second voltage can be realized. For example, the inductance values of the inductors 212 connected to different driving circuits 201 may be different. Therefore, by providing inductors 212 having different inductance values, the adjustment of the second voltage can be realized.

[0038] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 4, in some embodiments, the battery cell 10 according to the present application is a single large-capacity battery cell. Optionally, the capacity of the battery cell 10 is 5 to 100 A / h. Compared with a battery pack formed by a plurality of batteries connected in series or in parallel, the capacity of the battery cell 10 according to the present application is larger and can provide a wider range of power supply voltages.

[0039] For better understanding, the battery cell 10 is set as a single large-capacity battery cell, and the boost-buck circuit 21 boosts and buck-boosts the first voltage provided by the battery cell 10, thereby expanding the supply voltage range of the battery cell 10 and enabling power supply to different drive circuits 201 respectively. Compared with a battery pack formed by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series or in parallel, the battery cell 10 according to the present application can make full use of the internal space of the power module 100. For example, a circuit board for connecting a plurality of battery cells in series or in parallel and a space for welding the plurality of battery cells and the circuit board can be omitted. When the battery cell is a soft-pack battery, the space occupied by the sealing sides of the plurality of battery cells, the gaps at the connection locations of the plurality of battery cells, the reserve space for the adhesive for bonding the plurality of battery cells, the space at the corner of the electrode assembly of the plurality of battery cells, the space for the sealing film for sealing each battery cell, etc. can be omitted. Thereby, the battery cell 10 according to the present application can improve the energy density. At the same time, the present application is also advantageous in reducing the number of battery cells 10 required, simplifying the overall configuration of the power module 100, and reducing the manufacturing cost and maintenance cost. Further, the battery cell 10 according to the present application does not need to match parameters such as the capacity, voltage, and internal resistance of a plurality of battery cells, and can also reduce the procedures for charging due to the voltage difference generated by the voltage difference between a plurality of battery cells. Moreover, since the heat generation amount of a single battery cell 10 is smaller than the heat generation amount of a battery pack composed of a plurality of battery cells, the present application can simplify the manufacturing process of the battery cell and improve the service life and reliability of the battery cell.

[0040] Specifically, the battery cell 10 includes a housing 101, an electrode assembly 102, an electrolyte (not shown), a first electrode 103, and a second electrode 104. The electrode assembly 102 is located within the housing 101. The housing 101 includes a first end wall 1011 and a second end wall 1012 that are relatively arranged in the first direction D1. Both the first electrode 103 and the second electrode 104 are electrically connected to the electrode assembly 102 and extend out of the housing 101 from the first end wall 1011. The first electrode 103 and the second electrode 104 can be connected to an external member, for example, the circuit board 20 according to this application.

[0041] In some embodiments, a first insulating material 23 is provided between the circuit board 20 and the first end wall 101. The first insulating material 23 can provide a buffering effect when the power module 100 is mechanically overused, reduce the mechanical collision between the circuit board 20 and the battery cell 10, and reduce the risk of damage to the housing 101 and liquid leakage. Also, the first insulating material 23 can insulate the tip portion of the battery cell 10 (i.e., the portion close to the first end wall 1011 of the battery cell 10) from other components such as the circuit board 20, the first electrode 103, and the second electrode 104. Specifically, the first insulating material 23 can be provided in the space formed and surrounded by the sealing portion 11a and the first end wall 1011. The first insulating material 23 may be an insulating resin such as silicone rubber or epoxy resin. In some embodiments, the first insulating material 23 may be a silica gel pad.

[0042] Furthermore, a second insulating material 24 is provided in the power module 100. The second insulating material 24 and the first end wall 1011 enclose to form an accommodation space, and the first insulating material 23, the first electrode 103, the second electrode 104, and the circuit board 20 are all located within the accommodation space. The second insulating material 24 is for fixing the circuit board 20 to the first end wall 1011 of the battery cell 10, which can reduce the impact on the tip portions of the circuit board 20 and the battery cell 10 when the power module 100 is mechanically stressed, and can reduce the risk of failure. It should be noted that the power module 100 needs to electrically connect the output terminal of the circuit board and the drive circuit of the load by a method commonly used in the technical field. This includes, but is not limited to, the output terminal of the circuit board penetrating through the second insulating material 24 and being electrically connected to the drive circuit.

[0043] A third insulating material 25 may be further provided on the second end wall 1012. The third insulating material 25 can reduce the impact on the rear end portion of the battery cell 10 (i.e., the portion close to the second end wall 1012 of the battery cell 10) when the power module 100 is mechanically stressed, and can reduce the risk of failure. In some embodiments, the second insulating material 24 and the third insulating material 25 can be insulating tapes.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the battery cell 10 is not limited to a soft pack battery cell, but can be such. The housing 101 includes a main body portion 11 and a sealing portion 11a. The first electrode 103 and the second electrode 104 extend from the sealing portion 11a, and the electrode assembly 102 is provided within the main body portion 11. The main body portion 11 includes the first end wall 1011 and the second end wall 1012, and the sealing portion 11a is connected to the first end wall 1011. Define the thickness direction of the electrode assembly 102 as the second direction D2, and define the direction perpendicular to the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 as the third direction D3.

[0045] The housing 101 can be formed by folding the sealing side after sealing the first sealing film 12 and the second sealing film 13.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 4, the first sealing film 12 may include a first protective layer 125, a first metal layer 126, and a first polymer layer 127 that are sequentially laminated. Compared with the first protective layer 125, the first polymer layer 127 is closer to the electrode assembly 102. The material of the first protective layer 125 may be a polymer resin, which protects the first metal layer 126, reduces the risk of damage to the first metal layer 126 caused by external forces, delays air penetration from the external environment, and can maintain the interior of the battery cell 10 in a normal operating environment.

[0047] In some embodiments, the material of the first protective layer 125 may be at least one selected from ethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyvinylidene fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, and polyimide. The thickness range of the first protective layer 125 may be 15 μm to 35 μm.

[0048] The first metal layer 126 can be used to delay the penetration of moisture from the external environment and reduce damage to the electrode assembly 102 caused by external forces. In some embodiments, the first metal layer 126 may be an aluminum foil layer or a steel foil layer. Since the capacity of the battery cell 10 is relatively large and the weight increases, when the power module 100 is mechanically overused (for example, dropped or collided), in order to reduce the risk of malfunction and enhance reliability, the thickness of the first metal layer 126 is greater than 40 μm. The first polymer layer 127 has the property of melting upon heating and can be used for sealing, which can reduce the risk of the multilayer sheet dissolving or swelling in the organic solvent in the electrolyte. The first polymer layer 127 is also used to reduce the risk of the electrolyte in the electrolyte contacting the first metal layer 126 and corroding the metal layer. In some embodiments, the first polymer layer 127 includes a polymer material, and the polymer material can be selected from at least one of polypropylene, propylene copolymer, polyethylene, and polymethyl methacrylate. The thickness range of the first polymer layer 127 can be 10 μm to 40 μm.

[0049] In some embodiments, the first encapsulation film 12 may include a first adhesive layer (not shown) and a second adhesive layer (not shown). The first adhesive layer is provided between the first protective layer 125 and the first metal layer 126 and can be used to bond the first protective layer 125 and the first metal layer 126. The second adhesive layer is provided between the first metal layer 126 and the first polymer layer 127 and can be used to bond the first metal layer 126 and the first polymer layer 127.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 5, the second encapsulation film 13 may include a second protective layer 131, a second metal layer 132, and a second polymer layer 133 that are stacked in sequence. When the power module 100 is mechanically stressed, the thickness of the second metal layer 132 can also be set to be greater than 40 μm to further reduce the risk of malfunction. As can be understood, when the first encapsulation film 12 and the second encapsulation film 13 are obtained by folding a single encapsulation film, the materials of the second protective layer 131, the second metal layer 132, and the second polymer layer 133 are the same as the materials of the first protective layer 125, the first metal layer 126, and the first polymer layer 127, respectively, and the repeated descriptions are omitted here.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 6, the electrode assembly 102 includes a first electrode sheet 14, a second electrode sheet 15, and a separator 16. The separator 16 is disposed between the first electrode sheet 14 and the second electrode sheet 15. The first electrode sheet 14 includes a first current collector 141 and a first active material layer 142 provided on the first current collector 141. The second electrode sheet 15 includes a second current collector 151 and a second active material layer 152 provided on the second current collector 151. The first electrode 103 and the second electrode 104 are electrically connected to the first current collector 141 and the second current collector 151 respectively, whereby the polarities of the first electrode sheet 14 and the second electrode sheet 15 can be drawn out. In some embodiments, the first electrode sheet 14 is a positive electrode sheet and the second electrode sheet 15 is a negative electrode sheet. The first electrode sheet 14 may be a positive electrode sheet or a negative electrode sheet. In contrast, the first current collector 141 may be a positive current collector or a negative current collector, and the first active material layer 142 may be a positive active material layer or a negative active material layer. In some embodiments, the first electrode sheet 14 is a positive electrode sheet and the second electrode sheet 15 is a negative electrode sheet.

[0052] As the positive current collector, aluminum foil or nickel foil can be used, and as the negative current collector, at least one of copper foil, nickel foil, or a carbon-based current collector can be employed.

[0053] The positive electrode active material layer contains a positive electrode active material, and the positive electrode active material includes a compound that reversibly inserts and extracts metal ions (for example, lithium ions, sodium ions, etc., hereinafter, lithium ions are taken as an example), that is, a lithiated intercalate compound. In some embodiments, the positive electrode active material may include a lithium transition metal composite oxide. The lithium transition metal composite oxide contains lithium and at least one element selected from cobalt, manganese, and nickel. In some embodiments, the positive electrode active material is at least one selected from lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), lithium nickel manganese cobalt ternary material (NCM), lithium nickel cobalt aluminum ternary material (NCA), lithium manganese oxide (LiMn2O4), lithium nickel manganese oxide (LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4), or lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4).

[0054] The negative electrode active material layer contains a negative electrode active material, and a negative electrode active material that can reversibly extract active ions known in the art is adopted, and no particular limitation is provided in this application. For example, it can include one or a combination of multiple types of graphite, soft carbon, hard carbon, carbon fiber, mesocarbon microbeads, silicon-based materials, tin-based materials, lithium titanate, or other metals that can form an alloy with lithium. Here, the graphite may be one or a combination of two or more selected from artificial graphite, natural graphite, and modified graphite. The silicon-based material may be one or a combination of two or more selected from single crystal silicon, silicon compounds, silicon carbon composites, and silicon alloys. The tin-based material may be one or a combination of two or more selected from single crystal tin, tin oxygen compounds, and tin alloys.

[0055] The separator 16 contains at least one of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, or aramid. For example, the polyethylene is selected from at least one of high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. Among them, polyethylene and polypropylene have a good effect in reducing the short-circuit risk and can improve the stability of the battery cell 10 due to the off-effect.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 6, the electrode assembly 102 has a wound structure, that is, the first electrode sheet 14, the separator 16, and the second electrode sheet 15 are laminated and wound to form the electrode assembly 102. In some embodiments, the electrode assembly 102 has a plurality of tab structures. The first electrode 103 includes a plurality of tabs 17 and one relay portion 18. The plurality of tabs 17 are respectively connected to the first current collector 141. The relay portion 18 is connected to the tab 17 and extends outside the housing 101. Note that the tab 17 can be integrally formed with the first current collector 141 (that is, the tab 17 is formed by cutting the first current collector 141) or fixed by welding. The relay portion 18 is fixed to the plurality of tabs 17 by welding. Similarly, the second electrode 104 may have a plurality of tabs (not shown) respectively connected to the second current collector 151 and one relay portion (not shown) connected to the tabs and extending outside the housing 101. As can be understood, in some embodiments, since the capacity of the battery cell 10 is large, by providing a plurality of tab structures, when the battery cell 10 is charged, the current is more dispersed and uniform, reducing the heat generated in the first electrode 103 and the second electrode 104, reducing the risk of local overheating, and improving the reliability and safety.

[0057] In other embodiments, the electrode assembly 102 can also have a laminated structure, that is, the electrode assembly 102 can be formed by laminating the first electrode sheet 14, the separator 16, and the second electrode sheet 15 in this order. In this laminated structure, one second electrode sheet 15 is provided between two adjacent first electrode sheets 14, and one first electrode sheet 14 is provided between two adjacent second electrode sheets 15. Since one tab is connected to each of the first electrode sheets 14 and the second electrode sheets 15, similarly in these multiple tab structures, the heat generated by the first electrode 103 and the second electrode 104 can be reduced, the risk of local overheating can be decreased, and the reliability and safety can be enhanced.

[0058] In some embodiments, the first electrode sheet 14 further includes a safety undercoat layer 143, and the safety undercoat layer 143 is provided between the first active material layer 142 and the surface of the first current collector 141. By providing the safety undercoat layer 143, the adhesion between the first current collector 141 and the first active material layer 142 can be increased, the risk of active material shedding during the cycling process can be reduced, and the safety performance of the battery cell 10 can be improved. In some examples, the safety undercoat layer 143 is a lithium iron phosphate coating layer, which can also reduce the short-circuit current and heat generation when a short circuit occurs.

[0059] In some embodiments, an adhesive layer 19 can be provided between the inner surface of the housing 101 and the electrode assembly 102. For example, when the first sealing film 12 includes a first protective layer 125, a first metal layer 126, and a first polymer layer 127 laminated in sequence, the adhesive layer 19 can adhere to the first polymer layer 127 and also adhere to the electrode assembly 102. Thereby, when the power module 100 is mechanically abused, the adhesive layer 19 can suppress the movement of the electrode assembly 102 within the housing 101 and reduce the risk of liquid leakage or ignition due to a short circuit caused by the housing 101 being pushed open. When the outermost side of the electrode assembly 102 is a current collector, the adhesive layer 19 can reduce the risk of the current collector being torn. This adhesive layer 19 may be a hot melt adhesive or a double-sided tape.

[0060] Referring to FIG. 7, one embodiment of the present application provides a power device 1 including a power module 100 and an external load 200.

[0061] Note that the power module 100 of the present application is applied to electrical devices 1 in various fields. In one embodiment, the electrical device 1 of the present application is not limited to a notebook computer, a pen input type computer, a mobile computer, an e-book player, a mobile phone, a portable facsimile machine, a portable copier, a portable printer, a head-mounted stereo headset, a video recorder, a liquid crystal television, a handy cleaner, a portable CD player, a mini disk, a transceiver, an electronic notebook, a calculator, a memory card, a portable recorder, a radio, a backup power supply, a motor, a lighting fixture, a toy, a game device, a clock, a power tool, a power tool, a camera, a large household battery, and a lithium ion capacitor, etc., and is applicable.

[0062] The above embodiments are made for explaining the present application and do not limit the present application. Those skilled in the art should recognize that appropriate changes and modifications to the above embodiments are included within the scope of protection of the present application as long as they are within the scope of the substantial spirit of the present application.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0063] 100 Power module 10 Battery cells 101 Housing 1011 First end wall 1012 Second end wall 102 Electrode assembly 103 First electrode 104 Second electrode 11 Body part 11a Sealing part D1 First direction D2 Second direction D3 Third direction 12 First sealing film 13 Second sealing film 125 First protective layer 126 First metal layer 127 First polymer layer 131 Second protective layer 132 Second metal layer 133 Second polymer layer 14 First electrode sheet 15 Second electrode sheet 16 Separator 141 First current collector 142 First active material layer 143 Safety undercoat layer 151 Second current collector 152 Second active material layer 17 Tab 18 Relay part 20 Circuit board 21 Boost - buck circuit 211 Switching element 2111 Control terminal 2112 First connection terminal 2113 Second connection terminal 212 Inductor 22 Output terminal 23 First insulating material 24 Second insulating material 25 Third insulating material 200 Load 201 Drive circuit 1 Electrical appliance

Claims

1. A power module comprising a battery cell and a circuit board electrically connected to the battery cell, wherein the battery cell is a single one and is used to supply a first voltage to the circuit board, and includes a housing and an electrode assembly provided in the housing, the circuit board includes a step-up / step-down circuit and at least two output terminals, the step-up / step-down circuit receives the first voltage, steps up or steps down the first voltage, and is used to output at least two different second voltages to the at least two output terminals, the output terminals supply the second voltage to a drive circuit of a load electrically connected to the output terminals, the power module includes a housing, the battery cell and the power module are housed in the housing, and the circuit board is fixed to the battery cell or the housing. A power module characterized by this.

2. The circuit board is further used to receive at least one feedback signal output by the drive circuit, the feedback signal is used to indicate the rated voltage of the drive circuit, The step-up / step-down circuit adjusts the corresponding second voltage to the rated voltage according to the feedback signal and outputs it to the drive circuit through the corresponding output terminal. The power module according to claim 1, characterized by this.

3. The feedback signal is a pulse signal, The drive circuit can feedback different rated voltages to the circuit board by adjusting the duty ratio of the pulse signal. The power module according to claim 2, characterized by this.

4. The step-up / step-down circuit includes a switching element, the switching element includes a control terminal for receiving the feedback signal and a first connection terminal for receiving the first voltage, The switching element switches between an on state and an off state according to the duty ratio of the feedback signal and adjusts the voltage value of the second voltage. The power module according to claim 3, characterized by this.

5. The step-up / step-down circuit further includes an inductor, the switching element further includes a second connection terminal, and the second connection terminal is electrically connected to the inductor. The inductor is electrically connected to the drive circuit, and adjusts the voltage value of the second voltage by adjusting the inductance value of the inductor. The power supply module according to claim 4, characterized in that.

6. The capacity of the battery cell is 5 A / h to 100 A / h, the first voltage is 3.0 V to 5.0 V, and the value of the ratio of the second voltage to the first voltage is 0.2 to 3. The power supply module according to claim 1, characterized in that.

7. The ratio of the second voltage to the first voltage is 1.5 to 2.

5. The power supply module according to claim 6, characterized in that.

8. The housing includes a first sealing film and a second sealing film disposed opposite to each other. The first sealing film includes a first metal layer. The second sealing film includes a second metal layer. The thickness of at least one of the first metal layer and the second metal layer is greater than 40 μm. The power supply module according to claim 1, characterized in that.

9. The electrode assembly has a plurality of tab structures. The power supply module according to claim 8, characterized in that.

10. The electrode assembly includes a positive electrode sheet including a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer. A safety undercoat layer is provided between the positive electrode current collector and the positive electrode active material layer. The power supply module according to claim 1, characterized in that.

11. The safety undercoat layer is a lithium iron phosphate coating layer. The power supply module according to claim 10, characterized in that.

12. The housing includes a first end wall and a second end wall provided opposite to each other. The battery cell has a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The positive electrode and the negative electrode are drawn out from the first end wall and are electrically connected to the circuit board. A first insulating material is provided between the circuit board and the first end wall. The power supply module according to claim 1, characterized in that.

13. Further comprising a second insulating material, the second insulating material is connected to the housing, and the first end wall and the second insulating material surround to form an accommodation space, and the circuit board and the first insulating material are provided in the accommodation space. The power supply module according to claim 12, characterized in that.

14. A third insulating material is provided on the second end wall. The power supply module according to claim 12, characterized in that.

15. The power module according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the first insulating material is a silica gel pad.

16. An electrical appliance comprising a load and a power module electrically connected to the load, the load being an electrical appliance including at least two drive circuits, the power module being the power module according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

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