Battery cell and connection structure of battery module thereof

Abstract

To provide a battery cell and a connection structure of a battery module thereof, which can be assembled or maintained without damaging a structure of the battery cell, and thus is convenient for replacing or reusing the battery cell without generating additional processing costs.SOLUTION: The connection structure includes two blade terminals, two fixed supports and an elastic terminal. The blade terminal has a fixing portion and a connecting portion. After the electrical output part of the battery cell is welded to the fixing part and clamped by the fixing support, the connecting part of the blade terminal is exposed between the two fixing supports. The elastic terminal is used to clamp the connecting portion to strengthen the relationship of contact and electrical connection.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2A

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This specification claims priority to Taiwan Patent Application No. 113128690, filed with the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office on August 1, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a connection structure, and more particularly to a connection structure for battery cells and battery modules thereof that can be easily disassembled for maintenance and replacement. [Background technology]

[0003] New energy vehicles are gradually becoming popular and put into practical use in the market. Power batteries are one of the three core technologies of new energy electric vehicles. Therefore, power battery packs are considered a key component of new energy vehicles and play a key role in their core competitiveness. As power batteries become more widespread, manufacturers of new energy vehicles are being asked to reduce the weight of their vehicles in order to extend their driving range. It is expected that this will maximize the driving range within limited space and power capacity, and facilitate the smooth spread of new energy vehicles. The pouch design for the power battery has inherent advantages. As the name suggests, the pouch structure differs from traditional hard-shell packaging. The pouch structure uses a flexible film material, such as an aluminum plastic film, to enclose the battery cells or battery modules inside. The use of flexible films reduces overall weight and volume, improving energy density per unit volume or weight. Therefore, pouch batteries are particularly suitable as power batteries for new energy vehicles.

[0004] To enhance its competitiveness, pouch batteries also use a welding method to connect the battery cell structure and modules for electrical connection. However, current welding technology cannot ensure consistent welding quality. Additionally, inspection is difficult and false welds can be a potential problem. Welding also introduces heat effects that can alter the surrounding materials and compromise product reliability. Whether ultrasonic or laser welding, the process suffers from inefficiencies and high labor, material and equipment costs. Production efficiency and yield remain major bottlenecks, significantly impacting the cost of pouch battery products.

[0005] On the other hand, once the battery cells are welded together, they become difficult to disassemble. It is nearly impossible to replace individual battery cells from a stacked battery module. If even one battery cell fails or is damaged, the entire battery pack may need to be replaced, significantly increasing maintenance costs. Disassembling welded battery cells for recycling typically requires destroying the weld joints, which is inconvenient for reprocessing and reuse. This significantly reduces the efficiency and feasibility of recycling operations.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention provides a connection structure of a battery cell and its battery module to alleviate or avoid the above problems. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Taiwan Patent Application No. 113128690 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a connection structure for battery cells and their battery modules. The electrical output sections of the battery cells are firmly fixed and electrically connected to each other by a connection structure that allows for quick assembly and disassembly. This not only makes it easier to replace individual battery cells during maintenance without damaging the battery cell structure, but also makes it easier to remove and reuse normal battery cells during recycling without incurring additional processing costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To achieve the above, the present invention discloses a connection structure adapted to connect two battery cells. Each battery cell has two electrical output portions. The connection structure includes two blade terminals, two fixed supports, and one elastic terminal. Each blade terminal has a fixed portion at one end and a connecting portion at the other end. The fixing portions of the two blade terminals are fixed to the two electrical output portions of the two battery cells, respectively, to form electrical connections. The two fixed supports clamp the two blade terminals, exposing the connecting portions of the two blade terminals between the two fixed supports. The elastic terminal equipped with an elastic clamper is used to clamp the connecting portions of the two blade terminals to form the electrical connection between the two connecting portions.

[0010] Furthermore, when the fixed support members are clamped to both ends of the blade terminals, exposed slots can be formed between the fixed support members. The connection portions of the blade terminals are exposed in the exposed slots. The elastic terminals are integrated with the terminal insulating housings and inserted into the exposed slots to clamp the connection portions of the blade terminals. Alternatively, when the fixed support members are clamped to both ends of the blade terminals, the surfaces of the ends of the fixed support members can be generally flat, with only the connection portions of the blade terminals exposed. In this configuration, the elastic terminals can be integrated with the connection board. The battery cells can be inserted into the connection board together with the connection structures.

[0011] The present invention also discloses a battery module that includes multiple battery cells stacked using the above-described connection structure, and that secures the battery cells together to form an electrical connection. Therefore, when maintenance is required, a single battery cell can be easily removed and replaced by simply removing the elastic terminal. Similarly, when recycling, battery cells that are still in good condition can be easily removed and reused.

[0012] The present invention also discloses a connection structure adapted to connect two battery cells. Each battery cell has two electrical output portions. The connection structure includes two blade terminals and one elastic terminal. Each blade terminal has a fixing portion at one end and a connecting portion at the other end. The fixing portions of the two blade terminals are fixed to the two electrical output portions of the two battery cells, respectively, to form an electrical connection. The elastic terminal equipped with an elastic clamper slides along its longitudinal axis within the blade terminal and is fixed between the two connecting portions of the blade terminal to form the electrical connection.

[0013] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description set forth below. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

[0014] The present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description, given by way of example only and not by way of limitation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a blade terminal of a connection structure of the present invention attached to a battery cell. [Figure 2A] 1 is a schematic diagram of a connection structure incorporated into a battery cell of the present invention. [Figure 2B] 1 is a schematic diagram of a connection structure incorporated into a battery cell of the present invention. [Figure 2C]1 is a schematic diagram of a connection structure incorporated into a battery cell of the present invention. [Figure 3A] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a connection structure incorporated into a battery cell of the present invention. [Figure 3B] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a connection structure incorporated into a battery cell of the present invention. [Figure 3C] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a connection structure incorporated into a battery cell of the present invention. [Figure 3D] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a connection structure incorporated into a battery cell of the present invention. [Figure 3E] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a connection structure incorporated into a battery cell of the present invention. [Figure 3F] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a connection structure incorporated into a battery cell of the present invention. [Figure 4A] 1A-1C are schematic diagrams of various embodiments of blade terminals of a connection structure incorporated into a battery cell of the present invention. [Figure 4B] 1A-1C are schematic diagrams of various embodiments of blade terminals of a connection structure incorporated into a battery cell of the present invention. [Figure 4C] 1A-1C are schematic diagrams of various embodiments of blade terminals of a connection structure incorporated into a battery cell of the present invention. [Figure 4D] 1A-1C are schematic diagrams of various embodiments of blade terminals of a connection structure incorporated into a battery cell of the present invention. [Figure 4E] 1A-1C are schematic diagrams of various embodiments of blade terminals of a connection structure incorporated into a battery cell of the present invention. [Figure 4F] 1A-1C are schematic diagrams of various embodiments of blade terminals of a connection structure incorporated into a battery cell of the present invention. [Figure 4G] 1A-1C are schematic diagrams of various embodiments of blade terminals of a connection structure incorporated into a battery cell of the present invention. [Figure 5A] 3A to 3C are schematic diagrams illustrating various embodiments of elastic terminals of the connection structure incorporated into the battery cell of the present invention. [Figure 5B] 3A to 3C are schematic diagrams illustrating various embodiments of elastic terminals of the connection structure incorporated into the battery cell of the present invention. [Figure 5C]3A to 3C are schematic diagrams illustrating various embodiments of elastic terminals of the connection structure incorporated into the battery cell of the present invention. [Figure 5D] 3A to 3C are schematic diagrams illustrating various embodiments of elastic terminals of the connection structure incorporated into the battery cell of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection structure of the present invention applied to a battery module. [Figure 7] 10 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the blade terminal of the connection structure of the present invention attached to a battery cell. FIG. [Figure 8A] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of the present invention shown in FIG. 7 incorporated into a battery cell. [Figure 8B] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of the present invention shown in FIG. 7 incorporated into a battery cell. [Figure 9] FIG. 8C is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of the present invention shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B incorporated into a connection board. [Figure 10] 10 is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of the present invention, showing the battery modules of FIG. 9 arranged in parallel. [Figure 11A] 10 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the blade terminal of the connection structure of the present invention when attached to a battery cell. FIG. [Figure 11B] 10 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the blade terminal of the connection structure of the present invention when attached to a battery cell. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of the present invention, showing the battery modules of FIGS. 11A and 11B arranged in parallel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. The drawings described are only schematic and non-limiting, and in the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes.

[0017] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the general concepts of the present invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the example embodiments belong. It will further be understood that terms as defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted in a way that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art, and not in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined herein.

[0018] The battery cell connection structure disclosed in the present invention (see FIGS. 2A and 3A) is adapted to connect two battery cells 10 to form a series or parallel circuit configuration. The connection structure includes two blade terminals 20 , two fixed supports 30 , and a resilient terminal 40 . Each blade terminal 20 has a fixing portion 201 and a connecting portion 202 (see FIGS. 4A to 4C). The elastic terminal 40 has an elastic clamper 41 (see FIGS. 1 and 3A).

[0019] Referring now to Figure 1, each battery cell 10 has two electrical outputs. As shown, this electrical output consists of a tab 11 located inside the pouch battery cell 10, which is welded to a lead wire 12. Typically, tab 11 is relatively thin and is therefore first welded to lead wire 12 for ease of subsequent processing and assembly. However, the configuration of the present invention is not limited to this arrangement. If conditions permit, tab 11 may be used to connect directly to blade terminal 20. In other words, the tab 11 functions as an electrical output portion of the battery cell 10 . In general, any electrical output component of the battery cell 10 falls within the scope of what this invention defines as an electrical output. For ease of understanding, the following examples and discussion will use lead 12 to represent the electrical output.

[0020] The blade terminal 20 is designed to fit the elongated shape of the lead wire 12 and is slightly larger in size and thickness than the lead wire. The thickness of the lead wire 12 is usually 0.1 to 0.4 mm, but the preferred thickness of the blade terminal 20 is 0.5 to 2 mm. The blade terminal 20 has a fixing portion 201 on one side and a connecting portion 202 on the other side of the blade terminal. Positioning holes 203 are provided at both ends, and the connecting portion 202 may also have clamping slots 204 . The fixing portion 201 is used to fix the lead wire 12 of the battery cell 10 (usually by welding). When the lead wires 12 on both sides of the battery cell 10 are welded and fixed to the blade terminals 20, the pre-processing of the battery cell 10 is completed.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 2A, two pretreated battery cells 10 are stacked with a divider plate 50 sandwiched between them. The partition plate 50 is made of a foam material or a heat sink to enhance cushioning or heat dissipation. After the battery cells 10 are stacked, the two blade terminals 20 on the same side are joined together as shown in FIGS. 2B to 2C. The fixed supports 30 are used to clamp the blade terminals 20 , with the blade terminals 20 exposed between the two fixed supports 30 . In this embodiment, the outer profile of the fixed support 30 is H-shaped, thicker on both sides and thinner in the middle. The fixed support 30 has a plurality of first positioning posts 31 on its upper surface, and has notches 311 on its lower surface corresponding to the positioning posts 31 (see FIG. 3A). The first positioning post 31 passes through the positioning hole 203 of the blade terminal 20 and is fixed by engaging with a notch 311 on the lower surface of the fixing support 30 directly above. Additionally, the central portion of the fixed support 30 is thin, so that after two fixed supports 30 are assembled, an exposed slot 32 is formed between the fixed supports (see FIG. 2C). The connection portions 202 of the blade terminals 20 are exposed between the fixed supports.

[0022] See Figure 3A. In this cross-sectional view, after stacking the battery cells 10, electrical connections are established by direct contact between the blade terminals 20 and the leads 12. As shown in FIG. 3B, the first positioning post 31 on the upper surface of the fixed support 30 passes through the positioning hole 203 of the blade terminal 20 and is inserted into the notch 311 on the lower surface of the fixed support 30 directly above to fix and position the two blade terminals 20. When the two fixed supports 30 are assembled, an exposed slot 32 is formed between them. The connecting portions 202 of the two blade terminals 20 are located in the exposed slots 32 and are exposed. The resilient terminal 40 is inserted into the exposed slot 32 to clamp and secure the connection portion 202 , thereby strengthening the electrical connection between the two blade terminals 20 . In other words, the blade terminals 20 are electrically connected to the leads 12 so that contact between two blade terminals 20 is equivalent to establishing an electrical connection between two leads 12 . The clamping and fixing with the elastic terminal 40 strengthens the contact, making it more secure and stable, thereby reducing resistance. The elastic terminal 40 includes an elastic clamper 41 and is disposed in a terminal insulating housing 42 having a housing space. The resilient terminals 40 are protected by terminal insulating housings 42 to prevent accidental short circuits. Furthermore, the terminal insulating housing 42 maintains a uniform appearance with the fixed support member 30. As shown in FIG. 6, after assembly, the outer surface of the terminal insulating housing 42 is flush with the outer surface of the fixed support 30. Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the cross-sectional views show that the fixing support 30 on the side facing the battery cell 10 has a tapered structure. When the two fixed supports 30 are joined together, a cavity is formed between them to receive the tab 11 . One side of each tab 11 fits closely with the adjacent fixed support 30 while the other side is closer to the adjacent tab 11 . Typically, in a pouch cell, the lead wire 12 is welded to the tab 11 . For simplicity, this figure shows tab 11 connected directly to lead wire 12.

[0023] 3B-3C, the resilient terminal 40 is inserted into an exposed slot 32 formed between two fixed supports 30. As shown in FIG. The elastic clamper 41 of the elastic terminal 40 is a clamp portion bent from the inside to the outside, and clamps the connecting portion 202 of the blade terminal 20 to strengthen the contact and fixed relationship between the elastic terminal 40 and the blade terminal 20 . The reason that the blade terminal 20 is thicker than the lead wire 12 is to prevent bending or deformation when clamped by the elastic terminal 40 compared to clamping the lead wire 12 directly. It should be noted that the blade terminals 20 used to electrically connect the two battery cells 10 must be made of a conductive material, preferably a conductive metal. The fixed support 30 serves primarily for stacking and fastening purposes and is preferably made of a non-conductive material such as plastic to avoid electrical conduction and reduce weight. The resilient terminals 40 may be made of a conductive or non-conductive material. When a conductive material is used, an additional circuit loop for electrical connection between the battery cells 10 can be formed apart from the direct contact circuit loop of the blade terminals 20, thereby increasing the amount of current. The electrical connection between the battery cells 10 may be in series or in parallel.

[0024] See Figure 3D. In addition to the direct clamping mechanism described above, the resilient terminal 40 may be secured to the blade terminal 20 by an internal resilient clamper 44 that folds outward and locks into the clamp slot 204 of the blade terminal 20, thereby enhancing the stability of the clamp. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3E, connecting portion 202 of blade terminal 20 may have at least one curved surface 2021, and curved surfaces 2021 of two overlapping blade terminals 20 may protrude upward and downward, respectively. When the resilient terminal 40 is clamped, the curved surface 2021 is utilized to prevent the terminal 40 from disengaging from the blade terminal 20.

[0025] Meanwhile, blade terminal 20 may have a variety of configurations. See Fig. 4A. Blade terminal 20 has only fixing portion 201, connecting portion 202, and positioning hole 203 located in the center, and has an overall rectangular shape (see Fig. 4B). This diagram is an extension of the configuration in FIG. 4A. Two additional locating holes 203 are added at both ends of the blade terminal 20 and a clamping slot 204 is added to the connecting portion 202 to receive the locking of the elastic terminal 40 . See also Figure 3D. Figure 4C expands on the configuration of Figure 4B. An assembly slot 205 is added to the center of the connection part 202, and the terminal insulating housing 42 has a corresponding assembly protrusion 421 for positioning purposes (see also FIG. 3F).

[0026] Continuing with FIG. 4D, blade terminal 20 has only fixing portion 201, connecting portion 202, and at least one curved surface 2021 located on connecting portion 202, and has an overall rectangular shape. The curved surface 2021 allows for clamping and fixing by the elastic terminal 40 (see also FIG. 3E), thereby preventing disengagement. Referring to FIG. 4E, which builds on the configuration of FIG. 4D, two additional positioning holes 203 are added to both ends of blade terminal 20. An assembly slot 205 is added in the center of the connection part 202, and the terminal insulating housing 42 has a corresponding assembly protrusion 421 to perform a positioning function (see also FIG. 3F). Expanding on the structure of FIG. 4E, FIG. 4F provides multiple cutting slots 206 to divide the connection 202 into multiple sections. This allows the connecting portion 202 to undergo various deformations in response to the clamping force from the elastic terminal 40, making the clamping structure more reliable. The contact area between the elastic terminal 40 and the connecting portion 202 or between the connecting portions 202 of two adjacent blade terminals 20 also increases. This reduces the equivalent resistance in the circuit loop, allowing a higher current to flow when discharging or charging the battery cell 10. Furthermore, heat generation is reduced during constant current charging or discharging. On the other hand, referring to FIG. 4G, the connecting portion 202 of the blade terminal 20 can be bent at an angle such as 90 degrees to accommodate various insertion directions and assembly methods of the elastic terminal 40.

[0027] Similarly, the elastic terminal 40 including the elastic clamper 41 can take various forms. In FIG. 5A, the ends of the elastic terminals 40 are bent outward to form elastic clampers 41. The elastic terminal 40 also has a plurality of cutting slots 43 for dividing the elastic clamper 41 into a plurality of sections, and these cutting slots can be deformed in various ways to fit the shape of the blade terminal 20. Therefore, the clamping structure between two adjacent blade terminals 20 can be made more secure, the contact area is increased, and the same effect as the treatment effect described above can be achieved. 5B, the elastic terminal 40 differs from that of FIG. 5A in that it has a U-shaped notch near the end, which is bent inward to form an internal elastic clamper 44. In other embodiments, the resilient terminal 40 may be designed without the cutting slot 43 .

[0028] See Figure 5C. The end formed by the cutting slot 43 and the separate end formed by the U-shaped notch of the elastic clamper 41 of the elastic terminal 40 are bent inward to form the elastic clamper 41 and the inner elastic clamper 44, respectively. The inner elastic clamper 44 is located inside the elastic clamper 41 . The inner elastic clamper 44 and the elastic clamper 41 are both bent inward to clamp the connecting portion 202 and the clamping slot 204 of the blade terminal 20, respectively. Both clampers may clamp the body of the blade terminal 20 . In this embodiment, the inner elastic clamper 44 clamps the clamp slot 204 , and the elastic clamper 41 clamps the connecting portion 202 . Specifically, the elastic terminal 40 includes a main body and an elastic clamper 41 . The elastic clampers 41 extend outward from both ends of the body. Each elastic clamper 41 has a fixed end and a free end. That is, the free end is adjacent to the fold. The fixed end is connected to the main body, and the internal elastic clamper 44 is located between the main body and the free end of the elastic clamper 41. Next, please refer to Fig. 5D. The elastic terminal 40 has an end portion and a U-shaped notch portion, both of which are bent outward to form an elastic clamper 41 and an inner elastic clamper 44, respectively, which are used to clamp the connecting portion 202 and the clamp slot 204 of the blade terminal 20 (see also Fig. 3D). The body of the blade terminal 20 may be clamped at the same time. Both ends of the elastic clamper 41 of the elastic terminal 40 and the U-shaped notch are bent inward to form the elastic clamper 41 and the inner elastic clamper 44, respectively, which clamp the connecting portion 202 and the clamp slot 204 of the blade terminal 20, respectively (see also FIG. 3D). The body of the blade terminal 20 may be clamped. The elastic terminal 40 may have a plurality of cutting slots 43 (see FIGS. 5C and 5D), which divide the elastic clamper 41 into several separate sections. This allows the elastic clamper 41 to undergo various deformations in response to the clamping force from the blade terminals 20, making the clamping structure between two adjacent blade terminals 20 even more secure.

[0029] When applied to a battery module 60, see FIG. A plurality of battery cells 10 are stacked, and electrical connection between two battery cells 10 is achieved using the connection structure of the present invention. First, the blade terminal 20 is welded to the electrical output portion of the battery cell 10. Next, two blade terminals 20 are stacked one on top of the other and clamped using a fixed support 30 . Thereafter, the elastic terminals 40 are inserted into the exposed blade terminals 20 and clamped to secure them, thereby strengthening the electrical connection between the two battery cells 10. In the above structure, if one of the battery cells 10 breaks down and needs to be repaired or replaced, the corresponding battery cell 10 can be removed and replaced simply by removing the corresponding elastic terminal 40 and fixing support 30 and separating the blade terminal 20 that was originally fixed.

[0030] Based on the same principle, in addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 1 in which the two tabs 11 of the battery cell 10 are located at both ends together with the lead wire 12, the tabs 11 of the battery cell 10 may also be located at the same end together with the lead wire 12 (see FIG. 7). To facilitate connection, the tabs 11 must be bent and adjusted so that they point toward the upper and lower sides of the battery cell 10 and are offset. The blade terminal 20 is also welded to the lead wire 12 . The structure and various alternative configurations of blade terminal 20 have been previously described and will not be repeated here.

[0031] See Figures 8A, 8B, and 9. Fixed supports 30 are used to clamp blade terminal 20, with the blade terminal exposed between two fixed supports 30. Unlike the exposure slot 32 of FIG. 2C described above, in this embodiment the exposure slot 32 is not formed after the fixed support 30 is assembled. Instead, the exterior surface of the assembled fixed support 30 is generally flat and grooved. The connecting portion 202 of the blade terminal 20 is exposed from the end face through this groove. The fixed support 30 uses a first positioning post 31 that passes through the positioning hole 203 of the blade terminal 20 and aligns and engages with a corresponding notch 311 of the adjacent fixed support 30 . Between the two fixed supports 30, each blade terminal 20 is clamped to a single lead wire 12 from two different battery cells 10, electrically connecting adjacent battery cells 10 in series. On the outermost side, two protective plates 30' are used to clamp and fix the stacked battery cells 10. The battery cells 10 are also separated by partition plates 50, which may be foam pads 51 or heat sinks 52 to improve cushioning and heat dissipation. The lower surface of the heat sink 52 has a plurality of extensions 521 that support the lower part of the battery cell 10 and dissipate heat from below. As shown in FIG. 8B, the extension 521 is divided into a number of sections, which are sequentially folded to different sides. Alternatively, the extensions 521 may be folded to the same side (not shown). That is, all sections of the extension portion 521 are bent either upward or downward. Finally, these battery cells 10 are enclosed in a case 70 to form a battery module 60. In this embodiment, the case 70 has an opening on one side. The protective plate 30' also has an oblique protrusion 301 on the outside thereof, which is engaged with a corresponding hole or recess on the inside of the case 70 to secure it in place. The connecting portion 202 of the blade terminal 20 exposed from the end face of the fixing support member 30 is also exposed at the opening of the case 70 . A plurality of elastic terminals 40 are arranged on the connection board 80 to form a socket structure, and the exposed connection portions 202 of the blade terminals 20 of the battery module 60 can be inserted into the elastic terminals 40 and clamped. The elastic terminal 40 may be configured in the same manner as in the embodiment described above, and the structure and modifications thereof will not be described here again.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 9, in order to increase the connection strength with the connection board 80, the connection board 80 has a plurality of positioning holes 81 corresponding to the second positioning posts 33 of the fixing support member 30. The second positioning posts 33 are engaged with the positioning holes 81, so that the fixing support member 30 can be positioned on the connection board 80. The connection board 80 further has at least two connection terminals 82 that function as the main positive and negative output terminals of the battery module 60 to provide power output contacts with the outside. Additionally, the center of the connection board 80 may be slightly recessed to accommodate electrical detection circuitry (not shown). The electrical detection circuit may detect the voltage at each elastic terminal to monitor the voltage state of the battery module 60, and may also include a temperature sensor. The connection board 80 may also have a number of mounting holes 83 so that the connection board 80 can be secured to the base plate of a battery pack for application to various devices. See also Figure 10. To increase battery capacity and range, multiple sets of battery modules 60 can be arranged side by side. A single connection board 80 may correspond to one battery module 60 or to multiple battery modules 60 .

[0033] Next, FIG. 11A shows a case where, based on the same principle as the connection board 80, the electrical output parts of the battery cells 10 are located at the opposing front and rear ends. The battery cells 10 are stacked upright, as opposed to the horizontal configuration described above. A connection board 80 may also be used. As shown, the battery module 60 includes a plurality of stacked battery cells 10 . The structures and modifications of the battery cell 10 and the blade terminal 20 have been described above and will not be repeated here. In addition to the configuration of the above embodiment in which the elastic terminals 40 are mounted on the connection substrate 80, the clamp design of the elastic terminals 40 may have other configurations. For example, the open end of the resilient terminal 40, i.e., the end furthest from the connecting substrate 80, can be formed with a plurality of end sections 401 separated by cutting slots 43. Each end section 401 has an L-shaped notch 402, and the area around the cutting slot 43 and the L-shaped notch 402 is bent in the appropriate direction to form an additional clamper. Specifically, in this embodiment, the resilient terminal 40 has an X-axis which is the longitudinal axis in FIG. 11B, and a Y-axis which is the transverse axis in FIG. 11B. The elastic terminal 40 is slightly recessed inward along the longitudinal axis at the open end and bent upward to form an elastic clamper 41, which is a neck clamper. The areas of the cut slot 43 and the L-shaped notch 402 are bent inward along the transverse axis to form a first internal resilient clamper 44 and a second internal resilient clamper 45, respectively (see FIG. 11B). In this configuration, the blade terminal 20 can slide along the curved portions of the first internal elastic clamper 44 and the second internal elastic clamper 45, allowing the elastic terminal 40 to be inserted in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elastic terminal 40. As shown, the blade terminals 20 of the battery module 60 slide along the longitudinal axis of the elastic terminals 40 at both ends. Alternatively, it can be said that the elastic terminal 40 slides along the longitudinal axis of the blade terminal 20 . In this embodiment, insertion occurs along the X axis, so the force on the blade terminals 20 and leads 12 is along the length of both. The longitudinal axis direction is the axis on which the resistance to external forces is greatest for blade terminal 20 and lead wire 12, and therefore is difficult to deform. This differs from the previous embodiment in which the resilient terminal 40 is inserted into the blade terminal 20 along the transverse Y axis. In this case, the Y-axis direction is structurally weaker than the X-axis direction, making it more susceptible to deformation. Furthermore, a single blade terminal 20 may engage multiple resilient clampers 41 and internal resilient clampers 44 on the resilient terminal 40 . In practice, assembly is more difficult due to the possibility of deformation of the blade terminal 20. In other words, in the above-described embodiment, the blade terminal 20 or lead wire 12 is assembled along a transverse axis to receive the force of engaging with the plurality of elastic clampers 41 on the elastic terminal 40 . However, in this embodiment, the force experienced during assembly is along the longitudinal axis. Therefore, in this embodiment, the blade terminal 20 or the lead wire 12 is less likely to deform when the elastic terminal 40 is inserted. In this embodiment, the fixed support 30 can be omitted, reducing manufacturing costs. Similarly, multiple battery modules 60 can be arranged in parallel as shown in FIG. The connection board 80 may include several elastic terminals 40 corresponding to the plurality of battery modules 60 . The battery module 60 is inserted along the longitudinal direction of the blade terminal 20 or lead wire 12, making assembly extremely convenient. For maintenance, the battery module 60 can simply be slid backwards. Based on the same concept, in the configuration of FIG. 6, the exposed slots 32 extend to either the front or rear side of the battery module 60, and the elastic terminals 40 can also adopt a sliding configuration as shown in FIG. 11A. Furthermore, in the configuration of FIG. 11A, the blade terminals 20 are on opposite sides, and the plug-in type assembly shown in FIG. 9 can also be employed.

[0034] Therefore, the present invention provides a connection structure and a battery module. By utilizing the cooperation of the blade terminal, the fixed support member, and the elastic terminal, the elastic terminal can firmly clamp the blade terminal to enhance the stability of the electrical connection of the battery cell. This allows the battery cells to be quickly assembled and connected, and allows individual battery cells to be easily disassembled and replaced or recycled without damaging the battery cell structure. Defective battery cells can be replaced and good battery cells can be reused without additional processing costs. As a result, the present invention significantly reduces assembly and maintenance costs, while significantly increasing the feasibility of reuse and recycling.

[0035] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be considered a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all variations that would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A connection structure adapted to connect two battery cells, each battery cell having two electrical outputs, comprising: two blade terminals, each having a fixing portion at one end and a connecting portion at the other end, the fixing portions of the two blade terminals being fixed to the two electrical output portions of the two battery cells, respectively, to form electrical connections; two fixed supports that clamp the two blade terminals and expose the connection portions of the two blade terminals between the two fixed supports; and a resilient terminal having a resilient clamper that is used to clamp the connecting portions of the two blade terminals to form an electrical connection between the two connecting portions; A connection structure comprising:

2. 2. The connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portion of the blade terminal is fixed to the electrical output portion of the battery cell by welding, and the thickness of the blade terminal is 0.5 to 2 mm.

3. 2. The connection structure of claim 1, wherein the connecting portions of the blade terminals have at least one clamp slot for clamping with the elastic terminals, and / or the fixing portions of the blade terminals each have at least one positioning hole, the upper surface of each fixing support has a first positioning pillar, and the lower surface of each fixing support has a corresponding notch, and the first positioning pillar of the fixing support is inserted through the positioning hole of the fixing portions of the two blade terminals and fixed into the notch of the fixing support immediately above.

4. 2. The connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion of the blade terminal has at least one curved surface for clamping with the elastic terminal, and the connecting portion of the blade terminal is bent at a specific angle.

5. 2. The connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the connection portion of the blade terminal has a plurality of cutting slots for dividing the connection portion into a plurality of sections.

6. 2. The connection structure according to claim 1, wherein an exposure slot is formed between the two fixed supports, the connection portions of the two blade terminals clamped by the two fixed supports are positioned and exposed in the exposure slot, and the elastic terminals are exposed in the exposure slot to clamp the connection portions of the blade terminals.

7. 2. The connection structure according to claim 1, further comprising a connection substrate, wherein the elastic terminals are arranged on the connection substrate, and wherein the two fixed support members form a substantially flat end surface on one side when the blade terminals are clamped, with only the connection portions of the two blade terminals exposed on the end surface and inserted into the elastic terminals of the connection substrate.

8. 8. The connection structure of claim 7, wherein the connection substrate has at least one positioning hole, the fixing support material has at least one corresponding second positioning pillar, and the fixing support material is fixed and positioned on the connection substrate via the second positioning pillar that is fixed to the positioning hole.

9. The connection board is a plurality of elastic terminals arranged on one side of the connection board corresponding to the connection portion; At least one connection terminal located on one side of the connection board and functioning as a primary positive output or a primary negative output. The connection structure according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises:

10. 2. The connection structure according to claim 1, further comprising a terminal insulating housing for accommodating the elastic terminal, wherein one end of the elastic clamper of the elastic terminal is bent inward or outward.

11. 11. The connection structure according to claim 10, wherein the connecting portion of the blade terminal has at least one assembly slot, and the terminal insulating housing has at least one protrusion corresponding to the assembly slot.

12. 2. The connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the elastic clamper of the elastic terminal has a plurality of cutting slots that divide the elastic clamper into a plurality of sections.

13. 2. The connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the elastic terminal further has an internal elastic clamper inside the elastic clamper, and one end of the internal elastic clamper is formed by cutting the elastic terminal and bending it inward or outward.

14. A battery module comprising a plurality of battery cells stacked using the connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the battery cells are fixed in series or in parallel to form electrical connections.

15. 15. The battery module according to claim 14, further comprising a shell and at least one protective plate, the shell covering the battery cells, the protective plate being disposed outside the fixing support and having an oblique ridge for fixing to the inside of the shell.

16. A connection structure adapted to connect two battery cells, each battery cell having two electrical outputs, comprising: two blade terminals, each having a fixing portion at one end and a connecting portion at the other end, the fixing portions of the two blade terminals being fixed to the two electrical output portions of the two battery cells, respectively, to form electrical connections; and A resilient terminal having a resilient clamper, a longitudinal axis, and a transverse axis, wherein the resilient clamper is bent along the longitudinal axis and the blade terminal slides within the resilient terminal along the longitudinal axis, whereby the resilient clamper clamps the connection portion of the blade terminal to form an electrical connection between the two connection portions. a connecting structure including:

17. The connection structure according to claim 16, wherein the fixing portion of the blade terminal is fixed to the electrical output portion of the battery cell by welding.

18. The connection structure according to claim 16, wherein the elastic terminal is disposed on a connection substrate.

19. 17. The connection structure of claim 16, wherein the elastic clamper of the elastic terminal is bent inward from the opening side along the longitudinal axis and / or the transverse axis, and the blade terminal slides within the elastic terminal along the longitudinal axis.

20. A battery module including a plurality of battery cells stacked using the connection structure according to claim 16, wherein the battery cells are fixed in series or in parallel to form an electrical connection.

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