Battery Wiring Module

Abstract

To provide a battery wiring module which allows workability improvement in an assembly process.SOLUTION: A battery wiring module 10 comprises: a first bus bar module 10A which is fitted to the front side of a plurality of battery cells 20L; and a second bus bar module 10B which is provided separately from the first bus bar module 10A, and which is fitted to the rear side of the plurality of battery cells 20L. Each of the bus bar modules has: a bus bar which is connected to electrode leads 21 protruding from the plurality of battery cells 20L; an FPC 40 which is connected to the bus bar; and a protector which holds the bus bar and the FPC 40. With the bus bar modules fitted to the plurality of battery cells 20L, the FPCs of the first and second bus bar modules can be electrically connected to each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery wiring module.

Background Art

[0002] High-voltage battery packs used in electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, etc. usually have a large number of battery cells stacked and are electrically connected in series or parallel by a battery wiring module. As such a battery wiring module, conventionally, the one described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-511810 (Patent Document 1 below) is known. The battery module described in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of battery cells each having an electrode lead protruding along the front-rear direction of the battery module, and a bus bar unit that integrally connects the electrode leads of the plurality of battery cells. This bus bar unit includes a first bus bar connected to the electrode lead protruding forward, a second bus bar connected to the electrode lead protruding rearward, and a sensing bus bar that electrically connects the first bus bar and the second bus bar and is integrally attached to the first bus bar and the second bus bar, respectively.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the configuration of the above bus bar unit, a first bus bar arranged in front of a plurality of battery cells, a second bus bar arranged behind the plurality of battery cells, and a sensing bus bar are provided integrally. For this reason, for example, when the sensing bus bar is long, the handling of the bus bar unit deteriorates, and there is a concern that the workability in the assembly process of assembling the bus bar unit to a plurality of battery cells may decrease. In particular, as the storage capacity of the battery cell increases, the size of the battery cell tends to increase, and accordingly the sensing bus bar becomes long, so the concern about the above-mentioned decrease in workability increases.

[0005] The present disclosure has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a battery wiring module capable of improving workability in an assembly process.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The battery wiring module of the present disclosure is a battery wiring module that is long in the front-rear direction and is attached to a plurality of battery cells having electrode leads at the front end and the rear end, and electrically connects the plurality of battery cells. The battery wiring module includes a first bus bar module attached to the front side of the plurality of battery cells, and a second bus bar module provided separately from the first bus bar module and attached to the rear side of the plurality of battery cells. The first bus bar module includes a first bus bar connected to the electrode leads protruding forward of the plurality of battery cells, a first flexible printed circuit board connected to the first bus bar, and a first protector that holds the first bus bar and the first flexible printed circuit board. The second bus bar module includes a second bus bar connected to the electrode leads protruding rearward of the plurality of battery cells, a second flexible printed circuit board connected to the second bus bar, and a second protector that holds the second bus bar and the second flexible printed circuit board. The first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board are electrically connectable in a state where the first bus bar module and the second bus bar module are attached to the plurality of battery cells.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a battery wiring module capable of improving workability in the assembly process.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described.

[0010] (1) The battery wiring module of the present disclosure is a battery wiring module that is long in the front-rear direction and is attached to a plurality of battery cells having electrode leads at the front end and the rear end, and electrically connects the plurality of battery cells. The battery wiring module includes a first bus bar module attached to the front side of the plurality of battery cells, and a second bus bar module provided separately from the first bus bar module and attached to the rear side of the plurality of battery cells. The first bus bar module includes a first bus bar connected to the electrode leads protruding forward of the plurality of battery cells, a first flexible printed circuit board connected to the first bus bar, and a first protector that holds the first bus bar and the first flexible printed circuit board. The second bus bar module includes a second bus bar connected to the electrode leads protruding rearward of the plurality of battery cells, a second flexible printed circuit board connected to the second bus bar, and a second protector that holds the second bus bar and the second flexible printed circuit board. In a state where the first bus bar module and the second bus bar module are attached to the plurality of battery cells, the first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board are electrically connectable.

[0011] According to such a configuration, since the first bus bar module and the second bus bar module are provided separately, the first bus bar module and the second bus bar module can be separately attached to a plurality of battery cells. Therefore, it is possible to improve workability in the assembly process of the battery wiring module.

[0012] (2) It is preferable that the first flexible printed circuit board includes a first connector, and the second flexible printed circuit board includes a second connector that electrically connects the first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board by fitting with the first connector.

[0013] With such a configuration, after separately attaching the first bus bar module and the second bus bar module to a plurality of battery cells, the first bus bar module and the second bus bar module can be electrically connected by fitting the first connector and the second connector together.

[0014] (3) It is preferable that the first flexible printed circuit board further includes an external output connector, the second connector is arranged on the second protector, and the external output connector is arranged on the first protector.

[0015] With such a configuration, by arranging the external output connector on the first protector and the second connector on the second protector, the battery wiring module can be made more space-saving.

[0016] (4) It is preferable to include relay wiring for electrically connecting the first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board. The first flexible printed circuit board includes a first connector, the second flexible printed circuit board includes a second connector, and the relay wiring includes a third connector that fits with the first connector and a fourth connector that fits with the second connector.

[0017] With such a configuration, since relay wiring is provided for electrically connecting the first bus bar module and the second bus bar module, the first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board can be shortened, and the handling of the first bus bar module and the second bus bar module can be improved.

[0018] (5) It is preferable that a thermistor circuit is integrally provided on the first flexible printed circuit board, and the thermistor circuit is electrically connected to the external output connector.

[0019] With such a configuration, the thermistor circuit can sense the temperatures of a plurality of battery cells. Also, since the thermistor circuit is connected to the external output connector, there is no need to increase the number of poles of the first connector and the second connector, and the battery wiring module can be made more space-saving.

[0020] (6) It is preferable that the first flexible printed circuit board has a first land, and the first land is connected to one side surface of the first bus bar by soldering, and the second flexible printed circuit board has a second land, and the second land is connected to one side surface of the second bus bar by soldering.

[0021] With such a configuration, the work efficiency of soldering the first land to the first bus bar and soldering the second land to the second bus bar is improved.

[0022] [Details of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. The present disclosure is not limited to these examples, and is shown by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0023] [Embodiment 1] Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. The battery module 1 including the battery wiring module 10 of the present embodiment is mounted on a vehicle as a power source for driving a vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, for example. In the following description, the direction indicated by the arrow Z is upward, the direction indicated by the arrow X is forward, and the direction indicated by the arrow Y is leftward. Note that for a plurality of identical members, only some members may be labeled, and the labels of other members may be omitted.

[0024] [Battery Module] As shown in FIG. 1, the battery module 1 of Embodiment 1 includes a plurality of battery cells 20L and a battery wiring module 10 attached to the plurality of battery cells 20L.

[0025] [Battery cell, electrode lead] As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of battery cells 20L are configured by arranging the battery cells 20 in the left - right direction. The battery cell 20 is long in the front - rear direction and has a flat shape in the left - right direction. Inside the battery cell 20, a power storage element (not shown) is accommodated. The battery cell 20 includes a pair of electrode leads 21. The pair of electrode leads 21 are respectively arranged on both sides in the front - rear direction of the battery cell 20 and protrude so as to face in opposite directions. The pair of electrode leads 21 are plate - shaped and have opposite polarities to each other. That is, the electrode lead 21 on one side in the front - rear direction of the battery cell 20 is the negative electrode, and the electrode lead 21 on the other side is the positive electrode.

[0026] In this embodiment, the battery cell 20 is a secondary battery such as a lithium - ion battery, for example.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of battery cells 20L include an electrode lead 21 protruding in front of each battery cell 20 and an electrode lead 21 protruding behind each battery cell 20. As will be described later, the battery wiring module 10 of this embodiment is attached one by one to the front side and the rear side of the plurality of battery cells 20L, and electrically connects the electrode leads 21 of each battery cell 20 on each side. The electrode leads 21 of the plurality of battery cells 20L are appropriately bent and cut to a required length for connection to the battery wiring module 10.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, among the battery wiring module 10, the member attached to the front side of the plurality of battery cells 20L is the first bus bar module 10A, and the member attached to the rear side of the plurality of battery cells 20L is the second bus bar module 10B.

[0029] [First bus bar module] As shown in FIG. 3, the first bus bar module 10A includes a first bus bar 30A connected to an electrode lead 21 protruding forward, a first flexible printed circuit board (hereinafter abbreviated as FPC) 40 connected to the first bus bar 30A, and a first protector 70A that holds the first bus bar 30A and the first FPC 40. The first bus bars 30A arranged at the left and right ends of the first bus bar module 10A function as electrode terminals of the battery module 1.

[0030] [Second Bus Bar Module] As shown in FIG. 4, the second bus bar module 10B includes a second bus bar 30B connected to an electrode lead 21 protruding rearward, a second FPC 50 connected to the second bus bar 30B, and a second protector 70B that holds the second bus bar 30B and the second FPC 50.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, a first connector 41 is provided at the rear end portion of the first FPC 40. As shown in FIG. 7, a second connector 51 is provided at the upper end portion of the second FPC 50. As shown in FIG. 4, the first connector 41 and the second connector 51 are fitted to and detachable from each other, whereby the battery wiring module 10 is provided so as to be separately divisible.

[0032] [First Protector, Second Protector] The first protector 70A is made of an insulating synthetic resin and has a plate shape as shown in FIG. 6. A plurality of electrode receiving portions 71 are provided at the central portion of the first protector 70A in the vertical direction. The plurality of electrode receiving portions 71 are formed in parallel in the left-right direction and penetrate in the front-rear direction, and have a vertically long rectangular shape. A groove portion 72 for holding the first bus bar 30A is provided above the first protector 70A. As shown in FIG. 7, the second protector 70B also has the electrode receiving portion 71 and the groove portion 72, similar to the first protector 70A.

[0033] [First Bus Bar, Second Bus Bar] The first bus bar 30A and the second bus bar 30B are plate-shaped and are formed by processing a conductive metal plate. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the first bus bar 30A is held in a groove portion 72 provided above the first protector 70A such that the plate thickness direction is the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 3, a connection portion 32 is provided at the lower portion of the first bus bar 30A. The connection portion 32 is electrically connected by soldering to a first land 43L, which will be described later, of the first FPC 40, as shown in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 6, the central portion of the first bus bar 30A is a main body portion 31 to which the electrode lead 21 is connected. When the first bus bar module 10A is attached to the front side of a plurality of battery cells 20L, as shown in FIG. 3, the electrode lead 21 protruding forward is inserted into the electrode receiving portion 71 of the first protector 70A, and the main body portion 31 is connected to the electrode lead 21 inserted into the electrode receiving portion 71 by laser welding. As shown in FIG. 4, the second bus bar 30B is also held in the groove portion 72 of the second protector 70B, similar to the first bus bar 30A, and is electrically connected to a second land 52L, which will be described later, of the second FPC 50 at the connection portion 32. The main body portion 31 of the second bus bar 30B is connected to the electrode lead 21 protruding rearward by laser welding.

[0034] [First FPC, Second FPC] The first FPC 40 includes a base film 42A, a first conductive path 43 and a second conductive path 44 disposed on one side of the base film 42A, and a coverlay film 42B covering the first conductive path 43 and the second conductive path 44. The base film 42A and the coverlay film 42B are made of a synthetic resin such as polyimide having insulation and flexibility. The first conductive path 43 and the second conductive path 44 are formed of a metal foil such as copper or a copper alloy. Any electronic components such as resistors, capacitors, and transistors can be connected to the first conductive path 43 and the second conductive path 44. An opening is provided in the coverlay film 42B in advance, and the ends of the first conductive path 43 and the second conductive path 44 are exposed. Thereby, electrical connection by soldering is possible at the ends of the first conductive path 43 and the second conductive path 44. The first conductive path 43 and the second conductive path 44 are electrically connected to an external ECU (Electronic Control Unit) (not shown) by an external output connector 90. The ECU is equipped with a microcomputer, elements, etc., and has a well-known configuration with functions for detecting the voltage, current, temperature, etc. of the battery cell 20 and controlling the charge and discharge of each battery cell 20. Although not shown, the second FPC 50 is also configured to include a base film, a third conductive path disposed on one side of the base film, and a coverlay film covering the third conductive path, similar to the first FPC 40. As will be described later, the third conductive path is electrically connected to the second conductive path 44.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 3, the first FPC 40 has an upside-down T shape when viewed from the front. The first FPC 40 is fixed to the first protector 70A by an adhesive or the like. An external output connector 90 is provided at the upper end of the portion of the first FPC 40 fixed to the first protector 70A. As shown in FIG. 8, the external output connector 90 is provided in front of the base film 42A. As shown in FIG. 6, the first FPC 40 is bent at the upper end of the first protector 70A and extends further rearward. As shown in FIG. 1, the portion of the first FPC 40 extending in the front-rear direction is disposed on the upper outer surface 22 of the plurality of battery cells 20L. As shown in FIG. 2, a first connector 41 is provided at the rear end of the first FPC 40. The first connector 41 has a block shape. The first connector 41 is inserted into the second connector 51 described later and is adapted to fit with the second connector 51.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 8, in the portion of the first FPC 40 fixed to the front surface of the first protector 70A, a first conductive path 43 is disposed below the external output connector 90. The upper end of the first conductive path 43 is electrically connected to the connection portion 92 of the external output connector 90 by soldering. The first conductive path 43 extends downward from the connection portion 92. As shown in FIG. 3, a first land 43L is formed at the other end of the first conductive path 43. The first land 43L is made of the same metal foil as the first conductive path 43 and has a rectangular shape. The first lands 43L are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction on the lower side of the first FPC 40. As shown in FIG. 9, the first land 43L is formed so as to be disposed on the right side of the connection portion 32 of the first bus bar 30A and is electrically connected to the right side surface of the connection portion 32 of the first bus bar 30A by solder S. By adopting the configuration in which one side surface of the first land 43L and the connection portion 32 of the first bus bar 30A is soldered, the soldering work can be efficiently performed using a general soldering iron.

[0037] Further, the first land 43L may be formed to be arranged on both the left and right sides and the peripheral portion of the connection portion 32 of the first bus bar 30A, and may be soldered to a plurality of side surfaces of the connection portion 32 of the first bus bar 30A. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the first land 43L may be arranged on the peripheral portion of the connection portion 32 of the first bus bar 30A and may be connected to four side surfaces of the connection portion 32 of the first bus bar 30A by solder S. In this case, by increasing the portion connected by the solder S, there is an effect that the first bus bar 30A is stabilized with respect to the first FPC 40. Although the working efficiency may become a problem because the number of side surfaces of the connection portion 32 of the first bus bar 30A to be soldered increases, for example, if a special soldering iron adapted to the shape of the connection portion 32 of the first bus bar 30A is used, the working efficiency can be improved.

[0038] In the portion of the first FPC 40 fixed to the front surface of the first protector 70A, the end portion of the second conductive path 44 is also electrically connected to the connection portion 92 of the external output connector 90, similarly to the end portion of the first conductive path 43. However, as shown in FIG. 8, the second conductive path 44 extends upward from the connection portion 92. That is, the second conductive path 44 is routed upward through the region where the external output connector 90 is surface-mounted on the base film 42A. The second conductive path 44 is bent at the upper end portion of the first protector 70A and extends rearward. The rear end portion of the second conductive path 44 is electrically connected to the connection portion 41A of the first connector 41 by soldering, as shown in FIG. 4. The first connector 41 is adapted to fit into the second connector 51 (see FIG. 7) held by the second protector 70B from above, and the first FPC 40 including the second conductive path 44 is bent downward at the upper end portion of the second protector 70B.

[0039] [Thermistor Circuit] As shown in FIG. 1, the first FPC 40 integrally includes a thermistor circuit 80. As shown in FIG. 5, the thermistor circuit 80 includes a thermistor 81 and a thermistor conductive path 82 that connects the thermistor 81 to a connection portion 92 of an external output connector 90, and is disposed on a base film 42A. As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of thermistors 81 are provided on the first FPC 40. The thermistors 81 are mounted on the upper outer surface 22 of a plurality of battery cells 20L. By reading the output of the thermistors 81 by the aforementioned ECU, the temperature of the plurality of battery cells 20L can be sensed.

[0040] [External output connector] As shown in FIG. 6, the external output connector 90 includes a housing 91 having a rectangular parallelepiped box shape that is long in the left-right direction, and a plurality of terminals (not shown) housed inside the housing 91. The housing 91 is provided with an opening upward and is adapted to receive a mating connector (not shown) that is a mating partner of the external output connector 90. This mating connector is provided at the terminal portion of the aforementioned ECU, and each battery cell 20 is electrically connected to the ECU by the mating of the external output connector 90 and the mating connector. As shown in FIG. 8, at the lower side of the external output connector 90, the end portions of the terminals housed inside the housing 91 are drawn out to form a connection portion 92. The connection portion 92 is electrically connected to the end portion of the first conductive path 43 and the end portion of the second conductive path 44 by soldering. Metal fixing portions 93 are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the housing 91. The external output connector 90 is fixed to the base film 42A by soldering the fixing portions 93 and fixing lands 45 provided on the base film 42A.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 4, the second FPC 50 has an upside-down T shape, and the portion extending in the vertical direction is arranged on the right side of the center. The second FPC 50 is fixed to the second protector 70B by an adhesive or the like. A second connector 51 is provided at the upper end of the second FPC 50. As shown in FIG. 7, the second connector 51 has a shape that opens upward. As shown in FIG. 4, a connection portion 51A provided below the second connector 51 is electrically connected to the upper end portion of a third conductive path (not shown). The third conductive path extends downward from the connection portion 51A. A second land 52L is formed at the lower end portion of the third conductive path. The second lands 52L are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction at the lower end of the second FPC 50 and are electrically connected to the connection portion 32 of the second bus bar 30B. The connection between the second land 52L and the connection portion 32 of the second bus bar 30B is made in the same manner as the connection between the first land 43L and the connection portion 32 of the first bus bar 30A (see FIG. 9). By inserting the first connector 41 into the second connector 51, the second connector 51 and the first connector 41 are fitted together, and the third conductive path and the second conductive path 44 are connected. Thereby, the second bus bar 30B and the external output connector 90 are connected.

[0042] [Assembly of the battery wiring module to a plurality of battery cells] As shown in FIG. 1, the first bus bar module 10A is attached to the front side of a plurality of battery cells 20L. The electrode lead 21 protruding forward is inserted into the electrode receiving portion 71, and the electrode lead 21 and the first bus bar 30A are joined by laser welding. The first FPC 40 and the thermistor circuit 80 extending rearward from the upper end of the first protector 70A are arranged on the outer surface 22 above the plurality of battery cells 20L. The second bus bar module 10B is similarly attached to the rear side of the plurality of battery cells 20L.

[0043] Next, as shown in FIG. 4, by fitting the first connector 41 and the second connector 51, the external output connector 90 and the second bus bar 30B are electrically connected. Thereby, the electrical signals of each battery cell 20 can be read and controlled by the ECU. Thus, the assembly of the plurality of battery cells 20L to the battery wiring module 10 is completed (see FIG. 1).

[0044] [Operation and Effect of Embodiment 1] According to Embodiment 1, the following operations and effects are achieved. The battery wiring module 10 according to Embodiment 1 is a battery wiring module 10 that is long in the front-rear direction and is attached to a plurality of battery cells 20L having electrode leads 21 at the front end and the rear end, and electrically connects the plurality of battery cells 20L. The battery wiring module 10 includes a first bus bar module 10A attached to the front side of the plurality of battery cells 20L, and a second bus bar module 10B provided separately from the first bus bar module 10A and attached to the rear side of the plurality of battery cells 20L. The first bus bar module 10A includes a first bus bar 30A connected to the electrode leads 21 protruding forward of the plurality of battery cells 20L, a first FPC 40 connected to the first bus bar 30A, and a first protector 70A that holds the first bus bar 30A and the first FPC 40. The second bus bar module 10B includes a second bus bar 30B connected to the electrode leads 21 protruding rearward of the plurality of battery cells 20L, a second FPC 50 connected to the second bus bar 30B, and a second protector 70B that holds the second bus bar 30B and the second FPC 50. In a state where the first bus bar module 10A and the second bus bar module 10B are attached to the plurality of battery cells 20L, the first FPC 40 and the second FPC 50 are electrically connectable.

[0045] According to the above configuration, since the first bus bar module 10A and the second bus bar module 10B are provided separately, the first bus bar module 10A and the second bus bar module 10B can be separately attached to a plurality of battery cells 20L. Therefore, it is possible to improve the workability in the assembly process of the battery wiring module 10.

[0046] In Embodiment 1, the first FPC 40 includes a first connector 41, and the second FPC 50 includes a second connector 51 that is electrically connected to the first FPC 40 by fitting with the first connector 41.

[0047] According to the above configuration, after separately attaching the first bus bar module 10A and the second bus bar module 10B to a plurality of battery cells 20L, by fitting the first connector 41 and the second connector 51, the first bus bar module 10A and the second bus bar module 10B can be electrically connected.

[0048] In Embodiment 1, the first FPC 40 further includes an external output connector 90, the second connector 51 is arranged on the second protector 70B, and the external output connector 90 is arranged on the first protector 70A.

[0049] According to the above configuration, by arranging the external output connector 90 on the first protector 70A and the second connector 51 on the second protector 70B, the battery wiring module 10 can be made more space-saving.

[0050] In Embodiment 1, a thermistor circuit 80 is integrally provided on the first FPC 40, and the thermistor circuit 80 is electrically connected to the external output connector 90.

[0051] According to the above configuration, the temperature of a plurality of battery cells 20L can be sensed by the thermistor circuit 80. Further, since the thermistor circuit 80 is connected to the external output connector 90, it is not necessary to increase the number of poles of the first connector 41 and the second connector 51, and the battery wiring module 10 can be made more space-saving.

[0052] In Embodiment 1, the first FPC 40 has a first land 43L, and the first land 43L is connected to one side surface of the first bus bar 30A by soldering. The second FPC 50 has a second land 52L, and the second land 52L is connected to one side surface of the second bus bar 30B by soldering.

[0053] According to the above configuration, the working efficiency of soldering the first land 43L to the first bus bar 30A and soldering the second land 52L to the second bus bar 30B is improved.

[0054] <Embodiment 2> Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. In the following description, descriptions of the same members and operational effects as those in Embodiment 1 will be omitted. Also, the direction indicated by the arrow Z is defined as upward, the direction indicated by the arrow X is defined as forward, and the direction indicated by the arrow Y is defined as leftward for the description. Note that for a plurality of identical members, only some of the members may be labeled with reference numerals, and the reference numerals of other members may be omitted.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 11, the battery module 101 of Embodiment 2 includes a plurality of battery cells 20L and a battery wiring module 110 attached to the plurality of battery cells 20L. In the battery wiring module 110, a first bus bar module 110A attached to the front side of the plurality of battery cells 20L and a second bus bar module 110B attached to the rear side of the plurality of battery cells 20L are provided in the same manner as the first bus bar module 10A and the second bus bar module 10B of Embodiment 1. However, the first bus bar module 110A includes a first FPC 140, and a portion extending rearward from the upper end of the first protector 70A in the first FPC 140 is formed shorter than the first FPC 40 of Embodiment 1. Further, the battery wiring module 110 includes a relay wiring 60 provided separately from the first bus bar module 110A and the second bus bar module 110B. The relay wiring 60 is arranged on the outer surface 22 above the plurality of battery cells 20L and extends in the front-rear direction. As will be described later, the relay wiring 60 is configured to electrically connect the first bus bar module 110A and the second bus bar module 110B. That is, while the battery wiring module 10 of Embodiment 1 has a two-part structure (see FIG. 2), the battery wiring module 110 of the present embodiment has a three-part structure (see FIG. 12). Hereinafter, the relay wiring 60 will be described.

[0056] [Relay Wiring, Third Connector, Fourth Connector] In this embodiment, an FPC is used as the relay wiring 60. That is, although not shown in detail, the relay wiring 60 includes a base film, a fourth conductive path disposed on one side of the base film, and a coverlay film covering the fourth conductive path. As shown in FIG. 12, a third connector 61 is electrically connected to the front end portion of the fourth conductive path by soldering. The third connector 61 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that opens forward and is adapted to receive the first connector 41. A fourth connector 62 is electrically connected to the rear end portion of the fourth conductive path by soldering. The fourth connector 62 has a block shape and is adapted to be inserted into the second connector 51. Since the second connector 51 opens upward, the relay wiring 60 is bent downward at the rear end portion so that the fourth connector 62 can be inserted into the second connector 51 from above. Although not shown again, the rear view of the battery module 101 in a state where the second connector 51 and the fourth connector 62 are fitted is the same as FIG. 4 of Embodiment 1.

[0057] When attaching the battery wiring module 110 to a plurality of battery cells 20L, as in Embodiment 1, first, the first bus bar module 110A and the second bus bar module 110B are attached to the plurality of battery cells 20L. Next, the relay wiring 60 is disposed on the upper outer surface 22 of the plurality of battery cells 20L. The third connector 61 of the relay wiring 60 is fitted with the first connector 41 of the first bus bar module 110A, and the fourth connector 62 of the relay wiring 60 is fitted with the second connector 51 of the second bus bar module 110B. Thereby, the external output connector 90 and each battery cell 20 are electrically connected. Thus, the assembly of the battery wiring module 110 to the plurality of battery cells 20L is completed (see FIG. 11).

[0058] [Operation and Effect of Embodiment 2] According to Embodiment 2, the following operations and effects are achieved. It includes a relay wiring 60 that electrically connects the first FPC 140 and the second FPC 50. The first FPC 140 includes a first connector 41, the second FPC 50 includes a second connector 51, and the relay wiring 60 includes a third connector 61 that fits with the first connector 41 and a fourth connector 62 that fits with the second connector 51.

[0059] According to such a configuration, since the relay wiring 60 is provided to electrically connect the first bus bar module 110A and the second bus bar module 110B, the first FPC 140 and the second FPC 50 can be shortened, and the handling of the first bus bar module 110A and the second bus bar module 110B can be improved.

[0060] <Other Embodiments> (1) In Embodiment 1, only the first FPC 40 of the first FPC 40 and the second FPC 50 extends in the front-rear direction, but it is not limited to this. For example, only the second FPC of the first FPC and the second FPC may extend in the front-rear direction, or the first FPC and the second FPC may extend to the same extent in the front-rear direction. (2) In the above embodiment, the battery wiring modules 10, 110 are configured to include the thermistor circuit 80, but it is not limited to this, and the battery wiring module may be configured not to include the thermistor circuit. (3) In Embodiment 2, a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) is used as the relay wiring 60, but it is not limited to this, and a flexible flat cable (FFC), an electric wire, etc. may be used as the relay wiring.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0061] 1, 101: Battery module 10, 110: Battery wiring module 10A, 110A: First bus bar module 10B, 110B: Second bus bar module 20: Battery cell 20L: Plurality of battery cells 21: Electrode lead 22: Upper outer surface 30A: First bus bar 30B: Second bus bar 31: Main body part 32: Connection part 40, 140: First FPC 41: First connector 41A: Connection part 42A: Base film 42B: Cover lay film 43: First conductive path 43L: First land 44: Second conductive path 45: Fixing land 50: Second FPC 51: Second connector 51A: Connection part 52L: Second land 60: Relay wiring 61: Third connector 62; Fourth connector 70A: First protector 70B: Second protector 71: Electrode receiving part 72: Groove part 80: Thermistor circuit 81: Thermistor 82: Thermistor conductive path 90: External output connector 91: Housing 92: Connection part 93: Fixing part S: Solder

Claims

1. A battery wiring module that is attached to a plurality of battery cells that are long in the front-rear direction and have electrode leads at the front end and the rear end, and electrically connects the plurality of battery cells, a first bus bar module attached to the front side of the plurality of battery cells, a second bus bar module provided separately from the first bus bar module and attached to the rear side of the plurality of battery cells, The first bus bar module includes a first bus bar connected to the electrode leads protruding in front of the plurality of battery cells, a first flexible printed circuit board connected to the first bus bar, and a first protector in which the first bus bar and the first flexible printed circuit board are disposed, and the first protector that holds the first bus bar and the first flexible printed circuit board, The first flexible printed circuit board has a first portion routed on the first protector and a second portion extending in a predetermined direction from the first protector, and a first connector is provided on the second portion, The second bus bar module includes a second bus bar connected to the electrode leads protruding behind the plurality of battery cells, a second flexible printed circuit board connected to the second bus bar, and a second protector in which the second bus bar and the second flexible printed circuit board are disposed, and the second protector that holds the second bus bar and the second flexible printed circuit board, The second flexible printed circuit board has a third portion routed on the second protector, and a second connector is provided on the third portion, A battery wiring module, wherein the first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board can be electrically connected by directly connecting the first connector and the second connector in a state where the first bus bar module and the second bus bar module are attached to the plurality of battery cells.

2. The battery wiring module according to Claim 1, wherein the first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board are electrically connected by fitting the first connector and the second connector.

3. The first flexible printed circuit board further includes an external output connector, the second connector is disposed on the second protector, The battery wiring module according to claim 2, wherein the external output connector is arranged on the first protector.

4. A thermistor circuit is integrally provided on the first flexible printed circuit board, The battery wiring module according to claim 3, wherein the thermistor circuit is electrically connected to the external output connector.

5. The first flexible printed circuit board has a first land, The first land is connected to one side surface of the first bus bar by soldering, The second flexible printed circuit board has a second land, The battery wiring module according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second land is connected to one side surface of the second bus bar by soldering.

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