Flexible Wiring Components

Abstract

To provide a flexible wiring component with a high yield.SOLUTION: Included are: a first main branch wiring portion 1a that is extended in an arrangement direction of a plurality of battery cells BC close to a first electrode terminal group BC5; a second main branch wiring portion 1b that is extended in the arrangement direction close to a second electrode terminal group BC6; a connection wiring portion 1c that connects end parts of the first and second main branch wiring portions and that electrically connects the first and second main branch wiring portions to a battery monitoring unit UM; a first sub-branch wiring portion 1d for each of a first inter-terminal connection component BB1, the first sub-branch wiring portion being branched from the end part of the first main branch wiring portion on a second main branch wiring portion side; a second sub-branch wiring portion 1e for each of a second inter-terminal connection component BB2, the second sub-branch wiring portion being branched from the end part of the second main branch wiring portion on a first main branch wiring portion side; and a space portion 1f surrounded by the first main branch wiring portion, the second main branch wiring portion, and the connection wiring portion. All the first sub-branch wiring portions and all the second sub-branch wiring portions are formed in a shape such that the first sub-branch wiring portions and the second sub-branch wiring portions do not stack on each other in the space portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a flexible wiring component. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, vehicles (such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles) powered by a rotating machine are equipped with a battery module that supplies power to the rotating machine and a battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery status of the multiple battery cells that make up the battery module. The vehicle is also equipped with a flexible wiring component that electrically connects the battery module and the battery monitoring unit. Here, the battery module is an array of multiple battery cells, each with positive and negative electrode terminals, arranged on the same plane. The battery module has a first electrode terminal group in which one electrode terminal is arranged in the array direction and pairs of adjacent electrode terminals in the array direction are electrically connected by a first terminal-to-terminal connector for each pair of electrode terminals, and a second electrode terminal group in which the other electrode terminal is arranged in the array direction and pairs of adjacent electrode terminals in the array direction are electrically connected by a second terminal-to-terminal connector for each pair of electrode terminals. For this reason, the flexible wiring component includes a first main branch wiring section between the first electrode terminal group and the second electrode terminal group, which is close to the first electrode terminal group and electrically connects each first terminal-to-terminal connecting component, and a second main branch wiring section between the first electrode terminal group and the second electrode terminal group and electrically connects each second terminal-to-terminal connecting component, which is close to the second electrode terminal group. The flexible wiring component also includes a first sub-branch wiring section for each first terminal-to-terminal connecting component branched from the first main branch wiring section toward the first electrode terminal group, and a second sub-branch wiring section for each second terminal-to-terminal connecting component branched from the second main branch wiring section toward the second electrode terminal group. For example, Patent Document 1 listed below discloses such a flexible wiring component. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-74179 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Known examples of this type of flexible wiring component include one configured as a single component, i.e., one in which a first main branch wiring section and a second main branch wiring section are integrally molded together with all of the first sub-branch wiring sections and all of the second sub-branch wiring sections via connecting wiring sections. For example, this flexible wiring component includes a voltage detection line for each first terminal-connecting component routed between the first sub-branch wiring section and the connecting wiring section via the first main branch wiring section between the first terminal-connecting component side and the battery monitoring unit side, a voltage detection line for each second terminal-connecting component routed between the second sub-branch wiring section and the connecting wiring section via the second main branch wiring section between the second terminal-connecting component side and the battery monitoring unit side, and an insulating coating that encapsulates all of the voltage detection lines. Specifically, this flexible wiring component includes a base film and a coverlay film for each surface that covers the surface of the base film as an insulating coating, and the voltage detection lines are routed on at least one surface of the base film.

[0005] For example, this flexible wiring component is one of several punched out from a single sheet-like base material (a laminate of a first film serving as a base film, voltage detection lines for each flexible wiring component routed on the surface of the first film, and a second film serving as a coverlay film covering each surface of the first film). Therefore, this conventional flexible wiring component may waste the space enclosed by the first main branch wiring section, the second main branch wiring section, and the connecting wiring section within the base material. Furthermore, this conventional flexible wiring component has multiple first sub-branch wiring sections protruding from the first main branch wiring section on the side opposite the space, and multiple second sub-branch wiring sections protruding from the second main branch wiring section on the side opposite the space, resulting in a large size. This may reduce the number of components that can be punched out from a single sheet of base material. Thus, conventional flexible wiring components have room for improvement in terms of yield.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a flexible wiring component with a good yield. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention is a battery module in which a plurality of battery cells are arranged in a row, and a battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery state of each of the battery cells. The battery module has a wiring main body that is flexible and formed flat, and a group of voltage detection wires that are enclosed in an insulating coating and that electrically connects the battery module to a battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery state of each of the battery cells. The battery cells have positive and negative electrode terminals that are provided on the same plane on the cell main body, one each with a gap between them. The battery module is arranged in the direction in which the plurality of battery cells are arranged, with one of the electrode terminals of each battery cell being aligned, and one of the pair of one of the electrode terminals adjacent in the arrangement direction being aligned. a first electrode terminal group in which the first electrode terminals of each pair are electrically connected by a first inter-terminal connection part for each of the first electrode terminals; and a second electrode terminal group in which the second electrode terminals of each of the battery cells are arranged in the arrangement direction and pairs of the second electrode terminals adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction are electrically connected by a second inter-terminal connection part for each of the pairs of the second electrode terminals, and the voltage detection line group includes first voltage detection lines provided for each of the first inter-terminal connection parts and electrically connecting the first inter-terminal connection parts and the battery monitoring unit; a second voltage detection line that electrically connects between the terminal connection component and the battery monitoring unit, and the wiring main body includes a first main branch wiring section that extends in the arrangement direction between the first electrode terminal group and the second electrode terminal group, close to the first electrode terminal group; a second main branch wiring section that extends in the arrangement direction between the first electrode terminal group and the second electrode terminal group, close to the second electrode terminal group; a connecting wiring section that connects one ends of the first main branch wiring section and the second main branch wiring section to each other and electrically connects them to the battery monitoring unit; a first sub-branch wiring portion for each of the first inter-terminal connecting components, the first sub-branch wiring portion being branched from an end portion of the second main branch wiring portion on the first main branch wiring portion side, and electrically connecting the first voltage detection line to the first inter-terminal connecting component at a tip end of the branch; a second sub-branch wiring portion for each of the second inter-terminal connecting components, the second sub-branch wiring portion being branched from an end portion of the second main branch wiring portion on the first main branch wiring portion side, and electrically connecting the second voltage detection line to the second inter-terminal connecting component at a tip end of the branch; and a space portion surrounded by the first main branch wiring portion, the second main branch wiring portion, and the connecting wiring portion, wherein all of the first sub-branch wiring portions and all of the second sub-branch wiring portions areAs a shape that can be arranged in the space without being stacked on each other, the first sub-branch wiring portion is folded back 180 degrees from a root portion on the side of the first main branch wiring portion toward the first electrode terminal group, and electrically connects the first voltage detection line to the first inter-terminal connecting component at the tip portion of the folded back end, and the second sub-branch wiring portion is folded back 180 degrees from a root portion on the side of the second main branch wiring portion toward the second electrode terminal group, and electrically connects the second voltage detection line to the second inter-terminal connecting component at the tip portion of the folded back end. It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The flexible wiring component according to the present invention has a space surrounded by the first main branch wiring portion, the second main branch wiring portion, and the connecting wiring portion, and all of the first sub-branch wiring portions and all of the second sub-branch wiring portions can be formed from the portion of the base material corresponding to the space. Therefore, this flexible wiring component can effectively utilize the portion of the base material corresponding to the space, thereby improving the yield when multiple flexible wiring components are die-cut from the base material. Furthermore, because this flexible wiring component has all of the first sub-branch wiring portions and all of the second sub-branch wiring portions disposed in the portion of the base material corresponding to the space, it is possible to reduce the size of the flexible wiring component before and immediately after die-cutting from the base material. Therefore, this flexible wiring component can increase the number of flexible wiring components that can be die-cut from the base material, improving the yield when multiple flexible wiring components are die-cut from the base material. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a flexible wiring component according to an embodiment installed in a battery module, showing the first and second sub-branch wiring portions after being bent. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the flexible wiring component of the embodiment installed in a battery module, showing the first and second sub-branch wiring portions before being folded. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the laminated structure of the flexible wiring component. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the laminated structure of the bent portion. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the laminated structure of the bent portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A flexible wiring component according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

[0011] [Embodiment] One embodiment of a flexible wiring component according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0012] 1 to 5, reference numeral 1 denotes a flexible wiring component of this embodiment. The flexible wiring component 1 is assembled with a battery module BM, which has a plurality of battery cells BC arranged in a row, to form a battery pack BP together with the battery module BM (FIGS. 1 and 2). The battery pack BP is mounted, for example, on a vehicle (such as an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle) equipped with a rotating machine as a drive source, and is used to supply power to the rotating machine.

[0013] The battery cell BC includes a cell body BC1 and positive and negative electrode terminals BC2, with the two electrode terminals BC2 provided spaced apart on the same plane in the cell body BC1 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

[0014] The battery cell BC shown here has a cell body BC1 formed in a rectangular shape with six outer wall surfaces, and two electrode terminals BC2 are provided on one of the six outer wall surfaces of the cell body BC1. In the battery module BM, the cell bodies BC1 adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction are arranged with one outer wall surface facing each other. Therefore, in the battery cell BC shown here, the two electrode terminals BC2 are provided on one of the four outer wall surfaces of the cell body BC1 that are aligned along the arrangement direction of the battery cells BC. On one outer wall surface of the cell body BC1, the positive electrode terminal BC2 is located at one end in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the battery cells BC, and the negative electrode terminal BC2 is located at the other end in the perpendicular direction.

[0015] Each electrode terminal BC2 may be, for example, a plate-like or rectangular electrode provided on one of the outer wall surfaces of the cell body BC1, or a columnar pole protruding from one of the outer wall surfaces of the cell body BC1. In the case of a plate-like or rectangular electrode terminal BC2, a first inter-terminal connection part BB1, a second inter-terminal connection part BB2, a total positive electrode connection part BB3, or a total negative electrode connection part BB4, which will be described later, is physically and electrically connected to the electrode terminal BC2 by welding or the like. In the case of an electrode terminal BC2 serving as a pole, the electrode terminal BC2 is provided with a male screw portion, and therefore the electrode terminal BC2 is inserted into a through-hole of a first inter-terminal connection part BB1, a second inter-terminal connection part BB2, a total positive electrode connection part BB3, or a total negative electrode connection part BB4, which will be described later, and a female screw member is screwed into the male screw portion of the electrode terminal BC2, thereby physically and electrically connecting the first inter-terminal connection part BB1, the second inter-terminal connection part BB2, the total positive electrode connection part BB3, or the total negative electrode connection part BB4 to the electrode terminal BC2. Here, a rectangular plate-shaped electrode terminal BC2 is given as an example.

[0016] The battery module BM has a first electrode terminal group BC5 in which one electrode terminal BC2 of each battery cell BC is arranged in the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC, and one electrode terminal BC2 of each pair adjacent in the arrangement direction is electrically connected by a first inter-terminal connection part BB1 for one electrode terminal BC2 of the pair, and a second electrode terminal group BC6 in which the other electrode terminal BC2 of each battery cell BC is arranged in the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC, and one electrode terminal BC2 of each pair adjacent in the arrangement direction is electrically connected by a second inter-terminal connection part BB2 for the other electrode terminal BC2 of the pair (Figures 1 and 2).

[0017] In this battery module BM, when the multiple battery cells BC are electrically connected in series, the multiple battery cells BC are arranged so that one electrode terminal BC2 in each of the first electrode terminal groups BC5 is a positive electrode and one electrode terminal BC2 in each of the second electrode terminal groups BC6 is a negative ...

[0018] The first electrode terminal group BC5 includes multiple sets of one electrode terminal BC2 of the pair, as well as one electrode terminal BC2 that is not included in the pair. The second electrode terminal group BC6 includes multiple sets of the other electrode terminal BC2 of the pair, as well as one electrode terminal BC2 that is not included in the pair. In the battery module BM, one of the two electrode terminals BC2 that are not included in the pair serves as a general positive electrode, and the other serves as a general negative electrode. In this battery module BM, a general positive electrode connection part BB3 is electrically connected to the electrode terminal BC2 that serves as the general positive electrode, and a general negative electrode connection part BB4 is electrically connected to the electrode terminal BC2 that serves as the general negative electrode (FIGS. 1 and 2).

[0019] The first terminal connection part BB1, the second terminal connection part BB2, the total positive electrode connection part BB3, and the total negative electrode connection part BB4 are each a metal plate-shaped conductive part called a bus bar. The first terminal connection part BB1 and the second terminal connection part BB2 shown here are the same conductive part, but for convenience of explanation, they are given different names. Also, the total positive electrode connection part BB3 and the total negative electrode connection part BB4 shown here are the same conductive part, but for convenience of explanation, they are given different names.

[0020] The battery module BM shown here has an exhaust duct BD between the first electrode terminal group BC5 and the second electrode terminal group BC6, which exhausts gas discharged from inside the battery cells BC to the outside (FIGS. 1 and 2). Here, the exhaust duct BD is provided between and in the center of the first electrode terminal group BC5 and the second electrode terminal group BC6.

[0021] The vehicle is equipped with a battery monitoring unit UM that monitors the battery state of each battery cell BC in the battery module BM (FIGS. 1 and 2). The flexible wiring component 1 electrically connects the battery module BM and the battery monitoring unit UM.

[0022] The flexible wiring component 1 has a wiring main body 1A that is flexible and flat, and in which a group of voltage detection wires 10 that electrically connect the battery module BM and the battery monitoring unit UM are enclosed in an insulating coating 20 (Figures 1 and 2).

[0023] The voltage detection wire group 10 includes a plurality of flexible voltage detection wires. The voltage detection wire group 10 includes a first voltage detection wire 11 provided for each first terminal-to-terminal connection part BB1 and electrically connecting the first terminal-to-terminal connection part BB1 to the battery monitoring unit UM, and a second voltage detection wire 12 provided for each second terminal-to-terminal connection part BB2 and electrically connecting the second terminal-to-terminal connection part BB2 to the battery monitoring unit UM (FIGS. 1 and 2). The voltage detection wire group 10 shown here also includes a first voltage detection wire 11 electrically connecting the common positive electrode connection part BB3 to the battery monitoring unit UM, and a second voltage detection wire 12 electrically connecting the common negative electrode connection part BB4 to the battery monitoring unit UM. Note that only some of the first voltage detection wires 11 and some of the second voltage detection wires 12 are shown in the figures.

[0024] The flexible wiring component 1 shown here is a flexible printed circuit board (so-called FPC), in which each voltage detection line (first voltage detection line 11, second voltage detection line 12) of the voltage detection line group 10 is formed as a conductor pattern, and the insulating coating 20 is formed of various types of flat, flexible films. The insulating coating 20 includes a base film 21 and a coverlay film 22 for each surface that covers the surface of the base film 21 (FIG. 3). The voltage detection line group 10 is routed on at least one surface of the base film 21 by forming each voltage detection line as a conductor pattern on that surface. For example, if each voltage detection line of the voltage detection line group 10 is formed on only one surface of the base film 21, the flexible wiring component 1 is configured as a single-sided flexible printed circuit board having one conductor pattern layer. On the other hand, if each voltage detection line of the voltage detection line group 10 is formed on both surfaces of the base film 21, the flexible wiring component 1 is configured as a double-sided flexible printed circuit board having two conductor pattern layers.

[0025] Specifically, the wiring main body 1A has a first main branch wiring portion 1a that extends in the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC between the first electrode terminal group BC5 and the second electrode terminal group BC6, close to the first electrode terminal group BC5, and a second main branch wiring portion 1b that extends in the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC between the first electrode terminal group BC5 and the second electrode terminal group BC6, close to the second electrode terminal group BC6 (Figures 1 and 2).

[0026] The first main branch wiring portion 1a includes a first main branch covering portion 20a of the insulating covering 20 and first main branch conductive portions 11a of all the first voltage detection lines 11 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The first main branch covering portion 20a is a portion of the insulating covering 20 that extends in the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells BC between the first electrode terminal group BC5 and the second electrode terminal group BC6, close to the first electrode terminal group BC5, and is formed by a corresponding portion of the base film 21 and the coverlay film 22. The first main branch conductive portion 11a is a portion of the first voltage detection line 11 that extends in the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells BC between the first electrode terminal group BC5 and the second electrode terminal group BC6 and is included in the first main branch covering portion 20a, and is formed in a corresponding portion of the surface of the base film 21 in the first main branch covering portion 20a.

[0027] The second main branch wiring portion 1b includes a second main branch covering portion 20b of the insulating covering 20 and second main branch conductive portions 12a of all the second voltage detection lines 12 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The second main branch covering portion 20b is a portion of the insulating covering 20 that extends in the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells BC between the first electrode terminal group BC5 and the second electrode terminal group BC6, close to the second electrode terminal group BC6, and is formed by a corresponding portion of the base film 21 and the coverlay film 22. The second main branch conductive portion 12a is a portion of the second voltage detection line 12 that extends in the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells BC between the first electrode terminal group BC5 and the second electrode terminal group BC6 and is included in the second main branch covering portion 20b, and is formed in a corresponding portion of the surface of the base film 21 in the second main branch covering portion 20b.

[0028] Furthermore, the wiring main body 1A has a connecting wiring portion 1c that connects one end of the first main branch wiring portion 1a and one end of the second main branch wiring portion 1b and electrically connects them to the battery monitoring unit UM (FIGS. 1 and 2). The connecting wiring portion 1c is provided with a connector 50 that is fitted and connected to a connector (not shown) on the battery monitoring unit UM side.

[0029] The connecting wiring portion 1c includes a connecting coating portion 20c of the insulating coating 20, first unit side connecting portions 11b of all the first voltage detection wires 11, and second unit side connecting portions 12b of all the second voltage detection wires 12 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The connecting coating portion 20c is a portion where one end of the first main branch coating portion 20a and one end of the second main branch coating portion 20b are connected to each other by the insulating coating 20, and is formed by a corresponding portion of the base film 21 and the coverlay film 22. The first unit side connecting portion 11b is a portion where one end of the first main branch conductive portion 11a is bent toward the connecting coating portion 20c, and is enclosed in the connecting coating portion 20c at its tip, and its further tip is electrically connected to the battery monitoring unit UM, and is formed in a corresponding portion of the connecting coating portion 20c on the surface of the base film 21. The second unit side connection portion 12b is a portion that is bent from one end of the second main branch conductive portion 12a toward the connecting covering portion 20c, and is enclosed in the connecting covering portion 20c at its tip, and its further end is electrically connected to the battery monitoring unit UM, and is formed at the corresponding portion on the surface of the base film 21 in the connecting covering portion 20c.

[0030] Furthermore, the wiring main body 1A has a first sub-branch wiring portion 1d for each first inter-terminal connecting component BB1, which branches from an end of the first main branch wiring portion 1a on the second main branch wiring portion 1b side and electrically connects the first voltage detection line 11 to the first inter-terminal connecting component BB1 at a tip 1d1 of the branch, and a second sub-branch wiring portion 1e for each second inter-terminal connecting component BB2, which branches from an end of the second main branch wiring portion 1b on the first main branch wiring portion 1a side and electrically connects the second voltage detection line 12 to the second inter-terminal connecting component BB2 at a tip 1e1 of the branch ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The first sub-branch wiring portion 1d is folded back 180 degrees from a base 1d2 on the first main branch wiring portion 1a side toward the first electrode terminal group BC5 and electrically connects the first voltage detection line 11 to the first inter-terminal connecting component BB1 at a tip 1d1 of the folded back ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). In addition, the second sub-branch wiring portion 1e is folded back 180 degrees from the root portion 1e2 on the second main branch wiring portion 1b side to the second electrode terminal group BC6 side, and the tip portion 1e1 of the folded back end electrically connects the second voltage detection line 12 to the second terminal-to-terminal connection part BB2 (Figures 1 and 2).

[0031] Furthermore, the wiring main body 1A shown here has a first sub-branch wiring portion 1d for the general positive electrode connection part BB3 and a second sub-branch wiring portion 1e for the general negative electrode connection part BB4. The first sub-branch wiring portion 1d for the general positive electrode connection part BB3 branches from the end of the first main branch wiring portion 1a on the side of the second main branch wiring portion 1b, and electrically connects the first voltage detection wire 11 to the general positive electrode connection part BB3 at a tip 1d1 of the branched end. The first sub-branch wiring portion 1d for the general positive electrode connection part BB3 is folded back 180 degrees from a base 1d2 on the first main branch wiring portion 1a side toward the first electrode terminal group BC5, and electrically connects the first voltage detection wire 11 to the general positive electrode connection part BB3 at a tip 1d1 of the folded end. Furthermore, the second sub-branch wiring portion 1e for the general negative electrode connection part BB4 branches off from the end of the second main branch wiring portion 1b on the first main branch wiring portion 1a side, and electrically connects the second voltage detection wire 12 to the general negative electrode connection part BB4 at the tip 1e1 of the branched end. The second sub-branch wiring portion 1e for the general negative electrode connection part BB4 is folded back 180 degrees from the base 1e2 on the second main branch wiring portion 1b side to the second electrode terminal group BC6 side, and electrically connects the second voltage detection wire 12 to the general negative electrode connection part BB4 at the tip 1e1 of the folded end.

[0032] The first sub-branch wiring portion 1d includes a first sub-branch coating portion 20d of the insulating coating 20 and a first terminal-side connection portion 11c of the first voltage detection wire 11 that pairs with the first sub-branch coating portion 20d (FIGS. 1 and 2). The first sub-branch coating portion 20d is a portion of the insulating coating 20 that branches off from the end of the first main branch coating portion 20a on the second main branch coating portion 20b side, and is formed by corresponding portions of the base film 21 and the coverlay film 22. The first sub-branch coating portion 20d is provided for each first voltage detection wire 11. The first terminal side connection portion 11c is a portion of the first voltage detection line 11 that is bent from the other end of the first main branch conductive portion 11a toward the paired first sub-branch covering portion 20d and is included in the first sub-branch covering portion 20d up to the tip portion 1d1 of the first sub-branch wiring portion 1d, and is formed in a corresponding portion of the surface of the base film 21 in the first sub-branch covering portion 20d.

[0033] In this first sub-branch wiring portion 1d, the coverlay film 22 of the first sub-branch covering portion 20d at its tip portion 1d1 is partially cut away to expose the tip portion of the first-terminal-side connecting portion 11c from the cut-away portion. The tip portion of the first-terminal-side connecting portion 11c of this first sub-branch wiring portion 1d is physically and electrically connected to the first-terminal-side connecting part BB1 by, for example, soldering it to the first-terminal connecting part BB1. The first sub-branch wiring portion 1d for the general positive electrode connecting part BB3 is physically and electrically connected to the general positive electrode connecting part BB3 by, for example, soldering it to the general positive electrode connecting part BB3.

[0034] The second sub-branch wiring portion 1e includes a second sub-branch coating portion 20e of the insulating coating 20 and a second terminal-side connection portion 12c of the second voltage detection wire 12 that pairs with the second sub-branch coating portion 20e (FIGS. 1 and 2). The second sub-branch coating portion 20e is a portion of the insulating coating 20 that branches off from the end of the second main branch coating portion 20b on the first main branch coating portion 20a side, and is formed by corresponding portions of the base film 21 and the coverlay film 22. The second sub-branch coating portion 20e is provided for each second voltage detection wire 12. The second terminal side connection portion 12c is a portion of the second voltage detection line 12 that is bent from the other end of the second main branch conductive portion 12a toward the paired second sub-branch covering portion 20e and is included in the second sub-branch covering portion 20e up to the tip portion 1e1 of the second sub-branch wiring portion 1e, and is formed in a corresponding portion of the surface of the base film 21 in the second sub-branch covering portion 20e.

[0035] In this second sub-branch wiring portion 1e, the coverlay film 22 of the second sub-branch covering portion 20e at its tip portion 1e1 is partially cut away to expose the tip portion of the second-terminal-side connecting portion 12c from the cut-away portion. The tip portion of the second terminal-side connecting portion 12c of this second sub-branch wiring portion 1e is physically and electrically connected to the second-terminal-side connecting part BB2 by, for example, soldering it to the second-terminal-side connecting part BB2. The second sub-branch wiring portion 1e for the total negative-electrode connecting part BB4 is physically and electrically connected to the total negative-electrode connecting part BB4 by, for example, soldering it to the total negative-electrode connecting part BB4.

[0036] The above-described wiring main body 1A branches into a first main branch wiring portion 1a on the first electrode terminal group BC5 side and a second main branch wiring portion 1b on the second electrode terminal group BC6 side, avoiding the exhaust duct BD between the first electrode terminal group BC5 and the second electrode terminal group BC6, so as to avoid direct contact with the high-temperature, high-pressure gas discharged from this exhaust duct BD (FIGS. 1 and 2). For this reason, this wiring main body 1A has a space portion 1f surrounded by the first main branch wiring portion 1a, the second main branch wiring portion 1b, and the connecting wiring portion 1c, and is installed in the battery module BM so that the exhaust duct BD is disposed in this space portion 1f (FIGS. 1 and 2). Furthermore, if any other component (hereinafter referred to as "obstructive component") that may obstruct the wiring of this wiring main body 1A, not limited to the exhaust duct BD, is installed between the first electrode terminal group BC5 and the second electrode terminal group BC6, the wiring main body 1A is branched into a first main branch wiring portion 1a on the first electrode terminal group BC5 side and a second main branch wiring portion 1b on the second electrode terminal group BC6 side in order to avoid the obstructive component.

[0037] Although not shown, this flexible wiring component 1 is one of multiple components die-cut from a single sheet-like base material (a laminate of a first film serving as base film 21, first and second voltage detection wires 11 and 12 for each flexible wiring component 1 routed on the surface of the first film, and a second film serving as coverlay film 22 covering each surface of the first film). Therefore, in order to die-cut this flexible wiring component 1 from the base material with a high yield, it is desirable to determine the shapes of the first sub-branch wiring portion 1d and the second sub-branch wiring portion 1e as follows to effectively utilize the portion of the base material corresponding to the space portion 1f. That is, it is desirable to form all of the first sub-branch wiring portions 1d and all of the second sub-branch wiring portions 1e from the portion of the base material corresponding to the space portion 1f. Therefore, all of the first sub-branch wiring portions 1d and all of the second sub-branch wiring portions 1e shown here are formed to have shapes that allow them to be arranged in the space portion 1f without being stacked on each other. Therefore, all of the first sub-branch wiring portions 1d and all of the second sub-branch wiring portions 1e can be produced from the portions of the base material that correspond to the space portions 1f.

[0038] After being removed from the base material, all of the first sub-branch wiring portions 1d and all of the second sub-branch wiring portions 1e are bent at their root portions 1d2, 1e2 and folded back 180 degrees from the root portions 1d2, 1e2. For example, the flexible wiring component 1 may be bent at the root portions 1d2, 1e2 of all of the first sub-branch wiring portions 1d and all of the second sub-branch wiring portions 1e to form a bent shape before being assembled into the battery module BM. Alternatively, the flexible wiring component 1 may be bent at the root portions 1d2, 1e2 of all of the first sub-branch wiring portions 1d and all of the second sub-branch wiring portions 1e when being assembled into the battery module BM or after being assembled into the battery module BM.

[0039] In order to make it easier to bend the root portions 1d2, 1e2 of the first sub-branch wiring portion 1d and the second sub-branch wiring portion 1e and to make it easier to form a bend in the root portions 1d2, 1e2, the flexible wiring component 1 is desirably configured as follows: Therefore, the flexible wiring component 1 is provided with a cutout portion 22a in which at least one of the portion on one coverlay film 22 that is on the outer side of the bend in the root portions 1d2, 1e2 of the first sub-branch wiring portion 1d and the second sub-branch wiring portion 1e and the portion on the other coverlay film 22 that is on the inner side of the bend in the root portions 1d2, 1e2 of the first sub-branch wiring portion 1d and the second sub-branch wiring portion 1e is cut out (FIGS. 4 and 5).

[0040] For example, the voltage detection line group 10 (first voltage detection line 11, second voltage detection line 12) is routed at least on the surface of the base film 21 that is on the inside of the bend at the root portions 1d2, 1e2 of the first sub-branch wiring portion 1d and the second sub-branch wiring portion 1e, respectively, of the two surfaces of the base film 21. In this case, it is desirable to provide the cutout portion 22a in a portion of one coverlay film 22 that is on the outside of the bend at the root portions 1d2, 1e2 of the first sub-branch wiring portion 1d and the second sub-branch wiring portion 1e, respectively, so as not to expose the voltage detection line group 10 at the root portions 1d2, 1e2 of the first sub-branch wiring portion 1d and the second sub-branch wiring portion 1e, respectively (FIG. 4). For this reason, in the first sub-branch wiring portion 1d, the first terminal-side connection portion 11c of the first voltage detection line 11 is routed on the surface of the base film 21 that is on the inside of the bend. Furthermore, in the second sub-branch wiring portion 1e, the second terminal side connecting portion 12c of the second voltage detection line 12 is routed on the surface of the base film 21 that is on the inner side of the bend.

[0041] Furthermore, by folding back the first sub-branch wiring portion 1d and the second sub-branch wiring portion 1e at their respective root portions 1d2, 1e2, it becomes difficult to contact the first terminal-side connecting portion 11c of the first voltage detection line 11 and the second terminal-side connecting portion 12c of the second voltage detection line 12, which are located inside the bend. Therefore, the cutout portion 22a may be provided at the root portions 1d2, 1e2 of the first sub-branch wiring portion 1d and the second sub-branch wiring portion 1e on the other coverlay film 22, which are located inside the bend (FIG. 5). Furthermore, the cutout portion 22a may be provided at the root portions 1d2, 1e2 of the first sub-branch wiring portion 1d and the second sub-branch wiring portion 1e on one coverlay film 22, which are located outside the bend, and at the root portions 1d2, 1e2 of the first sub-branch wiring portion 1d and the second sub-branch wiring portion 1e on the other coverlay film 22, which are located inside the bend.

[0042] As described above, the flexible wiring component 1 of this embodiment has a space 1f surrounded by the first main branch wiring portion 1a, the second main branch wiring portion 1b, and the connecting wiring portion 1c. All of the first sub-branch wiring portions 1d and all of the second sub-branch wiring portions 1e can be formed from the portion of the base material corresponding to the space 1f. This allows the flexible wiring component 1 to effectively utilize the portion of the base material corresponding to the space 1f, thereby improving the yield when multiple flexible wiring components 1 are die-cut from the base material. Furthermore, because all of the first sub-branch wiring portions 1d and all of the second sub-branch wiring portions 1e are disposed in the portion of the base material corresponding to the space 1f, the size of the flexible wiring component 1 before and immediately after die-cutting from the base material (i.e., the size before all of the first sub-branch wiring portions 1d and all of the second sub-branch wiring portions 1e are bent) can be reduced. Therefore, this flexible wiring component 1 can increase the number of flexible wiring components 1 that can be cut out from the base material, and can improve the yield when cutting out multiple flexible wiring components 1 from the base material. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1 Flexible wiring parts 1A wiring main 1a First main branch wiring section 1b Second main branch wiring section 1c Connection wiring section 1d First sub-branch wiring section 1d1 tip 1d2 base 1e Second sub-branch wiring section 1e1 tip 1e2 base 1f space 10 Voltage detection wires 11 First voltage detection wire 11a First main branch conductive portion 11b First unit side connection part 11c First terminal side connection part 12 Second voltage detection wire 12a Second main branch conductive part 12b Second unit side connection part 12c Second terminal side connection part 20 Insulation coating 20a First main branch covering part 20b 2nd main branch covering section 20c Connecting cover part 20d 1st sub-branch covering section 20e Second sub-branch covering section 21 Base film 22 Coverlay film 22a Excision part BB1 First terminal connection part BB2 Second terminal connection part BC battery cell BC1 Cell Body BC2 electrode terminal BC5 1st electrode terminal group BC6 2nd electrode terminal group BD exhaust duct BM battery module UM Battery Monitoring Unit

Claims

1. a battery module including a plurality of battery cells arranged in a row and a battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery state of each of the battery cells; and a wiring main body that is flexible and flat, and in which a group of voltage detection wires is enclosed in an insulating coating. The battery cell has positive and negative electrode terminals provided on the same plane in a cell body with a gap between them, the battery module includes a first electrode terminal group in which one electrode terminal of each of the plurality of battery cells is arranged in an arrangement direction of the battery cells, and a pair of the one electrode terminals adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction are electrically connected by a first terminal-to-terminal connection part for each of the pair of the one electrode terminals; and a second electrode terminal group in which the other electrode terminal of each of the battery cells is arranged in the arrangement direction, and a pair of the other electrode terminals adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction are electrically connected by a second terminal-to-terminal connection part for each of the pair of the other electrode terminals, the voltage detection line group includes: a first voltage detection line provided for each of the first terminal-to-terminal connection components, electrically connecting the first terminal-to-terminal connection component and the battery monitoring unit; and a second voltage detection line provided for each of the second terminal-to-terminal connection components, electrically connecting the second terminal-to-terminal connection component and the battery monitoring unit, The wiring main body includes a first main branch wiring section extending in the arrangement direction between the first electrode terminal group and the second electrode terminal group and approaching the first electrode terminal group, a second main branch wiring section extending in the arrangement direction between the first electrode terminal group and the second electrode terminal group and approaching the second electrode terminal group, a connecting wiring section connecting one end of the first main branch wiring section and the second main branch wiring section to each other and electrically connecting them to the battery monitoring unit, and a connecting wiring section extending from an end of the first main branch wiring section on the second main branch wiring section side. a first sub-branch wiring portion for each of the first inter-terminal connection components, the first sub-branch wiring portion being branched from an end of the second main branch wiring portion on the first main branch wiring portion side, and the second ... all of the first sub-branch wiring portions and all of the second sub-branch wiring portions are formed to have shapes that allow them to be arranged in the space portion without being stacked on each other, the first sub-branch wiring portion is folded back 180 degrees from a root portion on the side of the first main branch wiring portion toward the first electrode terminal group, and the tip portion of the folded back portion electrically connects the first voltage detection line to the first inter-terminal connecting component, the second sub-branch wiring portion is folded back 180 degrees from a root portion on the second main branch wiring portion side toward the second electrode terminal group, and the tip portion of the folded back portion electrically connects the second voltage detection line to the second inter-terminal connection component.

2. The battery module includes an exhaust duct between the first electrode terminal group and the second electrode terminal group, which exhausts gas emitted from inside the battery cells to the outside; 2. The flexible wiring component according to claim 1, wherein the wiring main body is installed in the battery module so that the exhaust duct is disposed in the space.

3. The insulating coating comprises a base film and a cover lay film for each surface that covers the surface of the base film; 2. The flexible wiring component according to claim 1, wherein the voltage detection wires are routed on at least one of the surfaces of the base film.

4. The insulating coating comprises a base film and a cover lay film for each surface that covers the surface of the base film; 2. The flexible wiring component according to claim 1, wherein a cutout portion is provided in at least one of a portion on the outside of the bend at the root portion of each of the first sub-branch wiring portion and the second sub-branch wiring portion in one of the cover lay films and a portion on the inside of the bend at the root portion of each of the first sub-branch wiring portion and the second sub-branch wiring portion in the other of the cover lay films.

5. The voltage detection wire group is routed at least on the surface of the two surfaces of the base film that is on the inside of the bend at the root portion of each of the first sub-branch wiring section and the second sub-branch wiring section, The flexible wiring component according to claim 4, characterized in that the cut-out portion is provided at a portion on the outside of the bend at the root portion of each of the first sub-branch wiring portion and the second sub-branch wiring portion in one of the coverlay films.

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