Connection structure

Abstract

To provide a connection structure capable of preventing battery cells from heating up even when a short circuit occurs on an electronic apparatus.SOLUTION: The connection structure is a structure in which an electronic apparatus and a battery module are electrically connected via a connector. A first connector at the electronic apparatus is integrated with a board on which a high-voltage circuit is installed. The electronic apparatus has a release member for releasing the second connector by relatively moving in a direction that releases the connection of the second connector with respect to the board inside a case that houses the board. The release member is configured so as to, when a load is applied from the case in the direction that disconnects the second connector, move in the direction to release the connection of the second connector to apply a load to the second connector that disconnects the same from the first connector.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connection structure.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a connection structure in an electric vehicle equipped with a battery module, in which the battery module, an electronic device, and an electronic device are electrically connected within a space formed by a floor panel.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, when the floor panel is deformed due to a collision of an electric vehicle or the like, and the equipment box accommodating the electronic device is crushed, the electronic device including the high-voltage circuit is crushed and short-circuited. When the electronic device is short-circuited, a large current may flow from the electronic device to the battery cell through the conductive member, and the battery cell may generate heat.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a connection structure capable of avoiding heat generation of a battery cell even when a short circuit occurs on the electronic device side.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention relates to a connection structure in which an electronic device having a high-voltage circuit and a battery module having a plurality of battery cells are electrically connected via a connector, wherein the connector includes a first connector on the electronic device side electrically connected to the high-voltage circuit and a second connector on the battery module side connected to the first connector, the first connector being integrated with a substrate on which the high-voltage circuit is provided, and the electronic device having a release member inside a housing that houses the substrate, which moves relative to the substrate in a direction that releases the connection of the second connector to release the connection of the second connector, and the release member is characterized in that, when a load in the release direction is input from the housing, it moves in a direction that releases the connection of the second connector to release the connection of the first connector and applies a load to the second connector. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] In this invention, the connection between the first connector and the second connector can be physically released by a load applied from the housing to the release member. This prevents overheating of the battery cell even if a short circuit occurs on the electronic device side. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This diagram schematically shows the connection structure in the embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a diagram illustrating the structure of the battery ECU. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view illustrating the state in which the male connector on the battery ECU side is connected to the female connector on the battery module side. [Figure 4] This is a top view illustrating the state in which the female connector on the battery module side is connected to the male connector on the battery ECU side. [Figure 5] This is a side view illustrating the state in which the male connector on the battery ECU side is connected to the female connector on the battery module side. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view showing the section along line AA in Figure 5. [Figure 7]Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the section along line BB. [Figure 8] This diagram illustrates the operation of the release member when a load due to crushing acts upon it. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The connection structure in the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.

[0010] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the connection structure in an embodiment. Connection structure 1 is a structure in which the battery module 2 and the battery ECU 3 are electrically connected. Connection structure 1 is applied to electric vehicles. Electric vehicles are vehicles equipped with a motor for driving, such as hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The battery module 2 and the battery ECU 3 are housed in a battery pack housing case and mounted in the electric vehicle. Inside the battery pack housing case, the battery module 2 is housed in a module case 4, and the battery ECU 3 is housed in an equipment box 5. The module case 4 and the equipment box 5 are fixed to the battery pack housing case.

[0011] The battery module 2 is a battery pack composed of multiple battery cells. The battery module 2 is housed inside the module case 4. The battery module 2 is electrically connected to the battery ECU 3 via a female connector 6. The female connector 6 and the battery module 2 are electrically connected via an FPC 7.

[0012] The battery ECU3 is an electronic control unit that controls the battery module 2. The battery ECU3 includes a processor and memory. The battery ECU3 loads a program stored in its memory into the working area of ​​the memory and executes it, and by controlling each component through the execution of the program, it realizes a function that matches a predetermined purpose. Signals from various sensors mounted on the electric vehicle are input to the battery ECU3. The battery ECU3 performs battery control based on the signals input from the various sensors. The battery ECU3 outputs various command signals to the battery module 2 in accordance with the battery control. At that time, the command signals are transmitted from the battery ECU3 to the battery module 2 via the female connector 6.

[0013] As shown in Figure 2, the battery ECU 3 comprises a high-voltage circuit 11, a circuit board 12, a housing 13, and a male connector 14.

[0014] The high-voltage circuit 11 is provided on the circuit board 12. The circuit board 12 is an ECU circuit board. The housing 13 is an ECU housing. The male connector 14 is attached to the circuit board 12. The male connector 14 is integrated with the circuit board 12. The male connector 14 has pins that are electrically connected to the high-voltage circuit 11. In the battery ECU 3, the high-voltage circuit 11 and the circuit board 12 are housed inside the housing 13. The battery ECU 3 is an electronic device having the high-voltage circuit 11. The male connector 14 has a structure that allows the female connector 6 to be connected from outside the housing 13. The female connector 6 is mated to the male connector 14 from outside the housing 13, and the terminals of the female connector 6 and the pins of the male connector 14 are electrically connected, thereby electrically connecting the battery ECU 3 and the battery module 2 via the female connector 6. In connection structure 1, the male connector 14 is the first connector, and the female connector 6 is the second connector.

[0015] In a battery pack including the battery module 2 and the battery ECU 3 configured as described above, due to its structure, if the equipment box 5 is crushed, the battery ECU 3 having the high-voltage circuit 11 may be crushed and short-circuited. At that time, a large current flows through the FPC 7 to the battery module 2, and the battery cells generate heat. That is, when the battery ECU 3 is crushed, the built-in high-voltage circuit 11 is short-circuited, and a large current flows through the battery cells, resulting in heat generation. To avoid this heat generation, usually, circuit interruption is performed by a fuse. However, due to the size and mounting limitations of the battery pack, it is difficult to use a fuse that meets the rating. Therefore, in the connection structure 1, it is configured to cut off the short-circuit by physically removing the female connector 6 using the load at the time of crushing. As shown in FIG. 2, the connection structure 1 includes a release member 30 inside the housing 13 of the battery ECU 3 for releasing the connection of the female connector 6.

[0016] The release member 30 is a member for releasing the connection state between the female connector 6 and the male connector 14. The release member 30 is made of an insulator such as resin. For example, the release member 30 is integrally formed of resin. The release member 30 functions as an extrusion mechanism that presses the female connector 6 in the release direction to release the connection between the female connector 6 and the male connector 14.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, the release member 30 has a flat plate portion 31, a release pin 32, and a pressing portion 33.

[0018] The flat plate portion 31 is the main body portion of the release member 30 and is a plate portion having a planar shape facing the base 12 in the horizontal direction. The flat plate portion 31 is a part for receiving the load for moving the release member 30 in the release direction. The flat plate portion 31 is disposed on the side opposite to the male connector 14 with respect to the base 12. The flat plate portion 31 is disposed at a position separated from the base 12 in the horizontal direction. The flat plate portion 31 has a plane 31a facing the side opposite to the male connector 14 in the horizontal direction. The plane 31a is the surface on which the load in the release direction is input from the housing 13 when the housing 13 is crushed.

[0019] The release pin 32 is a pin-shaped convex portion that protrudes from the flat plate portion 31 toward the female connector 6 side. The release pin 32 is a part for releasing the claw 61 of the female connector 6. The female connector 6 has a claw 61 that locks onto the main body of the male connector 14 so as not to drop off in the release direction from the male connector 14. The claw 61 is a locking claw for preventing the female connector 6 from coming off. The release pin 32 is provided at a position to disengage the claw 61.

[0020] The release pin 32 penetrates the base plate 12 from the flat plate portion 31 and is disposed inside the guide portion 14a of the male connector 14. The base plate 12 has a through hole 12a through which the release pin 32 is inserted and a through hole 12b through which the pressing portion 33 is inserted. The male connector 14 has a guide portion 14a into which the release pin 32 is inserted. The through hole 12a is provided at a position corresponding to the release pin 32. The guide portion 14a is provided at a position corresponding to the through hole 12a and communicates with the through hole 12a. The guide portion 14a is formed by a notch portion that extends linearly along the horizontal direction. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the release pin 32 is inserted into the through hole 12a and disposed inside the guide portion 14a. The claw 61 is provided on the main body side of the female connector 6 in the guide portion 14a. The male connector 14 has a standing wall portion 14b on which the claw 61 locks. The standing wall portion 14b is a part of the main body of the male connector 14 and is a portion located between the guide portion 14a and the female connector 6 in the horizontal direction. The standing wall portion 14b is a locked portion. When the claw 61 locks onto the standing wall portion 14b, the state in which the female connector 6 is fitted to the male connector 14 is maintained.

[0021] The pressing portion 33 is a rod-shaped protrusion that extends from the flat plate portion 31 toward the female connector 6. The pressing portion 33 is the part that pushes the female connector 6 in the release direction. The pressing portion 33 protrudes in the same direction as the release pin 32, and two are provided on both sides of the male connector 14 so as to sandwich the release pin 32. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the pressing portion 33 is provided at a position corresponding to the receiving portion 62 of the female connector 6. In the horizontal direction, the pressing portion 33 and the receiving portion 62 face each other. As shown in Figure 4, when the claw 61 is locked to the male connector 14, the pressing portion 33 and the receiving portion 62 are not in contact. When the release member 30 moves in the release direction due to the collapse of the housing 13, the pressing portion 33 comes into contact with the receiving portion 62 of the female connector 6 and presses the receiving portion 62 in the release direction. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the receiving portion 62 is provided on both sides of the main body of the female connector 6. As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the pressing portion 33 extends linearly along the release direction, passing through the through hole 12b of the base 12 to near the receiving portion 62.

[0022] As shown in Figures 4, 6, and 7, when the release member 30 is not moving in the direction of releasing the connection of the female connector 6, the horizontal distance between the base 12 and the flat plate portion 31 is longer than the horizontal distance between the release pin 32 and the claw 61, and also longer than the horizontal distance between the pressing portion 33 and the receiving portion 62. This allows the release pin 32 to contact the claw 61 and the pressing portion 33 to contact the receiving portion 62 before the flat plate portion 31 contacts the base 12 in the release direction. In this state, the horizontal distance between the pressing portion 33 and the receiving portion 62 is longer than the horizontal distance between the release pin 32 and the claw 61. This allows the release pin 32 to contact the claw 61 before the pressing portion 33 contacts the receiving portion 62 in the release direction. Furthermore, in this state, the horizontal distance between the release pin 32 and the vertical wall portion 14b is longer than the horizontal distance between the pressing portion 33 and the receiving portion 62. This allows the pressing portion 33 to contact the receiving portion 62 before the release pin 32 contacts the vertical wall portion 14b in the release direction.

[0023] If the equipment box 5 is crushed, the housing 13 will be crushed, and as shown in Figure 8, the crushing load will be applied to the flat surface 31a of the flat plate portion 31, and the flat plate portion 31 will be pushed in the release direction by the crushing load. As the flat plate portion 31 is pushed in the release direction, the release member 30 moves in the release direction, and the tip 32a of the release pin 32 pushes down the claw 61 of the female connector 6, releasing it. In other words, the release member 30 moves in the release direction and pushes the claw 61 in a direction that releases the locking state between the claw 61 and the vertical wall portion 14b. A gap is set so that the pressing portion 33 does not come into contact with the female connector 6 until the claw 61 is released. When the release member 30 moves further in the release direction with the claw 61 released, the pressing portion 33 comes into contact with the receiving portion 62, and the pressing portion 33 pushes the body of the female connector 6 in the release direction. As a result, the female connector 6 can be pushed in the release direction until it is detached from the pins of the male connector 14, thereby physically disconnecting the female connector 6 from the high-voltage circuit 11.

[0024] When the housing 13 is crushed due to the crushing of the equipment box 5, the housing 13 comes into contact with the release member 30. At that time, when a load in the release direction is applied from the housing 13 to the release member 30, the release member 30 moves in the direction that releases the connection of the female connector 6, and applies a load to the female connector 6 that releases the connection with the male connector 14. In this way, the release member 30 moves relative to the base 12 in the direction that releases the connection of the female connector 6, thereby releasing the connection of the female connector 6.

[0025] As described above, according to the embodiment, the load generated when the battery ECU 3 is crushed can be used to physically disconnect the battery cell from the high-voltage circuit 11. As a result, even if the battery ECU 3 is crushed and the housing 13 and the circuit board 12 come into contact, or if the circuit boards 12 come into contact with each other, a short circuit will not be formed between the high-voltage circuit 11 and the battery cell, thus preventing the battery cell from overheating. The connection structure 1 makes it possible to prevent the battery cell from overheating due to a short circuit that cannot be protected by a fuse, thus ensuring safety.

[0026] In each figure, the arrow UPR indicates the upward direction of the electric vehicle. Similarly, the arrow RH indicates the rightward direction of the electric vehicle, and the arrow FR indicates the forward direction of the electric vehicle. The opposite direction of the arrow UPR is the downward direction of the electric vehicle. The opposite direction of the arrow RH indicates the leftward direction of the electric vehicle. The opposite direction of the arrow FR indicates the rearward direction of the electric vehicle. The direction in which the connection of the female connector 6 is released, i.e., the release direction, is the opposite direction of the arrow RH (the leftward direction of the electric vehicle). The direction in which the locking state between the claw 61 and the vertical wall portion 14b is released is the opposite direction of the arrow UPR (the downward direction of the electric vehicle). The horizontal direction is the left-right direction of the electric vehicle (the width direction of the electric vehicle).

[0027] Furthermore, the component that electrically connects the female connector 6 and the battery module 2 is not limited to FPC7, but may be a busbar or a flexible conductive component.

[0028] Furthermore, the direction in which the female connector 6 is disconnected is not limited to the opposite direction of arrow RH (to the left of the electric vehicle), but can be any horizontal direction. For example, the direction in which the female connector 6 is disconnected may be arrow RH (to the right of the electric vehicle), arrow FR (towards the front of the electric vehicle), or the opposite direction of arrow FR (towards the rear of the electric vehicle). [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] 1. Connection structure 2 Battery Modules 3 Battery ECU 4 Module Cases 5. Equipment Box 6 Female connectors 7 FPC 11 High-voltage circuits 12 base 12a,12b through hole 13 cabinets 14 Male connectors 14a Information section 14b Standing wall section 30 Release component 31 Flat plate part 31a plane 32 Release pins 32a Tip 33 Pressing part 61 Nails 62 Receiving part

Claims

1. A connection structure in which an electronic device having a high-voltage circuit and a battery module having multiple battery cells are electrically connected via a connector, The aforementioned connector is The first connector on the electronic device side is electrically connected to the high-voltage circuit, The first connector is connected to the second connector on the battery module side, The first connector is integrated with the substrate on which the high-voltage circuit is provided. The electronic device has a release member inside the housing that houses the substrate, which moves relative to the substrate in a direction that disconnects the second connector, thereby disconnecting the second connector. When a load in the releasing direction is applied from the housing, the release member moves in the direction that releases the connection of the second connector, thereby applying a load to the second connector that releases the connection with the first connector. A connection structure characterized by the following features.

2. The second connector has a claw that locks onto the first connector to prevent it from coming loose. The first connector has a locking portion into which the claws engage, When a load is applied to the release member in the direction of disengaging the second connector, the release member moves in the direction of disengaging the connection and pushes the claw in the direction of releasing the locking state between the claw and the locked portion. The connection structure according to feature 1.

3. The release member is A flat plate portion is positioned horizontally opposite to the substrate and on the side of the substrate opposite to the first connector, It has a release pin that protrudes horizontally from the flat plate portion toward the first connector and is used to disengage the claw from the locked portion, When the release member is not moving in the direction of releasing the connection, the horizontal distance between the base and the flat plate portion is longer than the horizontal distance between the release pin and the claw. The connection structure according to feature 2.

4. The locking portion is located on the side of the claw that is in the direction of releasing the connection. The connection structure according to feature 3.

Images