Sensing structure for measuring force applied to battery and device including same

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a sensing structure for measuring a force applied to a battery, and a device including same. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there may be provided a battery module comprising: a plurality of battery cells; a plurality of end-plates facing a plurality of end cells which are outermost cells among the plurality of battery cells; and at least one sensing structure for measuring a force applied to at least one of the plurality of battery cells and the plurality of end-plates, wherein the sensing structure includes at least one piezoelectric element and is disposed on the basis of an optimal point at which deformation of the plurality of battery cells or the plurality of end-plates occurs to the maximum.

Description

Sensing structure for measuring force applied to a battery and device including the same

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a sensing structure for measuring a force applied to a battery and a device including the same.

[0002] Battery swelling refers to the volume expansion that occurs in rechargeable batteries. This swelling can be caused by various factors, such as gases generated from the decomposition of the electrolyte. Furthermore, if battery swelling is not detected early and is left untreated, the battery may be damaged, leading to safety issues.

[0003] A piezoelectric element refers to a device that utilizes the piezoelectric effect, in which voltage is induced when pressure is applied. By using a piezoelectric element, an electrical output corresponding to the force applied to the device can be obtained. Therefore, a change in the force applied to a battery can be detected using a piezoelectric element.

[0004] The aforementioned background technology is technical information that the inventor possessed for the derivation of the present invention or acquired during the process of deriving the present invention, and it cannot be considered as prior art disclosed to the general public prior to the filing of the present invention.

[0005] The present disclosure provides a sensing structure for measuring a force applied to a battery and an apparatus including the same. The present disclosure may provide a sensing structure for measuring a force applied to a battery due to deformation of the battery and an apparatus including the same.

[0006] The problems that the present disclosure aims to solve are not limited to those mentioned above, and other problems and advantages of the present disclosure not mentioned can be understood from the following description and will be more clearly understood from the embodiments of the present disclosure. Furthermore, it will be understood that the problems and advantages that the present disclosure aims to solve can be realized by the means and combinations thereof set forth in the claims.

[0007] As a technical means for achieving the technical problem described above, a first aspect of the present disclosure may provide a battery module comprising: a plurality of battery cells; a plurality of end plates facing a plurality of end cells, which are cells located at the outermost of the plurality of battery cells; and at least one sensing structure for measuring the pressure of at least one of the plurality of battery cells and the plurality of end plates, wherein the sensing structure comprises at least one piezoelectric element and is positioned based on an optimal point where the deformation of the plurality of battery cells or the plurality of end plates occurs to the maximum.

[0008] According to one embodiment, a battery module may be provided in which the piezoelectric element is arranged based on the shape of the battery cell.

[0009] According to one embodiment, a battery module may be provided in which the optimal point is determined based on the method in which the battery module is mounted.

[0010] According to one embodiment, a battery module may be provided in which the optimal point is determined based on the distribution of force applied to the battery module.

[0011] According to one embodiment, a battery module may be provided, wherein the sensing structure comprises a first sensing structure for measuring a force applied to each of the end plates and a second sensing structure for measuring a force applied to each of the battery cells.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the first sensing structure may be provided with a battery module disposed between the end plate and the end cell.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the first sensing structure may be provided with a battery module embedded in the end plate.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the second sensing structure may be provided with a battery module disposed between one battery cell and another battery cell among the plurality of battery cells.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the at least one piezoelectric element included in the first sensing structure can provide a battery module that is a thick-film piezoelectric element.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the at least one piezoelectric element included in the second sensing structure may be a battery module that is a thin-film piezoelectric element.

[0017] A second aspect of the present disclosure may provide a device for detecting swelling of a battery, comprising: a processor for detecting swelling of a battery based on a measurement obtained by at least one sensing structure for measuring a force applied to at least one of a plurality of battery cells and a plurality of end plates; wherein the sensing structure comprises at least one piezoelectric element and is positioned based on an optimal point where the deformation of the plurality of battery cells or the plurality of end plates occurs to the maximum.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the piezoelectric element may provide a device for detecting swelling of a battery, which is positioned based on the shape of the battery cell.

[0019] According to one embodiment, a device for detecting battery swelling can be provided, wherein the optimal point is determined based on the method in which the battery module is mounted.

[0020] According to one embodiment, a device for detecting swelling of a battery can be provided, wherein the optimal point is determined based on the distribution of force applied to the battery module.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the sensing structure may provide a device for detecting swelling of a battery, comprising a first sensing structure for measuring a force applied to each of the end plates and a second sensing structure for measuring a force applied to each of the battery cells.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the first sensing structure may provide a device for detecting swelling of a battery, disposed between the end plate and the end cell.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the first sensing structure may provide a device for detecting swelling of a battery, which is embedded in the end plate.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the second sensing structure may provide a device for detecting swelling of a battery, which is disposed between one battery cell and another battery cell among the plurality of battery cells.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the at least one piezoelectric element included in the first sensing structure may be a thick-film type piezoelectric element, thereby providing a device for detecting swelling of a battery.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the at least one piezoelectric element included in the second sensing structure may provide a device for detecting swelling of a battery, wherein the piezoelectric element is a thin-film type piezoelectric element.

[0027] Other aspects, features, and advantages other than those described above will become clear from the following drawings, claims, and detailed description of the invention.

[0028] According to the means for solving the problem of the present disclosure described above, a sensing structure capable of measuring a force generated by swelling of a battery and a device including the same may be provided.

[0029] The effects of the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description in this specification.

[0030] The following drawings attached to this specification are intended to illustrate at least one embodiment according to the present disclosure and serve to further enhance understanding of the technical concept of the present invention together with the detailed description of the invention set forth below; therefore, the present disclosure should not be interpreted as being limited only to the matters described in the drawings.

[0031] Figure 1 is a diagram showing damage that may occur due to the swelling phenomenon of a battery.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a battery module including a plurality of sensing structures according to one embodiment.

[0033] FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a sensing structure according to one embodiment.

[0034] FIG. 4 is a drawing for explaining the optimal point according to one embodiment.

[0035] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a device for detecting swelling of a battery according to one embodiment.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a battery module may be provided comprising: a plurality of battery cells; a plurality of end plates facing a plurality of end cells, which are cells located at the outermost of the plurality of battery cells; and at least one sensing structure for measuring the pressure of at least one of the plurality of battery cells and the plurality of end plates, wherein the sensing structure comprises at least one piezoelectric element and is positioned based on an optimal point where maximum deformation of the plurality of battery cells or the plurality of end plates occurs.

[0037] The advantages and features of the present disclosure and the methods for achieving them will become clear by referring to the embodiments described in detail together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments presented below, but can be implemented in various different forms and should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions that fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The embodiments presented below are provided to make the present disclosure complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the invention. In describing the present disclosure, detailed descriptions of related prior art are omitted where it is determined that such detailed descriptions may obscure the essence of the present invention.

[0038] The terms used herein are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the disclosure. Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains.

[0039] In this specification, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, terms such as "comprising" or "having" are intended to specify the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0040] Additionally, terms including ordinal numbers, such as "first" or "second" as used herein, may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

[0041] Phrases such as "in one embodiment," "according to one embodiment," "related to one embodiment," or "according to an implementation of one embodiment" in this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, throughout this specification, "examples" are arbitrary distinctions to facilitate the description of the present disclosure, and each embodiment does not need to be mutually exclusive. For example, configurations mentioned for the description of one embodiment may be applied and / or implemented in other embodiments, and may be modified and applied and / or implemented to the extent that they do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0042] Some embodiments of the present disclosure may be represented by functional block configurations and various processing steps. Some or all of these functional blocks may be implemented by various numbers of hardware and / or software configurations that perform specific functions. For example, the functional blocks of the present disclosure may be implemented by one or more microprocessors or by circuit configurations for a specific function.

[0043] For example, the functional blocks of the present disclosure may be implemented in various programming or scripting languages. The functional blocks may be implemented as algorithms executed on one or more processors. Additionally, the present disclosure may employ prior art for electronic configuration, signal processing, and / or data processing, etc. Terms such as "mechanism," "element," "means," and "configuration" may be used broadly and are not limited to mechanical and physical configurations. Furthermore, terms such as "-part," "-module," etc. refer to a unit that processes at least one function or operation, which may be implemented in hardware or software, or as a combination of hardware and software.

[0044] Furthermore, the connecting lines or connecting members between the components depicted in the drawings are merely illustrative of functional connections and / or physical or circuit connections. In the actual device, connections between components may be represented by various alternative or added functional connections, physical connections, or circuit connections.

[0045] Additionally, some components in the drawings may be depicted with slightly exaggerated sizes or proportions. Furthermore, components depicted in one drawing may not be depicted in another drawing.

[0046] The present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0047] Figure 1 is a diagram showing damage that may occur due to the swelling phenomenon of a battery.

[0048] Battery swelling refers to the volume expansion that occurs in rechargeable batteries. Swelling can be caused by various factors, such as gases generated from electrolyte decomposition and heat applied to the battery. Furthermore, swelling can lead to a degradation of battery performance, and if the swelling worsens, it can result in battery failure and cause stability issues.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 1, a battery module comprising a plurality of battery cells and a plurality of end plates is illustrated. In this case, each end plate located at both ends of the battery module may be a plate facing each end cell. Meanwhile, an end cell may refer to each cell located at the outermost position among the plurality of battery cells. For example, an end cell may be each cell positioned at the outermost position among the plurality of cells illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0050] Meanwhile, if battery swelling occurs, the battery may deform. In this case, if the force applied due to the deformation exceeds the bonding strength of the battery case joint surface, the welded surface may be damaged. For example, if the force applied due to the deformation exceeds the strength of the battery case welded surface, it poses a problem as the welded surface may break. Furthermore, it is problematic because various components included in the battery, such as the end plate, may be damaged due to the deformation.

[0051] In order to prevent damage that may occur due to the swelling phenomenon of the battery, a sensing structure capable of measuring the pressure caused by the swelling phenomenon of the battery is required. When using the sensing structure according to the present disclosure, which will be described later with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, the pressure caused by the swelling phenomenon of the battery can be measured, thereby preventing damage to the battery.

[0052] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a battery module including a plurality of sensing structures according to one embodiment.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 2, a battery module (200) according to one embodiment is illustrated. The battery module (200) according to one embodiment may include a plurality of battery cells. In this case, the plurality of battery cells may include a plurality of end cells (210, 215). The end cells (210, 215) may refer to each cell located at the outermost edge among the plurality of battery cells.

[0054] In one embodiment, the battery module (200) may include a plurality of end plates (220, 225) facing a plurality of end cells (210, 215), which are the outermost cells among a plurality of battery cells. The end plates (220, 225) may be components for physically protecting the battery cells. For example, the end plates (220, 225) may withstand the pressure of battery cells expanding due to the swelling phenomenon of the battery and suppress excessive deformation of the battery. Hereinafter, force may be a concept including pressure, which means force per unit area. In one embodiment, the battery module (200) may include at least one sensing structure (230, 240) for measuring a force applied to at least one of the plurality of battery cells and the plurality of end plates (220, 225).

[0055] As described above, force may be a concept including pressure. Accordingly, a battery module (200) according to one embodiment may include at least one sensing structure (2300, 240) for measuring pressure applied to at least one of a plurality of battery cells and a plurality of end plates (220, 225).

[0056] A sensing structure (230, 240) according to one embodiment includes at least one piezoelectric element and can be positioned based on an optimal point where deformation of a plurality of battery cells or a plurality of end plates occurs to the maximum.

[0057] A piezoelectric element can refer to a device that obtains an electrical output corresponding to a force input to the device by utilizing the piezoelectric effect. In this case, the piezoelectric effect can refer to the effect in which voltage is induced when a force is applied.

[0058] As previously mentioned, force can be a concept that includes pressure. Therefore, a piezoelectric element may refer to a device that obtains an electrical output corresponding to the pressure input to the device. Additionally, the piezoelectric effect may refer to an effect in which voltage is induced when pressure is applied.

[0059] A piezoelectric element according to one embodiment may be composed of a material comprising a piezoelectric single crystal, piezoelectric ceramics, and / or a piezoelectric thin film. The piezoelectric single crystal may include materials such as quartz or lithium niobate. The piezoelectric ceramics may include materials such as barium titanate or lead zirconate titanate. The piezoelectric thin film may include zinc oxide, lead zirconate titanate, aluminum nitride, etc. Meanwhile, the materials capable of constituting the piezoelectric element according to the present disclosure are not limited to those described above.

[0060] A sensing structure (230, 240) according to one embodiment can measure a force generated by a swelling phenomenon of a battery through at least one piezoelectric element. At this time, measuring the force may include detecting a change in pressure. For example, the sensing structure (230, 240) can detect a change in pressure generated by a swelling phenomenon of a battery through at least one piezoelectric element.

[0061] Meanwhile, a detailed description regarding the optimal point according to the present disclosure will be provided later with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0062] In one embodiment, the sensing structure (230, 240) may include a first sensing structure (240) for measuring a force applied to each end plate (220, 225) and a second sensing structure (230) for measuring a force applied to each battery cell.

[0063] For example, the sensing structure (230, 240) may include a first sensing structure (240) for measuring pressure applied to each end plate (220, 225) and a second sensing structure (230) for measuring pressure applied to each battery cell.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 2, a battery module (200) including a plurality of first sensing structures (240) and a plurality of second sensing structures (230) is shown.

[0065] In one embodiment, the first sensing structure (240) may be placed between the end plate (220, 225) and the end cell (210, 215).

[0066] For example, the first sensing structure (240) is positioned between the end plate (220, 225) and the end cell (210, 215) to measure the force applied to the end plate (220, 225) due to the swelling phenomenon of the battery. Meanwhile, the force applied to the end plate (220, 225) may be the pressure applied to the end plate (220, 225) of the battery due to the swelling of the battery cell.

[0067] In another embodiment, the first sensing structure (240) may be embedded in the end plate (220, 225). In this case, the end plate (220, 225) may be a multi-layer structured plate composed of several layers. For example, the first sensing structure (240) may be placed between the layers included in the end plate (220, 225) to measure the force applied to the end plate (220, 225). In this case, the force applied to the end plate (220, 225) may be pressure applied to the end plate (220, 225) of the battery due to swelling of the battery cell.

[0068] In one embodiment, the second sensing structure (230) may be positioned between one battery cell and another battery cell among a plurality of battery cells. For example, the second sensing structure (230) may be positioned between the battery cells to measure the force applied to each battery cell. In this case, the force applied to each battery cell may be pressure caused by swelling of the battery cell.

[0069] FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a sensing structure according to one embodiment.

[0070] As described above with reference to FIG. 2, a sensing structure (310, 320, 330, 340) according to one embodiment may include at least one piezoelectric element. For example, a specific sensing structure (310, 320, 330, 340) may include a plurality of piezoelectric elements stacked vertically with respect to the plane of a battery cell. In another example, a specific sensing structure (310, 320, 330, 340) may include a plurality of piezoelectric elements stacked horizontally with respect to the plane of a battery cell.

[0071] According to one embodiment, a plurality of piezoelectric elements may be placed across the entire surface of a battery cell and / or end plate, and the area occupied by the piezoelectric elements may reach up to 100%.

[0072] The sensing structure (310, 320, 330, 340) according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements and can amplify the output signal of the piezoelectric elements. Through this, the sensing structure (310, 320, 330, 340) according to the present disclosure can obtain a large output signal even when the magnitude of the signal that can be output by a single piezoelectric element is small.

[0073] Referring to FIG. 3, sensing structures (310, 320, 330, 340) according to one embodiment are illustrated. Meanwhile, the sensing structures illustrated in FIG. 3 can be divided into first sensing structures (310, 320) and second sensing structures (330, 340).

[0074] Meanwhile, a battery module according to one embodiment may include at least one sensing structure (310, 320, 330, 340). For example, the battery module may include at least one first sensing structure (310, 320) and / or at least one second sensing structure (330, 340).

[0075] At this time, the sensing structure (310, 320, 330, 340) may be used to measure a force applied to at least one of the battery cells and a plurality of end plates. Additionally, as described above with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the force measured by at least one sensing structure (310, 320, 330, 340) may be a pressure applied to the battery cells and / or end plates due to the swelling phenomenon of the battery.

[0076] In one embodiment, the piezoelectric elements may be arranged based on the shape of the battery cell. Referring to 330 in FIG. 3, the piezoelectric elements are shown arranged in an X shape based on the battery cell shape being a prismatic cell. Meanwhile, the piezoelectric elements may be arranged in a rhombus shape based on the battery cell shape being other shapes.

[0077] In addition, piezoelectric elements can be arranged in various forms based on the various shapes of the battery cells. This may be because the deformation caused by battery swelling varies depending on the shape of the battery cells.

[0078] Referring to 340 in FIG. 3, it is illustrated that piezoelectric elements are arranged in a rhombus shape based on the specific shape of the battery cell. For example, a plurality of first piezoelectric elements may be arranged at a point located at a predetermined distance in the vertical direction from the center point of the battery cell. Additionally, a plurality of second piezoelectric elements may be arranged at a point located at a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction from the center point of the battery cell. At this time, a plurality of third piezoelectric elements may be arranged spaced apart by a predetermined distance between the first and second piezoelectric elements.

[0079] In another example, the piezoelectric elements may be arranged in a circular pattern (not shown). For example, multiple piezoelectric elements may be placed at points on the circumference at a certain radius from the center point of the battery cell.

[0080] Referring to FIG. 3, battery cells including a sensing structure (310, 320, 330, 340) according to one embodiment are shown as being prismatic cells, but the shape of the cell including the sensing structure according to one embodiment may be a shape other than a prismatic cell.

[0081] A piezoelectric element according to one embodiment may be positioned based on an optimal point where the deformation of a plurality of battery cells or a plurality of end plates occurs to the maximum. For example, the piezoelectric element may be positioned at at least one point including an optimal point where the deformation of a plurality of battery cells or a plurality of end plates occurs to the maximum.

[0082] Referring to 310, 320, and 330 in FIG. 3, it is illustrated that a piezoelectric element is positioned at at least one point including an optimal point. In one embodiment, the optimal point may include the center point of the battery cell and / or end plate. This may be because the center point is the location where the deformation of the battery cell and / or end plate occurs to the maximum.

[0083] The sensing structure (310, 320, 330) according to the present disclosure includes a piezoelectric element placed at an optimal point where the deformation of the battery cell and / or end plate occurs to the maximum, thereby enabling more precise measurement of the force generated by the swelling of the battery.

[0084] Referring to FIG. 3, a first sensing structure (310, 320) according to one embodiment is illustrated.

[0085] As described above, the first sensing structure (310, 320) can be used to measure the force applied to the end plate due to swelling of the battery. For example, the first sensing structure (310, 320) can be used to measure the pressure applied to the end plate due to swelling of the battery. In one embodiment, the piezoelectric element of the first sensing structure (310, 320) can be placed at the center point of the end plate.

[0086] For example, the first sensing structure (310) may include a square piezoelectric element placed at the center point of the end plate. In another embodiment, the first sensing structure (320) may include a coin-shaped piezoelectric element placed at the center point of the end plate. Meanwhile, the shape of the piezoelectric element included in the first sensing structure (310, 320) is not limited to that described above.

[0087] Referring to FIG. 3, a second sensing structure (330, 340) according to one embodiment is illustrated.

[0088] As described above, the second sensing structure (330, 340) can be used to measure the force applied to the battery cell due to swelling of the battery. For example, the second sensing structure (330, 340) can be used to measure the pressure applied to the battery cell due to swelling of the battery. In one embodiment, the piezoelectric elements of the second sensing structure (330) may be placed at a plurality of points including the center point of the battery cell. In this case, the center point may be the optimal point where the deformation of the battery cell occurs to the maximum.

[0089] Referring to 330 in FIG. 3, it is illustrated that piezoelectric elements are arranged in an X shape at multiple points including an optimal point. For example, a first piezoelectric element may be placed at the center point of a battery cell. Additionally, multiple second piezoelectric elements may be placed at points diagonally spaced apart from the center point of the battery cell by a predetermined distance. At this time, multiple third piezoelectric elements may be placed spaced apart by a predetermined distance between the first and second piezoelectric elements.

[0090] In one embodiment, at least one piezoelectric element included in the first sensing structure (310, 320) may be a thick-film piezoelectric sensor. A thick-film piezoelectric sensor may refer to a piezoelectric element having a thickness of tens of micrometers to hundreds of micrometers or more. In this case, the thick-film piezoelectric sensor may include a stacked type thick-film piezoelectric sensor.

[0091] In one embodiment, at least one piezoelectric element included in the second sensing structure (330, 340) may be a thin-film piezoelectric sensor. A thin-film piezoelectric sensor is a piezoelectric element having a thickness between several hundred nanometers and several micrometers, and may be a piezoelectric element that is thinner than a thick-film piezoelectric sensor. In this case, the thin-film piezoelectric sensor may include a sheet-type thin-film piezoelectric sensor.

[0092] In one embodiment, the piezoelectric element may be a strain gauge piezoelectric element. A strain gauge piezoelectric element may include a sensor that measures pressure by utilizing a strain gauge that measures mechanical deformation applied to an object. For example, a strain gauge piezoelectric element can convert mechanical deformation caused by pressure into an electrical signal.

[0093] At this time, the strain gauge piezoelectric element may include a semiconductor strain gauge. In another embodiment, the piezoelectric element may be a multi-axial resistive gauge formed by crossing strain gauges horizontally and vertically.

[0094] In one embodiment, the piezoelectric element may include piezoelectric elements of various patterns. In this case, the pattern of the piezoelectric element may refer to a structure formed on the surface of the piezoelectric element by a specific cutting method. For example, the piezoelectric element may be processed into a piezoelectric element having various patterns by various cutting methods. Meanwhile, depending on the pattern of the piezoelectric element, the characteristics of the piezoelectric element, including sensitivity and / or stretchability, may vary.

[0095] According to one embodiment, the type of piezoelectric element can be selected based on experimental results measuring changes in a battery cell based on applied pressure. For example, an experiment can be conducted in which pressure expected to occur due to swelling of the battery is applied to the battery, and changes in the thickness of the cell according to the applied pressure are measured, and an appropriate piezoelectric element can be selected based on the experimental results.

[0096] A sensing structure according to one embodiment may include various types of piezoelectric elements. In one embodiment, a specific sensing structure may include a thick-film type piezoelectric element, and another sensing structure may include a thin-film type piezoelectric element. In another embodiment, a single sensing structure may include various types of piezoelectric elements.

[0097] The sensing structure according to the present disclosure includes various types of piezoelectric elements, so that even if one type of piezoelectric element fails to measure the force generated by battery swelling, force can be measured through another type of piezoelectric element. Additionally, the sensing structure according to the present disclosure includes various types of piezoelectric elements, so that different ranges of force or pressure can be measured depending on the type of piezoelectric element.

[0098] FIG. 4 is a drawing for explaining the optimal point according to one embodiment.

[0099] Referring to FIG. 4, a first sensing structure (415) and a second sensing structure (425) according to one embodiment are illustrated. In one embodiment, the sensing structure includes at least one piezoelectric element and may be positioned based on an optimal point where the deformation of a plurality of battery cells or a plurality of end plates occurs to the maximum. For example, the sensing structure may be positioned such that the center of the sensing structure coincides with the optimal point.

[0100] The sensing structure according to the present disclosure can measure the force generated by the swelling of the battery more precisely by being positioned at an optimal point.

[0101] Meanwhile, as described above with reference to FIG. 3, the optimal point may include the center point of the battery cell and / or end plate. This may be because the center point is the location where the deformation of the battery cell and / or end plate occurs to the maximum.

[0102] In one embodiment, the optimal point may be determined based on the method in which the battery module is mounted. In this case, mounting may refer to the method in which the battery module is mounted to a structure including a battery pack.

[0103] For example, the optimal point can be determined as the top of the horizontal centerline (410, 420) based on the battery module being mounted with the battery pack at the bottom. Referring to the first sensing structure (415) and the second sensing structure (425) illustrated in FIG. 4, it is shown that the optimal point is determined as the top of the horizontal centerline (410, 420).

[0104] In another embodiment, the optimal point may be determined based on the distribution of force applied to the battery module. For example, if the point where the pressure applied to the battery module is maximum is not the center point of the battery cell, that point may be determined as the optimal point.

[0105] By doing so, the sensing structure according to the present disclosure is positioned at an optimal location to detect the force generated by swelling of the battery cell, thereby enabling more efficient pressure measurement even when the output signal of the piezoelectric sensor is weak, using a low-cost piezoelectric sensor.

[0106] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a device for detecting swelling of a battery according to one embodiment.

[0107] Referring to FIG. 5, the device (500) may include a processor (510). The processor (510) can control the operation of the device (500).

[0108] As an example, the processor (510) can detect swelling of the battery based on a measurement obtained by at least one sensing structure that measures a force applied to at least one of a plurality of battery cells and a plurality of end plates.

[0109] For example, the processor (510) can detect swelling of the battery based on whether a measurement value measured by the sensing structure exceeds a preset threshold. Meanwhile, the method by which the processor (510) detects swelling of the battery using the sensing structure according to the present disclosure is not limited to that described above.

[0110] In another example, the processor (510) can measure a force using a sensing structure according to the present disclosure when an event including thermal runaway occurs. At this time, the processor (510) can shut down the battery system based on the measured force.

[0111] Meanwhile, a detailed description of the sensing structure according to the present disclosure has been previously described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, so it will be omitted.

[0112] The processor (510) may be implemented using at least one of ASICs (application specific integrated circuits), DSPs (digital signal processors), DSPDs (digital signal processing devices), PLDs (programmable logic devices), FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays), controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, and other electrical units for performing functions.

[0113] The specific embodiments described in this disclosure are examples and do not limit the scope of this disclosure in any way. For the sake of brevity of the specification, descriptions of prior electronic configurations, control systems, software, and other functional aspects of said systems may be omitted. Additionally, the connections of lines or connecting members between components shown in the drawings are illustrative of functional connections and / or physical or circuit connections, and may be replaced or additionally represented as various functional connections, physical connections, or circuit connections in actual devices. Furthermore, unless specifically stated as “essential,” “importantly,” etc., a component may not be strictly necessary for the application of this disclosure.

[0114] In the specification of this disclosure (particularly in the claims), the use of the term “above” and similar descriptive terms may be in both singular and plural. Furthermore, where a range is described in this disclosure, it is considered to include a disclosure applying individual values ​​belonging to said range (unless otherwise stated), as this is equivalent to describing each individual value constituting said range in the detailed description of the invention.

[0115] Unless explicitly stated or contrary to the order of the steps constituting the method according to the present invention, said steps may be performed in a suitable order. The present invention is not necessarily limited by the order in which said steps are described. The use of all examples or exemplary terms (e.g., etc.) in the present invention is merely for the purpose of describing the present invention in detail, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by said examples or exemplary terms unless limited by the claims. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications, combinations, and changes may be made according to design conditions and factors within the scope of the claims or equivalents to which they are added.

[0116] Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments described above, and all scopes equivalent to or equivalently modified from the claims set forth below, as well as the claims set forth below, shall be considered to fall within the scope of the concept of the present invention.

Claims

1. Multiple battery cells; A plurality of end plates facing a plurality of end cells, which are the outermost cells among the plurality of battery cells; and It includes at least one sensing structure for measuring a force applied to at least one of the plurality of battery cells and the plurality of end plates. The above sensing structure is, It includes at least one piezoelectric element, and Arranged based on the optimal point where the deformation of the plurality of battery cells or the plurality of end plates occurs to the maximum, Battery module.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above piezoelectric element is, Arranged based on the shape of the above battery cell, Battery module.

3. In Paragraph 1, The above optimal point is, Determined based on the method in which the above battery module is mounted, Battery module.

4. In Paragraph 1, The above optimal point is, Determined based on the distribution of force applied to the above battery module, Battery module.

5. In Paragraph 1, The above sensing structure is, A first sensing structure for measuring a force applied to each of the above end plates and a second sensing structure for measuring a force applied to each of the above battery cells, Battery module.

6. In Paragraph 5, The above-mentioned first sensing structure is, disposed between the above end plate and the above end cell, Battery module.

7. In Paragraph 5, The above-mentioned first sensing structure is, Embedded in the above end plate, Battery module.

8. In Paragraph 5, The above second sensing structure is, A battery cell disposed between one of the plurality of battery cells and another battery cell, Battery module.

9. In Paragraph 5, The at least one piezoelectric element included in the first sensing structure is, Thick-film piezoelectric element, Battery module.

10. In Paragraph 5, The at least one piezoelectric element included in the second sensing structure is, thin-film piezoelectric element, Battery module.

11. A processor that detects swelling of a battery based on a measurement obtained by at least one sensing structure that measures a force applied to at least one of a plurality of battery cells and a plurality of end plates; and The sensing structure is, It includes at least one piezoelectric element, and Arranged based on the optimal point where the deformation of the plurality of battery cells or the plurality of end plates occurs to the maximum, Device for detecting battery swelling.

12. In Paragraph 11, The above piezoelectric element is, Arranged based on the shape of the above battery cell, device.

13. In Paragraph 11, The above optimal point is, Determined based on the method in which the battery module is mounted, device.

14. In Paragraph 11, The above optimal point is, Determined based on the distribution of forces applied to the battery module, device.

15. In Paragraph 11, The above sensing structure is, A first sensing structure for measuring a force applied to each of the above end plates and a second sensing structure for measuring a force applied to each of the above battery cells, device.

16. In Paragraph 15, The above-mentioned first sensing structure is, disposed between the above end plate and end cell, device.

17. In Paragraph 15, The above-mentioned first sensing structure is, Embedded in the above end plate, device.

18. In Paragraph 15, The above second sensing structure is, A battery cell disposed between one of the plurality of battery cells and another battery cell, device.

19. In Paragraph 15, The at least one piezoelectric element included in the first sensing structure is, Thick-film piezoelectric element, device.

20. In Paragraph 15, The at least one piezoelectric element included in the second sensing structure is, thin-film piezoelectric element, device.

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