Battery Block Voltage Detection Terminal with Elastic Bend

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Solution Overview

Problem

The connection portions between battery cells and circuit boards in battery modules experience stress due to thermal expansion/contraction and size errors, leading to peeling or cracking, which can result in connection failures.

Innovation Solution

The battery block design incorporates a holding case with a lower, middle, and upper holding frame member that securely holds battery cells with elastic pressing portions and protrusions, reducing stress through three-point contact and elastic deformation, and uses fastening and positioning means to ensure accurate assembly and secure the cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If battery cells are rigidly fixed to the circuit board, then connection stability is improved, but thermal expansion stress causes peeling or cracking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidresistance to thermal stress
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible circuit board instead of a rigid circuit board to connect battery cells. The flexible circuit board can elastically deform to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of battery cells during temperature changes, preventing connection failure while maintaining electrical connectivity. This directly addresses the contradiction by providing both connection stability and stress resistance through material flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the mechanical parameter of the circuit board from rigid to flexible, allowing it to undergo elastic deformation. This parameter change enables the circuit board to adapt to dimensional changes in battery cells caused by thermal expansion, thereby maintaining reliable electrical connections without suffering from stress-induced peeling or cracking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If battery cells are tightly secured in the holding case, then positional stability is improved, but size errors cause connection failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositional stabilityVSAvoidconnection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces elastic pressing portions that can dynamically adjust their pressing force based on the actual dimensions of battery cells. These elastic components deform to accommodate size variations within tolerance ranges, maintaining stable electrical connections while allowing positional stability. The dynamic elasticity enables the structure to absorb dimensional errors without causing connection failure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If elastic pressing portions are used to reduce stress, then connection reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidpressing portion precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the elastic property of materials to transform rigid dimensional requirements into flexible force-based connections. The elastic pressing portions are designed with appropriate elastic moduli and geometries that allow them to accommodate normal manufacturing tolerances through elastic deformation, thereby reducing the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design stabilizes the voltage detection state by reducing stress on conductive members, preventing peeling or cracking, and ensuring reliable connections between battery cells and circuit boards.

Implementation Method 1

uses fastening and positioning means to ensure accurate assembly and secure the cells

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2958166B1Battery block and secondary battery module
Publication Date: 2018.08.29 HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYST LTD
  • EP2958166B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP2958166B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2958166B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a battery block capable of reducing stress acting on a connection portion due to thermal expansion/contraction or size error. A battery block (40) according to the present invention includes: a plurality of conductive members (191) arranged along side surfaces (114) of a holding case (111) and electrically connecting corresponding battery cells (101); voltage detection boards (201, 202) disposed opposite the side surfaces (114) of the holding case (111) and detecting the voltage of the battery cells (101); and a plurality of voltage detection terminals (204) respectively electrically connected to a plurality of conductive members (192) disposed on the voltage detection boards (201, 202). In the voltage detection terminals (204), a securing portion (221) secured to the voltage detection boards (201, 202) and a connection portion (231) connected to the conductive members (192) are disposed along an arranged direction, with a bend portion (241) which is elastically deformable in at least the arranged direction disposed between the securing portion (221) and the connection portion (231).