Battery Pack Protection Circuit Module PCB Electrode Relocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery pack designs face space constraints due to the placement of protection circuit modules (PCMs), which limits the available volume for PCM components, compromising performance and efficiency in portable electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
The electrode connections of a battery cell are relocated to a face of the PCM's PCB other than the major face receiving PCM components, such as the edge or bottom face, allowing for the entirety of the PCM-hosting major face to be used for component mounting, enabling a more compact design by optimizing the PCB dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If electrode connections are placed on the major face of the PCB receiving PCM components, then the PCB structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the available space for PCM components is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode connections are moved from the major face (2D plane) to the edge or bottom face of the PCB, utilizing a different spatial dimension. This dimensional transition allows the major face to be fully dedicated to PCM components while electrode connections are accommodated on the edge or bottom surfaces, effectively resolving the space conflict without significantly increasing overall complexity.
2Volume of moving object
If the PCB size is reduced to save space in the battery pack, then the battery pack volume is reduced, but the space for PCM components becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
By relocating electrode connections to the edge or bottom face of the PCB, the major face is fully liberated for component mounting. This enables the PCB to be optimized for component density while maintaining compact overall dimensions, allowing smaller battery pack volume without compromising PCM component space.
Solution Approach 2:
Different faces of the PCB are assigned different functions: the major face is dedicated to PCM components for optimal component placement, while the edge or bottom face handles electrode connections. This functional differentiation of local areas maximizes space utilization and enables compact design.
Data Source
AI summary
A secondary battery pack comprises a battery and a protection circuit module (PCM), a pair of electrodes of the battery being connected to a protection circuit board (PCB) forming part of the PCM such that the electrode connections are located on a face of the PCB other than a major face that receives PCM components thereon. In some embodiments, the PCM components are mounted on one of a pair of major faces of the PCB, the electrode connections being located on the opposite one of the major faces. In other embodiments, the electrode connections are located on a peripheral edge face that extends transversely between the pair of major outer faces of the PCB. The spatial arrangement of the electrode connections and the PCM components on the PCB is such that substantially the entirety of one major outer face of the PCB is available for the placement of PCM components.