Cell Connector with Integrated Temperature Sensor

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cell connectors for electro-chemical devices lack effective temperature monitoring capabilities, leading to inaccuracies and delayed response times due to the distance between temperature sensors and cell terminals.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a temperature sensing element within the cell connector's base body, securely fixed using a holder that ensures close proximity to the cell terminals, allowing for precise temperature measurement with minimal tolerance and rapid response times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If temperature sensing element is placed at a distance from cell terminals, then device complexity is reduced, but temperature measurement precision and response time deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell connector structureVSAvoidtemperature measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature sensing element is integrated directly into the cell connector base body, merging the temperature measurement function with the existing connector structure. This eliminates the need for separate mounting arrangements and reduces the distance between the sensor and cell terminals, thereby improving measurement precision without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature sensing element is positioned in the longitudinal direction of the cell connector, extending toward the cell terminals. This spatial arrangement in a specific dimension ensures close proximity to the measurement point while maintaining a compact overall structure, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If temperature sensing element is positioned close to cell terminals, then temperature measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature measurement accuracyVSAvoidcell connector structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature sensing element is integrated directly into the cell connector base body, merging the temperature measurement function with the existing connector structure. This eliminates the need for separate mounting arrangements and reduces the distance between the sensor and cell terminals, thereby improving measurement precision without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If temperature sensing element is placed away from cell terminals, then ease of manufacture is improved, but temperature response time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell connector assemblyVSAvoidtemperature response time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature sensing element is integrated directly into the cell connector base body, merging the temperature measurement function with the existing connector structure. This eliminates the need for separate mounting arrangements and reduces the distance between the sensor and cell terminals, thereby improving measurement precision without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Measurement precision

If temperature sensing element is integrated into base body, then temperature measurement precision improves, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature measurement accuracyVSAvoidbase body fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The base body is divided into functional regions including a first contact region for electrical connection and a second region for temperature sensing. The temperature sensing element is positioned in the longitudinal direction, creating distinct functional zones that can be manufactured and assembled separately, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving high measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enables accurate and timely temperature determination near the cell terminals, enhancing the operational reliability and efficiency of electro-chemical devices by minimizing temperature measurement errors and response times.

Implementation Method 1

the temperature sensing element is arranged next to a cell terminal which forms a negative pole of the electro-chemical cell concerned

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS9105949B2Cell connector

Publication Date: 2015.08.11 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG

AI summary

In order to enable the temperature in the region of at least one of the cell terminals that are connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner by a cell connector to be determined in a simple and reliable manner, there is proposed a cell connector for connecting a first cell terminal of a first electro-chemical cell and a second cell terminal of a second electro-chemical cell of an electro-chemical device in an electrically conductive manner which comprises a base body and a temperature sensing element that is fixed to the base body.