Integrated Circuit Board for Pouch Battery Temperature Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing battery pack production processes are inefficient and costly due to the need for individual attachment of current interruption modules to each secondary battery, which can damage the pouch-type batteries and require additional insulation, complicating the assembly and increasing production time and costs, especially in large battery packs.

Innovation Solution

A circuit board for secondary batteries with integrated tab coupling portions, conductive plates, and a current interruption module that senses temperature and interrupts current, eliminating the need for separate attachment of current interruption modules to each battery and reducing the complexity of assembly by integrating the module onto the circuit board.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If current interruption modules are individually attached to each secondary battery, then temperature sensing accuracy is improved, but production complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature sensing accuracyVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple current interruption modules and temperature sensing elements into a single integrated circuit board that serves multiple batteries simultaneously. This merging approach maintains temperature sensing accuracy for each battery while eliminating the need for individual module attachment, thereby reducing production complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit board is designed as a universal platform that can simultaneously serve multiple secondary batteries with different configurations. The board integrates multiple TCO elements and temperature sensors that can monitor and protect multiple batteries through a single assembly process, enhancing both efficiency and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If current interruption modules are individually attached to each secondary battery, then temperature sensing accuracy is improved, but production time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature sensing accuracyVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By merging multiple temperature sensing functions into a single circuit board assembly, the patent enables simultaneous attachment to multiple batteries in one operation. This eliminates repetitive individual attachment steps, significantly reducing production time while maintaining the ability to accurately sense temperature for each battery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit board is pre-configured with multiple TCO elements and temperature sensing elements in their final positions before attachment to the batteries. This preliminary preparation allows for rapid, bulk installation without requiring subsequent adjustments or individual positioning, thereby improving production efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If electrode tabs are bent to attach current interruption modules, then temperature sensing accuracy is improved, but battery damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature sensing accuracyVSAvoidbattery damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a dedicated circuit board as an intermediary component between the electrode tabs and the current interruption modules. This mediator provides a stable mounting platform that eliminates the need to bend electrode tabs, thereby reducing mechanical stress and damage risk to the batteries while maintaining accurate temperature sensing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit board structure is designed to cushion and distribute mechanical stresses before they can reach the delicate electrode tabs or battery components. By providing this protective intermediary layer, the system prevents damage that would otherwise occur during the attachment process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Measurement precision

If current interruption modules are attached close to secondary batteries, then temperature sensing accuracy is improved, but additional insulation requirements increase complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature sensing accuracyVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The circuit board is designed with uniform insulation properties across its entire surface, providing consistent electrical isolation between the TCO elements, temperature sensors, and battery components. This homogeneous insulation approach eliminates the need for additional localized insulation measures, simplifying the overall assembly while maintaining close proximity for accurate temperature sensing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

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 solution simplifies the production process, reduces costs, and enhances safety by allowing more accurate temperature sensing and current interruption, improving productivity and yield while preventing damage to batteries during assembly.

Implementation Method 1

a current interruption module having both ends respectively connected to the one pair of conductive plates, the current interruption module sensing a temperature of the secondary battery and interrupting a current according to the sensed temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Data Source

PatentEP3128574B1Battery pack comprising a pouch-type cell secondary battery and said secondary battery comprising a circuit board
Publication Date: 2018.08.22 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP3128574B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3128574B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3128574B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

Disclosed is a circuit board for a secondary battery, which ensures an improved safety according to a temperature of the secondary battery, and a battery pack including the circuit board. The circuit board for a secondary battery, which is connected to at least one of a cathode tab and an anode tab of the secondary battery, includes a tab coupling portion connected to the cathode tab or the anode tab, a charging/discharging path connected to the tab coupling portion to give a path through which a charging current or a discharging current of the secondary battery flows, the charging/discharging path having at least one path cutting portion formed therein, one pair of conductive plates respectively attached to both ends of the path cutting portion, the conductive plates being at least partially bent, and a current interruption module having both ends respectively connected to the one pair of conductive plates, the current interruption module sensing a temperature of the secondary battery and interrupting a current according to the sensed temperature.