Voltage Detection Line Positioning for Automated Bus Bar Welding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery modules face challenges in achieving high positioning accuracy for voltage detection lines, often requiring manual adjustment due to insufficient automation in connecting voltage detection lines to bus bars.

Innovation Solution

A support plate with a position restricting structure that includes a receiving surface and a biasing part to accurately position the tab terminal of the voltage detection line, enhancing the alignment with the bus bar through welding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If welding is employed to automate connection of voltage detection line to bus bar, then productivity and automation extent are improved, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to insufficient positioning structures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation of connection processVSAvoidpositioning accuracy of voltage detection line
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The support plate performs preliminary positioning of the voltage detection line on the bus bar before welding. The positioning structure includes positioning protrusions that fit into positioning grooves, pre-establishing accurate alignment between the voltage detection line and bus bar, eliminating the need for manual adjustment and enabling direct automated welding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The support plate acts as an intermediary component between the voltage detection line and bus bar. It provides a stable mounting surface and positioning reference, mediating the connection process by holding the voltage detection line in the correct position relative to the bus bar during assembly and welding operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If manual adjustment is used to achieve positioning accuracy, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to increased labor requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracy of voltage detection lineVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning structure enables self-service positioning, where the voltage detection line automatically aligns with the bus bar through the positioning protrusions and grooves without requiring operator intervention. The support plate's positioning features guide the components into correct alignment, allowing the system to self-correct positioning errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If positioning structure is simplified for ease of manufacture, then ease of manufacture is improved, but positioning accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of support plate fabricationVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning function is segmented into distinct features: positioning protrusions on the support plate and corresponding positioning grooves on the voltage detection line or bus bar. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently with standard tolerances, while the配合 of the segmented features achieves high positioning accuracy through their interlocking geometry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3961748B1Voltage detection line module
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 SANYO ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP3961748B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3961748B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3961748B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In order to increase the positioning accuracy of a voltage detection line, support plate (28) supports voltage detection line (46) for detecting the voltage of a battery. Voltage detection line (46) includes conductive wire (76), and tab terminal (78) that electrically connects bus bar (42) electrically connected to output terminal (22) of the battery and conductive wire (76). Support plate (28) includes base plate (33) on which voltage detection line (46) is placed, and position restricting structure (80) of tab terminal (78). Position restricting structure (80) includes receiving surface part (82) against which tab terminal (78) abuts, and biasing part (84) that pushes tab terminal (78) toward receiving surface part (82).