Electrical bus bar comprising a sensor unit

• US 10,340,494 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2016
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Hinterberger, Michael, Hellenthal, Berthold
• Primary Examiner(s): Godo, Olatunji A
• Application Number:
  US15/549,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20180026251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4278 Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/505 comprising a single busbar
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/519 comprising printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/522 Inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/569 Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An electrical bus bar for conveying an electric current from a first electrical device to a second electrical device, with a base body, which is formed from an electrically conductive material, and which has a first terminal for connection to the first electrical device and a second terminal for connection to the second electrical device. A sensor unit with a fastening surface has at least one sensor element for detecting or recording a physical parameter of the bus bar. The base body has a support surface, to which the sensor unit is fastened by its fastening surface.

Claims

1. An electrical bus bar for conveying an electric current from a first electrical device to a second electrical device, comprising:

a base body, which is formed from an electrically conductive material and has a first terminal for connection to the first electrical device and a second terminal for connection to the second electrical device; and

a sensor unit with a fastening surface, which has at least one sensor element for detecting or recording a physical parameter of the bus bar, wherein the base body has a recess provided with a support surface, into which the sensor unit is depressed and fastened thereto by the fastening surface.

2. The electrical bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is designed to detect or record the electric current flowing through the electrical bus bar.

3. The electrical bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is electrically insulated with respect to the base body.

4. The electrical bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is electrically connected to the base body by way of a first supply terminal for supply of electrical energy for the intended operation thereof.

5. The electrical bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is designed for wireless supply of electrical energy for the intended operation thereof.

6. The electrical bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is designed to produce a wireless communications link and a communications link via the bus bar to a central unit.

7. The electrical bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the base body has a spring-elastic area between the first and second terminals.

8. The electrical bus bar according to claim 7, wherein the sensor unit is designed to detect or record a mechanical stress in the base body.

9. A battery, comprising:

at least two battery cells, wherein each of the battery cells has two electrodes that interact electrochemically with each other, wherein each of the electrodes has a terminal contact, wherein at least one terminal contact of one of the battery cells is connected to a terminal contact of the other of the battery cells by means of an electrical bus bar in an electrically conductive manner, wherein the electrical bus bar has a base body formed from an electrically conductive material, wherein the electrical bus bar has a sensor unit with a fastening surface, wherein the sensor unit has at least one sensor element for detecting or recording a physical parameter of the bus bar, wherein the base body has a recess provided with a support surface into which the sensor unit is depressed and fastened thereto by the fastening surface.