BATTERY POST CONNECTOR

• US 20080194152A1
• Filed: 02/08/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Roset, Josep M., Aparicio, Enric
• Granted Patent: US 7,500,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/754
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/203 Resistors used for electric measuring, e.g. decade resistors standards, resistors for comparators, series resistors, shunts resistors in general H01C; microwave or radiowave terminations H01P1/26; coupling devices H01R
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/281 for connections to batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/287 Intermediate parts between battery post and cable end piece
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7031 Shorting, shunting or bussing of different terminals interrupted or effected on engagement of coupling part, e.g. for ESD protection, line continuity

Abstract

A connector suitable for establishing an electrical connection with any number of batteries. The connector including any number of features for assessing operating characteristics associated with the battery, such as but not limited to current, voltage, and temperature. The connector optionally being of a robust design and configured to ameliorate vibrations and forces.

Claims

1. A battery post connector for a vehicle battery, the connector comprising:

an electrically conducting terminal adapter connected at one end to a battery post of the vehicle battery and connected at another end to a non-conducting portion of a vehicle connector electrically connected to a vehicle element; and

an electrically conducting shunt connected at one end to the battery terminal adapter and connected at another end to a conducting portion of the vehicle connector.

2. The connector of claim 1 further comprising a processing element include on a printed circuit board (PCB) configured to calculate current flow of the vehicle battery as a function of a voltage drop across a portion of the shunt.

3. The connector of claim 2 further comprising a pair of tabs welded to a top portion of the shunt for electrically connecting the shunt to the processing element, the processing element relying on the tabs to determine the voltage drop across the portion of the shunt.

4. The connector or claim 3 wherein ends of the tabs extend through a top side of a printed circuit board (PCB) of the processing element to electrically connect the shunt to the processing element.

5. The connector of claim 3 wherein the tabs have a S-shape.

6. The connector of claim 2 further comprising a non-conducting housing configured for covering at least a portion of the terminal adapter and shunt extending between the battery post and the vehicle connector, the PCB located on an exposed top side of the housing to electrically isolate the PCB from the shunt and terminal adapter.

7. The connector of claim 6 wherein the terminal adapter includes outwardly extending portions extending outwardly relative to a laterally extending portion connected to the battery post, the shunt and the outwardly extending portions for connecting to the shunt and supporting a bottom side of the housing.

8. The connector of claim 6 wherein the exposed top side of the housing includes side walls raised above the PCB, a non-conducting resin filled above the PCB and within the side walls to electrically isolate and waterproof the PCB.

9. The connector of claim 1 wherein the terminal adapter includes a laterally extending portion extending relative to the battery post and a downwardly extending portion extending downwardly relative to the laterally extending portion, the shunt having corresponding laterally and downwardly extending portions, the vehicle connector connecting to the shunt and the terminal adapter at the respective downwardly extending portions, the laterally and downwardly extending portions shaped to correspond with a shape of the vehicle battery such that the connector lies flat against a top portion and side portion of the vehicle battery.

10. The connector of claim 1 wherein the terminal adapter is compressively connected to an outer portion of the vehicle connector.

11. The connector of claim 10 wherein a clamp portion connects the terminal adapter to the non-conducting portion of the vehicle connector.

12. The connector of claim 11 wherein the clamp portion includes opposed fingers defining an opening therebetween for receipt of the vehicle connector, the clamp portion being bendable to compressively connect to the outer portion of the vehicle connector.

13. The connector of claim 11 wherein the clamp portion is separate from the terminal adapter prior to being connected thereto.

14. A battery post connector for use in determining current flow of a vehicle battery, the connector comprising:

an electrically conducting terminal adapter connected at one end to a battery post of the vehicle battery and connected at another end by way of a clamp to a portion of a vehicle connector electrically connected to a vehicle element;

an electrically conducting shunt connected at one end to the battery terminal adapter and connected at another end to the vehicle connector; and

a processing element configured to calculate current flow of the vehicle battery as a function of a voltage drop across a portion of the shunt.

15. The connector of claim 14 wherein the clamp includes opposed fingers defining an opening therebetween for receipt of the vehicle connector, the fingers compressing around the vehicle connector to connect the terminal adapter thereto.

16. The connector of claim 14 wherein the terminal adapter is connected to a non-conducting portion of the vehicle connector and the shunt is connected to a conducting portion of the vehicle connector.

17. The connector of claim 14 wherein the clamp is separate from the terminal adapter.

18. A battery post connector for use in determining current flow of a vehicle battery, the connector comprising:

an electrically conducting element connected at one end to a battery post of the vehicle battery, connected at another end to a non-conducting portion of a vehicle connector electrically connected to a vehicle element, and connected at another end to a conducting portion of the vehicle connector; and

a processing element configured to calculate current flow of the vehicle battery as a function of a voltage drop across a portion of the element connected to the conducting portion of the vehicle connector.

19. The connector of claim 18 further comprising a pair of tabs welded to a top portion of the element for electrically connecting the element to the processing element, the processing element relying on the tabs to determine the voltage drop across the portion of the shunt.

20. The connector of claim 18 wherein the end of the element connected to the non-conducting portion is compressive connected to the non-conducting portion.