NOVEL BUS BAR FOR ELECTRIC CONNECTION AND MIDDLE AND BATTERY MODULE COMPRISING THE SAME

• US 20080199765A1
• Filed: 10/17/2006
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: YOON, Junill, KIM, Juyoung
• Granted Patent: US 7,611,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/91
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/211 adapted for pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/284 with incorporated circuit boards, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/507 comprising an arrangement of two or more busbars within a container structure, e.g. busbar modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/51 Connection only in series
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a bus bar that simultaneously performs the electrical connection between a plurality of unit cells and the detection of voltage of the unit cells in a battery module having the unit cells mounted therein, wherein the bus bar includes: vertical bent parts formed by bending opposite ends of a strip-shaped bar body in the same direction, respectively, the vertical bent parts being provided with coupling grooves or protrusions; and a horizontal bent part formed by bending one of the vertical bent parts such that the horizontal bent part is parallel with the bar body, and a medium- or large-sized battery module including a plurality of unit cells, wherein the electrical connection between the unit cells and the detection of voltage of the unit cells are simultaneously performed using the bus bar. It is not necessary to use additional connecting members for detecting the voltage of unit cells when the bus bar according to the present invention is used in a battery module or a battery pack. Consequently, the battery module or the battery pack can be manufactured in a compact structure. Also, the electrical connection and the mechanical coupling are easily accomplished in spite of the compact structure. Furthermore, the electrical characteristics, such as electrical resistance at connected regions after the electrical connection, and the mechanical strength against external impacts or vibrations are excellent. In addition, it is possible to prevent occurrence of short circuits, which may be caused by a user or an operator, during a manufacturing process of the battery module or the battery pack or during a maintenance process of the battery module or the battery pack.

Claims

1. A bus bar that simultaneously performs the electrical connection between a plurality of unit cells and the detection of voltage of the unit cells in a battery module having the unit cells mounted therein, wherein the bus bar comprises:

vertical bent parts formed by bending opposite ends of a strip-shaped bar body in the same direction, respectively, the vertical bent parts being provided with coupling grooves or coupling protrusions; and

a horizontal bent part formed by bending one of the vertical bent parts such that the horizontal bent part is parallel with the bar body.

2. The bus bar according to claim 1, wherein

the bus bar is mounted to a base plate such that the bus bar can be connected to electrode terminals of the unit cells, and

the base plate is a rectangular member including a plurality of openings, in which a plurality of bus bars are mounted, respectively, the openings being provided with coupling protrusions or coupling grooves corresponding to the coupling grooves or the coupling protrusions formed at the vertical bent parts of the bus bars.

3. The bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the electrode terminals of the unit cells are connected to the rear surface of the bar body of the bus bar, whereby the electrical connection between the unit cells is accomplished.

4. The bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal bent part of the bus bar is directly connected to a battery management system (BMS) for monitoring the potential difference and the temperature of the unit cells to control the unit cells.

5. The bus bar according to claim 4, wherein the BMS is constructed in the form of a printed circuit board (PCB), and the horizontal bent part of the bus bar is provided with a coupling groove or a coupling protrusion, by which the electrical connection and the mechanical coupling between the horizontal bent part and the BMS is accomplished.

6. The bus bar according to claim 5, wherein the horizontal bent part is provided with a coupling groove having a thread formed therein, the BMS board is provided with holes extending through a circuit of the BMS board, and the bus bar and the BMS board are coupled with each other using a conductive screw while the bus bar and the BMS board are arranged such that the coupling groove communicates with one of the holes.

7. A battery module including a plurality of unit cells, wherein the electrical connection between the unit cells and the detection of voltage of the unit cells are simultaneously performed using a bus bar according to claim 1.

8. The battery module according to claim 7, wherein the unit cells are included in the battery module while the unit cells are mounted in battery cartridges constructed in a frame structure.

9. The battery module according to claim 8,

wherein each battery cartridge includes a pair of outer frame members (a, b) and an inner frame member (c) disposed between the outer frame members (a, b), and

wherein one or more unit cells are mounted between the first outer frame member (a) and the inner frame member (c), and one or more unit cells are mounted between the second outer frame member (b) and the inner frame member (c).

10. The battery module according to claim 8, wherein each battery cartridge is provided with a thermistor for measuring the temperature of the unit cells.

11. The battery module according to claim 8, wherein the bus bar is mounted to a base plate such that the bus bar can be connected to electrode terminals of the unit cells, and the base plate is a rectangular member including a plurality of openings, in which a plurality of bus bars are mounted, respectively, the openings being provided with coupling protrusions or coupling grooves corresponding to the coupling grooves or the coupling protrusions formed at the vertical bent parts of the bus bars, and the base plate is attached to the upper end parts of a plurality of stacked battery cartridges.

12. The battery module according to claim 11, wherein a BMS for monitoring the potential difference and the temperature of the unit cells to control the unit cells is mounted to one surface of the base plate (opposite to the surface with which the upper end parts of the battery cartridges are in contact) in a direct contact fashion.

13. The battery module according to claim 8, wherein the battery module comprises:

a cartridge assembly including two or more battery cartridges; and

a box-shaped case having an open front part, through which the cartridge assembly is inserted, and an inner space, in which the cartridge assembly is mounted.

14. The battery module according to claim 12, wherein the outer surface of the BMS is covered by a safety plate.

15. A high-output, large-capacity battery pack comprising a plurality of battery modules according to claim 7, the battery modules being electrically connected with each other.