Battery Module

• US 20090220853A1
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Jin Kyu, Yang, Heekook, Yang, Jae Hun
• Granted Patent: US 9,269,934 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/159
• 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 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/124 having a layered structure
• 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 50/262 with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/516 by welding, soldering or brazing
• 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 is a battery module including two or more plate-shaped battery cells, as unit cells, constructed in a stacked structure in which electrode terminals of the battery cells are connected in series with each other and the electrode terminal connections are bent such that the battery cells are stacked, and a pair of high-strength cell covers for surrounding the outer surfaces of the battery cells when the cell covers are coupled with each other. The present invention has the effect of easily mounting a sensing unit that is capable of minimizing the weight and size of battery cells while effectively reinforcing the low mechanical strength of the battery cells and sensing the operation state of the battery cells to a battery module. In addition, the present invention has the effect of manufacturing the battery module by a simple assembly process without using a plurality of members for mechanical coupling and electrical connection, thereby decreasing the manufacturing costs of the battery module, and effectively preventing the battery module from being short-circuited or damaged during the manufacture or the operation of the battery module. Furthermore, the present invention has the effect of manufacturing a middle- or large-sized battery system having desired output and capacity using the battery module as a unit body.

Claims

1. A battery module including plate-shaped battery cells having electrode terminals formed at the upper and lower ends thereof, wherein the battery module comprises:

two or more battery cells constructed in a stacked structure in which electrode terminals of the battery cells are connected in series with each other and the electrode terminal connections are bent such that the battery cells are stacked; and

a pair of high-strength cell covers for surrounding the outer surfaces of the battery cells excluding the electrode terminals of the battery cells when the cell covers are coupled with each other.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the cell covers have an inside structure corresponding to the outer shape of the battery cell stack, and the cell covers are coupled with each other in an assembly coupling fashion.

3. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the cell covers have coupling parts constructed in a symmetrically bent structure formed approximately symmetrically in vertical section thereof such that the cell covers can be engaged with each other by elastic coupling when the cell covers are pressed while the cell covers are in contact with each other such that the cell covers face each other.

4. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the electrode terminals are coupled with each other by welding.

5. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein each plate-shaped battery cell is constructed in a structure in which an electrode assembly is mounted in a case made of a laminate sheet including a metal layer and a resin layer, and the edge of the case is sealed.

6. The battery module according to claim 5, wherein the case is a pouch-shaped case made of an aluminum laminate sheet.

7. The battery module according to claim 5, wherein the side sealing parts among the edge sealing parts of the battery cell are bent such that the side sealing parts approximately coincide with the inner shape of the case.

8. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the cell covers are made of a metal sheet having high thermal conductivity.

9. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein each cell cover is provided at the outer surface thereof with a plurality of linear protrusions which are spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction (the width direction).

10. The battery module according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the linear protrusions has a depression in which a thermistor is mounted.

11. The battery module according to claim 9, wherein the upper-end and lower-end protrusions among the linear protrusions have projection parts formed in opposite shapes.

12. The battery module according to claim 11, wherein the protrusions having the projection parts are arranged in a noncontinuous structure about the projection parts.

13. The battery module according to claim 9, wherein most of the protrusions are constructed such that the length between opposite ends of the protrusions is less than the width of the cell covers.

14. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the cell covers are provided at the outer surfaces adjacent to the upper and lower ends thereof with steps of a predetermined size for easily fixing the battery module.

15. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the cell covers are provided at the outer surfaces adjacent to the opposite sides thereof with steps of a predetermined size for easily fixing the battery module.

16. A middle- or large-sized battery pack manufactured using a battery module according to claim 1 as a unit body.

17. The battery pack according to claim 16, wherein the battery pack is manufactured by mounting a stack of two or more battery modules to a pack frame such that the stack is erected in the lateral direction.

18. The battery pack according to claim 16, wherein the battery pack is used as a power source for electric vehicles or hybrid electric vehicles.