CAR BATTERY SYSTEM

• US 20100052692A1
• Filed: 08/25/2009
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: YANO, Jyunya, Furukawa, Kimihiko, Tanaka, Kuniho
• Granted Patent: US 8,598,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/427
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0585 of accumulators having only flat construction elements, i.e. flat positive electrodes, flat negative electrodes and flat separators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/30 Nickel accumulators H01M10/34 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/345 Gastight metal hydride accumulators
• 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 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/224 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/249 specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/317 Re-sealable arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/3425 in the form of rupturable membranes or weakened parts, e.g. pierced with the aid of a sharp member
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

The car battery system of the present invention is provided with battery blocks 2 that retain a plurality of battery cells 1 in a stacked configuration and have terminal planes 2A, which are coincident with terminal surfaces 1A established by positive and negative battery cell 1 electrode terminals 13; and with battery state detection circuits 30 that connect with the electrode terminals 13 of each battery cell 1 to detect the condition of each battery cell 1. The car battery system implements a battery state detection circuit 30 on a circuit board 7, 87, and the circuit board 7, 87 is mounted on a battery block 2 in a position opposite the terminal plane 2A of the battery block 2. Further, the positive and negative electrode terminals 13 of each battery cell 1 are connected with a circuit board 7, 87 for connection to a battery state detection circuit 30.

Claims

1. A car battery system comprising:

a battery block that retains a plurality of battery cells in a stacked configuration and has a terminal plane that is coplanar with battery cell terminal surfaces established by positive and negative electrode terminals; and

a battery state detection circuit that is connected to the electrode terminals of each battery cell that makes up the battery block to detect the condition of each battery cell;

wherein the battery state detection circuit is implemented on a circuit board and that circuit board is attached opposite the battery block terminal surface; and

the positive and negative electrode terminals of each battery cell are connected to the circuit board and to the battery state detection circuit.

2. The car battery system as cited in claim 1 further comprising a battery holder to retain the battery block;

wherein the battery holder is provided with a pair of endplates that sandwiches the battery block from both ends, and connecting rails connected to the pair of endplates; and

both ends of the battery block are held between the pair of endplates, and the connecting rails are attached to the endplates.

3. The car battery system as cited in claim 2 wherein the circuit board is attached to the endplates via set screws.

4. The car battery system as cited in claim 1 wherein the battery state detection circuit is provided with a voltage detection circuit to detect the voltage of each battery cell.

5. The car battery system as cited in claim 1 wherein the battery state detection circuit is provided with either a cell balance circuit to balance battery cell voltages by making the voltage of each battery cell equal, or a temperature detection circuit to detect battery temperature.

6. The car battery system as cited in claim 1 wherein temperature sensors, which are in thermal contact with battery cells and measure battery temperature, are mounted on the circuit board.

7. The car battery system as cited in claim 1 wherein battery cells are provided with liquid filling openings in their terminal surfaces, and the circuit board has through-holes opened in positions opposite the liquid filling openings in the battery cells.

8. The car battery system as cited in claim 1 wherein battery cells are provided with safety valve exhaust openings in their terminal surfaces, and the circuit board has gas outlet holes opened in positions opposite the safety valve exhaust openings to pass discharged gas.

9. The car battery system as cited in claim 1 wherein battery cells are provided with safety valve exhaust openings in their terminal surfaces, and a gas exhaust duct is disposed between the terminal plane of the battery block and the circuit board in a manner connecting the exhaust openings.

10. The car battery system as cited in claim 9 wherein the circuit board is attached to the gas exhaust duct.

11. The car battery system as cited in claim 1 wherein the circuit board is connected to the positive and negative electrode terminals of each battery cell via voltage detection lines.

12. The car battery system as cited in claim 1 wherein the voltage detection lines are connected to the same locations on the electrode terminals of each battery cell.

13. The car battery system as cited in claim 11 wherein the voltage detection lines are connected to electrode terminals via connecting terminals.

14. The car battery system as cited in claim 13 wherein the connecting terminal is attached to an electrode terminal via fasteners, the connecting terminal has a connecting hole at one end for fastener insertion, the other end is shaped as a long narrow rod with a vertical disposition as an upright connecting section, and the upright connecting section is inserted through the circuit board as a voltage detection line.

15. The car battery system as cited in claim 11 wherein the voltage detection lines connect to the circuit board via connectors.

16. The car battery system as cited in claim 11 wherein the voltage detection lines are flexibly deformable conducting metal wire, and the center section of the metal wire is provided with either a folded region or a curved region that can extend and contract.

17. The car battery system as cited in claim 11 wherein the voltage detection lines are either lead-wires or lead-plates connected from both sides of the circuit board to the electrode terminals, and one end of a voltage detection line is connected to a connecting terminal and the other end is connected to the upper surface of the circuit board.