DEVICE FOR DETECTING ABNORMALITY IN A SECONDARY BATTERY

• US 20100309949A1
• Filed: 05/12/2010
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Engineering Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Engineering Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Kawai, Nobuyuki, Tanaka, Toshihide, Narita, Shoji, AKABOSHI, Takayuki, Shimpo, Toshiya
• Granted Patent: US 8,282,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/45
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0481 Compression means other than compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• 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 50/503 characterised by the shape of the interconnectors
• 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 50/55 on the same side of the cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/553 Terminals adapted for prismatic, pouch or rectangular cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/562 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

There are provided an electrically-conductive connecting plate that connects electrode terminals of a plurality of battery cells; a fastening member that fastens the connecting plate and each of the electrode terminals together; temperature-detecting means that is placed near a fastened portion between the connecting plate and the corresponding electrode terminal which are fastened together with the fastening member, and detects temperature around the fastened portion; and abnormality-judging means that judges abnormality in the battery cells or the fastening member on the basis of temperature detected by the temperature-detecting means.

Claims

1. A device for detecting abnormality in a secondary battery, comprising:

an electrically-conductive connecting plate that connects electrode terminals of a plurality of battery cells;

a fastening member that fastens the connecting plate and each of the electrode terminals together;

temperature-detecting means that is placed near a fastened portion between the connecting plate and the corresponding electrode terminal which are fastened together with the fastening member, and detects temperature around the fastened portion; and

abnormality-judging means that judges abnormality in the battery cells or the fastening member on the basis of temperature detected by the temperature-detecting means.

2. The device for detecting abnormality in a secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein

the abnormality-judging means detects a looseness in the fastening member on the basis of the temperature detected by the temperature-detecting means, when a load current equal to or higher than a prescribed value is flowing from the corresponding electrode terminal to the connecting plate.

3. The device for detecting abnormality in a secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein

more than one of the electrode terminals is provided to each of the battery cells;

and

the abnormality-judging means judges that there is a looseness in the fastening member when any one of temperatures of the fastened portions, which are detected by the temperature-detecting means with respect to each of the battery cells, is equal to or higher than prescribed temperature.

4. The device for detecting abnormality in a secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein

the temperature-detecting means is a thermistor.

5. The device for detecting abnormality in a secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein

a first end of a metal plate with electricity conductivity and heat conductivity is connected to each of the electrode terminals, whereas a second end of the metal plate is connected to a substrate of a battery-monitoring device that monitors conditions of the corresponding battery cell;

and

the temperature-detecting means is attached to the substrate of the battery-monitoring device to be located adjacent to the metal plate.