BATTERY MODULE AND BATTERY PACK USING THE SAME

• US 20110212348A1
• Filed: 07/09/2010
• Published: 09/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Gesgu, Shinya, Takasaki, Hiroshi, Yasui, Shunsuke, Kishii, Daisuke, Itoi, Toshiki
• Granted Patent: US 8,399,112 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/7
• 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 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/224 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/227 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/229 Composite material consisting of a mixture of organic and inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/231 having a layered structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/284 with incorporated circuit boards, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/289 characterised by spacing elements or positioning means within frames, racks or packs spacing elements inside cells other than separators, membranes or diaphragms H01M50/471
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/30 Arrangements for facilitating escape of gases
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/502 Interconnectors for connecting terminals of adjacent batteries; Interconnectors for connecting cells outside a battery casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/509 characterised by the type of connection, e.g. mixed connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/512 Connection only in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery module 100 includes a plurality of batteries aligned and accommodated in a housing 20, wherein each batteries has an opening portion 17 at an electrode portion 16 of the battery to release gas generated in the battery outside the battery, the housing 20 is partitioned by a circuit board 30 disposed in contact with battery cases 5 around the electrode portions 16 of the batteries into a storage portion 54 in which the batteries are stored, and an exhaust chamber 24 via which the gas released from the opening portion 17 of the electrode portion 16 is exhausted outside the housing 20, the electrode portions 16 of the batteries are connected to a connector 32 on the circuit board 30, and the opening portions 17 of the electrode portions 16 are in communication with the exhaust chamber 24 via through holes 36 in the circuit board 30.

Claims

1. A battery module comprising:

a plurality of batteries aligned and accommodated in a housing, wherein

each of the batteries has an opening portion at an electrode portion of the battery to release gas generated in the battery outside the battery,

the housing is partitioned by a circuit board disposed in contact with battery cases around the electrode portions of the batteries into a storage portion in which the plurality of batteries are stored, and an exhaust chamber via which the gas released from the opening portion of the electrode portion is exhausted outside the housing,

the electrode portions of the batteries are connected to a connector formed on the circuit board, and

the opening portions of the electrode portions are in communication with the exhaust chamber via through holes formed in the circuit board.

2. The battery module of claim 1, wherein

the electrode portions of the batteries are inserted in the through holes of the circuit board.

3. The battery module of claim 2, wherein

the circuit board has a layered structure including a heat-resistant member and an elastic member, and

a lower surface of the elastic member is in contact with the battery cases.

4. The battery module of claim 2, wherein

the connector is formed on an upper surface of the circuit board, and

a lower surface of the circuit board is in contact with the battery cases.

5. The battery module of claim 4, wherein

a height of each electrode portion is substantially the same as a thickness of the circuit board.

6. The battery module of claim 4, wherein

a size of each through hole formed in the circuit board is smaller on a side on which the circuit board is in contact with the battery case than on a side on which the circuit board is provided with the connector.

7. The battery module of claim 2, wherein

the opening portion of each electrode portion is provided at an upper surface of the electrode portion, and

the connector connected to the electrode portions has through holes formed at least in positions of the connector corresponding to the opening portions.

8. The battery module of claim 7, wherein

the gas released from the opening portion of the electrode portion is released into the exhaust chamber via the through hole.

9. The battery module of claim 2, wherein

the connector connected to the electrode portions is formed to straddle the plurality of through holes formed in the circuit board.

10. The battery module of claim 2, wherein

the opening portion of each electrode portion is provided at a side surface of the electrode portion, and

a gap is provided between the circuit board and the electrode portion in each through hole formed in the circuit board.

11. The battery module of claim 10, wherein

the gas released from the opening portion of the electrode portion is released into the exhaust chamber through the gap.

12. The battery module of claim 2, wherein

the plurality of batteries are connected in parallel by the connector connected to the electrode portions of the batteries.

13. The battery module of claim 2, wherein

the storage portion is sealed by the circuit board.

14. The battery module of claim 1, wherein

the housing is made of a metal material having an insulated surface.

15. The battery module of claim 1, wherein

the housing includes the storage portion and a lid body,

partition portions are provided in the storage portion in such a manner that the batteries are individually stored, and

the lid body includes rib portions at positions facing the partition portions of the housing.

16. The battery module of claim 1, wherein

the housing includes the storage portion and a lid body, and

a supporting member for holding the circuit board is further provided between the lid body and the circuit board.

17. A battery pack comprising:

multiple ones of the battery module of claim 1, wherein

the battery modules are aligned and connected in series and/or parallel.