CONNECTING TAB OF BATTERY PACK, COUPLING STRUCTURE BETWEEN THE CONNECTING TAB AND WIRE, AND COUPLING METHOD THEREOF

• US 20110308856A1
• Filed: 01/03/2011
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Park, Hankyu
• Granted Patent: US 8,785,781 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/84.R
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/50 Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/503 characterised by the shape of the interconnectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a connecting tab of a battery pack, which allows a wire to be firmly coupled to a battery cell or a protective circuit module, a coupling structure between the connecting tab and a wire, and coupling method thereof. In one embodiment of the present invention, the connecting tab coupled to a battery cell or a protective circuit module includes a first conductive layer electrically connected to the battery cell or the protective circuit module, and a second conductive layer formed on the first conductive layer and coupled to a wire. The second conductive layer may include a pair of coupling protrusions upwardly protruding for connection of the wire. A solder may further be formed on the coupling protrusions and the wire.

Claims

1. A connector for electrically connecting a wire to at least one battery or a protective circuit module, the connector comprising:

a first connecting member having a first and a second surface that electrically connects to the at least one battery or the protective circuit module via the first surface; and

a second connecting member having a first and second surface that is coupled to the first connecting member so that the first surface of the second connecting member is positioned adjacent the second surface of the first connecting member and wherein the wire is electrically coupled to the second connecting member.

2. The connector of claim 1 further comprising at least one wire coupling member formed on the second surface of the second connecting member that mechanically couples to the wire so that the wire is electrically connected to the at least one battery or the protective circuit module via the second connecting member and the first connecting member.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first connecting member comprises a body and at least one extension extending outward from the body that are sized and spaced to couple to at least one terminal on the at least one battery or the protective circuit module.

4. The connector of claim 3, wherein a cut is formed between the body and the at least one extension.

5. The connector of claim 3, wherein welding recesses are formed in the body and the at least one extension.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first and second connecting members have a first and a second side edges and wherein the first side edge of the first connecting member is coupled to the first side edge of the second connecting member.

7. The connector of claim 6 wherein the first side edge of the first connecting member is coupled to the first side edge of the second connecting member via a connecting portion that is integrally connected to the first and second connecting members.

8. The connector of claim 7, wherein the connecting portion is a bendable portion.

9. The connector of claim 6, further comprising a pressing part that engages with the second edge of the first and second connecting members.

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein the pressing part is integrally attached to the second edge of the first connecting member and defines a C-shaped opening into which the second connecting member is positioned.

11. The connector of claim 2, wherein the at least one wire coupling member comprises a first and a second wire coupling members to define a wire receiving space so that when the wire is positioned within the wire receiving space, the first and second wire coupling members engage and retain the wire in the wire receiving space and in electrical connection with the second connecting member.

12. The connector of claim 11, further comprising soldering material that is positioned over the wire in the wire receiving space, and the first and second wire coupling members to further retain the wire in the wire receiving space.

13. The connector of claim 12, wherein the second surface of the second connecting member includes one or more recesses positioned adjacent the first and second wire coupling members.

14. The connector of claim 13, wherein the one or more recesses comprise openings that extend from the second surface to the first surface of the second connecting member.

15. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first and the second connecting members are formed of different materials.

16. A method of securing a wire to either at least one battery or a protection circuit module, the method comprising:

positioning a second connecting member with respect to a first connecting member so that a second side of the second connecting member is positioned proximate a second side of a first connecting member where the first and second members are electrically interconnected;

electrically connecting the first connecting member to the at least one battery or the protection circuit module; and

electrically connecting a wire to the first side of the second connecting member.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein electrically connecting a wire to the second side of the second connecting member comprises mechanically coupling a wire to a mounting structure formed on the second side of the second connecting member.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first connecting member is connected to the at least one battery or the protection circuit module before the wire is mechanically coupled to the mounting structure.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the first connecting member is connected to the at least one battery or the protection circuit module after the wire is mechanically coupled to the mounting structure.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein positioning the second connecting member with respect to the first connecting member comprises bending the second connecting member with respect to the first connecting member about a bending portion coupled to the first and second connecting members so that the second side of the second connecting member is positioned proximate the second side of the first connecting member.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising securing the second connecting member proximate the first connecting member.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein securing the second connecting member proximate the first connecting member comprises positioning an edge of the second connecting member into a space defined by a securing member of the first connecting member.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein mechanically coupling a wire to the mounting structure comprises positioning a wire between at least two coupling members that defines a wire receiving area so that the at least two coupling members retain the wire in the wire receiving area.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising depositing soldering material over the wire and the at least two coupling members.