CURRENT DETECTION APPARATUS

• US 20130106449A1
• Filed: 10/04/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: KIKUCHI, Tsukasa
• Granted Patent: US 9,360,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/713
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/287 Intermediate parts between battery post and cable end piece
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A current detection apparatus for detecting a current from a battery flowing through a harness. The apparatus includes a resistor having a current carrying member disposed between a terminal of the battery and the harness, a circuit board provided thereon with a current detection circuit for detecting a current flowing through the resistor, and a casing having a recessed portion for accommodating the circuit board, a cover for closing an opening of the recessed portion. The circuit board includes a solder junction between the circuit board and a terminal protruding from an inside bottom of the recessed portion and passing through a through hole arranged on the circuit board, and an open end of the recessed portion that can be engaged with the cover is non-parallel to the circuit board so that at least a portion of the circuit board including the solder junction lies outside of the recessed portion.

Claims

1. A current detection apparatus for detecting a current from a battery flowing through a harness, comprising:

a resistor having a current carrying member disposed between a terminal of the battery and the harness to provide a current carrying path therebetween;

a circuit board provided thereon with a current detection circuit for detecting a current flowing through the resistor on the basis of a potential difference between two positions along the current carrying member; and

a casing having a recessed portion for accommodating therein the circuit board;

a cover for closing an opening of the recessed portion of the casing to form an enclosure;

wherein the circuit board includes a solder junction between the circuit board and a terminal protruding from an inside bottom of the recessed portion and passing through a through hole arranged on the circuit board, and

an open end of the recessed portion that can be engaged with the cover is non-parallel to the circuit board so that at least a portion of the circuit board including the solder junction lies outside of the recessed portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the open end of the recessed portion of the casing is tilted relative to the circuit board.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the open end of the recessed portion of the casing lies in a single plane.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plane is tilted relative to the circuit board.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein

the open end of the recessed portion that can be engaged with the cover comprises a groove surrounding the opening of the recessed portion, a depth direction of the groove being perpendicular to the plane, and

the cover comprises a protrusion arranged on the cover to be circumferentially engaged with the groove so that the opening of the recessed portion can be closed by the cover to form an enclosure.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein

the open end of the recessed portion that can be engaged with the cover comprises a groove surrounding the opening of the recessed portion, a depth direction of the groove being perpendicular to the plane, and

the cover comprises a protrusion arranged on the cover to be circumferentially engaged with the groove so that the opening of the recessed portion can be closed by the cover to form an enclosure.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein

the open end of the recessed portion that can be engaged with the cover comprises a protrusion surrounding the opening of the recessed portion, a height direction of the protrusion being perpendicular to the plane, and

the cover comprises a groove arranged on the cover to be circumferentially engaged with the protrusion so that the opening of the recessed portion can be closed by the cover to form an enclosure.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein

the open end of the recessed portion that can be engaged with the cover comprises a protrusion surrounding the opening of the recessed portion, a height direction of the protrusion being perpendicular to the plane, and

the cover comprises a groove arranged on the cover to be circumferentially engaged with the protrusion so that the opening of the recessed portion can be closed by the cover to form an enclosure.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resistor further comprises a lead member having one end secured and electrically connected to the current carrying member and the other end forming the terminal protruding from the inside bottom of the recessed portion of the casing.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solder junction is positioned proximate one end of the circuit board.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solder junction is positioned proximate an upper end of the circuit board.