SYSTEM FOR EVALUATING BATTERY CONNECTION QUALITY

• US 20170285090A1
• Filed: 10/11/2016
• Published: 10/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Dietze, Robert H., Lupienski, Jason A., Chalfant, Robert W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,942,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/396 Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/67 Testing the correctness of wire connections in electric apparatus or circuits

Abstract

A system for evaluating battery connection quality in one or more battery modules of a battery assembly includes a battery testing unit having a housing including an upper surface and a lower surface. A plurality of testing modules are disposed on the lower surface of the housing to communicate with and electrically contact the one or more battery modules of the battery assembly. The plurality of testing modules each include at least one connector extending from a lower surface of the testing module and at least one contact disposed on one or more side surfaces of the testing module. A controller is in electrical communication with the at least one connector and at least one contacts to simultaneously evaluate voltage and resistance measurements of the one or more battery modules of the battery assembly.

Claims

1. A system for evaluating battery connection quality in one or more battery modules of a battery assembly comprising:

a battery testing unit having a housing including an upper surface and a lower surface;

a plurality of testing modules disposed on the lower surface of the housing to communicate with and electrically contact the one or more battery modules, wherein each of the plurality of testing modules includes a body having a lower surface receiving and supporting at least one element and one or more side surfaces extending from the lower surface to receive and support at least one contact;

at least one external connector cooperating with the battery testing unit housing and in electrical communication with the at least one element and at least one contact of each of the plurality of testing modules; and

a controller in electrical communication with the at least one external connector to perform one or more determinations of electrical connection quality of the one or more battery modules,

wherein the controller is in communication with the at least one element and at least one contact to simultaneously evaluate voltage and resistance measurements of the one or more battery modules.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an interface at least partially received within the battery testing housing in electrical communication with the at least one element and the at least one contact.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the battery testing housing further comprises one or more apertures extending through and between the upper and lower surfaces of the battery testing housing sized to at least partially receive the at least one external connector.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the interface is in communication with the at least one external connector when the at least one external connector is at least partially received within the battery testing housing.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one element further comprises at least one spring loaded pin extending from the lower surface of the body of each of the plurality of testing modules to releasably engage and electrically connect the battery testing unit with an interconnecting board of the one or more battery modules.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one channel is formed between opposing side surfaces of opposing bodies of the plurality of testing modules and sized to receive the at least one contact to releasably engage and electrically connect a tab and the interconnecting member of the one or more battery modules.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the at least one element extends from the lower surface of the body of each of the plurality of testing modules to releasably engage a fastener interconnecting a battery cell sense line in the at least one channel and a trace line of the interconnecting board.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller further comprises one or more voltmeters and one or more current sources configured to be used in connection with determining electrical connection quality of the one or more battery modules.

9. A system for evaluating battery connection quality in one or more battery modules of a battery assembly comprising:

a battery testing unit having a housing including an upper surface and a lower surface;

a plurality of testing modules disposed on the lower surface of the housing to communicate with and electrically contact the one or more battery modules, wherein each of the plurality of testing modules includes a body having a lower surface receiving and supporting at least one element and one or more side surfaces extending from the lower surface to receive and support at least one contact;

an interface at least partially received within the battery testing housing in electrical communication with the at least one element and the at least one contact;

at least one external connector cooperating with the battery testing unit housing and in electrical communication with the interface when the at least one external connector is at least partially received within the battery testing housing; and

a controller in electrical communication with the at least one external connector to perform one or more determinations of electrical connection quality of the one or more battery modules,

wherein the controller is in communication with the at least one element and at least one contact to simultaneously evaluate voltage and resistance measurements of the one or more battery modules.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the battery testing housing further comprises one or more apertures extending through and between the upper and lower surfaces of the battery testing housing sized to at least partially receive the at least one external connector.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the interface is in communication with the at least one external connector when the at least one external connector is at least partially received within the battery testing housing.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the at least one element further comprises at least one spring loaded pin extending from the lower surface of the body of each of the plurality of testing modules to releasably engage and electrically connect the battery testing unit with an interconnecting board of the one or more battery modules.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein at least one channel is formed between opposing side surfaces of opposing bodies of the plurality of testing modules and sized to receive the at least one contact to releasably engage and electrically connect a tab and the interconnecting member of the one or more battery modules.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the at least one element extends from the lower surface of the body of each of the plurality of testing modules to releasably engage a fastener interconnecting a battery cell sense line in the at least one channel and a trace line of the interconnecting board.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the controller further comprises one or more voltmeters and one or more current sources configured to be used in connection with determining electrical connection quality of the one or more battery modules.

16. A testing unit for evaluating battery connection quality in one or more battery modules of a battery assembly comprising:

a housing including an upper surface, a lower surface and one or more apertures extending through the housing between the upper and lower surfaces;

a plurality of testing modules disposed on the lower surface of the housing to communicate with and electrically contact the one or more battery modules, wherein each of the plurality of testing modules includes a body having a lower surface receiving and supporting at least one element and one or more side surfaces extending from the lower surface to receive and support at least one contact;

an interface at least partially received within the battery testing housing in electrical communication with the at least one element and the at least one contact; and

at least one external connector cooperating with the battery testing unit housing and in electrical communication with the interface when the at least one external connector is at least partially received within the battery testing housing,

wherein the at least one external connector performs one or more determinations of electrical connection quality through the at least one element and at least one contact to simultaneously evaluate voltage and resistance measurements of the one or more battery modules.

17. The testing unit of claim 16 wherein the interface is in communication with the at least one external connector when the at least one external connector is at least partially received within the battery testing housing.

18. The testing unit of claim 16 wherein the at least one element further comprises at least one spring loaded pin extending from the lower surface of the body of each of the plurality of testing modules to releasably engage and electrically connect the battery testing unit with an interconnecting board of the one or more battery modules.

19. The testing unit of claim 16 wherein at least one channel is formed between opposing side surfaces of opposing bodies of the plurality of testing modules and sized to receive the at least one contact to releasably engage and electrically connect a tab and the interconnecting member of the one or more battery modules.

20. The testing unit of claim 19 wherein the at least one element extends from the lower surface of the body of each of the plurality of testing modules to releasably engage a fastener interconnecting a battery cell sense line in the at least one channel and a trace line of the interconnecting board.