Encapsulating device and battery pack including such an encapsulating device

• US 7,223,486 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2003
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics NV
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics NV
• Inventors: Wojciechowski, Dominique, Dorren, Bastiaan Hendrik Peter, Van Den Bossche, Luc Jozef Louise, Blansaer, Eddy
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan; Patrick Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parsons; Thomas H.
• Application Number:
  US10/402,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20040018396A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: 429/7, 320/134, 320/136
• US Class Current: 429/7
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/02 Soldered or welded connections H01R4/625, H01R4/723, H01R12/59 take precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to an encapsulating device for electrical circuitry, which includes at least one pin which is directly attachable to metal such as by welding. This is especially suitable for battery pack applications whereby such an encapsulating device is incorporated in the battery pack and is used as an encapsulating device for the battery protection circuitry.

Claims

1. Encapsulated protection electrical circuitry for use in a battery pack including a battery, comprising:

an encapsulated portion, the encapsulated portion encapsulating the protection electrical circuitry, and

at least one connection to the protection electrical circuitry, the at least one connection being a pin for direct connection to a metal part of the battery, the pin having two ends, one end being encapsulated in the encapsulated portion and the other end of the pin extending from and externally of the encapsulated portion.

2. Encapsulated electrical circuitry according to claim 1, further comprising at least one other pin which is attachable to metal by means of an additional material.

3. Encapsulated electrical circuitry according to claim 2, wherein said additional material comprises one of conductive glue and solder.

4. Encapsulated electrical circuitry according to claim 1, wherein said pin is directly attachable to the metal part via welding.

5. Encapsulated electrical circuitry according to claim 1, wherein said encapsulating circuitry is included within one of a single chip package and a multi-component package.

6. Encapsulated electrical circuitry according to claim 5, wherein the pins of said encapsulating device comprise separate metal plates.

7. Encapsulated electrical circuitry according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said separate metal plates constituting said pin includes a lateral extended leg.

8. Encapsulated electrical circuitry according to claim 1, wherein said pin is made of a nickel, an iron nickel or a copper alloy.

9. Encapsulated electrical circuitry according to claim 1, wherein said pin is plated with tin, palladium or nickel or an alloy thereof.

10. Battery pack including a battery and encapsulated protection electrical circuitry, comprising:

an encapsulated portion, the encapsulated portion encapsulating the protection electrical circuitry, and

at least one connection to the protection electrical circuitry, the at least one connection being a pin for direct connection to a metal part of the battery, the pin having two ends, one end being encapsulated in the encapsulated portion and the other end of the pin extending from and externally of the encapsulated portion.

11. Battery pack according to claim 10, further comprising at least one other pin which is attachable to metal by means of an additional material.

12. Battery pack according to claim 11, wherein said additional material consists of one of conductive glue and solder.

13. Battery pack according to claim 11, wherein said other pin is directly attached to a metal strip coupled to a contact to further circuitry outside said battery pack.

14. Battery pack according to claim 11, wherein said other pin is attached to a lead of the battery, by means of said another material.

15. Battery pack according to claim 10, wherein said pin is directly attached to the metal part via welding.

16. Battery pack according to claim 10, wherein said encapsulating circuitry is included within one of a single chip package and a multi-component package.

17. Battery pack according to claim 16, wherein pins of said encapsulating device comprise separate metal plates.

18. Battery pack according to claim 17, wherein at least one of said separate metal plates constituting said pin includes a lateral extended leg.

19. Battery pack according to claim 10 wherein said electrical circuitry comprises battery protection circuitry.

20. Battery pack according to claim 10, wherein said pin is directly attached to a metal strip coupled to a lead of the battery included in the battery pack.