Current sensor and mounting structure thereof

• US 7,344,420 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2005
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Tokunaga, Masatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond; Briggitte R.
• Application Number:
  US11/208,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20060057899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 439/754, 439/756, 439/763, 439/522, 429/91, 429/90, 429/61, 435/135
• US Class Current: 439/754
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/0092 measuring current only all subgroups of G01R19/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/36 Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
• 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: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A linking member formed of a conductive material is integrated with a current sensor. An end of the linking member is linked and fixed to a battery terminal connected with a battery post of a battery and the other end is linked and fixed to a connecting terminal of a harness. At least a part of the current sensor having the linking member, the harness having the connecting terminal, and a fixing member that links and fixes the linking member and the connecting terminal is fixed to the battery to contact the battery in a state in which the linking member is linked and fixed to the battery terminal and the connecting terminal. Thus, vibration resistance and connection reliability of the current sensor can be improved.

Claims

1. A mounting structure comprising:

a current sensor located between a harness having a connecting terminal and a battery having a battery post;

a linking member that is formed of a conductive material and is integrated with the current sensor;

a battery terminal connected with the battery post of the battery; and

a fixing member that links and fixes the linking member and the connecting terminal, wherein

an end of the linking member is linked and fixed to the battery terminal and the other end is linked and fixed to the connecting terminal, and

at least a part of the current sensor having the linking member, the harness having the connecting terminal, and the fixing member is fixed to the battery to be in contact with the battery in an area other than the battery post in a state in which the linking member is linked and fixed to the battery terminal and the connecting terminal.

2. The mounting structure of claim 1, wherein the linking member is bent and fixed to the battery.

3. The mounting structure of claim 1, wherein:

the battery is formed with a groove on a housing thereof; and

at least a part of the current sensor, the harness, and the fixing member is fit or press-fit into the groove.

4. The mounting structure of claim 1, wherein the linking member is integrated with the current sensor through an insert molding process.

5. The mounting structure of claim 1, wherein the battery has a holding portion protruding from a top surface thereof, on which the battery post is formed, the holding portion contacting at least a part of the current sensor, the harness, and the fixing member.

6. The mounting structure of claim 5, wherein the holding portion is formed so that a height thereof from the top surface substantially coincides with a distance between the top surface and a point, at which the holding portion contacts at least the part of the current sensor, the harness, and the fixing member.

7. The mounting structure of claim 1, wherein:

the linking member and the connecting terminal are formed with through holes respectively, the through holes being aligned in a state in which the linking member and the connecting terminal are overlapped; and

the fixing member is inserted into the through holes to link and fix the linking member and the connecting terminal and is fixed to the battery.

8. The mounting structure of claim 7, wherein:

the battery is formed with a threaded bore in a housing thereof;

the fixing member is a male screw screwed into the threaded bore in a state in which to male screw extends through the through holes of the linking member and the connecting terminal; and

the linking member and the connecting terminal are held between a head portion of the male screw and the battery.

9. The mounting structure of claim 7, wherein:

the fixing member is an extending portion that is made of a resin and that extends upwardly from the top surface;

the extending portion is heat-crimped in a state in which the extending portion penetrates the through holes of the linking member and the connecting terminal; and

the linking member and the connecting terminal are held between the battery and an end of the extending portion that is heat-crimped.

10. The mounting structure of claim 7, wherein:

the fixing member is a bolt, a head portion of which is fixed to the battery; and

the bolt is threadably engaged with a nut in a state in which a screw portion of the bolt extends through the linking member and the connecting terminal.

11. The mounting structure of claim 10, wherein:

the bolt is inserted into a housing of the battery so that the screw portion is exposed; and

the linking member and the connecting terminal are held between the battery and the nut.

12. The mounting structure of claim 10, wherein:

the battery is formed with a groove on a housing thereof;

the bolt is bonded and fixed to the housing in a state in which the head portion of the bolt is disposed in the groove; and

the linking member and the connecting terminal are held between the battery and the nut.