Battery module

• US 9,023,499 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2011
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Takase, Shinichi, Okamoto, Ryoya, Sakata, Tomoyuki, Hirai, Hiroki, Kasugai, Masakuni
• Primary Examiner(s): Barcena, Carlos
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nedialkova, Lilia V
• Application Number:
  US13/582,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20120328920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• US Class Current: 429/90
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/20 Pressure-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/119 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/293 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/298 characterised by the wiring of battery packs
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/503 characterised by the shape of the interconnectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/507 comprising an arrangement of two or more busbars within a container structure, e.g. busbar modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/569 Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/592 connections to contact elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/16 Rails or bus-bars provided with a plurality of discrete connecting locations for counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery module includes: a plurality of connecting members electrically connecting electric terminals of adjacent electric cells; and a flexible flat cable formed by flatly encapsulating an outer circumference of a flat conductor with an insulating resin and joining the plurality of connecting members. Portions of the flexible flat cable to be disposed between adjacent connecting members are provided with folded portions formed by folding the flexible flat cable at folded lines. The folded lines extend in a direction crossing a longitudinal direction of the flexible flat cable.

Claims

1. A battery module comprising:

electric cells each having a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal, the electric cells being aligned with each other;

connecting members electrically connecting the electrode terminals of electric cells adjacent to each other; and

a flexible flat cable including a flat conductor and an insulating resin that surrounds an outer circumference of the flat conductor and jointing the connecting members, the flexible flat cable including portions each of which is disposed between adjacent connecting members and is a folded portion that is folded at a folding line, the folding line extending in a direction crossing a longitudinal direction of the flexible flat cable,

the flat conductor including conductors that are aligned with each other and are laminated with the insulating resin, and each of the conductors of the flexible flat cable including a single connecting portion that is exposed and electrically connected to a single corresponding connecting member of the connecting members, the insulating resin being peeled at the connecting portion.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, further comprising container members containing the connecting members, wherein the container members are provided with a holder holding portions of the flexible flat cable other than the folded portions.

3. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein:

the container members are provided with a joint joining container members adjacent to each other; and

the joint includes;

a jointing projection projecting in a direction in which the electric cells are juxtaposed, and a jointing receiver receiving the jointing projection.

4. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the flexible flat cable is a voltage detecting line configured to receive a voltage of the electric cells.

5. The battery module according to claim 4, wherein the conductors of the flexible flat cable are directly connected with the connecting members, respectively.

6. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein:

the electric cells include metal-made battery containers; and

a resin-made separator is provided between the electric cells adjacent to each other, the separator having a projection projecting outward from an outer wall surface of the battery containers.

7. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein:

each of the connecting members has an elongated shape, and

the connecting portion is located at a portion of the flexible flat cable corresponding to a substantially central portion of the single corresponding connecting member with respect to an elongated direction of the single corresponding connecting member.

8. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein:

the single connection portion of each conductor is directly connected to the single corresponding connecting member.