Vehicle battery module

• US 9,224,999 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2009
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies Americas Corp. (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies Americas Corp. (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Dunn, Randy B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruddock, Ula C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chmielecki, Scott J
• Application Number:
  US12/588,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20100112425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,259 Days
• Field of Search: 429/66, 429/129, 429/130
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 50/103 prismatic or rectangular H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/519 comprising printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/526 having a layered structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The vehicle battery module includes cut rubber tubing attached to tops of voltaic cells. Tabs from the cells pass through seating apertures in a printed circuit board. The rubber tubing atop each cell buffers contact between the circuit board (PCB) and the cell'"'"'s top edge. Solder joints secure electromechanical connection of the tabs to the printed circuit board. A strain relief bend in the tabs provides robust mechanical connection between the cells and printed circuit board. Printed circuits on the board allow the cells to be electrically connected in various configurations. Terminal and connectors on the printed circuit board provide connection to a load and monitoring device. A vehicle battery pack is comprised of a plurality of vehicle battery modules.

Claims

1. A vehicle battery module, comprising:

a plurality of substantially rectangular, planar voltaic cells arranged in parallel relation to each other, each of the plurality of substantially rectangular, planar voltaic cells having a top portion and a top edge;

positive and negative voltaic cell tabs extending from the top portion of each of the plurality of substantially rectangular, planar voltaic cells, each of the positive and negative voltaic cell tabs having a stress-relieving, bent shape;

a flexible nonconductive tubular member attached to the top edge of each of the plurality of substantially rectangular, planar voltaic cells, the tubular members being spaced to leave gaps to expose the positive and negative voltaic cell tabs;

a printed circuit board attached to the top portion of the plurality of substantially rectangular, planar voltaic cells, the printed circuit board having seating apertures receiving the positive and the negative voltaic cell tabs the positive and the negative voltaic cell tabs being seated in the seating apertures of the printed circuit board, said stress-relieving, bent shape of each of the positive and the negative voltaic cell tabs passing through and being electromechanically soldered to a respective one of the seating apertures, thereby forming electrical nodes on the printed circuit board at cell tab locations, wherein said stress-relieving, bent shape is configured to reduce fatigue of said positive and negative voltaic cell tabs at solder joints to said printed circuit board;

at least one printed circuit defined on the printed circuit board, the at least one printed circuit interconnecting the electrical nodes through conductive traces on said printed circuit board to achieve a desired electrical configuration of the plurality of substantially rectangular, planar voltaic cells;

a positive module terminal and a negative module terminal disposed on the printed circuit board, the positive and negative module terminals delivering electrical power from the vehicle battery module; and

a housing enclosing the plurality of substantially rectangular, planar voltaic cells.

2. The vehicle battery module of claim 1, wherein said tubular members and a bottom housing member of said housing are made from plastic.

3. The vehicle battery module of claim 1, wherein all of said housing is made from plastic.

4. The vehicle battery module of claim 1, wherein said printed circuit board is made from a material selected from the group consisting of fiberglass and polymer, the printed circuit board having copper traces and a solder mask protective coating.

5. The vehicle battery module of claim 1, further comprising retaining hardware selected from the group consisting of screws, bolts, and rivets.

6. The vehicle battery module of claim 1, further comprising means for connecting the vehicle battery module to a monitoring device.

7. The vehicle battery module of claim 1, wherein said housing covers said printed circuit board, said positive and negative terminals extending through said housing.

8. A battery module comprising:

a plurality of voltaic cells each comprising;

positive and negative voltaic cell tabs extending from a top portion of each of said plurality of voltaic cells, each of said positive and negative voltaic cell tabs having a stress-relieving, bent shape;

a flexible nonconductive tubular member attached to a top edge of each of said plurality of voltaic cells;

a printed circuit board having seating apertures configured to receive said positive and negative voltaic cell tabs, said stress-relieving, bent shape of each of the positive and the negative voltaic cell tabs passing through and being electromechanically soldered to a respective one of the seating apertures, thereby electrically connecting said printed circuit board to said plurality of voltaic cells, wherein said stress-relieving, bent shape is configured to reduce fatigue of said positive and negative voltaic cell tabs at solder joints to said printed circuit board;

wherein electrical nodes are formed at said seating apertures of said printed circuit board and interconnected through conductive traces on said printed circuit board to achieve a desired electrical configuration of said plurality of voltaic cells.

9. The battery module of claim 8, further comprising a positive module terminal and a negative module terminal disposed on said printed circuit board.

10. The battery module of claim 8, further comprising a housing enclosing said plurality of voltaic cells.

11. The battery module of claim 8, wherein said tubular member of each of said plurality of voltaic cells is made from plastic.

12. The battery module of claim 9, wherein said housing is made from plastic.

13. The battery module of claim 8, wherein said printed circuit board is made from a material selected from the group consisting of fiberglass and polymer, the printed circuit board having copper traces and a solder mask protective coating.

14. The battery module of claim 8, further comprising retaining hardware selected from the group consisting of screws, bolts, and rivets.

15. The battery module of claim 8, further comprising means for connecting said battery module to a monitoring device.

16. The battery module of claim 8, further comprising a housing covering said printed circuit board, and positive and negative terminals extending through said housing.

17. A battery comprising:

a plurality of battery modules, each of said plurality of battery modules comprising a plurality of battery cells each comprising;

positive and negative cell tabs extending from a top portion of each of said plurality of battery cells, each of said positive and negative cell tabs having a stress-relieving, bent shape;

a flexible nonconductive tubular member attached to a top edge of each of said plurality of battery cells;

a printed circuit board having seating apertures configured to receive said positive and negative cell tabs, said stress-relieving, bent shape of each of the positive and the negative voltaic cell tabs passing through and being electromechanically soldered to a respective one of the seating apertures, thereby electrically connecting said printed circuit board to said plurality of battery cells, wherein said stress-relieving, bent shape is configured to reduce fatigue of said positive and negative voltaic cell tabs at solder joints to said printed circuit board;

wherein electrical nodes are formed at said seating apertures of said printed circuit board and interconnected through conductive traces on said printed circuit board to achieve a desired electrical configuration of said plurality of battery cells.

18. The battery of claim 17, wherein each of said plurality of battery cells is a rectangular voltaic cell.

19. The battery of claim 17, further comprising a positive module terminal and a negative module terminal disposed on said printed circuit board.

20. The battery of claim 17, further comprising a housing enclosing said plurality of battery cells.