Vehicle battery module
First Claim
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.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle battery module, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A battery module comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A battery comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification