Battery pack

• US 9,537,181 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2013
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Ahn, Byung-Kook, Kang, Il-Oh
• Primary Examiner(s): Ridley, Basia
• Assistant Examiner(s): ERWIN, JAMES M
• Application Number:
  US13/782,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20140065448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 429/7
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/00 Safety devices for primary or secondary batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/105 Pouches or flexible bags
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery pack is disclosed. The battery pack includes a battery cell, a protection circuit module, and a temperature sensor, which are each held by a case. The case includes a dedicated space for the temperature sensor and a fixing element to fix the temperature sensor in the dedicated space.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising:

a battery cell;

a protection circuit module electrically connected to the battery cell;

a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the battery cell; and

a case holding the battery cell and the protective circuit module, wherein the case comprises a particular space for the temperature sensor and a fixing element configured to fix the temperature sensor in the particular space, and wherein the case further comprises;

first and second partitions defining a space in which the protection circuit module is placed, and

a third partition together with the second partition defining the particular space for the temperature sensor,

wherein the temperature sensor is arranged directly adjacent to each of the second and third partitions, and

wherein the second and third partitions at least partially surround the temperature sensor.

2. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the protection circuit module is located between first and second battery cells.

3. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the protection circuit module is located substantially in the middle of the case.

4. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the protection circuit module comprises a substrate and a protection device mounted on the substrate, wherein the substrate comprises guide holes extending through the substrate, and wherein the case comprises guide pins that protrude into the guide holes.

5. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the case comprises a supporting element that supports the protective circuit module.

6. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermistor.

7. The battery pack of claim 6, wherein the thermistor is electrically connected to the protective circuit module by a cable, wherein the fixing element comprises a hook fixing the cable to the case.

8. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is arranged so as to be substantially parallel with the protective circuit module, and is located adjacent to the protection circuit module.

9. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is disposed near an electrode tab of the battery cell.

19. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the protection circuit module is interposed between first and second battery cells.

20. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein each of the protection circuit module and the temperature sensor has a major axis, and wherein the major axis of each of the protection circuit module and the temperature sensor are parallel.

21. The battery pack of claim 1, further comprising a temperature cutoff (TCO) electrically connected to an electrode tab of the battery cell, wherein the TCO is arranged adjacent to the temperature sensor.

10. A battery pack comprising:

a battery cell;

a protection circuit module electrically connected to the battery cell;

a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the battery cell; and

a case holding the battery cell and the protective circuit module, wherein the case comprises;

first and second partitions defining a space in which the protection circuit module is placed,

a third partition defining a particular space in which the temperature sensor is placed, and

a fixing element configured to fix the temperature sensor in the particular space,

wherein the temperature sensor is arranged directly adjacent to each of the second and third partitions, and

wherein the second and third partitions at least partially surround the temperature sensor.

11. A battery pack comprising:

a battery cell;

a protection circuit module electrically connected to the battery cell;

a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the battery cell and to transmit an electrical signal based on the temperature to the protective circuit module; and

a case defining locations for the battery cell and the protective circuit module, wherein the case comprises;

a frame comprising an outer wall that extends in a thickness direction and substantially surrounds the battery cell and the protective circuit module,

a lower rib formed perpendicular to the outer wall,

first and second partitions defining a space in which the protection circuit module is placed, and

a third partition defining a particular space together with the second partition, the temperature sensor being placed in the particular space,

wherein the first to third partitions and a fixing element configured to fix the temperature sensor to the lower rib are formed on the lower rib, and

wherein the temperature sensor is arranged directly adjacent to each of the second and third partitions, and

wherein the second and third partitions at least partially surround the temperature sensor.

12. The battery pack of claim 11, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermistor.

13. The battery pack of claim 11, wherein the thermistor is electrically connected to the protective circuit module through a cable, and wherein the fixing element comprises a hook fixing the cable to the case.

14. The battery pack of claim 11, wherein the lower rib is located substantially in a middle of the case.

15. The battery pack of claim 11, wherein the protection circuit module comprises a substrate and a protection device mounted on the substrate, wherein the substrate comprises guide holes extending through the substrate, and wherein the case comprises guide pins that protrude into the guide holes.

16. The battery pack of claim 15, wherein the protection device is located on a side of the substrate facing the lower rib.

17. The battery pack of claim 11, wherein the lower rib comprises a supporting element that supports the protective circuit module.

18. The battery pack of claim 11, wherein the temperature sensor is arranged so as to be substantially parallel with the protective circuit module, and is located adjacent to the protection circuit module.