BATTERY PACK

• US 20120256582A1
• Filed: 02/06/2012
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: KIM, Dukjung, GUEN, Minhyung
• Granted Patent: US 9,231,241 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/176 for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/181 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/291 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/55 on the same side of the cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/553 Terminals adapted for prismatic, pouch or rectangular cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/32 for charging batteries from a charging set comprising a non-electric prime mover rotating at constant speed
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery pack including a secondary battery arranged on an elastic member and a piezoelectric member is provided. Vertical movement of the secondary battery within the battery pack generates electrical energy that may be used to charge the secondary battery.

Claims

1. A battery pack, comprising:

at least one secondary battery including;

an electrode assembly;

a case accommodating the electrode assembly; and

a collecting terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly and protruding out of the case;

a support member supporting the secondary battery;

an energy generating part disposed between the secondary battery and the support member and configured to generate electrical energy; and

an energy supplying part configured to supply the electrical energy generated from the energy generating part to the secondary battery.

2. The battery pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy generating part comprises:

an elastic member contacting the secondary battery; and

a piezoelectric device disposed between the elastic member and the support member.

3. The battery pack as claimed in claim 2, wherein the elastic member comprises a coil spring.

4. The battery pack as claimed in claim 2, wherein the piezoelectric device generates electrical energy by a vertical movement of the secondary battery.

5. The battery pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy supplying part comprises:

a voltage boosting part configured to boost the electrical energy generated by the energy generating part to a voltage having a level for charging the secondary battery;

a rectifier configured to rectify the voltage output from the voltage boosting part to a direct current voltage; and

an overvoltage protection part configured to limit the direct current voltage to a charge voltage value of the secondary battery or to a smaller value than the charge voltage value.

6. The battery pack as claimed in claim 2, wherein the piezoelectric device comprises:

a first contact point electrically connected to a positive terminal of the energy supplying part; and

a second contact point electrically connected to a negative terminal of the energy supplying part.

7. The battery pack as claimed in claim 6, wherein the positive terminal of the energy supplying part is electrically connected to a positive terminal of the collecting terminal, and

the negative terminal of the energy supplying part is electrically connected to a negative terminal of the collecting terminal.

8. The battery pack as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support member comprises:

a horizontal part having a flat surface; and

a sidewall part extending from an edge of the horizontal part toward the secondary battery.

9. The battery pack as claimed in claim 8, wherein the horizontal part comprises a positioning recess that is coupled to the energy generating part.

10. The battery pack as claimed in claim 9, wherein a line through hole is disposed under the positioning recess.

11. The battery pack as claimed in claim 8, wherein the horizontal part comprises a vertical part protruding toward the secondary battery such that the vertical part at least partially fits between the secondary batteries.

12. The battery pack as claimed in claim 11, wherein the vertical part is disposed at a lower position than that of the sidewall part and the vertical part and the sidewall part define a cavity-like region for receiving the secondary battery.

13. The battery pack as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a cover member including a through hole through which the collecting terminal passes, and at least partially surrounding a surface of the secondary battery facing the cover member.

14. A battery pack, comprising:

at least one secondary battery;

an energy generator configured to generate electrical energy based on movement of the secondary battery; and

an energy supplying part configured to supply the electrical energy generated from the energy generating part to the secondary battery.

15. The battery pack as claimed in claim 14, wherein the secondary battery includes at least one coupling recess along an outer surface thereof, and the energy generator is at least partially arranged within the coupling recess of the secondary battery.

16. The battery pack as claimed in claim 14, wherein the energy generator includes an elastic member and a piezoelectric device, the elastic member being arranged between an outer surface of the secondary battery and the piezoelectric device.

17. The battery pack as claimed in claim 16, wherein the elastic member is a coil spring.

18. The battery pack as claimed in claim 16, wherein the energy generator generates electrical energy from movement of the secondary battery relative to the elastic member.

19. The battery pack as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

the piezoelectric device includes a positive contact point and a negative contact point,

the energy supplying part includes a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and

a first conductive line electrically couples the positive contact point of the piezoelectric device with the positive terminal of the energy supplying part and a second conductive line electrically couples the negative contact point of the piezoelectric device with the negative terminal of the energy supplying part.

20. A battery pack including at least one secondary battery at least partially surrounded by a covering member, comprising:

energy generating means for generating electrical energy based on movement of the secondary battery, the energy generating means being arranged between the covering member and the secondary battery; and

energy supplying means for supplying the electrical energy generated from the energy generating means to the secondary battery.