Apparatus for detecting an electrical variable of a rechargeable battery, and method for producing said apparatus

• US 8,154,298 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2006
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Schimmel, Ralf
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US12/094,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20080238431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,992 Days
• Field of Search: 324/426
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/203 Resistors used for electric measuring, e.g. decade resistors standards, resistors for comparators, series resistors, shunts resistors in general H01C; microwave or radiowave terminations H01P1/26; coupling devices H01R
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

An apparatus for detecting an electrical variable of a rechargeable battery and a method for producing said apparatus, has: a measuring element (1), a printed circuit board (4) and a contact element (5) having a first end (6) and a second end (7), wherein the first end (6) of the contact element (5) is electrically connected to the printed circuit board (4), and the second end (7) of the contact element (5) is electrically connected to the measuring element (1) by a welded joint.

Claims

1. An apparatus for recording an electrical variable of a rechargeable battery, comprising:

a printed circuit board,

a measurement element that extends generally parallel to a plane of the printed circuit board, and

a contact element which has a first and a second end with the contact element being electrically connected at the first end to the printed circuit board,

wherein the second end of the contact element is electrically connected to the measurement element via a welded joint, and

wherein an area of the measurement element proximate the welded joint has a reduced material thickness in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the printed circuit board as compared to areas of the measurement element away from the welded joint.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the material thickness of the measurement element is reduced at least in one area.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the material thickness of the measurement element is matched in at least one area to a cross section of the contact element parallel to the welded joint.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the material thickness of the measurement element corresponds to the cross section of the contact element parallel to the welded joint.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the material thickness of the measurement element is reduced by means of at least one recess which is provided in the measurement element.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein connections of the measurement element and the contact element are composed of copper.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measurement element is electrically connected to the printed circuit board via four contact elements.

8. A method for producing an apparatus for recording an electrical variable of a rechargeable battery having a printed circuit board, a measurement element that extends generally parallel to a plane of the printed circuit board, and a contact element which has a first and a second end with the contact element being electrically connected at the first end to the printed circuit board, the method comprising the step of:

making an electrical contact between the second end of the contact element and the measurement element by means of a welding process;

wherein the welded electrical contact is formed at an area of the measurement element having a reduced material thickness in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the printed circuit board as compared to areas of the measurement element away from the welded joint.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the welding process is carried out in two steps, with the second end of the contact element being formed into a collar by means of pressure and a welding current in a first step, and with the collar being welded to the measurement element in a second step.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein both steps of the welding process are carried out on the same equipment.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein a defined distance is set between the measurement element and the temperature sensor which is located on the printed circuit board.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the measurement element is provided with at least one recess, before the welding process.

13. An apparatus for recording an electrical variable of a rechargeable battery, comprising:

a measuring device comprising a resistor and terminals,

a printed circuit board and a contact element which has a first and a second end with the contact element being electrically connected at the first end to the printed circuit board, wherein the second end of the contact element is electrically connected to a terminal of the measuring device via a welded joint; and

wherein a material thickness of the terminal in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the printed circuit board is reduced compared to a material thickness of the resistor in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the printed circuit board.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the material thickness of the measuring device is matched in at least one area to a cross section of the contact element parallel to the welded joint.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the material thickness of the measuring device corresponds to the cross section of the contact element parallel to the welded joint.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the material thickness of the measuring device is reduced by means of at least one recess which is provided in the measuring device.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the terminals of the measurement element and the contact element are composed of copper.