Car battery system

• US 8,674,703 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2012
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yano, Jyunya, Furukawa, Kimihiko, Tanaka, Kuniho
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A
• Assistant Examiner(s): PELTON, NATHANIEL R
• Application Number:
  US13/597,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20120319695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 324/427
• US Class Current: 324/427
• 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 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/367 Internal gas exhaust passages forming part of the battery cover or case; Double cover vent systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/517 by fixing means, e.g. screws, rivets or bolts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/55 on the same side of the cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/569 Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/18 Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components H05K1/0201, H05K1/023, H05K1/0243, and H05K1/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/181 associated with surface mounted components
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The car battery system of the present invention is provided with a battery block 2 that retains a plurality of battery cells 1 in a stacked configuration and has a terminal plane 2A, which is coincident with terminal surfaces 1A established by positive and negative battery cell 1 electrode terminals 13; and with a battery state detection circuit 30 that connects with the electrode terminals 13 of each battery cell 1. The battery system is provided with a circuit board 7 with surface-mounted electronic components 40 that implement the battery state detection circuit 30. The circuit board 7 is a single-sided board with electronic components 40 mounted on only one side, and the circuit board 7 is attached to the battery block 2 opposite the terminal plane 2A with the side having no electronic components 40 facing the battery block 2. The positive and negative electrode terminals 13 of each battery cell 1 are connected with the circuit board 7 for connection to the battery state detection circuit 30.

Claims

1. A car battery system comprising:

a plurality of battery cells, each battery cell having a terminal surface with a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal disposed therein, the plurality of battery cells being stacked to form a battery block;

a circuit board having a first surface facing the battery block; and

a battery state detection circuit configured to detect a condition of the plurality of battery cells,

wherein the circuit board is disposed above and separate from the positive and negative electrode terminals such that the first surface of the circuit board faces the terminal surfaces of the plurality of battery cells forming the battery block to form a vacant gap between the positive and negative electrode terminals and the circuit board,

wherein the car battery system further comprises connecting terminals secured to the positive and negative electrode terminals to electrically connect the positive and negative electrode terminals to the circuit board,

each of the connecting terminals having

a terminal connecting portion attached to the positive and negative electrode terminals, and

an upright connecting section that projects upwardly from the terminal connecting portion toward the circuit so as to be attached to the circuit board,

wherein the circuit board is electrically connected to the positive and negative electrode terminals via the upright connecting sections of the connecting terminals, and the terminal connecting portion of the connecting terminals is structurally spaced from the circuit board,

wherein the circuit board includes surface-mounted electronic components configured to implement the battery state detection circuit, and

wherein the car battery system further comprises an insulating sheet located in the vacant gap between the electrode terminals and the circuit board so that the circuit board is configured to prevent mechanical contact with the positive and negative electrode terminals.

2. The car battery system recited in claim 1, wherein the circuit board is mechanically secured to a different position from a position of the electrode terminals.

3. The car battery system recited in claim 1, further comprising fasteners, each fastener joining adjacent electrode terminals in pairs, wherein the fasteners are located in the vacant gap in a non-contacting manner with the circuit board.

4. The car battery system recited in claim 3, wherein the terminal connecting portion of each connecting terminal is secured to adjacent electrode terminals in pairs by a respective fastener.

5. The car battery system recited in claim 1, wherein the vertical connecting section is inserted in through-holes of the circuit board and the insulating sheet so as to connect to the circuit board.

6. The car battery system recited in claim 2, wherein the terminal surfaces of the battery cells include safety valve exhaust openings, and a gas exhaust duct is disposed between the terminal surfaces and the circuit board in a manner connecting the exhaust openings, and wherein the circuit board is secured to the gas exhaust duct.