U.S. patent application number 17/727546 was filed with the patent office on 2022-08-04 for battery pack.
The applicant listed for this patent is SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Sanghoon BAE, Nohyun KWAG, Jooyul LEE, Jihwan SEOL.
Application Number | 20220247022 17/727546 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000006288766 |
Filed Date | 2022-08-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220247022 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SEOL; Jihwan ; et
al. |
August 4, 2022 |
BATTERY PACK
Abstract
A battery pack includes: a plurality of battery cells, each
including a negative electrode and a positive electrode, the
positive and negative electrodes being arranged on a same side of
the battery cell; a substrate arranged on the plurality of battery
cells and including a first surface and a second surface located on
opposite sides of the substrate, and a through hole exposing the
negative electrode and the positive electrode of each of the
plurality of battery cells; a first conductive plate arranged on
the first surface of the substrate and including a first hole; and
a second conductive plate arranged on the second surface of the
substrate and including a second hole.
Inventors: |
SEOL; Jihwan; (Yongin-si,
KR) ; KWAG; Nohyun; (Yongin-si, KR) ; BAE;
Sanghoon; (Yongin-si, KR) ; LEE; Jooyul;
(Yongin-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD. |
Yongin-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000006288766 |
Appl. No.: |
17/727546 |
Filed: |
April 22, 2022 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16264203 |
Jan 31, 2019 |
|
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17727546 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01M 2010/4271 20130101;
H01M 10/4257 20130101; H01M 2200/00 20130101; H01M 10/643 20150401;
H01M 2200/103 20130101; H01M 50/502 20210101; H01M 10/425 20130101;
H01M 10/6556 20150401; H01M 50/20 20210101; H01M 10/613 20150401;
H01M 50/581 20210101; H01M 10/6554 20150401 |
International
Class: |
H01M 50/20 20060101
H01M050/20; H01M 10/42 20060101 H01M010/42; H01M 10/613 20060101
H01M010/613; H01M 10/6556 20060101 H01M010/6556; H01M 10/643
20060101 H01M010/643; H01M 10/6554 20060101 H01M010/6554; H01M
50/502 20060101 H01M050/502; H01M 50/581 20060101 H01M050/581 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 1, 2018 |
KR |
10-2018-0013078 |
Claims
1. A battery pack comprising: a plurality of battery cells, each
comprising a negative electrode and a positive electrode, the
positive and negative electrodes being arranged on a same side of
the battery cell; a substrate arranged on the plurality of battery
cells and comprising a first surface and a second surface located
on opposite sides of the substrate, and a through hole exposing the
negative electrode and the positive electrode of each of the
plurality of battery cells; a first conductive plate arranged on
the first surface of the substrate and comprising a first hole; a
second conductive plate arranged on the second surface of the
substrate and comprising a second hole; a first connection tab
electrically connecting one of the negative electrode and the
positive electrode with the first conductive plate through the
second hole and the through hole; and a second connection tab
electrically connecting the other one of the negative electrode and
the positive electrode with the second conductive plate.
2. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a
printed circuit board.
3. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the through hole, the first
hole, and the second hole at least partially overlap each
other.
4. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein one of the positive
electrode and the negative electrode of each of the plurality of
battery cells is located at a central portion of a first end side
of the battery cell and the other one of the positive electrode and
the negative electrode is located at a peripheral portion of the
first end side.
5. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the first connection tab
and the second connection tab respectively comprise fusible links
that electrically connect the battery cell with the first
conductive plate and the battery cell with the second conductive
plate, respectively, wherein the fusible links are fused, when an
overcurrent flows therethrough, to block current flow between the
battery cell and the first conductive plate and current flow
between the battery cell and the second conductive plate,
respectively.
6. The battery pack of claim 1, further comprising a cooling unit
arranged at a second end side opposite a first end side of the
plurality of battery cells with the plurality of battery cells
therebetween.
7. The battery pack of claim 6, wherein the cooling unit comprises
a thermoconductive plate.
8. The battery pack of claim 6, wherein the cooling unit comprises
a flow path through which a cooling fluid is configured to
flow.
9. The battery pack of claim 1, further comprising a protection
circuit module arranged over the plurality of battery cells,
wherein the protection circuit module comprises the substrate, the
first conductive plate, the second conductive plate, and a safety
device mounted on the substrate.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser.
No. 16/264,203, filed on Jan. 31, 2019, which claims priority to
and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0013078,
filed on Feb. 1, 2018 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office,
the entire disclosures of both of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
[0002] Aspects of one or more embodiments relate to battery
packs.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] Secondary batteries are rechargeable, unlike primary
batteries. Recently, high-output secondary batteries using
non-aqueous electrolytes of high energy density have been
developed.
[0004] In general, secondary batteries (herein also referred to as
"battery cells") may be used as energy sources for mobile devices,
electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, electricity, or the like. The
secondary batteries may be used in various forms, depending on the
types of external devices to which they are applied.
[0005] For example, a small mobile electronic device, such as a
mobile phone or a notebook computer may operate for a certain time
according to the output and capacity of a single battery cell or
several battery cells. However, in the case of devices that require
high power for a long period of time, such as in the case of
electric bicycles, hybrid vehicles, or electric vehicles, which
have high power consumption, tens to hundreds of battery cells may
be electrically connected to form a large-capacity battery pack so
as to increase output and capacity.
[0006] In the case of a battery pack including tens to hundreds of
secondary batteries, since the battery pack is used for a long time
through charging and discharging, the mechanical and electrical
connections between the battery cells may need to be stably
maintained.
[0007] Information disclosed in this Background section was already
known to the inventors before achieving embodiments of the present
disclosure or is technical information acquired in the process of
achieving embodiments of the present disclosure. Therefore, it may
contain information that does not form the prior art that is
already known to the public in this country.
SUMMARY
[0008] According to an aspect of one or more embodiments, a battery
pack is mechanically and electrically stable.
[0009] Additional aspects will be set forth, in part, in the
description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the
description, or may be learned by practice of the presented
embodiments.
[0010] According to one or more embodiments, a battery pack
includes: a plurality of battery cells, each including a negative
electrode and a positive electrode arranged on a same side of the
battery cell; a substrate arranged on the plurality of battery
cells and including a first surface and a second surface located on
opposite sides of the substrate and including a through hole
exposing the negative electrode and the positive electrode of each
of the plurality of battery cells; a first conductive plate
arranged on the first surface of the substrate and including a
first hole; a second conductive plate arranged on the second
surface of the substrate and including a second hole; a first
connection tab electrically connecting one of the negative
electrode and the positive electrode with the first conductive
plate through the second hole and the through hole; and a second
connection tab electrically connecting the other one of the
negative electrode and the positive electrode with the second
conductive plate.
[0011] In one or more embodiments, the substrate may include a
printed circuit board (PCB).
[0012] In one or more embodiments, the through hole, the first
hole, and the second hole may at least partially overlap each
other.
[0013] In one or more embodiments, one of the positive electrode
and the negative electrode of each of the plurality of battery
cells may be located at a central portion of a first end side of
the battery cell, and the other one of the positive electrode and
the negative electrode may be located at a peripheral portion of
the first end side.
[0014] In one or more embodiments, the first connection tab and the
second connection tab may respectively include fusible links that
electrically connect the battery cell with the first conductive
plate and the battery cell with the second conductive plate,
respectively, wherein the fusible links are fused, when an
overcurrent flows therethrough, to block current flow between the
battery cell and the first conductive plate and current flow
between the battery cell and the second conductive plate,
respectively.
[0015] In one or more embodiments, the battery pack may further
include a cooling unit arranged at a second end side opposite a
first end side of the plurality of battery cells with the plurality
of battery cells therebetween.
[0016] In one or more embodiments, the cooling unit may include a
thermoconductive plate.
[0017] In one or more embodiments, the cooling unit may include a
flow path through which a cooling fluid is configured to flow.
[0018] In one or more embodiments, the battery pack may further
include a protection circuit module arranged over the plurality of
battery cells, wherein the protection circuit module may include
the substrate, the first conductive plate, the second conductive
plate, and a safety device mounted on the substrate.
[0019] According to one or more embodiments, a battery pack
includes: a plurality of battery cells, each including a negative
electrode and a positive electrode arranged on a same side of the
battery cell; a substrate arranged on the plurality of battery
cells and including a first surface and a second surface located on
opposite sides of the substrate and including a through hole
exposing the negative electrode and the positive electrode of each
of the plurality of battery cells; a conductive pad unit including
a first conductive pad and a second conductive pad, each arranged
on a surface of the substrate; a first connection tab electrically
connecting one of the negative electrode and the positive electrode
with the first conductive pad through the through hole; and a
second connection tab electrically connecting the other one of the
negative electrode and the positive electrode with the second
conductive pad through the through hole.
[0020] In one or more embodiments, the substrate may include a
printed circuit board (PCB).
[0021] In one or more embodiments, one of the positive electrode
and the negative electrode of each of the plurality of battery
cells may be located at a central portion of a first end side of
the battery cell, and the other one of the positive electrode and
the negative electrode may be located at a peripheral portion of
the first end side.
[0022] In one or more embodiments, the first connection tab and the
second connection tab may respectively include fusible links that
electrically connect the battery cell with the first conductive pad
and the battery cell with the second conductive pad, respectively,
wherein the fusible links are fused, when an overcurrent flows
therethrough, to block current flow between the battery cell and
the first conductive pad and current flow between the battery cell
and the second conductive pad, respectively.
[0023] In one or more embodiments, the battery pack may further
include a third conductive pad arranged on the second surface of
the substrate, wherein the substrate unit may further include a
first via hole and a second via hole, each penetrating the
substrate, the first conductive pad and the third conductive pad
may be electrically connected through the first via hole, and the
second conductive pad and the third conductive pad may be
electrically connected through the second via hole.
[0024] In one or more embodiments, the battery pack may further
include a conductive pattern arranged on a surface of the substrate
to electrically connect the first conductive pad with the second
conductive pad.
[0025] In one or more embodiments, the conductive pattern may
include fuses that are fused, when an overcurrent flows
therethrough, to block current flow between the conductive pattern
and the first conductive pad and current flow between the
conductive pattern and the second conductive pad, respectively.
[0026] In one or more embodiments, the battery pack may further
include a safety device mounted on the substrate, wherein the
safety device may be electrically connected to the conductive
pattern.
[0027] In one or more embodiments, the battery pack may further
include a cooling unit installed on a second end side opposite a
first end side of the plurality of battery cells with the plurality
of battery cells therebetween.
[0028] In one or more embodiments, the cooling unit may include a
thermoconductive plate.
[0029] In one or more embodiments, the cooling unit may include a
flow path through which a cooling fluid is configured to flow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more
readily appreciated from the following description of some
exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0031] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically
illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0032] FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating a battery cell in
FIG. 1; and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
IIb-IIb of FIG. 2A;
[0033] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates electrical connections
between battery cells and first and second conductive plates;
[0034] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating
a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0035] FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a
battery pack according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0036] FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view schematically illustrating a
portion of FIG. 5;
[0037] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating
the battery pack of FIG. 5;
[0038] FIG. 8 is a plan view schematically illustrating a battery
pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;
and
[0039] FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically
illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] Reference will now be made in further detail to some
embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements
throughout. In this regard, the present embodiments may have
different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the
descriptions set forth herein. Accordingly, the embodiments are
merely described below, by referring to the figures, to explain
aspects of the present description. As used herein, the term
"and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the
associated listed items.
[0041] The present disclosure may include various embodiments and
modifications, and certain embodiments thereof are illustrated in
the drawings and will be described herein in further detail. The
effects and features of the present disclosure and the
accomplishing methods thereof will become apparent from the
following description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not
limited to the embodiments described below, and may be embodied in
various modes.
[0042] Herein, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be
described in further detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings. In the following description, like reference numerals
will denote like elements, and redundant descriptions thereof may
be omitted.
[0043] It is to be understood that, although the terms "first,"
"second," etc. may be used herein to describe various components,
these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms
are used to distinguish one component from another.
[0044] As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are
intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise.
[0045] It is to be understood that the terms "comprise," "include,"
and "have" used herein specify the presence of stated features or
components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or
more other features or components.
[0046] It is to be understood that when a layer, region, or
component is referred to as being "formed on" another layer,
region, or component, it may be directly or indirectly formed on
the other layer, region, or component. That is, for example, one or
more intervening layers, regions, or components may be present.
[0047] Sizes of components in the drawings may be exaggerated for
convenience of description. In other words, since the sizes and
thicknesses of components in the drawings may be arbitrarily
illustrated for convenience of description, the following
embodiments are not limited thereto.
[0048] When a certain embodiment may be implemented differently, a
particular process order may be performed differently from the
described order. For example, two consecutively described processes
may be performed substantially at the same time or performed in an
order opposite to the described order.
[0049] It is to be understood that when a layer, region, or
component is referred to as being "connected to" another layer,
region, or component, it may be directly connected to the other
layer, region, or component or may be indirectly connected to the
other layer, region, or component with one or more intervening
layers, regions, or components interposed therebetween. For
example, it is to be understood that when a layer, region, or
component is referred to as being "electrically connected to"
another layer, region, or component, it may be directly
electrically connected to the other layer, region, or component or
may be indirectly electrically connected to the other layer,
region, or component with one or more intervening layers, regions,
or components interposed therebetween.
[0050] Spatially relative terms, such as "beneath," "below,"
"lower," "above," "upper," and the like, may be used herein for
ease of description to describe one element or feature's
relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in
the figures. It is to be understood that the spatially relative
terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the
device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted
in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned
over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or
features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or
features. Thus, the exemplary term "below" can encompass both an
orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise
oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the
spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted
accordingly.
[0051] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and
scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example
embodiments of the inventive concept belong. It is to be further
understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly-used
dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is
consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art
and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense
unless expressly so defined herein.
[0052] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically
illustrating a battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure; FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating a
battery cell in FIG. 1; and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken
along the line IIb-IIb of FIG. 2A.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 1, the battery pack 1 may include a
plurality of battery cells 100, first and second holder structures
210 and 220 arranged over and under the plurality of battery cells
100 respectively, a substrate unit 330 arranged over the plurality
of battery cells 100, a protection circuit module 300 including
first and second conductive plates 310 and 320 arranged on a top
surface 330a and a bottom surface 330b of the substrate unit 330,
respectively, and a cooling unit 700 arranged under the battery
cells 100.
[0054] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, each of the battery cells
100 may include a can 110 accommodating an electrode assembly, and
a cap plate 120 covering a top portion of the can 110. Although not
illustrated, the electrode assembly may include a negative
electrode plate, a positive electrode plate, and a separator
interposed therebetween, and the electrode assembly may be
accommodated in the can 110, for example, by being rolled into a
cylindrical shape. In a non-limiting embodiment, the positive
electrode plate may include an aluminum foil coated with a positive
electrode active material of lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO.sub.2),
and the negative electrode plate may include a copper foil coated
with a negative electrode active material, such as graphite. The
separator may prevent or substantially prevent a short circuit
between the negative electrode plate and the positive electrode
plate and allow only lithium ions to move therebetween.
[0055] In an embodiment, the can 110 may have a cylindrical shape
with one side (e.g., a top side) opened. The can 110 may be formed
of a conductive material, such as steel, stainless steel, aluminum,
or an equivalent thereof; however, the present disclosure is not
limited thereto.
[0056] A top portion 111 of the can 110 may be coupled with the cap
plate 120 and sealed by the cap plate 120, and a gasket 140 of an
insulating material may be interposed between the top portion 111
of the can 110 and the cap plate 120. The cap plate 120 may be
formed of a conductive material, such as steel, stainless steel,
aluminum, or an equivalent thereof; however, the present disclosure
is not limited thereto.
[0057] One of the negative electrode plate and the positive
electrode plate of the electrode assembly may be electrically
connected to the can 110 and the other one may be electrically
connected to the cap plate 120. Thus, the top portion 111 of the
can 110 and a top surface 121 of the cap plate 120 may be a
negative electrode and a positive electrode of the battery cell
100, respectively. Herein, for convenience of description, the top
portion 111 of the can 110 and the top surface 121 of the cap plate
120 will be assumed as a negative electrode and a positive
electrode of the battery cell 100, respectively, and the top
portion 111 of the can 110 will be referred to as a negative
electrode and the top surface 121 of the cap plate 120 will
referred to as a positive electrode.
[0058] In an embodiment, at least a side surface of the can 110 may
be covered with an insulating sheet 150. The insulating sheet 150
may be a film having an insulating material and may cover the side
surface of the can 110 or all or some of the side surface and the
bottom surface (opposite to the cap plate 120) of the can 110.
[0059] The battery cell 100 according to embodiments of the present
disclosure may have a structure in which the negative electrode 111
and the positive electrode 121 are exposed on the same side, that
is, on the top side of the battery cell 100, as described above.
For example, the positive electrode 121 may be arranged at a
central portion of the top side of the battery cell 100, and the
negative electrode 111 may be arranged at a peripheral portion of
the top side of the battery cell 100.
[0060] Referring to FIG. 1, the battery cells 100 may be arranged
between the first and second holder structures 210 and 220 such
that the side surfaces thereof are parallel to each other. The
battery cells 100 may be arranged such that both the negative
electrode 111 and the positive electrode 121 of each battery cell
100 face upward.
[0061] The first and second holder structures 210 and 220 may be
arranged over and under the plurality of battery cells 100,
respectively, and may be located to face each other. The first
holder structure 210 may be arranged over the plurality of battery
cells 100 and may have holes 210h exposing the negative electrode
111 and the positive electrode 121 arranged at the top side of each
battery cell 100. The second holder structure 220 may be arranged
under the plurality of battery cells 100 and may have grooves 220h
capable of accommodating each of the battery cells 100. The grooves
220h may penetrate through the second holder structure 220 or may
be recessed without penetrating therethrough. Each of the battery
cells 100 may be inserted into the groove 220h of the second holder
structure 220 and fixed at a corresponding position.
[0062] The protection circuit module 300 may be arranged on the
first holder structure 210. The protection circuit module 300 may
include the substrate unit 330, the first conductive plate 310
located on the top surface 330a of the substrate unit 330, and the
second conductive plate 320 located on the bottom surface 330b of
the substrate unit 330. In an embodiment, a plurality of first
conductive plates 310 and a plurality of second conductive plates
320 may be provided. Herein, a description will be given based on
an embodiment in which a plurality of first conductive plates 310
and a plurality of second conductive plates 320 are provided.
[0063] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the substrate
unit 330 may include a printed circuit board (PCB). Thus, although
not illustrated in FIG. 1, a protection circuit, a safety device,
and the like for safety of the battery cells 100 may be arranged on
the substrate unit 330. The safety device may be, for example, a
fuse, a thermistor, or a positive temperature coefficient (PTC)
device. The protection circuit module 300 may be electrically
connected to the battery cells 100 to control the charge/discharge
of the battery cells 100 and prevent or substantially prevent
overheat and explosion caused by overcharge, overdischarge, or
overcurrent.
[0064] The first conductive plates 310 and the second conductive
plates 320 may be arranged over the plurality of battery cells 100,
for example, on the first holder structure 210 with the substrate
unit 330 therebetween. In an embodiment, the first conductive
plates 310 and the second conductive plates 320 may be arranged to
be offset to partially overlap each other in a left/right direction
in FIG. 1. For example, each of the second conductive plates 320
may be offset in the left/right direction to simultaneously overlap
the adjacent first conductive plates 310.
[0065] The battery cells 100 may be electrically connected through
the first and second conductive plates 310 and 320. In other words,
the battery cells 100 may be connected to each other by the first
and second conductive plates 310 and 320. For this, the first and
second conductive plates 310 and 320 may include a conductive
material, such as aluminum, copper, nickel, titanium, or an alloy
thereof; however, the present disclosure is not limited
thereto.
[0066] The first and second conductive plates 310 and 320 may
respectively include holes 310h and 320h exposing the negative
electrode 111 and the positive electrode 121 arranged at the top
side of each of the battery cells 100. First and second connection
tabs 410 and 420 (see FIG. 4) to be described below may connect the
first and second conductive plates 310 and 320 with the negative
electrode 111 or the positive electrode 121 of the battery cells
100 through the holes 310h and 320h to connect the battery cells
100 in series and/or in parallel. Electrical connections between
the first and second conductive plates 310 and 320 and the battery
cells 100 will be described further below with reference to FIG.
3.
[0067] The substrate unit 330 may be interposed between the first
and second conductive plates 310 and 320. In other words, the first
and second conductive plates 310 and 320 may be located on one
surface and the other surface of the substrate unit 330,
respectively. As described above, in an embodiment, the substrate
unit 330 may be understood as the PCB of the protection circuit
module 300, and the first and second conductive plates 310 and 320
may be integrally coupled with the substrate unit 330. Thus, in the
battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure, since the first and second conductive plates 310 and
320 are integrally coupled to the substrate unit 330 that is a PCB,
metal plates stacked as a separate member on the battery cells 100
may be omitted.
[0068] The substrate unit 330 may include a hole 330h exposing the
negative electrode 111 and the positive electrode 121 arranged at
the top surface of each of the battery cells 100 such that each of
the first conductive plates 310 is connected to the negative
electrode 111 or the positive electrode 121 of the battery cell 100
through the first connection tab 410 to be described below.
[0069] In an embodiment, the substrate unit 330 may entirely
overlap at least the second conductive plates 320 in order to
prevent or substantially prevent the first and second conductive
plates 310 and 320 from directly contacting each other. For
example, the outer end of the substrate unit 330 may extend farther
than the outer end of the second conductive plates 320, and the
inner end of the substrate unit 330 adjacent to the hole 330h of
the substrate unit 330 may extend farther than the inner end of the
second conductive plates 320 (i.e., the inner end adjacent to the
hole 320h of the second conductive plate 320). Thus, the size of
the hole 330h of the substrate unit 330 may be smaller than the
size of the hole 320h of the second conductive plate 320.
[0070] In an embodiment, a protection cover (not illustrated) may
be further arranged over the protection circuit module 300. The
protection cover (not illustrated) may cover all of the protection
circuit module 300 including the first and second conductive plates
310 and 320 and protect the battery pack 1 from external
conductors, foreign materials, and the like.
[0071] The cooling unit 700 may be arranged under the battery cells
100. In an embodiment, the cooling unit 700 may include a
thermoconductive plate 710. In a non-limiting embodiment, the
thermoconductive plate 710 may include an anodized aluminum plate.
The cooling unit 700 will be described below in further detail with
reference to FIG. 9.
[0072] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates electrical connections
between battery cells and first and second conductive plates.
[0073] Dotted lines in FIG. 3 represent electrical connections. For
convenience of description, FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment in
which four first conductive plates are provided and three second
conductive plates are provided. For example, as illustrated in FIG.
3, the first conductive plates 310 may include a first first
conductive plate 310A, a second first conductive plate 3108, a
third first conductive plate 310C, and a fourth first conductive
plate 310D sequentially in the left/right direction. The second
conductive plates 320 may include a first second conductive plate
320A, a second second conductive plate 320B, and a third second
conductive plate 320C in the left/right direction. Herein, unless
otherwise described, the first conductive plate 310 may represent
any one of the first to fourth first conductive plates 310A, 310B,
310C, and 310D, and the second conductive plate 320 may represent
the first to third second conductive plates 320A, 320B, and 320C.
Also, although FIG. 3 illustrates that the first conductive plates
310 and the second conductive plates 320 are arranged sequentially
in the left/right direction, the positions of the first and second
conductive plates 310 and 320 may be modified in various
embodiments according to the connection structures of the battery
cells 100.
[0074] Referring to FIG. 3, the first and second conductive plates
310 and 320 may be arranged over the battery cells 100 and may be
offset by certain distances in the left/right direction (i.e., the
surface direction of the first and second conductive plates 310 and
320) to partially overlap each other. For example, each of the
second conductive plates 320 may be offset to overlap two adjacent
first conductive plates 310.
[0075] In some embodiments, a portion of the first second
conductive plate 320A may overlap the first first conductive plate
310A and another portion thereof may overlap the second first
conductive plate 310B. A portion of the second second conductive
plate 320B may overlap the second first conductive plate 310B and
another portion thereof may overlap the third first conductive
plate 310C. A portion of the third second conductive plate 320C may
overlap the third first conductive plate 310C and another portion
thereof may overlap the fourth first conductive plate 310D.
[0076] Battery cells 100a of a first subgroup SG1 among the battery
cells 100, for example, the battery cells 100a arranged to overlap
the first first conductive plate 310A and the first second
conductive plate 320A, may be connected to the first first
conductive plate 310A and the first second conductive plate 320A.
For example, the positive electrode 121 of the battery cells 100a
may be connected to the first first conductive plate 310A, and the
negative electrode 111 thereof may be connected to the first second
conductive plate 320A.
[0077] Battery cells 100b of a second subgroup SG2 among the
battery cells 100, for example, the battery cells 100b arranged to
overlap the second first conductive plate 310B and the first second
conductive plate 320A, may be connected to the second first
conductive plate 310B and the first second conductive plate 320A.
For example, the negative electrode 111 of the battery cells 100b
may be connected to the second first conductive plate 310B, and the
positive electrode 121 thereof may be connected to the first second
conductive plate 320A.
[0078] Battery cells 100c of a third subgroup SG3 among the battery
cells 100, for example, the battery cells 100c arranged to overlap
the second first conductive plate 310B and the second second
conductive plate 320B, may be connected to the second first
conductive plate 310B and the second second conductive plate 320B.
For example, the negative electrode 111 of the battery cells 100c
may be connected to the second second conductive plate 320B, and
the positive electrode 121 thereof may be connected to the second
first conductive plate 310B.
[0079] Battery cells 100d of a fourth subgroup SG4 among the
battery cells 100, for example, the battery cells 100d arranged to
overlap the third first conductive plate 310C and the second second
conductive plate 320B, may be connected to the third first
conductive plate 310C and the second second conductive plate 320B.
For example, the negative electrode 111 of the battery cells 100d
may be connected to the third first conductive plate 310C, and the
positive electrode 121 thereof may be connected to the second
second conductive plate 320B.
[0080] Battery cells 100e of a fifth subgroup SG5 among the battery
cells 100, for example, the battery cells 100e arranged to overlap
the third first conductive plate 310C and the third second
conductive plate 320C, may be connected to the third first
conductive plate 310C and the third second conductive plate 320C.
For example, the negative electrode 111 of the battery cells 100e
may be connected to the third second conductive plate 320C, and the
positive electrode 121 thereof may be connected to the third first
conductive plate 310C.
[0081] Battery cells 100f of a sixth subgroup SG6 among the battery
cells 100, for example, the battery cells 100f arranged to overlap
the fourth first conductive plate 310D and the third second
conductive plate 320C, may be connected to the fourth first
conductive plate 310D and the third second conductive plate 320C.
For example, the negative electrode 111 of the battery cells 100f
may be connected to the fourth first conductive plate 310D, and the
positive electrode 121 thereof may be connected to the third second
conductive plate 320C.
[0082] In an embodiment, among the first conductive plates 310, the
first conductive plate 310 arranged at the center thereof, for
example, each of the second and third first conductive plates 310B
and 310C, may electrically connect the battery cells 100 of one
subgroup in parallel and may electrically connect the battery cells
100 of adjacent subgroups in series. On the other hand, among the
first conductive plates 310, the first conductive plate 310
arranged at the edge thereof, for example, each of the first and
fourth first conductive plates 310A and 310D, may electrically
connect the battery cells 100 of one subgroup in parallel.
[0083] Similarly, the second conductive plate 320, for example,
each of the first to third second conductive plates 320A, 320B, and
320C, may electrically connect the battery cells 100 of one
subgroup in parallel and may electrically connect the battery cells
100 of adjacent subgroups in series.
[0084] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating
the battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure. FIG. 4 illustrates electrical connections between
battery cells 100 and first and second conductive plates 310 and
320 in the battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0085] Referring to FIG. 4, the battery pack 1 according to the
present embodiment may include the substrate unit 330 having one
surface 330a and the other surface 330b located on opposite sides
thereof, the first conductive plate 310 arranged on the surface
330a of the substrate unit 330, and the second conductive plate 320
arranged on the other surface 330b of the substrate unit 330. The
substrate unit 330, the first conductive plate 310, and the second
conductive plate 320 may respectively have a through hole 330h, a
first hole 310h, and a second hole 320h to expose the positive
electrode 121 and the negative electrode 111 of each of the battery
cells 100, and the through hole 330h, the first hole 310h, and the
second hole 320h may be arranged to at least partially overlap each
other.
[0086] In the present embodiment, the first conductive plate 310
and the second conductive plate 320 are arranged on the surface
330a and the other surface 330b, respectively. However, in another
embodiment, the first conductive plate 310 and the second
conductive plate 320 may be arranged on a plurality of substrate
units, respectively. Also, in this case, the plurality of substrate
units may be arranged on the battery cells 100.
[0087] The first connection tab 410 may electrically connect one of
the negative electrode 111 and the positive electrode 121 of the
battery cell 100 to the first conductive plate 310. In FIG. 4, one
side of the first connection tab 410 may be connected to the
positive electrode 121 of the battery cell 100, and the other side
of the first connection tab 410 may be electrically connected to
the first conductive plate 310. Similarly, the second connection
tab 420 may electrically connect the other one of the negative
electrode 111 and the positive electrode 121 of the battery cell
100 to the second conductive plate 320. In FIG. 4, one side of the
second connection tab 420 may be connected to the negative
electrode 111 of the battery cell 100, and the other side of the
second connection tab 420 may be electrically connected to the
second conductive plate 320.
[0088] In the present embodiment, the first connection tab 410 and
the second connection tab 420 may respectively include fusible
links that electrically connect the battery cell 100 with the first
conductive plate 310 and the battery cell 100 with the second
conductive plate 320, respectively, and are fused, when an
overcurrent flows through the battery cell 100, to block a current
flow between the battery cell 100 and the first conductive plate
310 and a current flow between the battery cell 100 and the second
conductive plate 320, respectively. That is, the first connection
tab 410 and the second connection tab 420 may function as a tab
electrically connecting the battery cell 100 with the first
conductive plate 310 and the battery cell 100 with the second
conductive plate 320, respectively, and may also function as a
fuse.
[0089] FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a
battery pack 2 according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure; FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view schematically
illustrating a portion of FIG. 5; and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional
view schematically illustrating the battery pack 2 of FIG. 5. FIG.
6 is an enlarged view illustrating one through hole and a
peripheral structure thereof; and FIG. 7 schematically illustrates
a cross section taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 5.
[0090] The embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 7 may be different from the
above embodiment in terms of a configuration of the first
conductive plate 310 and the second conductive plate 320. In the
embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 7, a first conductive plate 310 (herein
referred to as a "first conductive pad 310") and a second
conductive plate 320 (herein referred to as a "second conductive
pad 320") may be arranged on a substrate unit 330. Herein,
descriptions overlapping with those in the above-described
embodiment will be omitted and the differences therebetween will be
mainly described.
[0091] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, the battery pack 2 according to
another embodiment of the present disclosure may include a
plurality of battery cells 100 and a protection circuit module 300
arranged over the battery cells 100. The protection circuit module
300 may include a substrate unit 330, first and second conductive
pads 310 and 320 arranged on the substrate unit 330, and first and
second connection tabs 410 and 420 for electrically connecting the
battery cells 100 to the first and second conductive pads 310 and
320. Although not illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7, as illustrated in
FIG. 1, the battery pack 2 according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure may also include first and second holder
structures 210 and 220 arranged over and under the plurality of
battery cells 100, respectively, and a cooling unit 700 arranged
under the plurality of battery cells 100.
[0092] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in the battery pack 2 according
to the present embodiment, the positive electrode 121 and the
negative electrode 111 of each of the battery cells 100 may be
exposed through a through hole 330h of the protection circuit
module 300 arranged on the battery cells 100. The through hole 330h
may be formed through the substrate unit 330 of the protection
circuit module 300, that is, a PCB. Although not illustrated in
FIG. 5, a protection circuit, a safety device, and the like for
functioning as the protection circuit module 300 may be mounted on
the substrate unit 330.
[0093] In an embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the through hole
330h may include an extension portion 330h_n partially opened in
the right direction. A portion of the negative electrode 111 of the
battery cell 100 may be exposed through the extension portion
330h_n.
[0094] The first conductive pad 310 and the second conductive pad
320 may be arranged on the top surface 330a of the substrate unit
330. In an embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first
conductive pad 310 may be arranged on the left side of the through
hole 330h, and the second conductive pad 320 may be arranged on the
right front end of the through hole 330h adjacent to the extension
portion 330h_n. However, this is merely an example and the
positions of the first conductive pad 310 and the second conductive
pad 320 may be modified according to various embodiments.
[0095] The first connection tab 410 may electrically connect one of
the negative electrode 111 and the positive electrode 121 of the
battery cell 100 to the first conductive pad 310. Also, the second
connection tab 420 may electrically connect the other one of the
negative electrode 111 and the positive electrode 121 of the
battery cell 100 to the second conductive pad 320. In FIGS. 5 and
6, the first connection tab 410 may connect the positive electrode
121 of the battery cell 100 to the first conductive pad 310, and
the second connection tab 420 may connect the negative electrode
111 of the battery cell 100 to the second conductive pad 320. The
first and second connection tabs 410 and 420 may connect the
battery cell 100 to the first and second conductive pads 310 and
320, respectively, through the through hole 330h of the substrate
unit 330.
[0096] In the present embodiment, the first connection tab 410 and
the second connection tab 420 may respectively include fusible
links that electrically connect the battery cell 100 with the first
conductive pad 310 and the battery cell 100 with the second
conductive pad 320, respectively, and are fused, when an
overcurrent flows through the battery cell 100, to block a current
flow between the battery cell 100 and the first conductive pad 310
and a current flow between the battery cell 100 and the second
conductive pad 320, respectively. That is, the first connection tab
410 and the second connection tab 420 may function as a tab
electrically connecting the battery cell 100 with the first
conductive pad 310 and the battery cell 100 with the second
conductive pad 320 and may also function as a fuse.
[0097] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, one side of the first connection
tab 410 may be connected to the positive electrode 121 of the
battery cell 100, and the other side of the first connection tab
410 may be electrically connected to the first conductive pad 310.
Similarly, one side of the second connection tab 420 may be
connected to the negative electrode 111 of the battery cell 100,
and the other side of the second connection tab 420 may be
electrically connected to the second conductive pad 320.
[0098] In an embodiment, a third conductive pad 340 may be further
arranged on the other surface 330b of the substrate unit 330. The
third conductive pad 340 may be a conductive pattern, such as a
wiring line, or may be a plate-shaped conductive plate having a
plurality of holes. The third conductive pads 340 arranged on the
bottom surface 330b of the substrate unit 330 may be electrically
connected to the first conductive pads 310 and the second
conductive pads 320 arranged on the top surface 330a of the
substrate unit 330.
[0099] As illustrated in FIG. 7, in an embodiment, the substrate
unit 330 may have a first via hole 330h_1 at a position
corresponding to the first conductive pad 310 and a second via hole
330h_2 at a position corresponding to the second conductive pad
320. A conductive material may be buried in the first via hole
330h_1 and the second via hole 330h_2, the first conductive pad 310
and the third conductive pad 340 may be electrically connected
through the first via hole 330h_1, and the second conductive pad
320 and the third conductive pad 340 may be electrically connected
through the second via hole 330h_2. As such, the first conductive
pad 310 and the second conductive pad 320 may be electrically
connected to the third conductive pad 340 to form a current
path.
[0100] FIG. 8 is a plan view schematically illustrating a battery
pack 3 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
The embodiment of FIG. 8 may be different from the embodiment of
FIGS. 5 to 7 in terms of a configuration of electrical connections
of the first conductive pad 310 and the second conductive pad 320.
Herein, descriptions overlapping with those in the above-described
embodiment will be omitted and the difference therebetween will be
mainly described.
[0101] Referring to FIG. 8, as in the above-described embodiment,
the battery pack 3 according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure may include a first conductive pad 310 and a second
conductive pad 320 arranged on a top surface 330a of a substrate
unit 330. The first conductive pad 310 and the second conductive
pad 320 may be arranged around a through hole 330h of the substrate
unit 330. A first connection tab 410 may electrically connect the
battery cell 100 with the first conductive pad 310, and a second
connection tab 420 may electrically connect the battery cell 100
with the second conductive pad 320. As described above, the first
connection tab 410 may be connected to one of the positive
electrode 121 and the negative electrode 111 of the battery cell
100, and the second connection tab 420 may be connected to the
other one of the positive electrode 121 and the negative electrode
111 of the battery cell 100.
[0102] In the present embodiment, a conductive pattern 350 may be
arranged on the top surface 330a of the substrate unit 330 to
electrically connect the first conductive pad 310 and the second
conductive pad 320 to each other. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the
conductive pattern 350 may be formed as a pattern, such as a
conductive line. Conductive patterns 350 may be arranged to
electrically connect first conductive pads 310 adjacent to nth-row
through holes 330h arranged in the left/right direction and second
conductive pads 320 adjacent to (n+1)th-row through holes 330h.
Among the conductive patterns 350, a conductive pattern 350p
located at an outermost side of the substrate unit 330 may
electrically connect the first conductive pads 310 adjacent to the
first-row through holes 330h, and a conductive pattern 350n located
at another outermost side of the substrate unit 330 may
electrically connect the second conductive pads 320 adjacent to the
mth-row through holes 330h. The conductive pattern 350p may be
connected to an external positive (+) terminal, and the conductive
pattern 350n may be connected to an external negative (-)
terminal.
[0103] In an embodiment, a protection circuit, a safety device, and
the like for functioning as a protection circuit module 300 may be
mounted on the substrate unit 330. In the present embodiment, a
fuse 500 for blocking a current flow between the conductive pattern
350 and the first conductive pad 310 and a current flow between the
conductive pattern 350 and the second conductive pad 320 by being
fused when an overcurrent flows therethrough may be arranged on the
substrate unit 330. In an embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the
fuse 500 may be connected between the first conductive pad 310 and
the conductive pattern 350. Although not illustrated, in another
embodiment, the fuse 500 may be connected between the second
conductive pad 320 and the conductive pattern 350.
[0104] Also, a thermistor or a PTC device may be arranged as a
safety device on the substrate unit 330. FIG. 8 illustrates a case
in which a thermistor 600 is arranged on the substrate unit 330.
The thermistor 600 may be connected to the conductive pattern 350
through a connection line 610.
[0105] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating
a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure. FIG. 9 illustrates a lower portion of the battery
pack.
[0106] Referring to FIG. 9, a cooling unit 700 may be arranged
under battery cells 100. The cooling unit 700 may include a
thermoconductive plate 710 and a flow path 720 through which a
cooling fluid passes. The bottom surface of the battery cells 100
may be exposed through a hole 221h formed in a bottom insulating
plate 221 of a second holder structure 220.
[0107] As described above, the thermoconductive plate 710 may
include a thermoconductive material, such as an anodized aluminum
plate, and may be thermally connected to the bottom surface of the
battery cell 100 through a thermoconductive material, such as
thermoconductive silicone 715.
[0108] The flow path 720 may be arranged under the thermoconductive
plate 710. A cooling fluid may move through the flow path 720. A
liquid, such as water, or a gas, such as air, may be used as the
cooling fluid.
[0109] In the present embodiment, the cooling unit 700 may include
both the thermoconductive plate 710 and the flow path 720 through
which the cooling fluid passes; however, the present disclosure is
not limited thereto. In an alternative embodiment, the cooling unit
700 may include one of the thermoconductive plate 710 and the flow
path 720 through which the cooling fluid passes.
[0110] According to battery packs according to embodiments of the
present disclosure, the connection tabs electrically connecting the
battery cells with the conductive plates may be prevented or
substantially prevented from being deformed or broken and, thus, a
mechanically and electrically stable battery pack may be
provided.
[0111] Also, according to battery packs according to embodiments of
the present disclosure, space utilization may be improved by
arranging a cooling structure for cooling the battery cells under
the battery cells.
[0112] Although the present disclosure has been described with
reference to some embodiments illustrated in the drawings, this is
merely an example and those of ordinary skill in the art will
understand that various modifications and other equivalent
embodiments may be derived therefrom. Thus, the spirit and scope of
the present disclosure should be defined by the appended
claims.
[0113] It is to be understood that embodiments described herein
should be considered in a descriptive sense and not for purposes of
limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each
embodiment should typically be considered as available for other
similar features or aspects in other embodiments.
[0114] While one or more embodiments have been described with
reference to the figures, it will be understood by those of
ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details
may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope as
set forth by the following claims.
* * * * *