Patent Publication Number: US-2022223981-A1

Title: Battery module

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0003729, filed on Jan. 12, 2021, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The following disclosure relates to a battery module having improved energy efficiency per volume. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A rechargeable battery is a device converting external electrical energy into chemical energy and storing the chemical energy to generate electricity when needed, and may be used in various fields such as an electronic device that uses electricity, an electric vehicle and a hybrid vehicle. 
     The rechargeable battery may be manufactured to have a shape of a battery module in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked on each other in one direction. Here, it is possible to sense a voltage of the battery cell included in the battery module by electrically connecting an electrode tab formed on each side of one battery cell and an electrode tab formed on each side of the other battery cell to each other. In this regard, a sensing assembly may be a member included in the battery module to sense a characteristic of the battery cell such as the voltage of a battery cell, as described above. 
     The following Patent Document 1 discloses a battery module as shown in  FIG. 1  in order to calculate the characteristic of such a battery cell. 
     The battery module shown in  FIG. 1  includes a cell assembly  1  including a plurality of rechargeable batteries, an upper housing  2  disposed on a top portion of the cell assembly, and a sensing block  3  having a bus bar in contact with an electrode lead of the rechargeable battery. One purpose of the battery module shown in  FIG. 1  is to have an improved assembling characteristic. The battery module shown in  FIG. 1  has sensing block  3  slidably-coupled to the upper housing  2  in order to improve the assembling characteristic. However, when using a sensing block  3  which is slidably-coupled to the upper housing  2 , the battery module may have an increased overall volume, thereby lowering its energy efficiency per volume. 
     RELATED ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     
         
         (Patent Document 1) Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2018-0135701 (Dec. 21, 2018) 
       
    
     SUMMARY 
     One exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to providing a battery module having an improved energy efficiency per volume. 
     Another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to providing a battery module having a reduced risk of damage from impact. 
     However, the technical concerns to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to the aforementioned problems, and other technical problems of the present disclosure not mentioned herein will be understood by those skilled in the art from the following description of the present disclosure. 
     In one general aspect, a battery module includes: a plurality of battery cells; a front bus bar coupled to any one of the positive and negative electrode tabs of each of the plurality of battery cells; a front support supporting the front bus bar; a front rigid printed circuit board (RPCB) disposed outside the front support and electrically connected to the front bus bar; a front flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) electrically connected to the front RPCB; a first wire electrically connected to the front FPCB to output information transmitted through the front FPCB to an external device of the battery module; a rear bus bar coupled to another one of the positive and negative electrode tabs of each of the plurality of battery cells; a rear support supporting the rear bus bar; a rear RPCB disposed outside the rear support and electrically connected to the rear bus bar; a rear FPCB electrically connected to the rear RPCB; and a second wire electrically connected to the rear FPCB to output information transmitted through the rear FPCB to the external device of the battery module. 
     The front bus bar and the front RPCB may be disposed parallel to each other in a height direction of the battery module, and the rear bus bar and the rear RPCB may also be disposed parallel to each other in the height direction of the battery module. 
     The battery module according to the present disclosure may further include: a front conductor having one side connected to the front bus bar and another side connected to the front RPCB; and a rear conductor having one side connected to the rear bus bar and another side connected to the rear RPCB. 
     The front RPCB may be disposed outside the front support, and the rear RPCB may be disposed outside the rear support. 
     The battery module according to the present disclosure may further include: a first connector coupled to each of the front FPCB and the first wire to electrically connect the front FPCB and the first wire to each other; and a second connector coupled to each of the rear FPCB and the second wire to electrically connect the rear FPCB and the second wire to each other. 
     The front FPCB may include a portion formed along a width direction of the battery module and another portion formed along a longitudinal direction of the battery module, and the rear FPCB may also include a portion formed along the width direction of the battery module and another portion formed along the longitudinal direction of the battery module. 
     The battery module according to the present disclosure may further include a front and rear FPCB support supporting the front FPCB and the rear FPCB by being disposed on a top portion of the plurality of battery cells, and simultaneously, on a bottom portion of the front FPCB and a bottom portion of the rear FPCB. 
     The battery module according to the present disclosure may further include at least one temperature sensor positioned inside the front support or the rear support, and sensing a temperature of at least one battery cell of the plurality of battery cells. 
     The temperature sensor may be positioned on each of the upper and lower portions of the front support or on each of the upper and lower portions of the rear support. 
     The battery module according to the present disclosure may further include a transmission path FPCB for transmitting temperature information, coupled with the front FPCB or the rear FPCB to provide a transmission path of the information on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor. 
     The transmission path FPCB for transmitting the temperature information may include: a front temperature FPCB for transmitting front temperature information disposed on the front support, and providing a front support transmission path of the information on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor positioned inside the front support; a rear temperature FPCB for transmitting rear temperature information disposed on the rear support, and providing a rear support transmission path of the information on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor positioned inside the rear support; a collective FPCB for collecting the temperature information coupled with each of the front temperature FPCB and the rear temperature FPCB to collect the information on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor positioned inside the front support and the information on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor positioned inside the rear support; and a connection FPCB coupled with the collective FPCB, and transmitting the information on the temperature collected by the collective FPCB to the front FPCB or the rear FPCB. 
     The battery module according to the present disclosure may further include a support of the collective FPCB, physically supporting the collective FPCB by being disposed on the top portion of the plurality of battery cells, and simultaneously, on a bottom portion of the collective FPCB. 
     In another general aspect, a battery module comprising: a plurality of battery cells; at least one flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) disposed over the plurality of battery cells, and for transmission of at least voltage or temperature information from the plurality of battery cells; a FPCB support supporting the at least one FPCB by being disposed on a top portion of the plurality of battery cells, and simultaneously, on a bottom portion of the at least one FPCB; and a connector coupled to the FPCB support and connecting the at least one flexible printed circuit board to a wire leading outside the battery module. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a conventional battery module. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a battery module according to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the battery module according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a sensing assembly according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the sensing assembly according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a rear view of the sensing assembly according to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of a sensing assembly according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a view showing a path through which information on a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor is transmitted. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, a battery module of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are only provided by way of example in order to sufficiently transfer the scope and spirit of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art, and the present disclosure is not limited to the accompanying drawing provided below, but may be implemented in other forms. In the present disclosure, an “item A” or an “item B” may indicate only the “item A,” only the “item B” or both the “items A and B”. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a battery module according to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and  FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the battery module according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , a battery module  1000  according to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include a plurality of battery cells  100  and a sensing assembly  200 . 
     In addition, the battery module  1000  may further include a front case  310 , a rear case  320 , side and lower cases  330  and an upper case  340  to cover the plurality of battery cells  100  and the sensing assembly  200 . The front case  310  and the rear case  320  may be positioned to face each other and may cover the front and rear of the sensing assembly  200 , respectively. The side and lower cases  330  may cover the side and bottom portion of the sensing assembly  200 , and the upper case  340  may cover the top portion of the sensing assembly  200 . 
     The plurality of battery cells  100  may each include a pouch  110  accommodating an electrode assembly and an electrode tab  120  protruding from each side of the pouch  110 . Here, when the electrode tab  120  protruding from one side of the pouch  110  is a positive electrode tab, the electrode tab  120  protruding from the other side of the pouch  110  is a negative electrode tab. The plurality of battery cells  100  may be stacked on each other in a longitudinal direction of the battery module  1000  (i.e., +X axis direction in  FIG. 2  although this direction is merely illustrative), and the pouch  110  of each battery cell  100  may be in surface contact with the pouch of another (adjacent) battery cell. 
     Each of  FIGS. 4 to 8  is a view of the sensing assembly  200  included in the battery module  1000 . In detail,  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the sensing assembly according to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;  FIG. 5  is a front view of the sensing assembly according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;  FIG. 6  is a rear view of the sensing assembly according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;  FIG. 7  is a plan view of the sensing assembly according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and  FIG. 8  is a view showing a path through which information on a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor is transmitted. Hereinafter, the sensing assembly  200  and the battery module  1000  including the same according to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with further reference to  FIGS. 4 to 8 . 
     The sensing assembly  200  according to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a front bus bar  211 , a front support  212 , a front rigid printed circuit board (RPCB)  213 , a front flexible printed circuit board (FPCB)  215 , a first wire  217 , and a rear bus bar  221 , a rear support  222 , a rear RPCB  223 , a rear FPCB  225  and a second wire  227 . 
     The front bus bar  211  may be coupled to the electrode tab  120 , i.e. to any one of the positive and negative electrode tabs, of each of the plurality of battery cells  100 . Here, the front bus bar  211  may be electrically connected to any one of the positive and negative electrode tabs of each battery cell  100  for example by welding or soldering, and the front bus bar  211  may sense a voltage of at least one battery cell  100  by this electrical connection. Information on the voltage of at least one battery cell  100 , sensed by the front bus bar  211 , may be transmitted to the first wire  217  through the front RPCB  213  and the front FPCB  215 , described below. First wire  217  and second wire  227  (to be described later) may be composed of multiple wires for transmission of different information from the sensing assembly. Similarly, the flexible printed circuit boards may be composed of multiple conductive lines for transmission of different information within the sensing assembly. 
     The front support  212  may serve to fix the plurality of front bus bars  211 . The front support  212  may include a slit positioned in a height direction of the battery module  1000  (i.e., +Z axis direction in  FIG. 2  although this direction is merely illustrative), and the front bus bar  211  may also include a slit S fb  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) having the same size as the slit S bS  (also shown in  FIG. 4 ) positioned in the front support  212 . Here, a height of the slit(s) positioned in each of the front bus bar  211  and the front support  212  may be the same as or slightly larger than a height of the electrode tab  120 . 
     The front bus bar  211  may be disposed outside the front support  212  (i.e., in a −Y axis direction with respect to the front support  212  in  FIG. 4  although this direction is merely illustrative), and may be fixed to the front support  212  by conventional fixing means (e.g., bolt, welding, soldering, or adhesion). Here, it is preferable in one embodiment to dispose the slit S fb  of the front bus bar  211  and the slit of the front support  212  to correspond to each other. The electrode tab  120  of each battery cell  100  may be sequentially inserted into the slit of the front support  212 , and the slit S fb  of the front bus bar  211 , and the front bus bar  211  and the electrode tab  120  may then be welded (or soldered) and electrically connected to each other. 
     The front RPCB  213  may be electrically connected to the front bus bar  211 . Here, the front RPCB  213  may be disposed outside the front support  212  like the front bus bar  211 . When the front RPCB  213  is disposed outside the front support  212 , the front support  212  may have an improved rigidity compared to a case where a flexible PCB (FPCB) is disposed outside the front support  212 . 
     The front bus bar  211  and the front RPCB  213  may be electrically connected to each other by using a method such as welding (or soldering). Here, the front bus bar  211  and the front RPCB  213  may be welded (or soldered) to each other after a portion of the front RPCB  213  is disposed on an upper portion of the front bus bar  211 . 
     Alternatively, the front bus bar  211  and the front RPCB  213  may be electrically connected to each other through a front conductor  214  having one side connected to the front bus bar  211  and the other side connected to the front RPCB  213 . Here, the front bus bar  211  and the front RPCB  213  may be electrically connected to each other through the front conductor  214  by disposing the front bus bar  211  and the front RPCB  213  parallel to each other in the height direction of the battery module  1000  (i.e., +Z axis direction in  FIG. 2  although this direction is merely illustrative), disposing the front conductor  214  on each upper portion of the front bus bar  211  and the front RPCB  213 , and then welding (or soldering) the front bus bar  211  and the front conductor  214  to each other, and the front RPCB  213  and the front conductor  214  to each other. 
     As such, when the front conductor  214  is used to electrically connect the front bus bar  211  and the front RPCB  213  to each other, the battery module  1000  may have a smaller size in a width direction (i.e., +Y axis direction in  FIG. 2  although this direction is merely illustrative) compared to a case where a portion of the front RPCB  213  is disposed on the upper portion of the front bus bar  211 , and the front bus bar  211  and the front RPCB  213  are then welded to each other. 
     The front FPCB  215  may have one side electrically connected to the front RPCB  213 , and the other side electrically connected to the first wire  217  through a first connector  216  described below. Here, a protection pad  300  may be positioned covering the front FPCB  215  in a region where the front FPCB  215  is positioned and/or in a region where the front RPCB  213  is positioned in order to more reliably implement the electrical connection between the front FPCB  215  and the front RPCB  213 . 
     The RPCB or the wire is conventionally used instead of the FPCB to provide a transmission path of the information on the voltage sensed by the front bus bar  211 , which may result in a larger size of the battery module  1000  in the height direction (e.g., in the +Z axis direction in  FIG. 2 ). Accordingly, the present disclosure uses the FPCB (i.e., front FPCB  215 ) to provide the transmission path of the information on the voltage sensed by the front bus bar  211 , which may allow the battery module  1000  to have a smaller size in the height direction (e.g., in the +Z axis direction in  FIG. 2 ) compared to the case of using the RPCB or the wire. 
     The first connector  216  may be coupled to each of the front FPCB  215  and the first wire  217  to electrically connect the front FPCB  215  and the first wire  217  to each other. In more detail, the first connector  216  may have one side to which the front FPCB  215  is coupled, and the other side to which the first wire  217  is coupled. It is possible to more reliably implement the electrical connection between the front FPCB  215  and the first wire  217  by electrically connecting the front FPCB  215  and the first wire  217  to each other through the first connector  216  which is itself coupled to and held by the front and rear FPCB support  400  (described in more detail later). 
     The first wire  217  may be electrically connected to the front FPCB  215 , and output the information transmitted to an external device of the battery module  1000  through the front FPCB  215 . Here, the information transmitted through the front FPCB  215  may be information on the voltage of at least one or more battery cells  100  or information on temperature as described below. 
     One end of the first wire  217  may be directly connected to the front FPCB  215 . Alternatively, one end of the first wire  217  may be indirectly connected to the front FPCB  215  by being connected to the first connector  216 . The other end of the first wire  217  may be connected to a battery management system of an electric vehicle, for example. In this case, the battery management system may perform voltage balancing of the plurality of battery cells  100  or control charging and discharging of the plurality of battery cells  100 , by using the information output from the first wire  217 . 
     As described above, one end of the front FPCB  215  may be electrically connected to the front RPCB  213 , and the other end of the front FPCB  215  may be electrically connected to the first wire  217 . Here, the first wire  217  may serve as a conductor connected to the battery management system or the like, and may thus preferably in one embodiment be positioned at any end of the battery module  1000 . Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 4 , it is preferable in one embodiment that the front FPCB  215  includes a portion formed along the width direction of the battery module  1000  (in more detail, e.g. in the +Y axis direction in  FIG. 4 ), and a portion formed along the longitudinal direction of the battery module  1000  (in more detail, e.g., −X axis direction in  FIG. 4 ). 
     The FPCB may have a thickness significantly smaller than a printed circuit board (PCB) or a wire, and may thus contribute to reducing the size of the battery module  1000  in the height direction (e.g., in the +Z axis direction in  FIG. 4 ). However, the FPCB may be vulnerable to external friction, and be at risk of damage, being easily torn for example, occurring during actual use. Accordingly, the battery module may preferably in one embodiment include a front and rear FPCB support  400  physically supporting the front FPCB  215  and the rear FPCB  225  firmly by being disposed on a top portion of the plurality of battery cells  100 , and simultaneously, on a bottom portion of the front FPCB  215  and on a bottom portion of the rear FPCB  225  to be described below. When such a front and rear FPCB support  400  is positioned on the battery module  1000 , it is possible to prevent a possibility that the plurality of battery cells  100  will directly rub against the front FPCB  215  and the rear FPCB  225 , thereby significantly reducing the risk of damage to the front FPCB  215  and rear FPCB  225 . 
     The rear bus bar  221  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) may be coupled to the electrode tab  120  of each of the plurality of battery cells  100 . When the rear bus bar  221  is coupled to any one of the positive and negative electrode tabs of each of the plurality of battery cells  100 , the rear bus bar  221  positioned to face the front bus bar  211  may be coupled to another one of the positive and negative electrode tabs of each of the plurality of battery cells  100 . Here, the rear bus bar  221  may be electrically connected to another one of the positive and negative electrode tabs of each battery cell  100  by welding (or soldering), and the rear bus bar  221  may sense the voltage of at least one battery cell  100  by this electrical connection. Information on the voltage of at least one battery cell  100 , sensed by the rear bus bar  221 , may be transmitted to the second wire  227  through the rear RPCB  223  and the rear FPCB  225 , described below. 
     The rear support  222  may serve to fix the plurality of rear bus bars  221 . The rear support  222  may include a slit S bS  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) positioned in the height direction of the battery module  1000  (i.e., +Z axis direction in  FIG. 2 ), and the rear bus bar  221  may also include a slit S bb  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) having the same size as the slit positioned in the rear support  222 . Here, a height of the slit(s) positioned in each of the rear bus bar  221  and the rear support  222  may be the same as or slightly larger than the height of the electrode tab  120 . 
     The rear bus bar  221  may be disposed outside the rear support  222  (i.e., in the +Y axis direction with respect to the rear support  222  in  FIG. 4 ), and may be fixed to the rear support  222  by the conventional fixing means (e.g., bolt, welding, soldering, or adhesion). Here, it is preferable in one embodiment to dispose the slit S bb  of the rear bus bar  221  and the slit of the rear support  222  to correspond to each other. The electrode tab  120  of each battery cell  100  may be sequentially inserted into the slit S bS  of the rear support  222  and the slit S bb  of the rear bus bar  221 , and the rear bus bar  221  and the electrode tab  120  may then be welded and electrically connected to each other. 
     The rear RPCB  223  may be electrically connected to the rear bus bar  221 . Here, the rear RPCB  223  may be disposed outside the rear support  222  like the rear bus bar  222 . When the rear RPCB  223  is disposed outside the rear support  222 , the rear support  222  may have an improved rigidity compared to a case where the FPCB is disposed outside the rear support  222 . 
     The rear bus bar  221  and the rear RPCB  223  may be electrically connected to each other by using the method such as welding. Here, the rear bus bar  221  and the rear RPCB  223  may be welded to each other after a portion of the rear RPCB  223  is disposed on an upper portion of the rear bus bar  221 . 
     Alternatively, the rear bus bar  221  and the rear RPCB  223  may be electrically connected to each other through a rear conductor  224  having one side connected to the rear bus bar  221  and the other side connected to the rear RPCB  223 . Here, the rear bus bar  221  and the rear RPCB  223  may be electrically connected to each other through the rear conductor  224  by disposing the rear bus bar  221  and the rear RPCB  223  parallel to each other in the height direction of the battery module  1000  (i.e., +Z axis direction in  FIG. 2 ), disposing the rear conductor  224  on each upper portion of the rear bus bar  221  and the rear RPCB  223 , and then welding the rear bus bar  221  and the rear conductor  224  to each other, and the rear RPCB  223  and the rear conductor  224  to each other. 
     As such, when the rear conductor  224  is used to electrically connect the rear bus bar  221  and the rear RPCB  223  to each other, the battery module  1000  may have a smaller size in the width direction (i.e., +Y axis direction in  FIG. 2 ) compared to a case where a portion of the rear RPCB  223  is disposed on the upper portion of the rear bus bar  221 , and the rear bus bar  221  and the rear RPCB  223  are then welded (or soldered) to each other. 
     The rear FPCB  225  may have one side electrically connected to the rear RPCB  223 , and the other side electrically connected to the second wire  227  through a second connector  226  described below. Here, the protection pad  300  may be positioned covering the rear FPCB  225  in a region where the rear FPCB  225  is positioned and/or in a region where the rear RPCB  223  is positioned in order to more reliably implement the electrical connection between the rear FPCB  225  and the rear RPCB  223 . 
     The RPCB or the wire is conventionally used instead of the FPCB to provide a transmission path of the information on the voltage sensed by the rear bus bar  221 , which may result in the larger size of the battery module  1000  in the height direction (+Z axis direction in  FIG. 2 ). Accordingly, the present disclosure uses the FPCB (i.e., rear FPCB  225 ) to provide the transmission path of the information on the voltage sensed by the rear bus bar  221 , which may allow the battery module  1000  to have the smaller size in the height direction (+Z axis direction in  FIG. 2 ) compared to the case of using the RPCB or the wire. 
     The second connector  226  may be coupled to each of the rear FPCB  225  and the rear wire  227 , and electrically connect the rear FPCB  225  and the second wire  227  to each other. In more detail, the second connector  226  may have one side to which the rear FPCB  225  is coupled, and the other side to which the second wire  227  is coupled. It is possible to more reliably implement the electrical connection between the rear FPCB  225  and the second wire  227  by electrically connecting the rear FPCB  225  and the second wire  227  to each other through the second connector  226 . 
     The second wire  227  may be electrically connected to the rear FPCB  225 , and output the information transmitted through the rear FPCB  225  to the external device of the battery module  1000 . Here, the information transmitted through the rear FPCB  225  may be information on the voltage of at least one or more battery cells  100  and/or information on a temperature thereof as described below. 
     One end of the second wire  227  may be directly connected to the rear FPCB  225 . Alternatively, one end of the second wire  227  may be indirectly connected to the rear FPCB  225  by being connected to the second connector  226 . The other end of the second wire  227  may be connected to the battery management system of an electric vehicle, for example. In this case, the battery management system may perform the voltage balancing of the plurality of battery cells  100  or control the charging and discharging of the plurality of battery cells  100 , by using the information output from the second wire  227 . 
     As described above, one end of the rear FPCB  225  may be electrically connected to the rear RPCB  223 , and the other end of the rear FPCB  225  may be electrically connected to the second wire  227 . Here, the second wire  227  may serve as the conductor connected to the battery management system or the like, and may thus preferably in one embodiment be positioned at any one end of the battery module  1000 . Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 4 , it is preferable in one embodiment that the rear FPCB  225  includes a portion formed along the width direction of the battery module  1000  (in more detail, e.g., in the −Y axis direction in  FIG. 4 ), and a portion formed along the longitudinal direction of the battery module  1000  (in more detail, e.g., in the −X axis direction in  FIG. 4 ). 
     The FPCBs  215  and  225  may be significantly thinner compared to the printed circuit board (PCB) or the wire, and may thus contribute to reducing the size of the battery module  1000  in the height direction (e.g., in the +Z axis direction in  FIG. 4 ). However, the FPCB may be vulnerable to the external friction, and have be at risk of damage, being easily torn for example, occurring during the actual use. Accordingly, as described above, the battery module may preferably in one embodiment include the front and rear FPCB support  400  physically supporting the front FPCB  215  and the rear FPCB  225  firmly by being disposed on the top portion of the plurality of battery cells  100 , and simultaneously, on the bottom portion of the front FPCB  215  and on the bottom portion of the rear FPCB  225 . 
     Meanwhile, the battery module  1000  may include at least one temperature sensor  500 . The temperature sensor  500  may be positioned inside the front support  212  (e.g., in the +Y axis direction with respect to the front support  212  in  FIG. 4 ) or the rear support  222  (e.g., in the −Y axis direction with respect to the rear support  222  in  FIG. 4 ), and may sense a temperature of at least one battery cell of the plurality of battery cells  100 . 
     Here, the temperature sensor  500  may be positioned on each of the upper and lower portions of the front support  212 , and may sense a temperature of an upper front region of the battery cell  100  and a temperature of a lower front region of the battery cell  100 . In addition, the temperature sensor  500  may be positioned on each of the upper and lower portions of the rear support  222 , and may sense a temperature of an upper rear region of the battery cell  100  and a temperature of a lower rear region of the battery cell  100 . As the temperature sensor  500  is evenly disposed in each region of the battery cell  100  in this way, it is possible to accurately sense temperature uniformity of the battery module  1000 . 
     The information on the temperature of the battery cell  100  sensed by the temperature sensor  500  may be required to be finally output to the outside (e.g., to the afore-mentioned battery management system) of the battery module  1000  through the first wire  217  or the second wire  227 . To this end, the sensing assembly  200  may include an FPCB  600  (that is a transmission path FPCB) for transmitting temperature information, which is electrically connected to the temperature sensor  500 . The FPCB  600  for transmitting the temperature information may be coupled with the front FPCB  215  or the rear FPCB  225  to provide a transmission path of the information on the temperature of the battery cell  100  sensed by the temperature sensor  500 . 
     The FPCB  600  for transmitting the temperature information may include an FPCB  610  for transmitting front temperature information, an FPCB  620  for transmitting rear temperature information, an FPCB  630  for collecting the temperature information and a connection FPCB  640 . 
     The FPCB  610  for transmitting the front temperature information may be disposed on the front support  212 , and provide the transmission path of the information on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor  500  (including temperature sensors  510  and  520 ) positioned inside the front support  212 . Here, the temperature sensor  500  positioned inside the front support  212  may include an upper front temperature sensor  510  positioned on the upper inside of the front support  212 , and a lower front temperature sensor  520  positioned on the lower inside of the front support  212 . Some of the FPCB  610  for transmitting the front temperature information may be disposed on the front RPCB  213 . 
     The FPCB  620  for transmitting the rear temperature information may be disposed on the rear support  222 , and provide the transmission path of the information on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor  500  (including temperature sensors  530  and  540 ) positioned inside the rear support  222 . Here, the temperature sensor  500  positioned inside the rear support  222  may include an upper rear temperature sensor  530  positioned on the upper inside of the rear support  222 , and a lower rear temperature sensor  540  positioned on the lower inside of the rear support  222 . Some of the FPCB  620  for transmitting the rear temperature information may be disposed on the rear RPCB  223 . 
     The FPCB  630  for collecting the temperature information may be coupled with each of the FPCB  610  for transmitting the front temperature information and the FPCB  620  for transmitting the rear temperature information to collect the information on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor  500  (i.e. temperature sensors  510  and  520 ) positioned inside the front support  212  and the information on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor  500  (i.e. temperature sensors  530  and  540 ) positioned inside the rear support  222 . That is, the FPCB  630  for collecting the temperature information may have one side coupled with the FPCB  610  for transmitting the front temperature information and the other side coupled with the FPCB  620  for transmitting the rear temperature information. 
     The connection FPCB  640  may be coupled with the FPCB  630  for collecting the temperature information, and transmit the information on the temperature collected by the FPCB  630  for collecting the temperature information to the front FPCB  215  or the rear FPCB  225 . That is, the connection FPCB  640  may have one side coupled with the FPCB  630  for collecting the temperature information, and the other side coupled with the front FPCB  215  or the rear FPCB  225 .  FIG. 6  shows in one embodiment that the other side of the connection FPCB  640  is coupled with the rear FPCB  225 . However, in another embodiment, the other side of the connection FPCB  640  may be coupled with the front FPCB  215  when switching the positions of the temperature sensor  500  and the FPCB  600  for transmitting the temperature information to each other. 
     The protection pad  300  may be positioned on each of their coupling portions to more reliably implement the coupling of the FPCB  610  for transmitting the front temperature information and the FPCB  630  for collecting the temperature information, the coupling of the FPCB  620  for transmitting the rear temperature information and the FPCB  630  for collecting the temperature information, the coupling of the FPCB  630  for collecting the temperature information and the connection FPCB  640 , and the coupling of the FPCB  215  and  225  and the connection FPCB  640 . In addition, the coupling between the FPCB may include an electrical connection. 
     Referring mainly to  FIG. 8 , the information on the temperature sensed by the rear upper temperature sensor  530  may be transmitted to the second wire  227  through the FPCB  620  for transmitting the rear temperature information and the rear FPCB  225 . In addition, the temperature information sensed by the lower rear temperature sensor  540  may be transmitted to the second wire  227  through the FPCB  620  for transmitting the rear temperature information, the connection FPCB  640  and the rear FPCB  225 . 
     The information on the temperature sensed by the upper front temperature sensor  510  may be collected to a rear side of the sensing assembly  200  (e.g., in the +Y axis direction in  FIG. 8 ) through the FPCB  610  for transmitting the front temperature information and the FPCB  630  for collecting the temperature information. In addition, the information on the temperature sensed by the lower front temperature sensor  520  may also be collected to the rear side of the sensing assembly  200  through the FPCB  610  for transmitting the front temperature information and the FPCB  630  for collecting the temperature information. The information on the temperature sensed by the upper front temperature sensor  510  and the information on the temperature sensed by the lower front temperature sensor  520  may then be transmitted to the second wire  227  through the connection FPCB  640  and the rear FPCB  225 . 
     As the FPCB  600  for transmitting the temperature information is configured in this way, the information on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensors  500  (including temperature sensors  510 ,  520 ,  530  and  540 ) positioned in various places may be collected and output from one wire (i.e., second wire  227  in the example above). 
     As described above, the FPCB(s) may have a thickness significantly smaller than RPCB or the wire, and may thus be vulnerable to the external friction to have a risk of damage. Accordingly, the battery module may preferably in one embodiment include a support  700  of the FPCB for collecting temperature information, physically supporting the FPCB  630  for collecting the temperature information firmly by being disposed on the top portion of the plurality of battery cells  100 , and simultaneously, on a bottom portion of the FPCB  630  for collecting the temperature information. When the support  700  of the FPCB for collecting the temperature information is positioned on the battery module  1000 , it is possible to prevent a possibility that the plurality of battery cells  100  will directly rub against the FPCB  630  for collecting the temperature information, thereby significantly reducing the risk of damage to the FPCB  630  for collecting the temperature information. 
     Meanwhile, as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the sensing assembly  200  may include a first bus bar terminal  810  and a second bus bar terminal  820 . The first bus bar terminal  810  may be positioned on one side of the rear support  222  (e.g., left side in the Y axis direction in  FIG. 4 ), and may be electrically connected to a bus bar terminal of another (e.g., adjacent) battery module to be disposed on the left side of the first bus bar terminal  810 . The second bus bar terminal  820  may be positioned on the other side of the rear support  222  (e.g., right side in the Y axis direction in  FIG. 4 ), and may be electrically connected to a bus bar terminal of another (e.g., adjacent) battery module to be disposed on the right side of the first bus bar terminal  820 . That is, the first bus bar terminal  810  and the second bus bar terminal  820  may be used to electrically connect the battery module  1000  to another battery module. 
     As set forth above, the battery module according to the present disclosure may use the FPCB(s) to provide the transmission path of the information on the voltage or temperature thereof sensed by the bus bar. According to the present disclosure, the battery module may have a smaller size in the height direction compared to the case of using the RPCB or the wire instead of the FPCB to provide the transmission path of the information on the voltage or temperature, and thus have the improved energy efficiency per volume. 
     In addition, the battery module according to the present disclosure may use the wire to output the information transmitted through the FPCB to an external device of the battery module. According to present disclosure, it is possible to reduce the risk of damage not only to the FPCB but also to the battery module from the external shock compared to the case where the FPCB is exposed outward from the battery module as it is. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to the exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings, it is not limited to the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments but may be variously modified and changed from the above description by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. Therefore, the scope and spirit of the present disclosure should be understood of the following claims, and all of the equivalences and equivalent modifications to the claims are intended to fall within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.