Patent Publication Number: US-2023147648-A1

Title: Voltage variable battery cell module and series output connector thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Field 
     The technical field of the present disclosure relates to a voltage variable battery cell module, and in particular, to a voltage variable battery cell module. 
     Description of Related Art 
     The related-art battery cell modules are often constructed by a plurality of battery cells arranged to stack onto each other, and the related-art battery cell typically includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and the battery cells are connected in parallel, followed by connecting to the control circuit board via the positive and negative electrodes. The voltage of the battery cell depends on the potential difference between the materials of the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate. Since the materials available for the selection of positive electrode and negative electrode are limited, the voltage of a battery cell is generally at approximately 3.7 V. Accordingly, as the voltage of a lithium battery is limited by the material, the increased number of battery cells only increase the electric capacity but the voltage remains unchanged. Consequently, to satisfy different voltage requirements of various devices, it is necessary to utilize transformation circuits for voltage conversion. 
     In view of the above, the inventor seeks to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks associated with the current technology and aims to provide an effective solution through extensive researches along with utilization of academic principles and knowledge. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure provides a voltage variable battery cell module, including two battery cell groups and an insulative seat. The insulative seat includes an output anode and an output cathode. In addition, the battery cell groups are electrically connected to the output anode and the output cathode respectively, and the battery cells are connected in series with each other. 
     According to the voltage variable battery cell module of present disclosure, at least one of the battery cell groups includes a plurality of battery cells connected in parallel with each other. At least one of the battery cell groups may include a plurality of battery cells connected in parallel with each other. 
     According to the voltage variable battery cell module of present disclosure, it further includes a series electrode; the series electrode is respectively connected to each one of the battery cell groups to connect the battery cell groups in series. The series electrode is of an elongated shape and extended to cross between the output anode and the output cathode. 
     According to the voltage variable battery cell module of present disclosure, the series electrode is of an elongated shape; the series electrode has a non-uniform cross-sectional area, and a narrowest portion of the series electrode forms a buffer section. 
     According to the voltage variable battery cell module of present disclosure, the series electrode includes a detection terminal. The detection terminal protrudes out of the insulative seat. The output anode, the output cathode and the detection terminal protrude out of the insulative seat at the same side. 
     According to the voltage variable battery cell module of present disclosure, it further includes an outer casing; the outer casing includes an opening; the battery cell groups are received inside the outer casing and the insulative seat is arranged on the opening to close the outer casing. 
     The present disclosure further provides a series output connector, including an insulative seat. The insulative seat has an output anode, an output cathode and a series electrode embedded therein. The series electrode has an elongated shape and is extended to cross between the output anode and the output cathode. 
     According to the series output connector of the present disclosure, the series electrode is extended to cross two sides of the output anode. The series electrode is extended to cross two sides of the output cathode. 
     According to the series output connector of the present disclosure, the series electrode includes a detection terminal. The detection terminal protrudes out of the insulative seat. The output anode, the output cathode and the detection terminal protrude out of the insulative seat at the same side. 
     According to the series output connector of the present disclosure, the series electrode has a non-uniform cross-sectional area, and a narrowest portion of the series electrode forms a buffer section. 
     In view of the above, the voltage variable battery cell module of the present disclosure is able to utilize the multiplied voltage resulting from the internal battery cells connected in series to change the output voltage depending upon the use requirements of different devices. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is an exploded view of the series output connector of the voltage variable battery cell module according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective exploded view of the voltage variable battery cell module according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic view showing the battery cells connected in series in the voltage variable battery cell module according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view of the voltage variable battery cell module according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    is another cross-sectional view of the voltage variable battery cell module according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6    is an exploded view of the series output connector of the voltage variable battery cell module according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective exploded view of the voltage variable battery cell module according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  8    is a schematic view showing the battery cells connected in series in the voltage variable battery cell module according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  9    is a cross-sectional view of the voltage variable battery cell module according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  10    is another cross-sectional view of the voltage variable battery cell module according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Please refer to  FIG.  1    to  FIG.  5   . According to a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a voltage variable battery cell module includes an outer casing  100 , at least two battery cell groups  200   a ,  200   b  and a series output connector  300 . 
     In this exemplary embodiment, the outer casing  100  is a flat insulation box, and one lateral side of the outer casing  100  includes an opening  101 . 
     The battery cell groups  200   a ,  200   b  are stacked and received inside the outer casing  100 . In this exemplary embodiment, each one of the battery cell groups  200   a ,  200   b  respectively includes a plurality of battery cells  210   a ,  210   b  connected in series with each other. To be more specific, each one of the battery cells  210   a ,  210   b  respectively includes a packaging bag, and the packaging bag includes anode plates and cathode plates stacked in layers therein. One of the anode plates includes one anode lug  211   a ,  211   b  extended outward, and one of the cathode plates includes one cathode lug  212   a ,  212   b  extended outward. The anode lugs  211   a ,  211   b  and the cathode lugs  212   a ,  212   b  protrude out of the packaging bag, and the anode lugs  211   a ,  211   b  and cathode lugs  212   a ,  212   b  are disposed at two sides of the opening  101  for electrical connection. A plurality of battery cell groups  200   a ,  200   b  are connected to a control circuit board and are further packaged to form a battery. 
     A series output connector  300  is provided to be electrically connected to each one of the battery cell groups  200   a ,  200   b  for external electrical connection thereto, and the series output connector  300  may be connected to the battery cell groups  200   a ,  200   b  in series. In this exemplary embodiment, the series output connector  300  includes an insulative seat  310 . The insulative seat  300  includes an outer side surface  311 , and the insulative seat  310  is arranged on the opening  101  to close the outer casing  100  and the outer side surface  311  is exposed externally. The insulative seat  310  includes an output anode  321  and an output cathode  322 . In addition, at least a portion of each of the output anode  321  and the output cathode  322  is exposed at the outer side surface  311  of the insulative seat  310  for external electrical connection thereto. Each one of the battery cell groups  200   a ,  200   b  is electrically connected to the output anode  321  and the output cathode  322  respectively, and the battery cell groups  200 ,  200   b  are connected in series with each other. To be more specific, the insulative seat  310  includes at least one series electrode  330   a ,  330   b  embedded therein. The series electrodes  330   a ,  330   b  are connected to each one of the battery cell groups  200   a ,  200   b  respectively to connect the battery cell groups  200   a ,  200   b  in series. In this exemplary embodiment, the insulative seat  310  is formed by a plurality of component parts to facilitate the assembly of the output anode  321 , the output cathode  322  and the series electrode  330   a ,  330   b . The present disclosure is not limited to such configuration only. 
     The specific structure of the series electrodes  330   a ,  330   b  is described in details as follows. In this exemplary embodiment, it includes three series electrodes  330   a ,  300   b , and each one of the series electrodes  330   a ,  330   b  are of an elongated shape. The series electrodes  330   a ,  330   b  are used for connecting the anode lugs  211   a ,  211   b  and the cathode lugs  212   a ,  212   b  of any two battery cells  210   a ,  210   b  to connect the two battery cells  210   a ,  210   b  in series. Two ends of at least one of the series electrodes  330   a  are arranged corresponding to the output anode  321  and the output cathode  322  to cross between the output anode  321  and the output cathode  322 . In addition, the series electrode  330   a  is extended in an S shape such that it is able to cross the two sides of the output cathode  322  respectively. The series electrode  330   a  is extended to cross the two sides of the output cathode  322  to connect the anode lug  211  and the cathode lug  212   a ,  212   b  disposed at two sides of the opening  101  respectively. In this exemplary embodiment, the other two series electrodes  330   a  are in a straight-line shape and are connected to the anode lugs  211   a ,  211   b  and the cathode lugs  212   a ,  212   b  arranged parallel to each other at the same side of the opening  101 . 
     In this exemplary embodiment, the series electrode  330   b  includes a buffer section  331  arranged thereon and used as a fuse protection mechanism for current overflow. To be more specific, the series electrode  330   a  has a non-uniform cross-sectional area, and a narrowest portion of the series electrode  330   a  forms the buffer section  331 . During the operation of the series electrode  330   a , current flows from one end of the series electrode  330   a  to another end of the series electrode  330   a . The resistance of the buffer section  331  is greater than other parts of the series electrode  330   a . As the current load increases, the temperature increasing rate of the buffer section  331  is higher than that of the rest of the parts of the series electrode  330   a . When the current overflow occurs at the series electrode  330   a , the buffer section  331  may reach the melting point first such that fusing occurs. In comparison to the related-art fusing type of fuse that uses metal bridge of low melting point to achieve the fusing mechanism, the fusing mechanism of this disclosure facilitates the manufacturing process and is able to prevent external resistance from presenting at the connection part of different metals. 
     In this exemplary embodiment, the series electrodes  330   a ,  330   b  may include one detection terminal  332 . The detection terminal  332  protrudes out of the insulative seat  310 . The output anode  321 , the output cathode  322  and the detection terminal  332  protrude out of the insulative seat  310  at the same side. The detection terminal  332  is used to detect whether the battery working state is normal. The voltage difference between the detection terminal  332  and the output anode  321  or output cathode  322  may be obtained for comparison with the predefined value to determine whether the battery working state is normal. In case of voltage abnormality, it may be compensated and corrected with the control circuit. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  6    to  FIG.  10   . According to a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a voltage variable battery cell module includes an outer casing  100 , at least two battery cell groups  200   c ,  200   d  and a series output connector  300 . 
     In this exemplary embodiment, the outer casing  100  is a flat insulation box, and one lateral side of the outer casing  100  includes an opening  101 . 
     The battery cell groups  200   c ,  200   d  are stacked and received inside the outer casing  100 . In this exemplary embodiment, each one of the battery cell groups  200   c ,  200   d  respectively includes a plurality of battery cells  210   c ,  210   d  connected in series with each other. To be more specific, each one of the battery cells  210   c ,  210   d  respectively includes a packaging bag, and the packaging bag includes anode plates and cathode plates stacked in layers therein. One of the anode plates includes one anode lug  211   c ,  211   d  extended outward, and one of the cathode plates includes one cathode lug  212   c ,  212   d  extended outward. The anode lugs  211   c ,  211   d  and the cathode lugs  212   c ,  212   d  protrude out of the packaging bag, and the anode lugs  211   c ,  211   d  and cathode lugs  212   c ,  212   d  are disposed at two sides of the opening  101  for electrical connection. A plurality of battery cell groups  200   c ,  200   d  are connected to a control circuit board and are further packaged to form a battery. 
     A series output connector  300  is provided to be electrically connected to each one of the battery cell groups  200   c ,  200   d  for external electrical connection thereto, and the series output connector  300  may connect the battery cell groups  200   c ,  200   d  in series. In this exemplary embodiment, the series output connector  300  includes an insulative seat  310 . The insulative seat  300  includes an outer side surface  311 , and the insulative seat  310  is arranged on the opening  101  to close the outer casing  100  and the outer side surface  311  is exposed externally. The insulative seat includes an output anode  321  and an output cathode  322 . In addition, at least a portion of each of the output anode  321  and the output cathode  322  is exposed at the outer side surface  311  of the insulative seat  310  for external electrical connection thereto. Each one of the battery cell groups  220   c ,  200   d  is electrically connected to the output anode  321  and the output cathode  322  respectively, and the battery cells  200   c ,  200   d  are connected in series with each other. To be more specific, the insulative seat  310  includes a series electrode  330  embedded therein. The series electrodes  330  is connected to each one of the battery cell groups  200   c ,  200   d  respectively to connect the battery cell groups  200   c ,  200   d  in series. 
     The specific structure of the series electrode  330  is described in the following. In this exemplary embodiment, it includes a series electrode  330 , and the series electrode  330  is of an elongated shape and used for connecting to the anode lugs  211   c ,  211   d  and cathode lugs  212   c ,  212   d  of any two battery cells  210   c ,  210   d  to connect the two battery cells  210   c ,  210   d  in series. Two ends of the series electrodes  330  are arranged corresponding to the output anode  321  and the output cathode  322  to cross between the output anode  321  and the output cathode  322 . In addition, such series electrode  330  is extended in an S shape to cross the two sides of the output cathode  322  respectively. The series electrode  330  is extended to cross the two sides of the output cathode  322  to connect the anode lugs  211   c ,  211   d  and the cathode lugs  212   c ,  212   d  disposed at two sides of the opening  101  respectively. 
     In this exemplary embodiment, the series electrode  330  may include a detection terminal  332 . The detection terminal  332  protrudes out of the insulative seat  310 . The output anode  321 , the output cathode  322  and the detection terminal  322  protrude out of the insulative seat  310  at the same side. The detection terminal  322  is used to detect whether the battery working state is normal. The voltage difference between the detection terminal  332  and the output anode  321  or output cathode  322  may be obtained for comparison with the predefined value to determine whether the battery working state is normal. In case of voltage abnormality, it may be compensated and corrected with the control circuit. 
     In view of the above, the voltage variable battery cell module of the present disclosure is able to utilize the multiplied voltage resulting from the internal battery cells  210   a ,  210   b ,  210   c ,  210   d  connected in series to change the output voltage depending upon the use requirements of different devices. 
     The above description is provided to illustrate the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure only such that it shall not be treated as limitation to the claimed scope of the present disclosure. In addition, any equivalent modification made based on the present disclosure shall be considered to be within the claimed scope of the present disclosure.