Patent Description:
Secondary batteries, which are easily applied to various product groups and has electrical characteristics such as high energy density, are universally applied not only for a portable device but also for an electric vehicle (EV) or a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), an energy storage system or the like, which is driven by an electric driving source. The secondary battery is attracting attention as a new environment-friendly energy source for improving energy efficiency since it gives a primary advantage of remarkably reducing the use of fossil fuels and also does not generate by-products from the use of energy at all.

A battery pack for use in electric vehicles has a structure in which a plurality of cell assemblies, each including a plurality of unit cells, are connected in series to obtain a high output. In addition, the unit cell can be repeatedly charged and discharged by electrochemical reactions among components, which include a positive electrode current collector, a negative electrode current collector, a separator, an active material, an electrolyte and the like.

Meanwhile, as the need for a large capacity structure is increasing along with the utilization as an energy storage source in recent years, there is a growing demand for a battery pack with a multi-module structure in which a plurality of battery modules, each including a plurality of secondary batteries connected in series and/or in parallel, are integrated.

When a plurality of battery cells are connected in series or in parallel to configure a battery pack, it is common to configure a battery module composed of at least one battery cell first, and then configure a battery pack by using at least one battery module and adding other components. The number of battery modules included in the battery pack, or the number of battery cells included in the battery module may be variously set according to the required output voltage or the demanded charge/discharge capacity.

The battery module is configured to package battery cells, various electric components and the like in a module case, and further includes a module connector which is connected to an external connector for electrical connection with external devices, etc. outside the module case. The external connector may be, for example, a connector for electrically connecting a plurality of battery modules.

In the conventional battery module, the direction of the connector is predetermined for each module. Therefore, there was a need to develop a module with a symmetrical structure according to the predetermined direction of the connector. In this case, all of the same parts were re-developed in a symmetrical form, which resulted in time and cost loss, and increased process complexity.

<CIT> refers to a battery connecting module and battery apparatus. The battery connecting module comprises a plurality of current converging connecting pieces, two output electrode parts and a carrying plate; the carrying plate comprises multiple current converging connecting piece bearing units for bearing the multiple current converging connecting pieces and two output electrode bearing units for bearing the two output electrodes respectively; each current converging connecting piece bearing unit has two side buckling configurations and two opposite buckling configurations; the multiple current converging connecting piece bearing units are buckled by the multiple side buckling configurations which are complementary in an adjacent state to be connected into two rows of arrangement structures, wherein the two opposite buckling configurations of one current converging connecting piece bearing unit of one arrangement structure are buckled on adjacent multiple opposite buckling configurations, which are complementary in opposite directions, of the adjacent two current converging connecting piece bearing units of the other arrangement structure; and the two output electrode bearing units are buckled with the multiple current converging connecting piece bearing units at the two ends of the carrying plate in the length direction respectively.

<CIT> refers to a connecting piece and battery connection module. The electrode connecting piece includes two electrode connection parts of a body structure, and the circuit board connecting piece includes a fixed part and at least one guide pin protruding from the fixed part.

<CIT> refers to a battery module. The battery module includes: a cell cartridge assembly including at least one battery cell and a plurality of stacking cartridges individually accommodating the battery cell and arranged in a layered structure along the height direction; and a sensing assembly mounted on at least one side of the cell cartridge assembly to sense the electrical characteristic of the battery cell. Each stacking cartridge has a bolt assembly finger protruding from at least one corner area thereof more than other corner areas. The bolt assembly finger includes an assembly guide part provided in a slot shape. The sensing assembly includes: a sensing assembly main body having the shape of a plate-shaped structure and having a plurality of sensing members mounted thereon; and an assembly plate integrally formed with the sensing assembly main body and capable of being inserted into the assembly guide part of the bolt assembly finger.

<CIT> relates to a connector connecting batteries. The connector for connecting the plurality of cell batteries having a projected thin plate-like electrode is constituted to hold a conductive bus bar in a housing provided with an electrode insertion slit for inserting an electrode of each cell battery, in one face side. An action face is provided in an inner face of the electrode insertion slit, to deform the electrode toward an electrode junction part of the bus bar along with an advance of the insertion. A junction slit communicated with the electrode insertion slit is provided in the other face side of the housing, and the electrode is joined to the electrode junction part via the junction slit.

Therefore, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a battery module capable of changing the direction of a module connector as necessary after production of the battery module, by configuring the fastening structure of the module connector mounted on the battery module so that the module connector can be inserted bidirectionally.

However, the problem to be solved by the embodiments of the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described problems, and can be variously expanded within the scope of the technical idea included in the present disclosure.

A battery module according to the present invention includes: a cell assembly including at least one battery cell; a module case accommodating the cell assembly; and a module connector mounted outside the module case, electrically connected to the cell assembly, and connected to an external connector outside the module case. A coupling surface of the module connector has a first fastening part opened in at least one direction, and a corresponding coupling surface outside the module case has a second fastening part that is bidirectionally opened so as to be inserted into the first fastening part in a first direction or in a second direction opposite thereto.

The first fastening part is a first slide rail fastening part, and the second fastening part is a second slide rail fastening part, wherein the first slide rail fastening part is slidably coupled to the second slide rail fastening part in the first direction or in the second direction.

The second slide rail fastening part may include at least two parallel rail members, and the first slide rail fastening part may include an inner rail member configured to pass between the two rail members of the second slide rail fastening part and couple thereto.

The two rail members of the second slide rail fastening part may have the respective locking protrusions which protrude in directions opposite to each other.

The respective locking protrusions of the two rail members may be spaced apart at a distance along an extending direction of the rail member so that the respective centers are misaligned with each other.

The locking protrusions may have an inclined surface inclined to form an obtuse angle with respect to an insertion direction of the module connector.

The inner rail member of the first slide rail fastening part may include a hook configured to pass between the two rail members of the second slide rail fastening part and couple thereto.

The two rail members of the second slide rail fastening part may have a first locking protrusion and a second locking protrusion, which protrude in directions opposite to each other, wherein the first locking protrusion and the second locking protrusion may be spaced apart at a distance along an extending direction of the rail member so that respective centers are misaligned with each other, the first locking protrusion may be positioned on relatively right side, and the second locking protrusion may be positioned on relatively left side.

Each of the outer inclined surfaces of the first locking protrusion and the second locking protrusion back to each other may form a steeper inclination angle with respect to the extending direction of the rail member than each of the inner inclined surfaces of the first locking protrusion and the second locking protrusion facing each other.

The hook may be bent to one side at the end of the inner rail member, and when the first fastening part is inserted into the second fastening part in the first direction, the hook may be locked to the outer inclined surface of the second locking protrusion. When the first fastening part is inserted into the second fastening part in the second direction, the hook may be locked to the outer inclined surface of the first locking protrusion.

The first slide rail fastening part includes at least two outer rail members extending in parallel with the inner rail member, and when the module connector is coupled, the rail member of the second slide rail fastening part may be sandwiched between the outer rail members of the first slide rail fastening part.

The module connector may be locked to the corresponding coupling surface outside the module case by inserting the first fastening part into the second fastening part in the first direction.

The module connector may be locked to the corresponding coupling surface outside the module case by inserting the first fastening part into the second fastening part in the second direction.

The battery module may include a busbar assembly which covers the cell assembly on at least one side of the module case and electrically connects the electrode leads of the cell assembly, wherein the busbar assembly includes the second fastening part, and the module connector may be coupled to the busbar assembly.

The module connector may be electrically connected to the cell assembly through a flexible printed circuit (FPC) board.

The flexible printed circuit board connected to the module connector may extend while being bent in different directions over a plurality of times.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there can be provided a battery pack including at least one of the above battery modules and a pack case packaging the at least one battery module.

According to still another embodiment of the present disclosure, there can be provided a device including at least one of the battery pack.

According to the embodiments, a module connector having a fastening structure capable of being inserted and coupled bidirectionally can be applied to a battery module, thereby making it possible to change the direction of the module connector as necessary after production of the battery module.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement them. The present disclosure may be modified in various different ways, and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

Further, throughout the specification, when a part is referred to as "including" a certain component, it means that it can further include other components, without excluding the other components, unless otherwise stated.

Further, throughout the specification, when referred to as "planar", it means when a target portion is viewed from the top, and when referred to as "cross-sectional", it means when a target portion is viewed from the side of a cross section cut vertically.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is an enlarged perspective view showing a state in which a module connector <NUM> in a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted.

Referring to <FIG>, a battery module <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes a module connector <NUM> mounted outside a module case <NUM> accommodating a cell assembly <NUM>. Battery cells constituting the cell assembly <NUM> may be provided as a pouch-type secondary battery, and may be provided by stacking a plurality of battery cells in the cell assembly <NUM>. The plurality of battery cells may be electrically connected to each other, and each of the battery cells may include an electrode assembly, a battery case accommodating the electrode assembly, and an electrode lead <NUM> protruding out of the battery case and electrically connected to the electrode assembly.

The battery module <NUM> may include various electric components, and may include, for example, an internal circuit board (ICB) and a battery management system (BMS). Electric components such as the ICB and the BMS board may be electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells.

The module case <NUM> forms the exterior of the battery module <NUM> and accommodates the cell assembly <NUM>, wherein a busbar assembly <NUM> may be coupled to at least one side or both sides of the cell assembly <NUM> positioned in the direction where the electrode leads <NUM> of the cell assembly <NUM> extend, and an insulating frame <NUM> may be coupled to the outside thereof. The busbar assembly <NUM> may include a busbar frame <NUM> disposed to cover the cell assembly <NUM>, and a busbar fixed to the busbar frame <NUM>. The busbar frame <NUM> is made of an insulator and includes a lead slot through which the electrode leads <NUM> of the cell assembly <NUM> can pass. The busbar <NUM> may electrically connect the electrode leads <NUM> of the cell assembly <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the module connector <NUM> may be coupled to the busbar assembly <NUM>, particularly the busbar frame <NUM>. The module connector <NUM> has a first fastening part <NUM> opened in at least one direction on a coupling surface of the lower portion thereof, and the busbar frame <NUM> has a second fastening part <NUM> configured on a corresponding coupling surface outside the module case <NUM> so as to be coupled to the first fastening part <NUM>. In this embodiment, the first fastening part <NUM> and the second fastening part <NUM> may be formed of a slide rail fastening part. In the following, they are referred to as a first slide rail fastening part and a second slide rail fastening part, respectively. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this embodiment, and any module connector having a fastening part with a structure that can be inserted bidirectionally may be included in the scope of the present disclosure.

Meanwhile, the battery module <NUM> may include a flexible printed circuit (FPC) board <NUM> configured to sense the battery cells inside the module case <NUM>, and the flexible printed circuit board <NUM> extends out of the module case <NUM> and is connected to the module connector <NUM>. Accordingly, the module connector <NUM> may be electrically connected to the cell assembly <NUM> via the flexible printed circuit board <NUM>. In addition, since the flexible printed circuit board <NUM> is formed to extend while being bent in different directions over a plurality of times, the degree of freedom in the fastening process may be increased.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a module connector of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, <FIG> is a bottom view showing a module connector of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, <FIG> is an enlarged perspective view showing a fastening part of a busbar assembly in which a module connector of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is mounted, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of <FIG> and illustrating a first fastening example of a module connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the module connector <NUM> of the present embodiment has a first slide rail fastening part <NUM> opened in at least one direction on the coupling surface of the lower portion. Referring to <FIG>, the corresponding coupling surface outside the module case <NUM>, i.e., the busbar frame <NUM> of the busbar assembly <NUM> has a second slide rail fastening part <NUM> opened bidirectionally. Therefore, the first slide rail fastening part <NUM> may be coupled to the second slide rail fastening part <NUM> in a first direction or in a second direction opposite thereto through the opened portion. Thus, the module connector <NUM> can be coupled to the busbar assembly <NUM>. In a first fastening example, as shown in <FIG>, the first slide rail fastening part <NUM> is inserted into the second slide rail fastening part <NUM> in the first direction (from right to left in <FIG>), so that it can be locked to the corresponding coupling surface outside the module case <NUM> of <FIG>.

The first slide rail fastening part <NUM> of the module connector <NUM> includes three parallel rail members 135a, 135b and 135c, and the second slide rail fastening part <NUM> of the busbar frame <NUM> includes two parallel rail members 235a and 235b. Among the rail members 135a, 135b and 135c of the first slide rail fastening part <NUM>, the inner rail member 135b may be configured to pass between the two rail members 235a and 235b of the second slide rail fastening part <NUM> and couple thereto.

The two rail members 235a and 235b of the second slide rail fastening part <NUM> may have locking protrusions <NUM> and <NUM> which protrude in directions opposite to each other, respectively. These locking protrusions <NUM> and <NUM> may have an inclined surface inclined with respect to the insertion direction of the module connector <NUM>. That is, since the module connector <NUM> can be inserted into the second slide rail fastening part <NUM> in the first direction or in the second direction as described above, both the inclined surfaces of the locking protrusions <NUM> and <NUM> may be bidirectionally inclined to form an obtuse angle with respect to the extending direction of the rail member. In addition, the locking protrusions <NUM> and <NUM> opposite to each other may be spaced apart at a distance along the extending direction of the rail member so that the respective centers are misaligned with each other. Further, inclination angle of the inclined surfaces back to each other (in opposite directions) may be formed more steeply than that of the inclined surfaces facing each other in the pair of locking protrusions <NUM> and <NUM>. Here, the inclined surfaces facing each other in the pair of locking protrusions <NUM> and <NUM> are referred to as inner inclined surfaces 236a and 237a, and the inclined surfaces back to each other (in opposite direction) are referred to as outer inclined surfaces 236b and 237b. That is, the outer inclined surfaces 236b and 237b in the pair of locking protrusions <NUM> and <NUM> can respectively form a steeper inclined angle with respect to the extending direction of the rail members 235a and 235b than each of the inner inclined surfaces 236a and 237a.

Specifically, in the first locking protrusions <NUM> positioned relatively on the right side among the locking protrusions <NUM> and <NUM> where the centers are misaligned with each other, the inclination angle of the outer inclined surface 236b may be formed more steeply than that of the inner inclined surface 236a, and in the second locking protrusions <NUM> positioned relatively on the left side among the locking protrusions <NUM> and <NUM> where the centers are misaligned with each other, the inclination angle of the outer inclined surface 237b may be formed more steeply than that of the inner inclined surface 237a.

Meanwhile, the inner rail member 135b of the first slide rail fastening part <NUM> is a hook-type rail member configured to pass between the two rail members 235a and 235b of the second slide rail fastening part <NUM> and lock thereto. The end of the hook-type rail member includes a hook <NUM> which is bent to one side, and the other side opposite to the hook <NUM> may be chamfered. Therefore, when the module connector <NUM> is coupled, the inner rail member 135b of the first slide rail fastening part <NUM> passes between the two rail members 235a, 235b of the second slide rail fastening part <NUM> and, thus, the hook <NUM> may sequentially pass through two locking protrusions <NUM> and <NUM> and be locked.

Specifically, when the first slide rail fastening part <NUM> is inserted in the first direction (from right to left as viewed in <FIG>), the hook <NUM> may pass though the inner inclined surface 237a of the second locking protrusion <NUM> located on the left side and then locked to the outer inclined surface 237b of the second locking protrusion <NUM>. The inner inclined surface 237a forms a relatively gradual inclination angle and, therefore, is easy for the hook <NUM> to pass through, and the outer inclined surface 237b forms a relatively steep inclination angle, so the hook <NUM> can be firmly locked thereto.

In addition, since the side opposite to the hook <NUM> is chamfered, it can easily pass through the outer inclined surface 236b of the first locking protrusion <NUM> located on the right side.

The first slide rail fastening part <NUM> of the module connector <NUM> may include two outer rail members 135a and 135c extending in parallel with the inner rail member 135b. When the module connector <NUM> is coupled, the rail members 235a and 235b of the second slide rail fastening part <NUM> may be sandwiched between the outer rail members 135a and 135c of the first slide rail fastening part <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a second fastening example of a module connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of <FIG> and illustrating the second fastening example of a module connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the first slide rail fastening part <NUM> is inserted into the second slide rail fastening part <NUM> in a second direction (from left to right as viewed in <FIG>), so that the module connector <NUM> can be locked to the corresponding coupling surface outside the module case <NUM> of <FIG>. That is, as described above, the module connector <NUM> may be fastened to the second slide rail fastening part <NUM> formed on the busbar frame <NUM> via the first slide rail fastening part <NUM>. However, in the second fastening example, it is inserted and fastened from the opposite direction to the first fastening example. In this case, since the flexible printed circuit board <NUM> extending from the cell assembly <NUM> is formed to extend while being bent in different directions over a plurality of times, it can be stretched and connected according to the changed direction of the module connector <NUM>.

In addition, even when the hook <NUM> of the inner rail member 135b of the first slide rail fastening part <NUM> formed in the module case <NUM> is inserted in the second direction, it may be locked by sequentially passing through two locking protrusions <NUM> and <NUM> formed on the rail members 235a and 235b of the second slide rail fastening part <NUM>.

Specifically, when the first slide rail fastening part <NUM> is inserted in the second direction (from left to right as viewed in <FIG>), the hook <NUM> passes through the inner inclined surface 236a of the first locking protrusion <NUM> located on the right side, and then may be locked to the outer inclined surface 236b of the first locking protrusion <NUM>. The inner inclined surface 236a forms a relatively gradual inclination angle and, thus, is easy for the hook <NUM> to pass through, and the outer inclined surface 236b forms a relatively steep inclination angle, so that the hook <NUM> can be firmly locked thereto.

Moreover, since the side opposite to the hook <NUM> is chamfered, it can easily pass through the outer inclined surface 237b of the second locking protrusion <NUM> located on the left side.

In addition, the outer rail members 135a and 135c of the first slide rail fastening part <NUM> are defined outside the rail members 235a and 235b of the second slide rail fastening part <NUM> so that the latter members can be sandwiched between the former members.

Thus, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the connector, which has a fastening structure in which it can be inserted and coupled bidirectionally, can be applied to a battery module, thereby making it possible to change the direction of the module connector as necessary after production of the battery module.

In particular, as described above, through the hook <NUM> of the inner rail member 135b and the pair of locking protrusions <NUM> and <NUM> having their respective outer inclined surfaces 236b and 237b forming a steeper inclination angle compared to the inner inclined surfaces 236a and 237a, it is possible to implement both the bidirectional insertion of the module connector <NUM> and the firm coupling upon insertion.

Meanwhile, one or more of the battery modules according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be packaged in a pack case to form a battery pack.

Claim 1:
A battery module (<NUM>) comprising:
a cell assembly (<NUM>) including at least one battery cell;
a module case (<NUM>) accommodating the cell assembly (<NUM>); and
a module connector (<NUM>) mounted outside the module case (<NUM>), electrically connected to the cell assembly (<NUM>), and connected to an external connector outside the module case (<NUM>),
wherein a coupling surface of the module connector (<NUM>) has a first fastening part (<NUM>) opened in at least one direction, and a corresponding coupling surface outside the module case (<NUM>) has a second fastening part (<NUM>) opened bidirectionally so as to be inserted into the first fastening part (<NUM>) in a first direction or in a second direction opposite thereto,
wherein the first fastening part is a first slide rail fastening part (<NUM>),
the second fastening part is a second slide rail fastening part (<NUM>), and
the first slide rail fastening part (<NUM>) is slidably coupled to the second slide rail fastening part (<NUM>) in the first direction or in the second direction.