Patent Description:
In general, a battery module is configured by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series/parallel, and a battery pack is configured by adding one or more battery modules and other components. This battery pack may be mainly used as an energy source for electric vehicles.

For example, the battery module may include battery cells compressed at a certain pressure. In this case, when the battery cells are repeatedly charged and discharged, the battery cells may swell. Here, swelling means that the battery cell is inflated due to charging and discharging. If the swelling of the battery cell becomes severe, the battery cell may be vented, or the battery cell may push the module frame and/or the battery pack case to damage the module frame and/or the battery pack case.

Therefore, it is necessary to develop a technology capable of ensuring the stability of the battery cell, the battery module and the battery pack by measuring the pressure of the battery cell and taking an appropriate measure corresponding to the swelling state before the swelling of the battery cell becomes severe.

<CIT> discloses a battery pressure measuring sensor, comprising: a substrate, a plurality of variable resistor units provided at a plurality of locations in consideration of a swelling characteristic of a battery on the substrate and configured to change a resistance value within a corresponding resistance range according to a pressure applied to each unit, and a plurality of sensing lines configured to be connected to the plurality of variable resistor units, respectively.

<CIT> discloses a battery abnormality and deterioration monitoring system.

<CIT> discloses the use of a battery pressure measuring apparatus, comprising an upper plate, a lower plate and a fixing unit.

The present disclosure is designed to solve the problems of the related art, and therefore the present disclosure is directed to providing a battery pressure measuring sensor that may accurately judge the swelling state of a battery cell and a battery pressure measuring apparatus including the same.

A battery pressure measuring sensor according to an aspect of the present disclosure may comprise: a substrate; a plurality of variable resistor units provided at a plurality of locations in consideration of a swelling characteristic of a battery on the substrate and configured to change a resistance value within a corresponding resistance range according to a pressure applied to each unit; and a plurality of sensing lines configured to be connected to the plurality of variable resistor units, respectively, wherein on the substrate, the plurality of variable resistor units are configured to be provided at a first location where a preset risk when swelling occurs in the battery is set to be relatively low and at a second location where the preset risk is set to be relatively high,.

The first location may be provided as a location corresponding to a preset center portion of the entire portion of the substrate.

The second location may be provided as a location corresponding to a peripheral portion excluding the center portion in the entire portion of the substrate.

The plurality of variable resistor units may be configured such that the resistance value is set as a criterion resistance value when the pressure is not applied.

An upper limit of the first resistance range may be a resistance value at which the state of the battery can be judged as a preset swelling generation state.

The lower limit of the first resistance range and the upper limit of the second resistance range may be resistance values at which the state of the battery can be judged as a preset swelling warning state.

A lower limit of the second resistance range may be a resistance value at which the state of the battery can be judged as a preset swelling dangerous state.

The plurality of sensing lines may be configured such that a wire length of a sensing line connected to the variable resistor unit provided at the first location is longer than a wire length of a sensing line connected to the variable resistor unit provided at the second location.

The plurality of variable resistor units may be configured such that a size of the variable resistor unit provided at the first location is greater than a size of the variable resistor unit provided at the second location.

The plurality of variable resistor units may be configured such that the number of variable resistor units provided at the first location is less than the number of variable resistor units provided at the second location.

A battery pressure measuring apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure may comprise: the battery pressure measuring sensor according to an aspect of the present disclosure; an upper plate and a lower plate configured such that the battery is interposed therebetween; and a fixing unit configured to fix the upper plate and the lower plate.

The battery pressure measuring sensor may be configured to be located on at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the battery.

The battery pressure measuring apparatus according to still another aspect of the present disclosure may further comprise a control unit connected to the plurality of sensing lines to measure a resistance value of each of the plurality of variable resistor units and configured to judge a swelling state of the battery based on the plurality of measured resistance values.

The control unit may be configured to detect a location where the swelling occurs in the battery based on the plurality of measured resistance values.

The battery pressure measuring apparatus according to still another aspect of the present disclosure may further comprise a charging and discharging unit configured to charge and discharge the battery.

The control unit may be configured to judge the swelling state of the battery in the charging and discharging process of the battery.

The battery pressure measuring apparatus according to still another aspect of the present disclosure may further comprise a protection plate provided between the battery pressure measuring sensor and the battery and configured to be fixed together with the upper plate and the lower plate through the fixing unit.

A battery pack according to still another aspect of the present disclosure may comprise the battery pressure measuring sensor according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the swelling state of the battery may be precisely judged by measuring resistance values of a plurality of variable resistor units, respectively.

In addition, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is an advantage in that a portion of the corresponding battery in which swelling occurs may be specifically detected.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically showing a battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> includes a substrate <NUM>, a variable resistor unit <NUM>, and a sensing line <NUM>.

The substrate <NUM> may be an insulating substrate configured in a plate shape to which a plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> and a plurality of sensing lines <NUM> are attached. For example, the substrate <NUM> may be a circuit substrate (printed circuit). Preferably, the substrate <NUM> may be a flexible printed circuit (FPC).

<FIG> is a diagram schematically showing the substrate <NUM> included in the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

For example, referring to <FIG>, the substrate <NUM> may have a rectangular shape corresponding to the shape of the battery. In addition, the substrate <NUM> may be previously divided into a center portion and a peripheral portion in consideration of swelling characteristics of the battery, and the plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> may be provided in the center portion or the peripheral portion of the substrate <NUM>.

Here, the battery means one physically separable independent cell provided with a negative electrode terminal and a positive electrode terminal. For example, a lithium-ion battery or a lithium polymer battery may be regarded as a battery. Also, the battery may be a cylindrical type, a pouch type, or a prismatic type. Preferably, the battery may be a pouch type.

On the substrate <NUM>, the plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> is configured to be provided at a plurality of locations in consideration of a swelling characteristic of the battery.

Specifically, the variable resistor unit <NUM> may be plural, and the plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> may be provided at several locations of the substrate <NUM>.

More specifically, the plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> are configured to be provided at a first location 110a where a preset risk when battery swelling occurs in the substrate <NUM> is set to be relatively low and at a second location 110b where the preset risk is set be relatively high. Here, the first location 110a may be configured as a location corresponding to a preset center portion in the entire portion of the substrate <NUM>. Also, the second location 110b may be configured as a location corresponding to a peripheral portion excluding the center portion in the entire portion of the substrate <NUM>. That is, when the substrate <NUM> and the battery are in contact, the first location 110a of the substrate <NUM> may correspond to the center portion of the battery. In addition, when the substrate <NUM> and the battery are in contact, the second location 110b of the substrate <NUM> may correspond to the peripheral portion in which an electrode lead of the battery may be included.

For example, in the embodiment of <FIG>, some of the plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> may be attached at the first location 110a corresponding to the center portion of the substrate <NUM>. In addition, the rest of the plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> may be attached at the second location 110b corresponding to the peripheral portion of the substrate <NUM>.

The plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> are configured such that a resistance value is changed within a corresponding resistance range according to a pressure applied to each unit. The plurality of sensing lines <NUM> are configured to be connected to the plurality of variable resistor units <NUM>, respectively.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically showing the variable resistor unit <NUM> and the sensing line <NUM> included in the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the sensing line <NUM> may be connected to one end and the other end of the variable resistor unit <NUM>. In addition, a resistance value of the variable resistor unit <NUM> may be changed within a resistance range corresponding to the variable resistor unit <NUM> through current flowing through the variable resistor unit <NUM> and the sensing line <NUM>.

Specifically, in the embodiment of <FIG>, current applied from the sensing line <NUM> connected to one end of the variable resistor unit <NUM> may pass through the variable resistor unit <NUM> and be output to the sensing line <NUM> connected to the other end of the variable resistor unit <NUM>. Also, when current passes through the variable resistor unit <NUM>, the resistance value of the variable resistor unit <NUM> may be changed within a corresponding resistance range according to the pressure applied to the variable resistor unit <NUM>.

The battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> according to the present disclosure measures pressure applied to the substrate <NUM> through the variable resistor unit <NUM> and the sensing line <NUM> attached at various locations of the substrate <NUM>. For example, when pressure is applied to the substrate <NUM> attached to the battery due to swelling of the battery, the resistance value of the variable resistor unit <NUM> provided at the location where the pressure is applied may be changed. Therefore, the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> has an advantage of not only being used to judge whether swelling occurs in the battery, but also being usefully used to detect the location where battery swelling occurs.

The plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> may be configured such that a resistance value is set to a criterion resistance value when no pressure is applied.

Specifically, when pressure is not applied at a location of the substrate <NUM> to which the plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> are attached, the resistance value of the plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> may be a criterion resistance value regardless of a location on the substrate <NUM>.

For example, the plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> may be set to have the criterion resistance value that is set to be close to <NUM>Ω when no external pressure is applied. Preferably, the plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> may have a resistance value of <NUM>Ω when no external pressure is applied. In this case, the criterion resistance value may be preset to <NUM>Ω.

The resistance range of the resistance value according to the pressure of the variable resistor unit <NUM> provided at the first location 110a of the substrate <NUM> is a first resistance range, and the resistance range of the resistance value according to the pressure of the variable resistor unit <NUM> provided at the second location 110b of the substrate <NUM> is a second resistance range.

In addition, the lower limit of the first resistance range is configured to be set to be equal to or greater than the upper limit of the second resistance range. That is, all resistance values belonging to the first resistance range may be greater than or equal to all resistance values belonging to the second resistance range.

For example, the first resistance range may be <NUM>,<NUM>Ω or less and <NUM>,<NUM>Ω or more. In addition, the second resistance range may be <NUM>,<NUM>Ω or less and <NUM>,<NUM>Ω or more. In this case, the lower limit (<NUM>,<NUM>Ω) of the first resistance range and the upper limit (<NUM>,<NUM>Ω) of the second resistance range may be the same. Accordingly, all resistance values belonging to the first resistance range may be greater than or equal to all resistance values belonging to the second resistance range.

Here, as the pressure applied to the substrate <NUM> and the variable resistor unit <NUM> increases, the resistance value of the variable resistor unit <NUM> may decrease. That is, the strength of the applied pressure and the resistance value of the variable resistor unit <NUM> may be in inverse proportion to each other.

Referring to <FIG>, when pressure is applied to the substrate <NUM> due to swelling of the battery, the resistance value of the variable resistor unit <NUM> included in the first location 110a may be greater than the resistance value of the variable resistor unit <NUM> included in the second location 110b.

That is, the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has an advantage of accurately detecting the swelling location of the battery in contact with the substrate <NUM> by setting the resistance value of the variable resistor unit <NUM> differently according to the location attached to the substrate <NUM>. In addition, when pressure due to swelling of the battery is applied to the substrate <NUM>, since the resistance value of each of the plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> may be changed, whether or not swelling occurs in the battery may be judged more accurately.

In general, when swelling occurs in the battery, the center portion of the battery swells first, and the peripheral portion including electrodes of the battery may swell later than the center portion. This phenomenon appears because positive electrode active materials and negative electrode active materials are concentrated more in the center portion of the battery than in the peripheral portion of the battery, so that electrochemical reactions occur more actively. In addition, an upper case and a lower case of the battery may be sealed at the peripheral portion of the battery, and electrode leads may be connected to the peripheral portion of the battery. Therefore, when swelling occurs in the battery, the center portion of the battery may swell earlier than the peripheral portion of the battery.

For this reason, when the resistance value of the variable resistor unit <NUM> provided at the first location 110a of the substrate <NUM> corresponding to the center portion of the battery is included within the first resistance range, it may be judged that swelling occurs in the battery.

Specifically, the upper limit of the first resistance range is a resistance value at which the state of the battery can be judged as a preset swelling generation state. That is, when the resistance value of the variable resistor unit <NUM> is equal to the upper limit of the first resistance range, the state of the battery may be in a state where the preset risk is low even though swelling occurs. This is because, as described above, the pressure applied to the variable resistor unit <NUM> and the resistance value of the variable resistor unit <NUM> are in inverse proportion to each other. That is, when the resistance value of at least one of the plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> provided at the first location 110a of the substrate <NUM> is equal to the upper limit of the first resistance range, the state of the battery can be judged as a swelling generation state in which the risk is relatively low.

Next, when the center portion of the battery is further inflated or the peripheral portion of the battery is inflated, the sealed upper and lower cases may be vented so that electrolyte or the like may leak out of the battery. In this case, the risk when swelling occurs in the battery may be higher than that of the swelling generation state because a fire or explosion may occur in the battery.

Specifically, the lower limit of the first resistance range and the upper limit of the second resistance range are resistance values at which the state of the battery can be judged as a preset swelling warning state. That is, when the resistance value of at least one of the plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> provided at the first location 110a of the substrate <NUM> is equal to the lower limit of the first resistance range or the resistance value of at least one of the plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> provided at the second location 110b is equal to the upper limit of the second resistance range, the battery may be in a state where swelling has occurred and the preset risk is middle. That is, the state of the battery can be judged as a swelling warning state where the risk is higher than that of the swelling generation state.

Finally, the lower limit of the second resistance range is a resistance value at which the state of the battery can be judged as a preset swelling dangerous state. That is, when the resistance value of at least one of the plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> provided at the second location 110b of the substrate <NUM> is equal to the lower limit of the second resistance range, the battery may be in a state where the risk is highest and there is a very high possibility of fire or explosion. Therefore, the state of the battery can be judged as a swelling dangerous state with the highest risk.

That is, the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has an advantage of subdividing and judging the state of the battery according to the swelling risk by setting the resistance range to which the resistance value of the variable resistor unit <NUM> can belong differently according to the location attached to the substrate <NUM>. However, in the above embodiment, the state of the battery is divided into a swelling generation state, a swelling warning state and a swelling dangerous state, but it should be noted that the state of the battery can be more diversely classified according to more subdivided risks.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically showing a first embodiment of the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The plurality of sensing lines <NUM> may be configured so that the wire length of the sensing line <NUM> connected to the variable resistor unit <NUM> provided at the first location 110a is longer than the wire length of the sensing line <NUM> connected to the variable resistor unit <NUM> provided at the second location 110b.

As described with reference to <FIG>, current is applied to the variable resistor unit <NUM> through the sensing line <NUM> connected to one end of the variable resistor unit <NUM>, and the current passing through the variable resistor unit <NUM> may be output through the sensing line <NUM> connected to the other end of the variable resistor unit <NUM>. Therefore, as the sum of the total lengths of the sensing line <NUM> increases, the resistance value of the variable resistor unit <NUM> when pressure is applied may increase.

The wire length of the sensing line <NUM> connected to the variable resistor unit <NUM> provided at the first location 110a of the substrate <NUM> may be longer than the wire length of the sensing line <NUM> connected to the variable resistor unit <NUM> provided at the second location 110b of the substrate <NUM>. Specifically, the variable resistor unit <NUM> provided at the first location 110a of the substrate <NUM> may respond more sensitively to the applied pressure than the variable resistor unit <NUM> provided at the second location 110b. That is, even if a small pressure is applied to the variable resistor unit <NUM> provided at the first location 110a, it may have a high resistance value.

Referring to <FIG>, the substrate <NUM> may include a plurality of variable resistor units 120a to <NUM> and a plurality of sensing lines 130a to <NUM>. Specifically, the first location 110a may include a third variable resistor unit <NUM>, a fourth variable resistor unit <NUM>, a fifth variable resistor unit <NUM>, and a sixth variable resistor unit <NUM>. Also, the second location 110b may include a first variable resistor unit <NUM>, a second variable resistor unit <NUM>, a seventh variable resistor unit <NUM>, and an eighth variable resistor unit <NUM>.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, it is assumed that the lengths of the sensing lines 130c, 130d, 130e and 130f connected to the plurality of variable resistor units 120c, 120d, 120e and 120f included in the first location 110a are similar enough to not significantly differ. Similarly, it is assumed that the lengths of the sensing lines 130a, 130b, <NUM>, and <NUM> connected to the plurality of variable resistor units 120a, 120b, <NUM>, and <NUM> included in the second location 110b are similar enough to not significantly differ. Therefore, the resistance values of the plurality of variable resistor units 120c, 120d, 120e and 120f included in the first location 110a may belong to the first resistance range (for example, <NUM>,<NUM>Ω or less and <NUM>,<NUM>Ω or more), and the resistance values of the plurality of variable resistor units 120a, 120b, <NUM> and <NUM> included in the second location 110b may belong to the second resistance range (for example, less than <NUM>,<NUM>Ω and more than <NUM>,<NUM>Ω).

For example, if the resistance value of at least one of the plurality of variable resistor units 120a to <NUM> is equal to the upper limit (for example, <NUM>,<NUM>Ω) of the first resistance range, the state of the battery in contact with the substrate <NUM> may be judged as a swelling generation state.

As another example, if the resistance value of at least one of the plurality of variable resistor units 120a to <NUM> is equal to the lower limit (for example, <NUM>,<NUM> Q) of the first resistance range or the upper limit (for example, <NUM>,<NUM>Ω) of the second resistance range, the state of the battery in contact with the substrate <NUM> may be judged as a swelling warning state.

As still another example, if the resistance value of at least one of the plurality of variable resistor units 120a to <NUM> is equal to the lower limit (for example, <NUM>,<NUM>Ω) of the second resistance range, the state of the battery in contact with the substrate <NUM> may be judged as a swelling dangerous state.

That is, the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has an advantage of sensitively detecting whether swelling occurs in the battery and specifically detecting the location where battery swelling occurs by differently configuring the wire length of the sensing line <NUM> connected to the variable resistor unit <NUM> according to the location of the variable resistor unit <NUM> attached to the substrate <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically showing a second embodiment of the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> may be configured such that the size of the variable resistor unit <NUM> provided at the first location 110a is greater than the size of the variable resistor unit <NUM> provided at the second location 110b.

Specifically, as the size of the variable resistor unit <NUM> increases, the resistance value of the variable resistor unit <NUM> when pressure is applied may increase. This is because the variable resistor unit <NUM> may respond more sensitively to the applied pressure as the size increases. Accordingly, the size of the variable resistor unit <NUM> included in the first location 110a of the substrate <NUM> may be greater than the size of the variable resistor unit <NUM> included in the second location 110b of the substrate <NUM>.

For example, in the embodiment of <FIG>, the size of the plurality of variable resistor units 120c, 120d, 120e and 120f included in the first location 110a may be greater than the size of the plurality of variable resistor units 120a, 120b, <NUM> and <NUM> included in the second location 110b. Therefore, the resistance values of the plurality of variable resistor units 120c, 120d, 120e and 120f included in the first location 110a may belong to the first resistance range (for example, <NUM>,<NUM>Ω or less and <NUM>,<NUM>Ω or more), and the resistance values of the plurality variable resistor units 120a, 120b, <NUM> and <NUM> included in the second location 110b may belong to the second resistance range (for example, <NUM>,<NUM>Ω or less and <NUM>,<NUM>Ω or more).

That is, the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has an advantage of sensitively detecting whether swelling occurs in the battery and specifically detecting the location where battery swelling occurs by configuring the size of the variable resistor unit <NUM> differently according to the location of the variable resistor unit <NUM> attached to the substrate <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically showing a third embodiment of the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> may be configured such that the number of variable resistor units <NUM> provided at the first location 110a is less than the number of variable resistor units <NUM> provided at the second location 110b.

Specifically, the second location 110b of the substrate <NUM> may correspond to the peripheral portion of the battery. As described above, when the peripheral portion of the battery, which may include the electrode leads of the battery, is inflated due to swelling, the battery may be vented and there is a risk of fire or explosion. Therefore, it is important to accurately judge whether swelling occurs in the peripheral portion of the battery rather than in the center portion of the battery for accident prevention.

For example, in the embodiment of <FIG>, a plurality of variable resistor units 120c, 120d, 120e and 120f may be included in the first location 110a of the substrate <NUM>, and a plurality of variable resistor units 120a, 120b, <NUM>, <NUM>, 120i, 120j, <NUM> and <NUM> may be included in the second location 110b of the substrate <NUM>.

That is, the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has an advantage of more accurately detecting swelling generated in the peripheral portion of the battery by configuring the number of variable resistor units <NUM> differently depending on the location of the substrate <NUM>.

In the above, the first embodiment in which the wire length of the sensing line <NUM> connected to the variable resistor unit <NUM> is different, the second embodiment in which the size of the variable resistor unit <NUM> is different, and the third embodiment in which the number of variable resistor units <NUM> is different have been described. However, it should be noted that the first to third embodiments may be combined with each other in a complementary manner.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically showing a battery pressure measuring apparatus <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a battery pressure measuring apparatus <NUM> may include a battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM>, an upper plate <NUM>, a lower plate <NUM>, and a fixing unit <NUM>. Here, since the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> has been described above, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> may be configured to be located on at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of the battery.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically showing an embodiment in which the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is attached to a battery B.

For example, referring to the embodiment of <FIG>, the battery B may be a pouch-type battery cell including a positive electrode terminal PE and a negative electrode terminal NE. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the positive electrode terminal PE and the negative electrode terminal NE are provided together at one end of the battery B, but in another embodiment, the positive electrode terminal PE and the negative electrode terminal NE may be provided at one end and the other end of the battery B, respectively.

The battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> may be attached to the upper surface of the battery B. Specifically, a plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> and a plurality of sensing lines <NUM> may be attached to the upper surface of the substrate <NUM>. In addition, the lower surface of the substrate <NUM> may be attached to the upper surface of the battery B.

The upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM> may be configured such that the battery B may be interposed therebetween.

For example, the lower surface of the upper plate <NUM> and the upper surface of the lower plate <NUM> may be located to face each other. In addition, the battery B may be interposed between the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM>. That is, the upper plate <NUM> may be located on the upper surface of the battery B, and the lower plate <NUM> may be located on the lower surface of the battery B.

The fixing unit <NUM> may be configured to fix the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM>. Specifically, the fixing unit <NUM> may be configured to pass through the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM> to fix the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM>. Also, preferably, the upper plate <NUM> and/or the lower plate <NUM> may move along the fixing unit <NUM>, so that a distance between the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM> may be adjusted.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically showing the upper plate <NUM>, the lower plate <NUM> and the fixing unit <NUM> included in the battery pressure measuring apparatus <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

For example, in the embodiment of <FIG>, a plurality of fixing units <NUM> may be provided. Also, the fixing unit <NUM> may pass through the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM> to fix the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM>. Preferably, in order to minimize shaking of the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM>, the fixing unit <NUM> may be configured to pass through the corner portions of the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams schematically showing a first embodiment of the battery pressure measuring apparatus <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> may be attached to the upper surface of the battery B. Also, the lower plate <NUM> may be located under the battery B, and the upper plate <NUM> may be located above the battery B. That is, the battery B and the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> may be interposed between the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM>, and the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM> may be fixed by the fixing unit <NUM>. Therefore, when swelling occurs in the battery B, since pressure is applied toward the substrate <NUM>, the resistance value of the variable resistor unit <NUM> attached to the substrate <NUM> may be changed within a corresponding resistance range.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically showing a second embodiment of the battery pressure measuring apparatus <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the battery pressure measuring apparatus <NUM> may further include a protection plate <NUM>.

The protection plate <NUM> may be provided between the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> and the battery B and configured to be fixed together with the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM> through the fixing unit <NUM>.

When the surface pressure of the battery B is measured only with the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM>, marks may be generated on the main body of the battery B due to the shape of the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM>. Due to the marks generated in this way, the electrolyte inside the battery B may spread unbalanced, which may result in performance degradation of the battery B.

Accordingly, the battery pressure measuring apparatus <NUM> may further include a protection plate <NUM> interposed between the battery B and the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM>.

For example, in the embodiment of <FIG>, the protection plate <NUM> may be located on the upper surface of the battery B. In addition, the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> may be located on the upper surface of the protection plate <NUM>. The battery B, the protection plate <NUM>, and the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> may be interposed and fixed between the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM>.

That is, since the battery pressure measuring apparatus <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure further includes the protection plate <NUM>, there is an advantage of preventing damage to the battery B during the battery pressure measurement process.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically showing an exemplary configuration of the battery pressure measuring apparatus <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

The battery pressure measuring apparatus <NUM> may further include a control unit <NUM> and a charging and discharging unit <NUM>.

The charging and discharging unit <NUM> may be configured to charge and discharge the battery B.

For example, in the embodiment of <FIG>, the charging and discharging unit <NUM> may be electrically connected to the positive electrode terminal PE and the negative electrode terminal NE of the battery B. Also, the charging and discharging unit <NUM> may charge and discharge the battery B based on a charge and discharge signal received from the control unit <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> may be configured to judge the swelling state of the battery B in the charging and discharging process of the battery B.

Specifically, the control unit <NUM> may be configured to be connected to the plurality of sensing lines <NUM> to measure the resistance value of each of the plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> and judge the swelling state of the battery B based on the plurality of measured resistance values. For example, in the embodiments of <FIG> and <FIG>, the control unit <NUM> may be connected to the plurality of sensing lines 130a to <NUM> and measure the resistance value of each plurality of variable resistor units 120a to <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the control unit <NUM> may be connected to the plurality of sensing lines 130a to <NUM> and measure the resistance value of each of the plurality of variable resistor units 120a to <NUM>.

For example, in the embodiment of <FIG>, the control unit <NUM> may be connected to the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM>. Preferably, the control unit <NUM> may be connected to each sensing line <NUM> included in the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM>. In addition, the control unit <NUM> may judge the swelling state of the battery B using each sensing line <NUM>.

Specifically, the control unit <NUM> may output a predetermined current to the sensing line <NUM> connected to one end of the variable resistor unit <NUM> and receive current from the sensing line <NUM> connected to the other end of the variable resistor unit <NUM>. The resistance value of the variable resistor unit <NUM> may be calculated using the output current to the sensing line <NUM> and the input current from the sensing line <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may judge the swelling state of the battery B based on the plurality of calculated resistance values.

That is, in the embodiments of <FIG> and <FIG>, the charging and discharging unit <NUM> may be connected to the positive electrode terminal PE and the negative electrode terminal NE of the battery B. Also, the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> attached to the battery B and the control unit <NUM> may be connected. Preferably, the plurality of sensing lines <NUM> included in the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> and the control unit <NUM> may be connected.

For example, in the embodiment of <FIG>, if the resistance value of at least one of the plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> included in the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> is equal to the upper limit (for example, <NUM>,<NUM>Ω) of the first resistance range, the control unit <NUM> may judge that the state of the battery B is a swelling generation state.

As another example, in the embodiment of <FIG>, if the resistance value of at least one of the plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> included in the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> is equal to the lower limit (for example, <NUM>,<NUM>Ω) of the first resistance range or the upper limit (for example, <NUM>,<NUM>Ω) of the second resistance range, the control unit <NUM> may judge that the state of the battery B is a swelling warning state.

As still another example, in the embodiment of <FIG>, if the resistance value of at least one of the plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> included in the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> is equal to the lower limit (for example, <NUM>,<NUM>Ω) of the second resistance range, the control unit <NUM> may judge that the state of the battery B is a swelling dangerous state.

The battery pressure measuring apparatus <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has an advantage of specifically judging the swelling state of the battery B based on the resistance value of the variable resistor units <NUM> provided at a plurality of locations on the substrate <NUM>.

In addition, the control unit <NUM> may be configured to detect a location where swelling occurs in the battery B based on the plurality of measured resistance values.

Specifically, the control unit <NUM> may measure a resistance value of each of the plurality of variable resistor units <NUM> provided on the substrate <NUM>. Accordingly, the control unit <NUM> may detect not only the swelling state of the battery B, but also a location where swelling occurs in the battery B.

For example, in the embodiment of <FIG>, when the resistance values of the fourth variable resistor unit 120d and the sixth variable resistor unit 120f are equal to the upper limit (for example, <NUM>,<NUM> Q) of the first resistance range, the control unit <NUM> may judge the state of the battery B as a swelling generation state and determine the location where swelling occurs as locations corresponding to the fourth variable resistor unit 120d and the sixth variable resistor unit 120f.

Meanwhile, the control unit <NUM> provided to the battery pressure measuring apparatus <NUM> may selectively include processors, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), other chipsets, logic circuits, registers, communication modems, data processing devices, and the like, known in the art to execute various control logic performed in the present disclosure. Also, when the control logic is implemented in software, the control unit <NUM> may be implemented as a set of program modules. At this time, the program module may be stored in a memory and executed by the control unit <NUM>. The memory may be positioned inside or out of the control unit <NUM> and may be connected to the control unit <NUM> by various well-known means.

In addition, the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> according to the present disclosure may be provided in a battery pack. That is, the battery pack according to the present disclosure may include the above-described battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM>, one or more battery cells, and a battery management system (BMS). In addition, the battery pack may further include electrical components (relays, fuses, etc.) and a case.

For example, the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> may be attached to each battery cell. Also, a plurality of battery cells to which the battery pressure measuring sensor <NUM> is attached may be included in the battery pack.

The BMS may be connected to each of the plurality of battery pressure measuring sensors <NUM> to detect the swelling state and the swelling occurrence location of each of the plurality of battery cells.

Claim 1:
A battery pressure measuring sensor (<NUM>), comprising:
a substrate (<NUM>);
a plurality of variable resistor units (<NUM>) provided at a plurality of locations in consideration of a swelling characteristic of a battery on the substrate (<NUM>) and configured to change a resistance value within a corresponding resistance range according to a pressure applied to each unit; and
a plurality of sensing lines (<NUM>) configured to be connected to the plurality of variable resistor units (<NUM>), respectively, characterized in that
on the substrate (<NUM>), the plurality of variable resistor units (<NUM>) are configured to be provided at a first location (110a) where a preset risk when swelling occurs in the battery is set to be relatively low and at a second location (110b) where the preset risk is set to be relatively high,
the resistance range of the resistance value according to the pressure of the variable resistor unit (<NUM>) provided at the first location (110a) is a first resistance range, and
the resistance range of the resistance value according to the pressure of the variable resistor unit (<NUM>) provided at the second location (110b) is a second resistance range,
wherein a lower limit of the first resistance range is set to be equal to or greater than an upper limit of the second resistance range.