Patent Description:
Currently commercialized secondary batteries include nickel cadmium batteries, nickel hydrogen batteries, nickel zinc batteries, lithium secondary batteries, and the like. Among these secondary batteries, because lithium secondary batteries have almost no memory effect compared to nickel-based secondary batteries, lithium secondary batteries are in the spotlight owing to the advantages of free charge and discharge, very low self discharge rate, and high energy density.

Such a lithium secondary battery mainly uses lithium-based oxides and carbon materials as positive electrode active materials and negative electrode active materials, respectively. The lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly that assembles a unit cell having a structure in which a positive electrode plate having a positive electrode active material coated on a positive electrode current collector and a negative electrode plate having a negative electrode active material coated on a negative electrode current collector are arranged with a separator interposed therebetween, and a sheath material, that is, a battery case, that seals and accommodates the assembly together with an electrolyte solution. According to the shape of the battery case, lithium secondary batteries are classified into can type secondary batteries in which the electrode assembly is embedded in a metal can and pouch type secondary batteries in which the electrode assembly is embedded in an aluminum laminated sheet pouch.

Recently, secondary batteries are widely used not only in small devices such as portable electronic devices but also in medium and large devices such as vehicles and energy storage systems (ESSs). When secondary batteries are used in such medium and large devices, a large number of secondary batteries are electrically connected to form a battery module or a battery pack in order to increase capacity and output power. In particular, pouch type secondary batteries are widely used in such medium large devices because of advantages such as easy lamination and light weight. Pouch type secondary batteries have a structure in which an electrode assembly to which an electrode lead is connected is accommodated in a pouch case with an electrolyte solution and sealed. A part of the electrode lead is exposed outside the pouch case, and the exposed electrode lead is electrically connected to a device to which secondary batteries are mounted or is used to electrically connect secondary batteries to each other.

<FIG> illustrates a part of a battery module manufactured by connecting pouch type battery cells. For example, a state in which two pouch type battery cells are connected in series is shown.

As shown in <FIG>, pouch type battery cells <NUM> and <NUM>' include two electrode leads <NUM> and <NUM>' drawn out of a pouch case <NUM>. The electrode leads <NUM> and <NUM>' are divided into a positive electrode lead (+) and a negative electrode (-) lead according to an electrical polarity, and are electrically connected to an electrode assembly <NUM> sealed in the pouch case <NUM>. That is, the positive electrode lead is electrically connected to a positive electrode plate of the electrode assembly <NUM>, and the negative electrode lead is electrically connected to a negative electrode plate of the electrode assembly <NUM>.

There may be various ways of connecting the battery cells <NUM> and <NUM>' inside the battery module <NUM>. <FIG> shows a method of bending the electrode leads <NUM> and <NUM>' and then placing the electrode leads <NUM> and <NUM>' on a bus bar <NUM>, performing a welding process on the electrode leads <NUM> and <NUM>' by laser welding, and connecting the electrode lead <NUM> of the battery cell <NUM> and the electrode lead <NUM>' of the other battery cell <NUM>' adjacent to the battery cell <NUM>.

Meanwhile, lithium secondary batteries have a risk of explosion when overheated. In particular, as lithium secondary batteries are applied to electric vehicles including electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), etc., in battery modules or battery packs that connect and use a large number of high capacity secondary battery cells, a major accident may occur when an explosion occurs, and thus securing safety is one of main solutions.

A representative cause of a rapid rise in the temperature of a lithium secondary battery is when a short circuit current flows. Short circuit current mainly occurs when a short circuit occurs in an electronic device connected to a secondary battery, and when the short circuit occurs in the lithium secondary battery, a rapid electrochemical reaction occurs in a positive electrode and a negative electrode to generate heat. The generated heat causes the temperature of the battery cell to rise rapidly, causing ignition. In particular, in the case of a battery module or a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells, heat generated from one battery cell is propagated to the surrounding battery cells and affects other battery cells, which increases with a greater risk.

Conventionally, a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device, a fuse, etc. have been proposed as a means of preventing explosion by blocking current when the temperature inside the secondary battery rises. However, they have a problem in that a separate mounting space is required in a battery module or a battery pack.

Securing safety is very important in that explosion of a battery module or a battery pack not only may cause damage to electronic devices or vehicles, etc., to which it is employed, but also may lead to the safety threat of users and ignition. If the secondary battery is overheated, the risk of explosion and/or ignition increases, and sudden combustion or explosion due to overheating may cause injury to people and property. Therefore, there is a demand for introducing means for sufficiently securing safety in use of secondary batteries.

<CIT> discloses a bus bar of a battery module.

The present disclosure is designed to solve the problems of the related art, and therefore the present disclosure is directed to providing a battery module with improved safety by blocking current when the temperature rises, a battery pack including the battery module, and a vehicle including the battery pack.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a battery module as defined in the appended set of claims, the battery module including two or more battery cells, wherein the two or more battery cells are pouch type secondary batteries, each having a structure in which an electrode assembly having both ends respectively connected to one ends of electrode leads of opposite polarities is accommodated and sealed in a pouch case together with an electrolyte and other ends of the electrode leads are exposed to an outside of the pouch case, wherein the electrode leads and a bus bar are connected in electrically connecting a first battery cell and a second battery cell of the two or more battery cells, wherein the bus bar comprises a metal layer and a material layer that is normally conductive, but capable of acting as a resistor when a temperature rises, and wherein the material layer comprises a gas generating material that is decomposed at a certain temperature or higher to generate a gas and increase resistance.

The material layer includes the gas generating material, a conductive material and an adhesive.

The gas generating material may be melamine cyanurate.

The conductive material may be connected and fixed to each other by the adhesive, and when the gas is generated, the conductive material may be disconnected to increase resistance.

The bus bar includes a block and a body. The block is a portion connected to the electrode leads, the portion being separated from the body and embedded in the body and a surface of the block is exposed to an outside. The material layer is interposed between the body and the block.

The bus bar may include a first block connected to an electrode lead of the first battery cell and a second block connected to an electrode lead of the second battery cell, and a current flow path from the first battery cell to the second battery cell may be provided in an order along the electrode lead of the first battery cell, the first block, a material layer interposed between the body and the first block, a material layer interposed between the body and the second block, the second block, and the electrode lead of the second battery cell.

The first battery cell and the second battery cell may be connected in series through the bus bar. The first battery cell and the second battery cell may be stacked such that respective electrode leads are stacked to have opposite polarities, and the other end of the electrode lead of the first battery cell and the other end of the electrode lead of the second battery cell may be bent toward each other in a stack direction and the bus bar may be disposed in parallel to the stack direction between bent portions of the respective electrode leads such that the respective electrode leads are connected.

The bus bar may be in an approximately plate shape with a thin thickness compared to a length and a width and be provided with grooves through which the electrode leads penetrate.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a battery pack including at least one battery module according to the present disclosure; and a pack case configured to package the at least one battery module.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a vehicle including at least one battery pack according to the present disclosure.

According to the present disclosure, a battery module is configured by changing a bus bar while remaining battery cells unchanged. The resistance of the bus bar increases when the temperature rises, and thus a current flow may be blocked through the bus bar. Therefore, when the battery module according to the present disclosure is overheated during use, the current flow may be blocked, thereby ensuring safety in an abnormal circumstance.

As a configuration of increasing the resistance of the bus bar, a material layer including a gas generating material is included in the bus bar such that the current flow is blocked when reaching a temperature at which the gas generating material is decomposed. Therefore, even when a secondary battery protection circuit does not operate, it is possible to block the flow of current such that no more current flows, for example, to prevent charging, thereby increasing the safety of the battery module. As described above, the battery module of the present disclosure implements means that automatically blocks the flow of current when the temperature rises by improving the bus bar, thereby securing the safety of the battery module doubly together with an overcharge protection function of the secondary battery protection circuit.

According to the present disclosure, a battery module may be provide using a bus bar capable of securing safety when connecting adjacent battery cells to form an electrical connection path. When an event such as reaching an abnormal temperature occurs, the resistance of the bus bar increases when the gas generating material included in the material layer in the bus bar is decomposed. As a result, the electrical connection between the battery cells is also released, which blocks the current flow, thereby ensuring the safety of the battery module.

According to the present disclosure, safety is ensured by improving the bus bar of the battery module. Except that the bus bar proposed in the present disclosure is used instead of the conventional bus bar, there is an advantage that the safety of the battery module may be secured without a relatively change to the process because the existing battery module manufacturing process may be used as it is. Since the battery cells themselves use the existing manufacturing process, a process change or an adjustment to a mass production process is not necessary.

As described above, according to the present disclosure, the current flow is secured under normal circumstances and the performance of the battery module similar to the existing one is attained, and the safety of the battery module may be improved by blocking the current flow when the temperature rises to a certain temperature or more due to abnormal circumstances. Therefore, the safety of the battery module, the battery pack including the battery module, and the vehicle including the battery pack may be improved.

In the embodiments described below, a secondary battery refers to a lithium secondary battery. Here, the lithium secondary battery is collectively referred to as a secondary battery in which lithium ions act as operating ions during charging and discharging to cause an electrochemical reaction in a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate.

Meanwhile, even if the name of the secondary battery changes depending on the type of an electrolyte or a separator used in the lithium secondary battery, the type of a battery case used to package the secondary battery, the structure of the inside or outside of the lithium secondary battery, etc, all secondary batteries in which lithium ions are used as operating ions should be interpreted as being included in the category of the lithium secondary battery.

The present disclosure is also applicable to secondary batteries other than the lithium secondary battery. Therefore, even if the operating ion is not the lithium ion, all secondary batteries to which the technical idea of the present disclosure may be applied should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present disclosure regardless of their types.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to accompanying <FIG>.

<FIG> is a schematic view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing a coupling state between a bus bar and electrode leads in <FIG>. <FIG> is a top view of a bus bar included in a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in <FIG>, a battery module <NUM> includes battery cells <NUM> and <NUM>' and a bus bar <NUM>. Although a larger number of battery cells may be included in the battery module <NUM>, some of them will be shown for convenience of illustration. For example, the state where the two pouch type battery cells <NUM> and <NUM>' are connected in series is shown. However, this is merely exemplary and the present disclosure is not limited to this connection method.

The battery cells <NUM> and <NUM>' are secondary batteries and include two electrode leads <NUM> and <NUM>' drawn out of a pouch case <NUM>. The electrode leads <NUM> and <NUM>' are divided into a positive electrode (+) lead and a negative electrode (-) lead according to electrical polarities, and are electrically connected to an electrode assembly <NUM> sealed in the pouch case <NUM>. That is, the positive electrode lead is electrically connected to a positive electrode plate of the electrode assembly <NUM>, and the negative electrode lead is electrically connected to a negative electrode plate of the electrode assembly <NUM>. As such, the battery cells <NUM> and <NUM>' are pouch type secondary batteries having a structure in which the electrode assembly <NUM> having both ends respectively connected to one ends of the electrode leads <NUM> and <NUM>' of opposite polarities is accommodated and sealed in the pouch case <NUM> together with an electrolyte and the other ends of the electrode leads <NUM> and <NUM>' are exposed to the outside of the pouch case <NUM>.

<FIG> corresponds to a cross-section taken along the line III-III' of <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, in the battery module <NUM>, the bus bar <NUM> is used to electrically connect the first battery cell <NUM> and the second battery cell <NUM>'. Specifically, the electrode lead <NUM> of the battery cell <NUM> and the electrode lead <NUM>' of the other battery cell <NUM>' adjacent thereto are bent and then connected to the bus bar <NUM>. The first battery cell <NUM> and the second battery cell <NUM>' are stacked such that the electrode leads <NUM> and <NUM>' have opposite polarities, and the other end of the electrode leads <NUM> of the first battery cell <NUM> and the other end of the electrode lead <NUM>' of the second battery cell <NUM>' are bent toward each other along the stack direction. The bus bar <NUM> is disposed in parallel to the stack direction between bent portions of the electrode leads <NUM> and <NUM>' such that the electrode leads <NUM> and <NUM>' are connected to each other. A connection method may use a method conventionally used in the art. For example, the electrode leads <NUM> and <NUM>' may be coupled and connected by ultrasonic welding, but are not limited thereto.

In the present disclosure, as shown through <FIG> and <FIG>, one battery cell <NUM> is positioned on a left surface <NUM> of the bus bar <NUM>, and the other battery cell <NUM>' is positioned on a right surface <NUM>. Each of the electrode leads <NUM> and <NUM>' is connected to a block <NUM>, and thus the electrode leads <NUM> and <NUM>' are electrically connected to each other through the bus bar <NUM>. In particular, the first battery cell <NUM> and the second battery cell <NUM>' are connected in series through the bus bar <NUM>.

More specifically, the bus bar <NUM> includes a first block 184a connected to the electrode lead <NUM> of the first battery cell <NUM> and a second block 184b connected to the electrode lead <NUM>' of the second battery cell <NUM>'. The current flow path from the first battery cell <NUM> to the second battery cell <NUM>' is provided in an order along the electrode lead <NUM> of the first battery cell <NUM>, the first block 184a, a material layer <NUM> interposed between a body <NUM> and the first block 184a, the body <NUM>, the material layer <NUM> interposed between the body <NUM> and the second block 184b, the second block 184b and the electrode lead <NUM>' of the second battery cell <NUM>'.

Referring to <FIG> and further referring to <FIG>, the bus bar <NUM> is in an approximately plate shape with a thin thickness compared to a length and a width. The particular difference between the bus bar <NUM> and the existing bus bar is a portion of the bus bar <NUM> which is connected to the electrode leads <NUM> and <NUM>'. This portion is the block <NUM>. The block <NUM> which is the portion separated from the body <NUM> of the bus bar <NUM> is embedded in the body <NUM> and has a surface exposed to the outside. In addition, the material layer <NUM> is interposed between the body <NUM> and the block <NUM>.

The bus bar <NUM> may vary in the shape and the size so as to implement various electrical connection relationships. In general, the bus bar <NUM> is applied to a battery module manufacturing process as an ICB assembly in which an electrically conductive, for example, metal bus bar is combined on a frame of a plastic material in consideration of a wiring relationship rather than being used alone. The shape of the frame and the shape of the bus bar combined with the frame vary according to the connection relationship of the battery module. Thus, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the present disclosure are possible.

In the bus bar <NUM>, the body <NUM> and the block <NUM> are metal layers. The body <NUM> and the block <NUM> may be the same material. In addition, the material layer <NUM> is a material that is normally conductive but may act as a resistor when the temperature rises. As such, the material layer <NUM> is sandwiched between the body <NUM>, which is the metal layer, and the block <NUM>.

The material layer <NUM> includes a gas generating material that is decomposed at a predetermined temperature or higher to generate gas and increase resistance. Preferably, the material layer <NUM> includes the gas generating material, a conductive material and an adhesive. The conductive materials are connected and fixed to each other by the adhesive, and when the gas is generated in the gas generating material, the conductive materials may be disconnected to increase resistance.

The gas generating material is preferably melamine cyanurate. Melamine cyanurate is a material used as a nitrogen-phosphorous flame retardant component in which nitrogen and phosphorus are combined, and may be obtained as a raw material having an average particle size of several tens of um through various manufacturers.

Melamine cyanurate which is commonly used for a flame retardant application undergoes endothermic decomposition with the temperature exceeding about <NUM>. Melamine cyanurate is decomposed into melamine and cyanuric acid. Vaporized melamine emits inert nitrogen gas. The molecular weight of melamine cyanurate may be adjusted to control the decomposition temperature. The structural formula of melamine cyanurate is as follows.

The conductive material is not particularly limited as long as it has conductivity, and may use, for example, graphite such as natural graphite and artificial graphite; carbon blacks such as carbon black, acetylene black, ketjen black, channel black, furnace black, lamp black, and summer black; conductive fibers such as carbon fibers and metal fibers; metal powders such as carbon fluoride powder, aluminum powder and nickel powder; conductive whiskers such as zinc oxide and potassium titanate; conductive metal oxides such as titanium oxide; conductive materials such as polyphenylene derivatives, and the like.

The adhesive is a component that assists in the bonding of the gas generating material and the conductive material and the bonding of the body <NUM> and the block <NUM>. Examples of the adhesive may include polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), starch, hydroxypropyl cellulose, regenerated cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, tetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylenepropylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM), sulfonated EPDM, styrene butadiene rubber, fluorine rubber, various copolymers, and the like.

When the temperature rises to a certain temperature due to an abnormal circumstance, for example, when the temperature rises to <NUM> or higher, melamine cyanurate is decomposed and N<NUM> gas is generated in the material layer <NUM> inserted between the body <NUM> and the block <NUM>. Accordingly, the material layer <NUM> increases in resistance to operate as a resistance layer. The material layer <NUM> may also serve to break electrical connections through volume expansion.

The overall size of the bus bar <NUM> may be the same as that of the existing bus bar. Materials of the body <NUM> and the block <NUM> may be the same as those of the existing bus bar. The normal electrical conductivity of the material layer <NUM> may be similar to the electrical conductivity of the existing bus bar by making the conductive material in the material layer <NUM> equal to or higher than that of the existing bus bar.

Therefore, in a normal circumstance, the conductivity of the material layer <NUM> in the bus bar <NUM> may be maintained, thereby expressing the performance of a battery module similar to that of the existing bus bar. When the temperature rises to the certain temperature due to the abnormal circumstance, since the resistance of the material layer <NUM> increases, a current flow may be blocked. Accordingly, when the temperature rises, the material layer <NUM> operates as a resistor to block the current, thereby improving the safety of a battery module including a battery cell manufactured to include the material layer <NUM>.

Specifically, no current flows from the material layer <NUM> to the body <NUM> at a certain temperature at which the gas generating material of the material layer <NUM> is decomposed. In addition, no current flows from the material layer <NUM> to the first block 184a or the second block 184b. Therefore, at the certain temperature at which the gas generating material of the material layer <NUM> is decomposed, a current flow path from the first battery cell <NUM> to the second battery cell <NUM>' and a current flow path from the second battery cell <NUM>' to the first battery cell <NUM> are blocked.

As such, in the present disclosure, the bus bar <NUM> of which resistance increases when the temperature rises is configured between the battery cells <NUM> and <NUM>' and thus the current flow through the bus bar <NUM> is blocked when the battery module <NUM> is overheated and reaches the temperature at which the gas generating material of the material layer <NUM> in the bus bar <NUM> is decomposed. Therefore, even when a secondary battery protection circuit does not operate, it is possible to block the flow of current such that no more current flows, for example, to prevent charging, thereby increasing the safety of the battery module <NUM>. As described above, the battery module <NUM> of the present disclosure implements means that automatically blocks the flow of current when the temperature rises by improving the bus bar <NUM>, thereby securing the safety of the battery module doubly together with an overcharge protection function of the secondary battery protection circuit.

In particular, in the present embodiment, instead of the bus bar <NUM> having a simple layer stack structure, the block <NUM> is embedded in the body <NUM>. The embedded block <NUM> is more difficult to be separated from the body <NUM> than in the simple layer stack structure and is structurally robust because there is no problem of being slipped and separated like a slip.

As such, according to the present disclosure, the safety of the battery module <NUM> is secured through the improvement of the bus bar <NUM> of the battery module <NUM>. Instead of using the existing bus bar, the bus bar <NUM> according to the present disclosure is used to manufacture the battery module <NUM>, and the existing battery cell manufacturing process is used as it is, and thus it is also advantageous that a change to the process or an adjustment to the mass production process is not necessary.

As described above, according to the present disclosure, the conductivity of the material layer <NUM> in the bus bar <NUM> is maintained under normal circumstances and the performance of the battery module similar to that of the existing battery module is expressed, and the safety of the battery module <NUM> may be improved by blocking the current flow when the temperature rises to a certain temperature or more due to an abnormal circumstance. Therefore, the safety of the battery module <NUM>, the battery pack including the battery module, and the vehicle including the battery pack may be improved.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a battery module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a top view of a portion of a first bus bar included in the battery module of <FIG>, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII' of <FIG>. <FIG> is a top view of a portion of a second bus bar included in the battery module of <FIG>, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional taken along line IX-IX' of <FIG>.

A battery module <NUM> of <FIG> illustrates an example of a 4P3S connection. That is, three cell banks <NUM> in which four battery cells <NUM> are connected in parallel (P) are connected in series (S). Each of the battery cells <NUM> may be a pouch type battery cell as shown in <FIG>, etc., and the battery cells <NUM> may have the same structure as the battery cell <NUM>.

Electrode leads <NUM> protrude from both ends of the battery cell <NUM>. The electrode leads <NUM> are stacked to have the same polarity in the cell banks <NUM> connected in parallel. The electrode leads <NUM> are stacked to have opposite polarities between the cell banks <NUM>. There may be a variety of ways in which the electrode leads <NUM> are connected. In <FIG>, a structure in which the other ends of the electrode leads <NUM> are bent to the left or the right to provide a flat contact surface, and then the other ends are overlapped and connected by welding is shown.

Referring to <FIG>, the first bus bar <NUM> is for connecting the electrode leads <NUM> of the same polarity in one cell bank <NUM>, and the second bus bar <NUM> is also for connecting the electrode leads <NUM> of different polarities between the two cell banks <NUM>.

The first bus bar <NUM> and the second bus bar <NUM> are respectively provided with grooves <NUM> and <NUM> through which the electrode leads <NUM> penetrate. In addition, the first bus bar <NUM> and the second bus bar <NUM> are similar to the bus bar <NUM> described in the previous embodiment. That is, the first bus bar <NUM> includes a body <NUM>, a block <NUM>, and a material layer <NUM>, and the second bus bar <NUM> also includes a body <NUM>, a block <NUM>, and a material layer <NUM>.

The material layers <NUM> and <NUM> are the same as the material layers <NUM> described above, and are conductive in normal circumstances, but may act as resistors when the temperature rises, thereby blocking an electrical connection between the battery cells <NUM>. In addition, with respect to the present embodiment, the description provided in the previous embodiment may be used as it is.

Generation of a short circuit current is the representative cause of deterioration of safety due to the rapid rise in temperature of a lithium secondary battery. It is very important to ensure the safety in the short circuit in the safety of a battery module in which multiple battery cells are connected or a battery pack. The lower the short circuit resistance, the higher the short circuit current flows to generate a great amount of heat, and if the battery cell becomes unbearable, ignition occurs. Some safety results are obtained when the short circuit resistance is very low, where heat generated by the flow of high current exceeds <NUM> and electrode leads melt, resulting in a break in a current flow to ensure the safety. When the generated heat is lower than <NUM>, because the electrode leads do not melt, the flow of current continues, a high heat is accumulated, and the battery cells are unbearable, causing ignition to occur. Meanwhile, the high current may flow even under normal circumstances. In an electric vehicle, a large current flows in the battery module during rapid charging, rapid acceleration, or starting, causing a high temperature to occur in the electrode leads. In such an abnormal circumstance, the electric vehicle must not operate. To prevent this, it is necessary to block the flow of current at a temperature of about <NUM> or higher.

In the present embodiment, when the battery module <NUM> reaches about <NUM>, gas is generated in the material layers <NUM> and <NUM> to increase the resistance of the material layers <NUM> and <NUM>. Accordingly, the battery module <NUM> does not operate in the normal high current range but operates only when an actual short circuit occurs and is overheated at a temperature equal to or higher than <NUM>, thereby ensuring safety against ignition, explosion, etc. There is also an advantage that an energy density is not reduced since it does not occupy a space in the module, such as a PTC device or a fuse which is a different safety enhancing device.

Since the battery module according to the present disclosure has excellent safety, the battery module is also suitable for use as a power source for a medium and large device requiring high temperature stability, long cycle characteristics, high rate characteristics, etc. Preferred examples of the medium and large device include a power tool that is driven by an electric motor; electric vehicles including EV, HEV, PHEV, and the like; electric motorcycles including e-bikes and e-scooters; electric golf carts; and ESS, but are not limited thereto.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a battery pack <NUM> may include at least one battery module according to the foregoing embodiment, for example, the battery module <NUM> of the second embodiment and a pack case <NUM> for packaging the battery pack <NUM>. In addition, the battery pack <NUM> according to the present disclosure, in addition to the battery module <NUM> and the pack case <NUM>, may further include various devices for controlling charging and discharging of the battery module <NUM>, such as a battery management system (BMS), a current sensor, a fuse, etc..

The battery pack <NUM> may be provided in a vehicle <NUM> as a fuel source of the vehicle <NUM>. For example, the battery pack <NUM> may be provided in the vehicle <NUM> in other ways that may utilize electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and the other battery pack <NUM> as fuel sources.

Preferably, the vehicle <NUM> may be an electric vehicle. The battery pack <NUM> may be used as an electric energy source that drives the vehicle <NUM> by providing a driving force to a motor <NUM> of the electric vehicle. In this case, the battery pack <NUM> has a high nominal voltage of 100V or higher. In a hybrid vehicle, the battery pack <NUM> is set to 270V.

The battery pack <NUM> may be charged or discharged by an inverter <NUM> according to the driving of the motor <NUM> and/or an internal combustion engine. The battery pack <NUM> may be charged by a regenerative charging device coupled with a break. The battery pack <NUM> may be electrically connected to the motor <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> through the inverter <NUM>.

As described above, the battery pack <NUM> also includes the BMS. The BMS estimates the state of battery cells in the battery pack <NUM> and manages the battery pack <NUM> using estimated state information. For example, the BMS estimates and manages state information of the battery pack <NUM> such as state of charge (SOC) of the battery pack <NUM>, state of health (SOH), maximum input/output power allowance, output voltage, etc. In addition, the BMS may use the state information to control the charging or discharging of the battery pack <NUM>, and further, estimate the replacement time of the battery pack <NUM>.

An ECU <NUM> is an electronic control device for controlling the state of the vehicle <NUM>. For example, the ECU <NUM> determines torque information based on information such as an accelerator, a brake, a speed, etc., and controls the output of the motor <NUM> to match the torque information. In addition, the ECU <NUM> transmits a control signal to the inverter <NUM> such that the battery pack <NUM> may be charged or discharged based on the state information such as SOC and SOH of the battery pack <NUM> received by the BMS. The inverter <NUM> causes the battery pack <NUM> to be charged or discharged based on the control signal of the ECU <NUM>. The motor <NUM> drives the vehicle <NUM> based on control information (e.g., torque information) transmitted from the ECU <NUM> using electric energy of the battery pack <NUM>.

The vehicle <NUM> includes the battery pack <NUM> according to the present disclosure. The battery pack <NUM> includes the battery module <NUM> with improved safety as described above. Therefore, the stability of the battery pack <NUM> is improved, the battery pack <NUM> is excellent in stability and may be used for a long time, and thus the vehicle <NUM> including the battery pack <NUM> is safe and easy to operate.

In addition, the battery pack <NUM> may also be provided in other devices, equipment, and facilities, such as an ESS using a secondary battery, in addition to the vehicle <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A battery module (<NUM>) comprising two or more battery cells,
wherein the two or more battery cells (<NUM>) are pouch type secondary batteries, each having a structure in which an electrode assembly having both ends respectively connected to one ends of electrode leads (<NUM>) of opposite polarities is accommodated and sealed in a pouch case (<NUM>) together with an electrolyte and other ends of the electrode leads (<NUM>) are exposed to an outside of the pouch case (<NUM>);
wherein the electrode leads (<NUM>) and a bus bar (<NUM>) are connected in electrically connecting a first battery cell (<NUM>) and a second battery cell (<NUM>') of the two or more battery cells;
wherein the bus bar (<NUM>) comprises a metal layer and a material layer (<NUM>) that is conductive in a normal circumstance, but capable of acting as a resistor when a temperature rises;
wherein the material layer (<NUM>) comprises a gas generating material that is decomposed at a certain temperature or higher to generate a gas and increase resistance, a conductive material, and an adhesive; and
wherein the metal layer includes a block (<NUM>) and a body (<NUM>), the block (<NUM>) being a portion connected to the electrode leads (<NUM>), the portion being separated from the body (<NUM>) and embedded in the body (<NUM>), a surface of the block (<NUM>) being exposed to an outside, the material layer (<NUM>) being interposed between the body (<NUM>) and the block (<NUM>).