Patent Description:
The present invention relates to a battery pack and a device including the same, and more particularly, it relates to a battery pack having an improved manufacturing process, and a device including the same.

In modern society, as portable devices such as mobile phones, laptops, camcorders, and digital cameras are used in daily life, the development of technologies related to mobile devices as described above is becoming more active. In addition, as a way to solve air pollution from conventional gasoline vehicles using fossil fuels, rechargeable batteries that can be charged and discharged are used as a power source for electric vehicles (EV), hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (P-HEV), and the need for rechargeable battery development is increasing.

Currently commercially available rechargeable batteries include a nickel cadmium battery, a nickel hydrogen battery, a nickel zinc battery, and a lithium rechargeable battery, and the lithium rechargeable battery is attracting attention for its merits that it has almost no memory effect compared to nickel-based rechargeable batteries, and thus it can be freely charged and discharged, has a very low self-discharge rate, and has high energy density.

These lithium rechargeable batteries mainly use lithium-based oxide and carbon materials as positive active materials and negative active materials, respectively. The lithium rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly in which positive and negative plates respectively coated with a positive active material and a negative active material are disposed while disposing a separator therebetween, and a battery case that seals and accommodates the electrode assembly and an electrolyte solution.

In general, a lithium rechargeable battery can be classified into a can-type rechargeable battery in which the electrode assembly is built in a metal can and a pouch-type rechargeable battery in which the electrode assembly is built in a pouch of an aluminum laminate sheet according to the shape of the exterior material.

In the case of a rechargeable battery used in small devices, <NUM> to <NUM> battery cells are disposed, but in the case of a rechargeable battery used in a medium or large device such as an automobile, a battery module in which a plurality of battery cells are electrically connected is used. In such a battery module, a plurality of battery cells are serially or coupled in parallel to form a battery cell stack, and thus capacity and output are improved. In addition, at least one battery module may be mounted together with various control and protection systems such as a battery management system (BMS) and a cooling system to form a battery pack.

The battery module may include a battery cell stack where a plurality of battery cells are stacked, and a frame receiving the battery cell stack.

<FIG> shows a conventional battery pack where a plurality of battery modules are received in a pack frame, and <FIG> is a top plan view illustrating the number of fastening points required for two battery modules to be fixed to the pack frame of <FIG>. In particular, <FIG> is a top plan view of a figure that two battery modules <NUM> provided as a pair are covered by a cover.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the conventional battery pack is formed by accommodating a plurality of battery modules <NUM> in a pack frame. Although it is important to compactly dispose a plurality of battery modules <NUM> in the pack frame for high power and large capacity, as the number of battery modules <NUM> in the battery pack increases, the number of necessary parts increases and the internal structure and assembly process are complicated. Specifically, as marked by dotted lines in <FIG>, a plurality of fastening points are required to fix the two battery modules <NUM> to the pack frame. Since each of the plurality of battery modules <NUM> needs a fastening point, the number of parts required increases, and the assemble process is inevitably more complicated in the conventional battery packs.

As the demand for high power and large capacity battery packs continues, it is substantially necessary to develop a battery module that can satisfy these requirements while reducing the number of required parts and improving the assemble process.

Embodiments of the present invention have been made to solve the above problems of the previously proposed methods, and is to provide a battery pack with an improved assembly process with a capacity increase, and a device including the same.

However, the problems to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described problems and can be variously expanded in the range of technical ideas included in the present invention.

A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a battery module that includes a battery cell stack where a plurality of battery cells are stacked; and a pack frame that accommodates the battery module, wherein the pack frame includes a bottom portion where the battery module is positioned, and a guide pin protruded upward from the bottom portion, the battery module includes a guide portion where a guide hole is formed and a mounting portion for fixing the battery module, and, when the battery module is accommodated in the pack frame, the guide pin passes through the guide hole.

The battery module may be fixed to the pack frame through the mounting portion.

A mounting hole may be formed in the mounting portion, a fastening hole may be formed in a position of the bottom portion of the pack frame corresponding to the mounting hole, and wherein the battery pack may include a mounting bolt coupled to the fastening hole through the mounting hole.

The guide portion and the mounting portion may protrude along a direction that is parallel with the bottom portion, and the guide hole and the mounting hole may be formed while penetrating along a direction that is perpendicular to the bottom portion.

The guide portion and the mounting portion may be respectively provided in plural.

The guide portion and the mounting portion may be formed in a front side and a rear side of the battery module.

The battery module includes a module frame that accommodates the battery cell stack, and an end plate, and the end plate is disposed in a front side and a rear side of the battery cell stack.

The mounting portion and the guide portion are formed in the end plate.

Two mounting portions may be respectively disposed in a front side and a rear side of the battery module, and the guide portion may be disposed between the two mounting portions, or on an outer side of the two mounting portions.

A front side of the battery module may face another adjacent battery module, a guide portion disposed in the front side of the battery module may be disposed between the two mounting portions, and a guide portion disposed in the rear side of the battery module may be disposed at an outer side of the two mounting portions.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a large capacity battery module with an increased number of battery cells included therein, and simultaneously, in accommodating the large capacity battery module in a pack frame through a guide pin structure, a manufacturing process can be improved.

In addition, since the number of fixing portions can be reduced, cost can be reduced and the assemble process can be simplified.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. The present invention may be implemented in several different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

The drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

In addition, since the size and thickness of each configuration shown in the drawings are arbitrarily indicated for better understanding and ease of description, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the drawings. In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions, etc., are exaggerated for clarity. In addition, in the drawings, the thickness of some layers and regions is exaggerated for better understanding and ease of description.

It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being "on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. Further, throughout the specification, the word "on" a target element will be understood to mean positioned above or below the target element, and will not necessarily be understood to mean positioned "at an upper side" based on an opposite to gravity direction.

Further, throughout the specification, the phrase "on a plane" means viewing a target portion from the top, and the phrase "on a cross-section" means viewing a cross-section formed by vertically cutting a target portion from the side.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a perspective view of a battery pack in which the battery module is received in a pack frame. <FIG> is an enlarged partial view of the part "A" of <FIG>. In particular, in <FIG>, an upper cover <NUM> is separated for convenience of description.

Referring to <FIG>, a battery pack <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention include a battery module <NUM> including a battery cell stack <NUM> where a plurality of battery cells <NUM> are stacked and a pack frame <NUM> the accommodates the battery module <NUM>. The pack frame <NUM> includes a bottom portion <NUM> where the battery module <NUM> is positioned, and a guide pin <NUM> that protrudes upward from the bottom portion <NUM>. The battery module <NUM> includes a guide portion <NUM> where a guide hole <NUM> is formed and a mounting portion <NUM> for fixing the battery module <NUM>, and when the battery module <NUM> is accommodated in the pack frame <NUM>, the guide pin <NUM> passes through the guide hole <NUM>. Structures of the guide pin <NUM> and the guide hole <NUM> will be described in detail later with reference to <FIG>.

The battery cell <NUM> is preferably a pouch-type battery cell. The pouch-type battery cell may be formed by receiving an electrode assembly in a laminate-sheet pouch case including a resin layer and a metal layer, and then thermally sealing a sealing portion of the pouch case. Such a battery cell <NUM> may be formed in a rectangular sheet-like structure.

The battery cells <NUM> may be formed in plural, and a plurality of battery cells <NUM> are stacked to be electrically connected to each other to form a battery cell stack <NUM>. In particular, as shown in <FIG>, the plurality of battery cells <NUM> may be stacked along a direction that is parallel with the x-axis.

In this case, the battery cell stack <NUM> according to the present embodiment may be a large scaled module in which the number of battery cells <NUM> is greater than that of the prior art. For example, <NUM> battery cells <NUM> may be included in each battery module <NUM>. In case of such a large scaled module, a horizontal directional length of the battery module is increased. Here, the horizontal directional length may imply a direction where the battery cells <NUM> are stacked, that is, a length in a direction that is parallel with the x-axis.

The battery module <NUM> may include a module frame <NUM> that accommodates the battery cell stack <NUM>, and an end plate <NUM>.

The module frame <NUM> that accommodates the battery cell stack <NUM> may include an upper cover <NUM> and a U-shaped frame <NUM>.

The U-shaped frame <NUM> is a frame having a U-shaped structure, and may cover a bottom surface (z-axis opposite direction) and both lateral sides (x-axis direction and its opposite direction) of the battery cell stack <NUM>.

The upper cover <NUM> may be formed in a plate-shaped structure surrounding the remaining upper surface (z-axis direction) except for the lower surface and the both lateral sides covered by the U-shaped frame <NUM>. The upper cover <NUM> and the U-shaped frame <NUM> are combined by welding or the like in a state in which corresponding corner portions are in contact with each other, thereby forming a structure that covers the battery cell stack <NUM> vertically and horizontally. It is possible to physically protect the battery cell stack <NUM> through the upper cover <NUM> and the U-shaped frame <NUM>. To this end, the upper cover <NUM> and the U-shaped frame <NUM> may include a metal material having predetermined strength.

Meanwhile, although not specifically shown, the module frame <NUM> according to an exemplary variation may be a mono frame in the form of a metal plate in which an upper surface, a lower surface, and both lateral sides are integrated. That is, it is not a structure in which the U-shaped frame <NUM> and the upper cover <NUM> are coupled to each other, but is a structure manufactured by extrusion molding, and thus the upper surface, the lower surface, and both lateral sides are integrated.

The end plate <NUM> may be formed to cover the battery cell stack <NUM> by being positioned on a first open side (y-axis direction) and a second open side (direction opposite to the y-axis direction) of the module frame <NUM>. Such an end plate <NUM> may physically protect the battery cell stack <NUM> and other electronic devices from external impact.

Meanwhile, although it is not specifically illustrated, and a bus bar frame where a bus bar is mounted and an insulation cover for electrical insulation may be disposed between the battery cell stack <NUM> and the end plate <NUM>.

The end plate <NUM> may be positioned on the front (opposite y-axis direction) and rear (y-axis direction) of the battery cell stack <NUM>. Such an end plate <NUM> is formed to cover the battery cell stack <NUM>, and it is possible to physically protect the battery cell stack <NUM> and other electronic devices from external impact.

Referring to <FIG>, as previously described, the battery module <NUM> includes a guide portion <NUM> where a guide hole <NUM> is formed, and a mounting portion <NUM> for fixing the battery module <NUM>. In this case, the guide portion <NUM> and the mounting portion <NUM> may be formed on the front side (y-axis opposite direction) and the rear side (y-axis direction) of the battery module <NUM>, and more specifically, on the end plate <NUM>.

A mounting hole <NUM> may be formed in the mounting portion <NUM>. The mounting portion <NUM> may protrude along a direction that is parallel with the bottom portion <NUM> of the pack frame <NUM>, and the mounting hole <NUM> may penetrate a direction that is perpendicular to the bottom portion <NUM> of the pack frame <NUM>.

A fastening hole <NUM> may be formed at a position corresponding to the mounting hole <NUM> in the bottom portion <NUM> of the pack frame <NUM>.

The battery pack <NUM> according to the present embodiment may further include a mounting bolt <NUM> that passes through the mounting hole <NUM> and thus is coupled to the fastening hole <NUM>. That is, the mounting bolt <NUM> passes through the mounting hole <NUM> and is bolt and nut coupled with the fastening hole <NUM>, and thus the battery module <NUM> can be fixed to the pack frame <NUM>. For effective fixing, the mounting portion <NUM> and the mounting bolt <NUM> applied to each battery module <NUM> are preferably provided in plural.

Since the battery module <NUM> according to the present embodiment is large scaled module, the volume or weight increases compared to the conventional battery module, and thus there may be difficulties in mounting and fixing the battery module <NUM> through the mounting part <NUM>.

Thus, the battery module <NUM> according to the present embodiment is provided with the guide portion <NUM> to accommodate the large scaled battery module <NUM> in the pack frame <NUM>, thereby simplifying an assembling process. As described above, the guide hole <NUM> is formed in the guide portion <NUM>. The guide portion <NUM> may protrude along a direction that is parallel with the bottom portion <NUM> of the pack frame <NUM>, and the guide hole <NUM> may penetrate a direction that is perpendicular to the bottom portion <NUM> of the pack frame <NUM>.

Specifically, when the battery module <NUM> is accommodated in the pack frame <NUM> before being fixed through the mounting portion <NUM>, a guide pin <NUM> protruding upward from the bottom portion <NUM> of the pack frame <NUM> is set to pass through the guide hole <NUM>. Through this, the battery module <NUM> with increased volume or weight can be positioned more accurately and stably at a predetermined place on the pack frame <NUM>, and it is also easy to match the mounting hole <NUM> and the fastening hole <NUM> with each other. For accurate position setting, the guide portion <NUM> applied to each battery module <NUM> is preferably provided in plural.

On the other hand, since the battery module <NUM> according to the present embodiment is a large scaled module, the battery module <NUM> has a large volume, and thus even through it is a pack frame <NUM> of the same size, the number of battery modules <NUM> accommodated in the pack frame <NUM> is reduced compared to the prior art. That is, even though the number of battery modules <NUM> is reduced, it is possible to manufacture a battery pack <NUM> having the same capacity and output. In this case, since the number of battery modules <NUM> in the battery pack <NUM> is reduced, the total number of fixing portions such as the mounting bolt <NUM> required for the battery pack <NUM> is reduced. That is, cost reduction and simplification of the assemble process become possible.

<FIG> is a top plan view of alignment form of battery modules according to the embodiment of the present invention. Configurations other than the battery module are omitted for convenience of explanation.

Referring to <FIG>, as previously described, the guide portion <NUM> and the mounting portion <NUM> may be formed on the front (opposite the y-axis direction) and rear (y-axis direction) of the battery module <NUM>.

Two mounting portions <NUM> may be disposed respectively on the front and rear surfaces of the battery module 100a, and the guide portion <NUM> may be disposed between the two mounting portions <NUM> or on the outside of the two mounting portions <NUM>.

More specifically, the front side of the battery module 100a faces another adjacent battery module 100b, the guide portion <NUM> disposed on the front of the battery module 100a is disposed between the two mounting portions <NUM>, and the guide portion <NUM> disposed on the rear side of the battery module 100a may be disposed on the outside of the two mounting portions <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, terms indicating directions such as before, after, left, right, up, and down are used, but these terms are used for convenience of explanation only, and may vary depending on the position of the object or the position of the observer.

One or more battery modules according to the present embodiment described above may be mounted together with various control and protection systems such as a battery management system (BMS) and a cooling system to form a battery pack.

The battery module or battery pack can be applied to various devices. Specifically, it can be applied to transportation means such as electric bicycles, electric vehicles, hybrids, and the like, but is not limited thereto, and can be applied to various devices that can use secondary batteries.

Claim 1:
A battery pack (<NUM>) comprising:
a battery module (<NUM>) that includes a battery cell stack (<NUM>) where a plurality of battery cells (<NUM>) are stacked; and
a pack frame (<NUM>) that accommodates the battery module,
wherein the pack frame comprises a bottom portion (<NUM>) where the battery module is positioned, and a guide pin (<NUM>) protruded upward from the bottom portion,
the battery module comprises a guide portion (<NUM>) where a guide hole (<NUM>) is formed and a mounting portion (<NUM>) for fixing the battery module, and
when the battery module is accommodated in the pack frame, the guide pin passes through the guide hole,
wherein the battery module comprises a module frame (<NUM>) that accommodates the battery cell stack, and an end plate (<NUM>), and
the end plate is disposed in a front side and a rear side opposite the front side of the battery cell stack,
characterized in that the mounting portion and the guide portion are formed in the end plate.