Patent Description:
In recent years, the demand for portable electronic products such as notebooks, video cameras, mobile phones, or the like is rapidly increasing, and the development of electric vehicles, energy storage batteries, robots, satellites, or the like is in earnest. For this reason, high-performance secondary batteries enabling repeated charging and discharging are being actively researched.

The lithium secondary battery mainly uses lithium-based oxides and carbonaceous materials as a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material, respectively. In addition, the lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate coated with the positive electrode active material and a negative electrode plate coated with the negative electrode active material are disposed with a separator being interposed therebetween, and an exterior hermetically containing the electrode assembly together with an electrolyte.

In using the secondary battery, it is very important to check the temperature, current and voltage of the secondary battery in terms of preventing the occurrence of safety accidents and improving the secondary battery life.

In other words, as the performance of electronic devices improves day by day, the performance of secondary batteries for supplying a high output power at one time is also improving. In particular, since the secondary batteries used in the high-power electronic devices generate a large amount of heat, an accident such as ignition or explosion may be caused if the temperature rise is not properly handled.

To this end, a battery management unit applied to the electronic device may include a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) device, a positive temperature coefficient device (PTC) element, or the like as a temperature element used for measuring the temperature of a plurality of secondary batteries.

In addition, the conventional battery module includes an electrically conductive bus bar plate for electrically connecting the plurality of secondary batteries in series or in parallel. Further, generally, the bus bar plate is electrically connected to the battery management unit to control charging and discharging of the plurality of secondary batteries or to transfer the power of the plurality of secondary batteries to an external electronic device through an external input/output terminal.

At this time, the bus bar plate may have a sensing portion formed to transfer the power of the plurality of secondary batteries to a connecting portion formed at a printed circuit board so that the bus bar plate is electrically connected to the printed circuit. In order to electrically connect the sensing portion to the connecting portion of the printed circuit board, a soldering process is necessary.

However, the soldering process is difficult, and it takes a lot of time and cost to solder the plurality of bus bar plates to the printed circuit board individually. Accordingly, the manufacturing costs of the battery module are inevitably increased. Relevant prior art can be found in <CIT>, <CIT> and particularly <CIT>, which also provides an alternative solution to the problem of avoiding welding of the sensing portion and the PCB connector.

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, which may reduce manufacturing costs and improve manufacturing efficiency.

The invention is defined in claim <NUM>, which provides a battery module, comprising:.

Also, the connecting portion has a connecting groove formed so that a part of the printed circuit board is dented inward.

Moreover, the connecting groove may have a tapered structure so that an inner width of the connecting groove gradually decreases upward from a lower end thereof.

In addition, at least a part of the bent structure of the sensing portion may be inserted and connected upward from the lower end of the connecting portion.

Further, a hanging rod extending in a horizontal direction may be formed at the connecting groove so that at least a part of the bent structure of the sensing portion is hung thereon.

Also, the connecting portion may have a connecting hole formed so that a part of the printed circuit board is perforated.

Moreover, a support wall protruding outward may be formed at the printed circuit board to support an extended longitudinal terminal of the sensing portion.

In addition, an elastic member may be provided to an inner side of the bent structure of the sensing portion to support the bent structure of the sensing portion outward.

Also, the battery module further comprises a module housing having an inner space formed therein to accommodate the cell assembly.

Moreover, an insert groove dented inward may be formed at an outer surface of the module housing so that a part of the sensing portion extending from the connection portion is inserted and fixed therein.

In addition, the printed circuit board may be mounted on the module housing.

Moreover, a support rib protruding upward may be formed at the module housing to support the upright part outward.

Also, in another aspect of the present disclosure, there is also provided a battery pack, comprising at least one battery module according to the present disclosure.

Further, in another aspect of the present disclosure, there is also provided an electronic device, comprising the battery pack according to the present disclosure.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since the battery module of the present disclosure is configured such that at least a part of the bent structure of the sensing portion is located in contact with the inside of the connecting portion, the part of the sensing portion may keep elastically connected to the connecting conductor coated on the connecting portion by using the elastic force of the bent structure of the sensing portion. Accordingly, in the present disclosure, unlike the prior art, the process of soldering the sensing portion of the bus bar plate to the connecting portion of the printed circuit board may be excluded, thereby reducing the manufacturing time and the manufacturing costs.

In addition, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, since a tapered structure is formed at a lower portion of the inner surface of the connecting groove, the bent structure of the sensing portion may have a wider contact surface with the coated connecting conductor of the connecting groove. In addition, since at least a part of the bent structure of the sensing portion is inserted and connected into the tapered structure in the upper direction, the shape of the sensing portion in close contact with the bent structure in a larger area may be properly maintained.

Further, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, since a support wall protrusively extending outward is formed on the upper or lower surface of the printed circuit board, a longitudinal terminal of the extended sensing portion may be supported in the vertical and horizontal directions. Accordingly, the sensing portion may be prevented from moving due to an external impact, thereby stably maintaining the connecting state between the sensing portion and the connecting portion.

In addition, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, since a hanging rod extending in the horizontal direction is formed in the connecting groove so that at least a part of the bent structure of the sensing portion is hung thereon, it is possible to stably maintain the connecting state between the bent structure of the sensing portion and the connecting conductor formed at the connecting groove.

Also, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since an elastic member configured to support the bent structure of the sensing portion in the outer direction is provided to an inner side of the bent structure of the sensing portion, it is possible to prevent in advance that the bent structure of the sensing portion is deformed to release the connection with the connecting conductor of the connecting portion. Accordingly, the durability of the battery module may be further improved.

Moreover, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, in the present disclosure, since a support rib protruding in the upper direction is provided at the module housing to support the upright part of the sensing portion in the outward direction, it is possible to prevent that the upright part of the sensing portion is deformed due to an external impact, and also the upright part may stably maintain its form of extending the upper direction, thereby stably maintaining the connecting state between the connecting portion and the sensing portion of the printed circuit board.

<FIG> is a perspective view schematically showing components of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Also, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view schematically showing exploded components of the battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a battery module <NUM> of the present invention includes a cell assembly <NUM>, a battery management unit <NUM>, and a bus bar plate <NUM>.

Here, the cell assembly <NUM> includes a plurality of secondary batteries <NUM>. Specifically, the secondary battery <NUM> may be a cylindrical battery cell. Hereinafter, the secondary battery will be collectively referred to as a 'cylindrical battery cell'. In addition, the cylindrical battery cell <NUM> may include a cylindrical battery can <NUM> and an electrode assembly (not shown) accommodated in the battery can <NUM>.

Here, the battery can <NUM> may include a material with high electrical conductivity. For example, the battery can <NUM> may include aluminum, steel, or copper. In addition, electrode terminals 111A, 111B may be formed at both horizontal ends of the battery can <NUM>, respectively.

Specifically, the electrode terminals <NUM> may include a first electrode terminal 111A and a second electrode terminal 111B having different electrical polarities from each other. In addition, when viewed in the F direction (shown in <FIG>), the first electrode terminal 111A may be formed at one horizontal end (a front end) of the battery can <NUM>, and the second electrode terminal 111B may be formed at the other horizontal end (a rear end) thereof.

Here, the terms indicating directions such as front, rear, left, right, upper and lower may vary depending on the position of an observer or the shape of an object. However, in this specification, for convenience of description, the front, rear, left, right, upper and lower directions are distinguished based on the case where viewed in the F direction.

Further, the electrode assembly may be formed in a jelly-roll-type structure in a state where a separator is interposed between a positive electrode and a negative electrode. In addition, a positive electrode tab (not shown) may be attached to the positive electrode (not shown) and connected to the first electrode terminal 111A at the front end of the battery can <NUM>. Further, a negative electrode tab (not shown) may be attached to the negative electrode (not shown) and connected to the second electrode terminal 111B at the rear end of the battery can <NUM>.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the battery module <NUM> may include twelve cylindrical battery cells <NUM> arranged in one direction. In addition, the first electrode terminals 111A of the twelve cylindrical battery cells <NUM> may be disposed to be adjacent to the second electrode terminals 111B whose polarity is different from that of the first electrode terminals 111A.

However, the secondary battery <NUM> according to the present disclosure is not limited to the cylindrical battery cell <NUM> described above, and various kinds of secondary batteries known at the time of filing of this application may be employed.

<FIG> is a bottom view schematically showing a lower surface of a printed circuit board, employed at the battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Also, <FIG> is a partial sectioned view schematically showing the battery module, taken along the line C-C' of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG> along with <FIG>, the battery management unit <NUM> includes a printed circuit board <NUM>. Further, the printed circuit board <NUM> may be configured to control the charging and discharging of the battery by turning on/off a switch element (not shown) according to the charging or discharging state of the cell assembly <NUM>.

In addition, the printed circuit board <NUM> may include a plurality of insulating layers (not shown) and a plurality of conductive material layers (not shown) interposed between the plurality of insulation layers. Also, the printed circuit board <NUM> may have a printed circuit 212a made of a conductive material layer.

In addition, the printed circuit board <NUM> has a connecting portion <NUM> configured to be electrically connected to the printed circuit 212a. Moreover, the connecting portion <NUM> has a connecting groove 213h1 formed so that a part of the outer surface of the printed circuit board <NUM> is dented inward. Further, the connecting groove 213h1 may be formed so that a part of the insulation layer 212b of the printed circuit board <NUM> is dug inward. In addition, the connecting groove 213h1 may be dug inward so that a part of the printed circuit 212a may be exposed out of the insulation layer 212b.

Further, inner and outer peripheries of the connecting groove 213h1 is coated with the connecting conductor 213c1 so as to be electrically connected to the printed circuit 212a. In this case, the connecting conductor 213c1 may include at least one selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, copper and aluminum with excellent electrical conductivity.

In addition, the battery management unit <NUM> may include an external input/output terminal <NUM> (<FIG>) configured to receive a power from an external device or to supply a power. The external input/output terminal <NUM> may include at least one selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, copper and aluminum with excellent electrical conductivity. The external input/output terminal <NUM> may have a clip-type connecting terminal.

In addition, referring to <FIG> and <FIG> again along with <FIG>, the bus bar plate <NUM> may be configured to contact the electrode terminals <NUM> of the plurality of cylindrical battery cells <NUM> to electrically connect the plurality of cylindrical battery cells <NUM> to each other.

Specifically, the bus bar plate <NUM> has a plate shape. In addition, the bus bar plate <NUM> may include an electrically conductive metal material. Further, the bus bar plate <NUM> has a connection portion <NUM> and a sensing portion <NUM>. Also, the connection portion <NUM> is configured to electrically connect the plurality of secondary batteries <NUM> to each other.

Further, a part of the connection portion <NUM> may contact the first electrode terminal 111A of one cylindrical battery cell <NUM> and the other part of the connection portion <NUM> may contact the second electrode terminal 111B of another cylindrical battery cell <NUM>, so that the first electrode terminal 111A of one cylindrical battery cell <NUM> and the second electrode terminal 111B of another cylindrical battery cell <NUM> are electrically connected.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the connection portion <NUM> may have a shape extending in the vertical direction and/or the left and right direction. More specifically, one 230b of the bus bar plates <NUM> may have a strip shape where the connection portion <NUM> extends in a rectangular form. In addition, one 230c of the six bus bar plates <NUM> may have a plate shape where the connection portion <NUM> extends in the vertical direction.

Further, the connection portions <NUM> of the four bus bar plates 230a may have a part extending in the vertical direction and a part extending in the left and right direction. In addition, the six bus bar plates <NUM> may be electrically connected to the positive electrode terminals 111A and the negative electrode terminals 111B of the plurality of cylindrical battery cells <NUM>.

Moreover, the sensing portion <NUM> of the bus bar plate <NUM> may be formed to extend from one side end of the connection portion <NUM> in contact with the electrode terminal <NUM> in order to transfer a power to an external electronic device (not shown) or sense a voltage of the cylindrical battery cell <NUM>. That is, the sensing portion <NUM> may be connected to the connecting portion <NUM> of the printed circuit board <NUM> having the external input/output terminal <NUM> in order to transfer a power to the outside.

Specifically, the sensing portion <NUM> may have a strip form elongated from one end of the connection portion <NUM>. In addition, the sensing portion <NUM> may have a bent structure <NUM> where an elongated longitudinal end of the sensing portion <NUM> is bent at least two times. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the sensing portion <NUM> may have a bent structure <NUM> where the elongated longitudinal end of the sensing portion <NUM> is bent two times in the outer direction and bent two times in the inner direction.

Moreover, the sensing portion <NUM> may be located such that at least a part of the bent structure <NUM> is in elastic contact with the connecting portion <NUM>. In this case, the bent structure <NUM> may be located to be electrically connected to the connecting conductor 213c1 coated on the connecting groove 213h1 of the connecting portion <NUM>.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, an upper part of the bent structure <NUM> of the sensing portion <NUM> may be located to fit into the connecting groove 213h1. In this case, the bent structure <NUM> of the sensing portion <NUM> may have a bent shape to have a sharp shape in the upper direction.

Thus, according to this configuration of the present disclosure, since at least a part of the bent structure <NUM> of the sensing portion <NUM> is located to be in contact with the inside of the connecting portion <NUM>, a part of the sensing portion <NUM> may keep elastically connected to the connecting conductor 213c1 coated on the connecting portion <NUM> by using the elastic force of the bent structure <NUM> of the sensing portion <NUM>. Accordingly, in the present disclosure, unlike the prior art, the process of soldering the sensing portion <NUM> of the bus bar plate <NUM> to be bonded to the connecting portion <NUM> of the printed circuit board <NUM> may be excluded, thereby reducing the manufacturing time and reducing the manufacturing costs.

<FIG> is a partial sectioned view schematically showing a battery module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the printed circuit board <NUM> of <FIG> may have a tapered structure 213t1 formed inside the connecting groove 213h2 of the connecting portion <NUM>, unlike the printed circuit board of <FIG>. Specifically, the tapered structure 213t1 may be shaped such that an inner width of the connecting groove 213h2 gradually decreases upward from a lower end thereof. In addition, at least a part of the bent structure <NUM> of the sensing portion <NUM> may be inserted and connected upward from the lower end of the connecting portion <NUM>.

For example, referring to <FIG>, the tapered structure 213t1 may be formed at a lower portion of the inner surface of the connecting groove 213h2. In this case, the tapered structure 213t1 may be shaped such that the inner width of the connecting groove 213h2 gradually decreases upward from the lower end thereof. Further, the inner surface of the tapered structure 213t1 may be coated with the connecting conductor 213c1 connected to the printed circuit 212a. In addition, the upper part of the bent structure <NUM> of the sensing portion <NUM> may be located to contact the inner surface of the tapered structure 213t1.

Thus, according to this configuration of the present disclosure, since the tapered structure 213t1 is formed at the lower part of the inner surface of the connecting groove 213h2, the bent structure <NUM> of the sensing portion <NUM> may have a wider contact surface with the coated connecting conductor 213c1 of the connecting groove 213h2. In addition, since the bent structure <NUM> of the sensing portion <NUM> is inserted and connected into the tapered structure 213t1 shaped corresponding to at least a part of the bent structure <NUM>, the bent structure <NUM> may appropriately maintain the shape in close contact with the bent structure <NUM> of the sensing portion <NUM>.

<FIG> is a partial sectioned view schematically showing a battery module according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the connecting portion <NUM> of the printed circuit board <NUM> of the present disclosure may have a connecting hole 213h3 so that a part of the printed circuit board <NUM> is perforated. That is, unlike the printed circuit board having the connecting hole 213h1 as shown in <FIG>, a connecting hole 213h3 perforated from the upper surface of the printed circuit board <NUM> to the lower surface thereof may be formed at a part of the printed circuit board <NUM> of <FIG>. In addition, the connecting conductor 213c1 may be coated on the inner and outer peripheries of the connecting hole 213h3 so as to be electrically connected to the printed circuit 212a. In this case, the connecting conductor 213c1 may include at least one selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, copper and aluminum with excellent electrical conductivity.

Thus, the sensing portion <NUM> of the bus bar plate <NUM> may be inserted and connected into the connecting hole 213h3 of the connecting portion <NUM> of the printed circuit board <NUM> from the top to the bottom. Also, similarly, the sensing portion <NUM> of the bus bar plate <NUM> may be inserted and connected into the connecting hole 213h3 of the printed circuit board <NUM> from the bottom to the top. Accordingly, the printed circuit board <NUM> may diversify the positions of the sensing portion <NUM> of the bus bar plate <NUM>, thereby implementing the battery module <NUM> in various types.

Referring to <FIG>, unlike the printed circuit board of <FIG>, the printed circuit board <NUM> of <FIG> may have a support wall 212w formed at an upper surface or a lower surface thereof to protrusively extend outward. Specifically, the support wall 212w may protrusively extend outward to support the extended longitudinal terminal of the sensing portion <NUM>.

More specifically, the support wall 212w may have a body portion 212w1 extending in the lower direction from the bottom surface of the printed circuit board <NUM>, and a support portion 212w2 extending in the horizontal direction from the body portion 212w1. Here, the body portion 212w1 may be configured to support the extended longitudinal terminal of the sensing portion <NUM> in the horizontal direction. In addition, the support portion 212w2 may be configured to support the terminal of the sensing portion <NUM> in the upper direction.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the support wall 212w having an "L" shape as a whole may be formed at the bottom surface of the printed circuit board <NUM>. Further, the support wall 212w may include a body portion 212w1 extending in the lower direction from the bottom surface of the printed circuit board <NUM>, and a support portion 212w2 extending in the horizontal direction from the body portion.

Thus, according to this configuration of the present disclosure, since the support wall 212w protrusively extending outward is provided on the upper surface or the lower surface of the printed circuit board <NUM>, the extended longitudinal terminal of the sensing portion <NUM> may be supported in the vertical direction (Z-direction in <FIG>) and in the horizontal direction (Y-direction in <FIG>). Accordingly, the sensing portion <NUM> may be prevented from moving due to an external impact, thereby stably maintaining the connecting state between the sensing portion <NUM> and the connecting portion <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the printed circuit board <NUM> of <FIG> may have a hanging rod 212p formed at the connecting groove 213h1 to extend in the horizontal direction (X-direction in <FIG>), unlike the printed circuit board of <FIG>. Specifically, the hanging rod 212p may be located such that at least a part of the bent structure <NUM> of the sensing portion <NUM> is hung thereon.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the bent structures <NUM> of the sensing portion <NUM> may be bent one time in the outer direction (the front direction) and bent two times in the inner direction (the rear direction). In addition, the printed circuit board <NUM> may have a support 212p2 protruding downward from a lower surface of the periphery of the connecting groove 213h1. Moreover, the printed circuit board <NUM> may have a hanging rod 212p elongated in the horizontal direction (X-direction in <FIG>) from the support 212p2. Also, the bent portion at the top of the bent structure <NUM> of the sensing portion <NUM> may be located to be hung on the hanging rod 212p.

Thus, according to this configuration of the present disclosure, since the hanging rod 212p extending in the horizontal direction is formed at the connecting groove 213h1 such that at least a part of the bent structure <NUM> of the sensing portion <NUM> is hung thereon, the connecting state between the bent structure <NUM> and the connecting conductor 213c1 formed at the connecting groove 213h1 may be stably maintained.

Referring to <FIG>, the printed circuit board <NUM> of <FIG> may have an elastic member <NUM> provided at the inner side of the bent structure <NUM> of the sensing portion <NUM>, unlike the printed circuit board <FIG>. Specifically, the elastic member <NUM> may have a predetermined size to support the bent structure <NUM> of the sensing portion <NUM> in the outer direction. In addition, the elastic member <NUM> may be, for example, a lightweight material such as a flame retardant sponge or a flame retardant Styrofoam. Alternatively, the elastic member <NUM> may have a ball shape made of a plastic skeleton.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the bent structures <NUM> of the sensing portion <NUM> may be bent one time in the outer direction and bent two times in the inner direction. In addition, the elastic member <NUM> may be located inside the bent structure <NUM>. Further, the elastic member <NUM> may have a predetermined size capable of supporting the bent structure <NUM> in the outer direction so that the shape of the bent structure <NUM> of the sensing portion <NUM> is maintained.

Thus, according to this configuration of the present disclosure, since the elastic member <NUM> configured to support the bent structure <NUM> of the sensing portion <NUM> in the outer direction is provided to the inner side of the bent structure <NUM> of the sensing portion <NUM>, it is possible to prevent that the bent structure <NUM> of the sensing portion <NUM> is deformed to release the contact state with the connecting conductor 213c1 of the connecting portion <NUM>. Accordingly, the durability of the battery module <NUM> may be further improved.

<FIG> is a partial enlarged view schematically showing a battery module according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG> along with <FIG> and <FIG>, the battery module <NUM> of the present disclosure further includes a module housing <NUM> having an inner space for accommodating the cell assembly <NUM>.

Specifically, the module housing <NUM> may include an electrically insulating material. For example, the module housing <NUM> may include a plastic material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In addition, the module housing <NUM> may include a first case <NUM> and a second case <NUM>. Also, a plurality of hollow structures H1 may be formed at the first case <NUM> and the second case <NUM> to surround the outer surface of the upper portion or the lower portion of the cylindrical battery cells <NUM> so that the plurality of cylindrical battery cells <NUM> are accommodated.

Moreover, the first case <NUM> and the second case <NUM> may have a bolt fastening structure. For example, as shown in <FIG>, fastening holes S1 may be formed in the first case <NUM> and the second case <NUM> so that four bolts <NUM> are inserted therein. In addition, as the four bolts <NUM> may be fastened to the fastening holes S <NUM> of the first case <NUM> and the second case <NUM>, a rear part of the first case <NUM> and a front part of the second case <NUM> may be coupled to each other.

In addition, an insert groove <NUM> is formed at the outer surfaces of the first case <NUM> and the second case <NUM> of the module housing <NUM> so that the connection portion <NUM> of the bus bar plate <NUM> and at least a part of the sensing portion <NUM> may be inserted and fixed therein.

Specifically, the insert groove <NUM> formed at the outer surface of the module housing <NUM> may have an inner surface with a size corresponding to the outer shape of the bus bar plate <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, an insert groove <NUM> may be formed at the front outer surface of the first case <NUM> so that the connection portion <NUM> of the bus bar plate <NUM> may be inserted and included therein.

In addition, an insert groove <NUM> may be formed at the upper outer surface of the first case <NUM> so that a part of the sensing portion <NUM> of the bus bar plate <NUM> may be inserted and fixed therein. Similarly, an insert groove <NUM> may be formed at the rear outer surface and the upper outer surface of the second case <NUM> of the module housing <NUM> so that a part of the connection portion <NUM> and a part of the sensing portion <NUM> of the bus bar plate <NUM> may be inserted and fixed therein.

Thus, according to this configuration of the present disclosure, since the insert groove <NUM> is formed at the outer surface of the module housing <NUM> so that the connection portion <NUM> and the sensing portion <NUM> of the bus bar plate <NUM> may be partially inserted and fixed therein, the bus bar plate <NUM> may establish a stable electrical connection between the cell assemblies <NUM> and also prevent the bus bar plate <NUM> from being damaged due to foreign matter. In addition, since the sensing portion <NUM> of the bus bar plate <NUM> may be prevented from moving due to an external shock, it is possible to stably maintain the electrical connection between the battery management unit <NUM> and the cell assembly <NUM>. Accordingly, the durability of the battery module <NUM> may be improved.

Meanwhile, referring to <FIG> again along with <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the printed circuit board <NUM> may be mounted on the module housing <NUM>. Also, a fixing protrusion P1 may be formed on the second case <NUM> of the module housing <NUM> so that the printed circuit board <NUM> is mounted and fixed thereon.

In addition, the sensing portion <NUM> may include a fixed part 234a, an upright part 234b, and a connecting part 234c. Specifically, the fixed part 234a may be a part that is inserted into the insert groove <NUM> formed at the horizontal outer surface of the module housing <NUM>. Further, the upright part 234b may be a part that is bent upward from the end of the fixed part 234a extending in the longitudinal direction to protrude outward.

In addition, the connecting part 234c may have a bent structure <NUM> that is connected to an end of the upright part 234b extending in the longitudinal direction and bent at least two times in the inner direction, or in the outer direction, or in the inner direction and the outer direction. Further, the connecting part 234c may be located such that a top portion of the bent structure <NUM> is in pressure contact with the connecting portion <NUM>.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the sensing portions <NUM> of three bus bar plates <NUM> may be divided into a fixed part 234a inserted and fixed into the insert groove <NUM> of the module housing <NUM>, an upright part 234b bent from one end of the fixed part 234a and extending upward, and a connecting part 234c where the top portion of the connecting structure is contacted and connected to the connecting portion <NUM>.

Thus, according to this configuration of the present disclosure, the since sensing portion <NUM> of the present disclosure includes the fixed part 234a inserted and fixed into the module housing <NUM>, the upright part 234b extending upward to contact the connecting portion <NUM> of the printed circuit board <NUM> and the connecting part 234c contacted and connected to the connecting portion <NUM>, it is optimized to make the stable connection state with the printed circuit board <NUM> mounted on the module housing <NUM>.

Meanwhile, referring to <FIG> again, the module housing <NUM> may have a support rib 242r protruding in the upper direction. Specifically, the support rib 242r may have a support surface to support the upright part 234b outward. That is, the support rib 242r may be formed to protrude upward to contact the inner surface of the upright part 234b of the sensing portion <NUM> so that the inner surface of the upright part 234b of the sensing portion <NUM> is supported in the outer direction.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the support rib 242r protruding upward may be formed at the periphery of the insert groove <NUM> formed at the upper surface of the module housing <NUM>. In this case, the support rib 242r may support a part of the inner surface of the upright part 234b of the sensing portion <NUM> in the outer direction.

Thus, according to this configuration of the present disclosure, since the support rib 242r protruding upward is formed at the module housing <NUM> to support the upright part 234b in the outward direction, it is possible to prevent the upright part 234b of the sensing portion <NUM> from being deformed due to an external shock, and it is possible to stably maintain the form in which the upright part 234b extends in the upper direction, thereby stably maintaining the connecting state between the connecting portion <NUM> of the printed circuit board <NUM> and the sensing portion <NUM>.

In addition, a battery pack (not shown) according to the present disclosure may include at least two of the battery modules <NUM>. Specifically, the at least two battery modules <NUM> may be arranged in one direction. In some cases, the battery pack may further include a heatsink (not shown) for heat dissipation.

Also, an electronic device (not shown) according to the present disclosure may include the battery pack. For example, the battery pack may be accommodated in an external case of the electronic device. In addition, the electronic device may be a mobile means such as an electric bicycle.

Meanwhile, even though the terms indicating directions such as upper, lower, left, right, front and rear directions are used in the specification, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that these merely represent relative positions for convenience in explanation and may vary based on a position of an observer or an object.

Claim 1:
A battery module (<NUM>), comprising:
a cell assembly (<NUM>) having a plurality of secondary batteries (<NUM>);
a battery management unit (<NUM>) having a printed circuit board (<NUM>) with a printed circuit (212a), the printed circuit board (<NUM>) having a connecting portion (<NUM>) on inner and outer peripheries of which a connecting conductor (213c1) is coated to be electrically connected to the printed circuit (212a), wherein the connecting portion (<NUM>) has a connecting groove (213h1) formed so that a part of the printed circuit board (<NUM>) is dented inward;
a bus bar plate (<NUM>) having a plate shape, the bus bar plate (<NUM>) having a connection portion (<NUM>) configured to electrically connect the plurality of secondary batteries (<NUM>) and a sensing portion (<NUM>) with a strip form elongated from one side end of the connection portion (<NUM>), and
a module housing (<NUM>) having an inner space formed therein to accommodate the cell assembly (<NUM>), wherein an insert groove (<NUM>) dented inward is formed at an outer surface of the module housing (<NUM>) so that a part of the sensing portion extending from the connection portion is inserted and fixed therein;
wherein the sensing portion (<NUM>) includes:
a fixed part (234a) inserted into the insert groove (<NUM>) formed at the outer surface of the module housing (<NUM>);
an upright part (234b) bent upward from an extended longitudinal end of the fixed part (234a) to protrude outward; and
a connecting part (234c) connected to an extended longitudinal end of the upright part (234b) and having a bent structure (<NUM>) that is bent at least two times in an inner direction, or in an outer direction, or in an inner direction and an outer direction, the bent structure (<NUM>) having a top portion that is in pressure contact with the connecting portion (<NUM>),
wherein the bent structure (<NUM>) of the sensing portion (<NUM>) has a bent shape to have a sharp shape in the upper direction, and an upper part of the bent structure (<NUM>) of the sensing portion (<NUM>) is located to fit into the connecting groove (213h1).