Patent Description:
Temperature is an important parameter of a battery module, and directly influences safety of the battery module and charging and discharging strategy of the battery module. Therefore, temperature sampling is of great significance to the battery module.

In the battery module, compared with temperatures of other parts like a bus bar, a temperature of a top cover of a battery is closer to an actual temperature inside the battery, and the difference between the temperature of the top cover and the temperature inside the battery under severe working conditions is also within an acceptable range, therefore, to improve accuracy in collection of temperature of the battery module, one method adopted currently is to collect the temperature of the top cover.

However, in the prior art, the tightness and stability of contact between a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the top cover and the top cover are both poor, thereby not only influencing accuracy of results of temperature collection, but also easily leading to undetectability.

<CIT> disclose a secondary battery includes at least one battery cell, a temperature sensor that detects information regarding a temperature of the battery cell, a protective circuit that receives temperature information output from the temperature sensor, and a sensor holder that accommodates the temperature sensor, the sensor holder including a first part formed at a side of the sensor holder and fixed to the protective circuit and a second part formed at another side of the sensor holder and pushed against the battery cell.

A technical problem to be solved in the present application is to improve accuracy in temperature collection of a battery module.

To solve the above technical problem, embodiments of the present application provide a battery module, and the battery module includes:
at least two batteries, wherein the batteries are arranged side by side and each battery includes a top cover and an electrode terminal arranged on the top cover; a bus bar, connecting electrode terminals of adjacent batteries; a circuit board, arranged above at least two batteries; and at least one temperature collection unit including a temperature collection structure and a bearing structure, wherein the temperature collection structure includes a temperature sensor and a thermal conducting pad, the temperature sensor collects temperature of the top cover and is arranged on the bearing structure, the thermal conducting pad is arranged between the temperature sensor and the top cover, and the bearing structure electrically connects the temperature sensor and the circuit board, and presses, under an effect of at least one of the circuit board and the bus bar, the temperature collection structure to be abutted against the top cover.

In some embodiments, the bearing structure is clamped with the bus bar.

In some embodiments, the bearing structure includes a bearing body, the temperature sensor is arranged on the bearing body, and the bearing body is provided with a first clamping structure, the bus bar is provided with a second clamping structure, and the first clamping structure is matched with the second clamping structure.

In some embodiments, the second clamping structure includes an installation groove, the bearing body is accommodated in the installation groove, and the first clamping structure includes a clamping groove, and a wall of the installation groove is clamped into the clamping groove.

In some embodiments, the first clamping structure further includes a buckle, the second clamping structure further includes a limiting opening formed on the wall of the installation groove, and the buckle is clamped into the limiting opening.

In some embodiments, the bearing structure is provided with a limiting groove, and the temperature sensor is arranged in the limiting groove.

In some embodiments, the bearing structure includes a bearing body and an elastic sheet, wherein the temperature sensor and the elastic sheet are both arranged on the bearing body, and the elastic sheet is arranged above the temperature sensor.

In some embodiments, the elastic sheet is provided with a first end and a second end which are opposite to each other, wherein the first end is electrically connected with the circuit board, and the second end is electrically connected with the temperature sensor.

In some embodiments, the battery module further includes a metal sheet arranged on the circuit board, and the first end is electrically connected with the circuit board through the metal sheet.

In some embodiments, the first end is concave downwards and is arc-shaped, and the metal sheet is inserted between a lower surface of the first end and the bearing body.

In some embodiments, a gap is formed between the lower surface of the first end and the bearing body, and the gap is smaller than or equal to the thickness of the metal sheet.

In some embodiments, the first end is provided with one of a convex part and a concave part, the metal sheet is provided with the other one of the convex part and the concave part, and the convex part is clamped with the concave part.

In some embodiments, the elastic sheet is arranged inside the bearing body, and an upper surface of the bearing body is provided with an opening for exposing the first end.

In some embodiments, a limiting groove arranged on the bearing body exposes the second end, and the second end is welded with the temperature sensor arranged in the limiting groove.

In some embodiments, the temperature collection unit includes two elastic sheets, and the second ends of the two elastic sheets are respectively electrically connected with a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the temperature sensor.

In some embodiments, a thickness of the thermal conducting pad at an original state is greater than a distance between a lower surface of the temperature sensor and the top cover.

In some embodiments, the battery further includes a top patch affixed to an upper surface of the top cover, the top patch is provided with a sampling hole for exposing the top cover, and the temperature collection structure is in contact with the top cover through the sampling hole.

In some embodiments, the sampling hole is arranged to be adjacent to a negative electrode terminal of the battery.

In some embodiments, the circuit board is a flexible circuit board, and/or, the temperature sensor is NTC.

Embodiments of the present application further provide a device including the battery module in the above embodiments, and the battery module is configured to provide electric energy.

In the present application, the bearing structure can press, under the effect of one of the circuit board and the bus bar, the temperature collection structure including the temperature sensor to be abutted against the top cover, therefore, the temperature collection structure can be in closer contact with the top cover, which is beneficial for improving accuracy in temperature collection of the battery module.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present application will become clear through a detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings below.

A clear and complete description will be given below on the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application in combination with accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application, and apparently the embodiments described below are only a part but not all of the embodiments of the present application. The description of at least one exemplary embodiment below is actually merely illustrative, rather than serving as any limitation to the present application and its applications or uses. Based upon the embodiments of the present application, all the other embodiments which can occur to those skilled in the art without any inventive effort shall all fall into the protection scope of the present application.

The techniques, methods and devices well known to those of ordinary skills in the art may not be discussed in detail, however, under appropriate conditions, the description of techniques, methods and devices shall be deemed as a part of the authorized description.

In the description of the present application, it should be understood that, the use of such words as "first" and "second" to define parts is merely to facilitate distinguishment of corresponding parts, unless otherwise stated, the above words have no special meanings, and should not be understood as a limitation to the protection scope of the present application.

In the description of the present application, it should be understood that, the orientation or positional relationship indicated by such terms as "front, rear, up, down, left, right" "lateral, longitudinal, vertical, horizontal", and "top, bottom" is generally based on the orientation and position when the battery module in <FIG> is normally placed. Such terms are merely for the convenience of description of the present application and simplified description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must be located in a certain orientation or must be constructed or operated in a certain orientation without a statement to the contrary, therefore, the terms cannot be understood as a limitation to the protection scope of the present application; and such orientation terms as "inner, outside" mean inner or outside relative to the contour of each part itself.

In addition, technical features involved in different embodiments of the present application described below can be combined with each other as long as they are not in conflict with each other.

<FIG> show one embodiment of a battery module of the present application. Please refer to <FIG>, the battery module <NUM> provided in the present application includes:.

In the existing temperature collection solution of the top cover of a battery, the temperature sensor is generally arranged on a harness plate of the battery module, and the problems lie in that, on the one hand, a contact between the temperature sensor and the top cover is not so tight, and on the other hand, the solution is merely applicable to the battery module with a harness plate, but not applicable to the battery module with no harness plate.

While in embodiments of the present application, the bearing structure <NUM> is added, and the bearing structure <NUM> is configured to press, under the effect of a circuit board <NUM> and/or a bus bar <NUM>, the temperature collection structure including the temperature sensor <NUM> to be abutted against the top cover <NUM> of the battery <NUM>, then not only the temperature collection structure can be in closer contact with the top cover <NUM>, thereby realizing a more accurate collection of the temperature of the battery module <NUM>, but also the temperature collection solution of the top cover no longer relies on the harness plate, thereby effectively enlarging the application range of the temperature collection solution of the top cover, and expanding the application range of the temperature collection solution of the top cover from only the battery module with the harness plate to the battery module with no harness plate.

In embodiments of the present application, in order to enable the bearing structure <NUM> to press, under the effect of the bus bar <NUM>, the temperature collection structure to be abutted against the top cover <NUM>, the bearing structure <NUM> may be connected to the bus bar <NUM>. In this way, the bus bar <NUM> can exert a pressing effect onto the temperature collection structure through the bearing structure <NUM>, and the temperature collection structure can then be in closer contact with the top cover <NUM>. Meanwhile, by connecting the bearing structure <NUM> to the bus bar <NUM>, the temperature collection structure can be further fixed reliably, which is beneficial for improving the stability of contact between the temperature collection structure and the top cover <NUM>, and is further beneficial for improving accuracy of results of temperature collection of the top cover.

The bearing structure <NUM> can be connected with the bus bar <NUM> in a plurality of manners. For example, in some embodiments, the bearing structure <NUM> can be in threaded connection with the bus bar <NUM>; for another example, in some other embodiments, the bearing structure <NUM> can be clamped with the bus bar <NUM>.

In addition, to improve the stability of contact between the temperature collection structure and the top cover <NUM>, other manners can also be adopted except the manner of connecting the bearing structure <NUM> onto the bus bar <NUM>. For example, a limiting groove 13a may be arranged on the bearing structure <NUM>, and the temperature sensor <NUM> may be arranged in the limiting groove 13a. In this way, not only a bearing function of the bearing structure <NUM> to the temperature sensor <NUM> can be realized, but also a limiting function to the temperature sensor <NUM> can be realized by the limiting groove 13a, such that the temperature collection structure can be more stably kept at an anticipated position at which the temperature collection structure is in contact with the top cover <NUM>, so as to prevent the risk of incapability in collecting temperature of the top cover when the temperature sensor <NUM> is displaced under such working conditions as shock or vibration.

To enhance the pressing effect to the temperature collection structure, in embodiments of the present application, the bearing structure <NUM> includes a bearing body <NUM> and an elastic sheet <NUM>, the temperature sensor <NUM> and the elastic sheet <NUM> are both arranged on the bearing body <NUM>, and the elastic sheet <NUM> is arranged above the temperature sensor <NUM>. Based on this, the bearing structure <NUM> can not only transfer the pressing effect of the circuit board <NUM> and/or the bus bar <NUM>, meanwhile the bearing structure <NUM> itself can also exert a pressing effect onto the temperature sensor <NUM> through the elastic sheet <NUM> , therefore, the temperature collection structure can be in more reliable contact with the top cover <NUM>, thereby realizing a more accurate temperature collection process.

Moreover, when the bearing structure <NUM> includes the elastic sheet <NUM>, the elastic sheet <NUM> may further be configured to realize electrical connection between the temperature sensor <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM>, then a part which electrically connects the temperature sensor <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM> does not need to be set additionally, therefore, the structure is simple and compact. At this time, the number of the elastic sheets <NUM> may be set to be two, the two elastic sheets <NUM> are respectively electrically connected with a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the temperature sensor <NUM>, and are both electrically connected with the circuit board <NUM>, so as to realize electrical connection between the temperature sensor <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM>, such that temperature signals collected by the temperature sensor <NUM> can be smoothly transferred to the circuit board <NUM>, then the circuit board <NUM> can further transfer the temperature signals to the battery management system (BMS), to serve as a basis for the BMS to control battery security, charging and discharging strategy of the battery, and traffic safety, etc..

In embodiments of the present application, the temperature collection structure may further include a thermal conducting pad <NUM> while including a temperature sensor <NUM>, and the thermal conducting pad <NUM> is arranged between the temperature sensor <NUM> and the top cover <NUM>. Under this condition, the temperature sensor <NUM> is in contact with the top cover <NUM> through the thermal conducting pad <NUM>, and the thermal conducting pad <NUM> can transfer the temperature of the top cover <NUM> to the temperature sensor <NUM>. Since the thermal conducting pad <NUM> has a certain deformability, when the bearing structure <NUM> exerts a pressing effect onto the temperature collection structure, the thermal conducting pad <NUM> can deform favorably, to realize closer contact with the top cover <NUM>.

The present application will be further illustrated below in combination with the embodiment shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, in the present embodiment, the battery module <NUM> includes a battery <NUM>, a bus bar <NUM>, a circuit board <NUM> and a temperature collection unit <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a plurality of batteries <NUM> are arranged side by side along a length direction (the L direction in <FIG>) of the battery module <NUM>, moreover, as shown in <FIG>, each battery <NUM> includes a top cover <NUM>, a top patch <NUM>, a positive electrode terminal <NUM> and a negative electrode terminal <NUM>. The top patch <NUM> is affixed to an upper surface of the top cover <NUM>, to shield the top cover <NUM>, thereby on the one hand playing an effect of insulation to prevent short circuit between the top cover <NUM> and an external circuit, and on the other hand playing a role of protection to prevent the top cover <NUM> from being scratched; and the positive electrode terminal <NUM> and the negative electrode terminal <NUM> extend upwards to the outside of the top patch <NUM> to be electrically connected with the external circuit.

It can be known from <FIG> that, to facilitate collection of the temperature of the top cover <NUM>, in the present embodiment, the top patch <NUM> is provided with a sampling hole <NUM>, and the sampling hole <NUM> is a through hole, therefore, the sampling hole <NUM> can remove shielding of a corresponding part of the top patch <NUM> to the top cover <NUM>, such that the corresponding part of the top cover <NUM> is exposed, that is, the sampling hole <NUM> can expose the top cover <NUM>, in this way, the temperature collection structure of the temperature collection unit <NUM> can stretch into the sampling hole <NUM>, and is in contact with the top cover <NUM> at the sampling hole <NUM>, then realizing collection of the temperature of the top cover <NUM>. As can be seen, by setting the sampling hole <NUM>, it's convenient for the temperature collection structure to be close to the top cover <NUM>.

Although a difference still exists between a surface temperature of the top cover <NUM> and the internal temperature of the battery <NUM>, a synchronization between the surface temperature of the top cover <NUM> and the internal temperature of the battery <NUM> is higher, and an error is within an acceptable range, meanwhile, the surface temperature of the top cover <NUM> is little influenced by a change in system current, therefore, the internal temperature of the battery <NUM> can be accurately restored through collecting the surface temperature of the top cover <NUM> and fitting the internal temperature of the battery <NUM> based on the surface temperature of the top cover <NUM>, especially relative to the solution in which the temperature of other parts like a bus bar <NUM> is collected, more accurate results of temperature collection can be obtained.

As shown in <FIG>, the sampling hole <NUM> of the present embodiment is arranged between the positive electrode terminal <NUM> and the negative electrode terminal <NUM>, and is more adjacent to the negative electrode terminal <NUM>. For the same battery <NUM>, relative to the other parts, a temperature at the negative electrode terminal <NUM> is closer to the internal temperature of the battery <NUM>, therefore, in the present embodiment, the sampling hole <NUM> being set to be adjacent to the negative electrode terminal <NUM> is also beneficial for improving accuracy of temperature collection.

The bus bar <NUM> (also known as Busbar or electrical connecting sheet) is configured to connect electrode terminals of adjacent batteries <NUM>, to electrically connect adjacent batteries <NUM>, and realize series and parallel connection of a plurality of batteries <NUM>.

The circuit board <NUM> above all the batteries <NUM> is internally provided with a circuit, and is configured to electrically connect the temperature sensor <NUM> and the battery management system (BMS). Based on this, the temperature signals collected by the temperature collection structure can be transferred to the BMS via the circuit board <NUM>.

The circuit board <NUM> may be a PCB board (Printed Circuit Board) or a FPC board (Flexible Printed Circuit Board). The PCB board is high in rigidity and hardness, while the FPC board is high in flexibility and low in hardness. In the present embodiment, the circuit board <NUM> being an FPC board is taken as an example. The FPC board is also called a flexible circuit board, and is a printed circuit board which is manufactured with polyimide or polyester film as a base material and which has high reliability and excellent flexibility, and the FPC board is characterized by high wiring density, light weight, thin thickness and good bending.

Moreover, as shown in <FIG>, in the present embodiment, to facilitate electrical connection between the circuit board <NUM> and the temperature sensor <NUM>, the circuit board <NUM> is further provided with a metal sheet <NUM>, and the circuit board <NUM> is electrically connected with the temperature sensor <NUM> through the metal sheet <NUM>. In this way, the metal sheet <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM> are combined to form a circuit board assembly.

The temperature collection unit <NUM> is configured to collect the temperature of the top cover <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the battery module <NUM> only includes one temperature collection unit <NUM>. Moreover, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, to realize a function of temperature collection, in the present embodiment, the temperature collection unit <NUM> includes a temperature collection structure which is provided with a temperature sensor <NUM> and a thermal conducting pad <NUM>; meanwhile, to fix the temperature collection structure, and to realize sufficient contact between the temperature collection structure and the top cover <NUM>, in the present embodiment, the temperature collection unit <NUM> further includes a bearing structure <NUM>, and the bearing structure <NUM> is configured to bear the temperature collection structure and press the temperature collection structure to be abutted against the top cover <NUM>.

The temperature sensor <NUM> is configured to collect the temperature and transfer the temperature detection results to the circuit board <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the temperature sensor <NUM> is NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient), that is, a thermal resistor with negative temperature coefficient, and a resistance decreases exponentially along with a rise in temperature. As an alternative, the temperature sensor <NUM> may also adopt other structural forms like a platinum thermistor.

As shown in <FIG>, in the present embodiment, the temperature sensor <NUM> is not in direct contact with the top cover <NUM>, but is in contact with the top cover <NUM> through the thermal conducting pad <NUM>.

The thermal conducting pad <NUM> is arranged between the temperature sensor <NUM> and the top cover <NUM>, an upper surface of the thermal conducting pad <NUM> is in contact with a lower surface of the temperature sensor <NUM>, and a lower surface of the thermal conducting pad <NUM> is in contact with the top cover <NUM>, to transfer the temperature of the top cover <NUM> to the temperature sensor <NUM>, and realize thermal conduction between the temperature sensor <NUM> and the top cover <NUM>. The thermal conducting pad <NUM> may be connected with the temperature sensor <NUM> through such connecting manners as adhesive connection. The adhesive connection manner may be realized through coating thermal conductive adhesive between the thermal conducting pad <NUM> and the temperature sensor <NUM>.

The thermal conducting pad <NUM> is of high thermal conductivity coefficient, high thermal conducting efficiency, good compression performance and strong bearing strength, and can bear extrusion of the EOL (End of Life) of the module during expansion deformation and impact vibration. Therefore, when the temperature sensor <NUM> is in contact with the top cover <NUM> through the thermal conducting pad <NUM>, not only a more efficient temperature collection process can be realized, but also the contact sufficiency between the temperature collection structure and the top cover <NUM> can be improved, which is especially dramatic when the bearing structure <NUM> exerts a pressing effect onto the temperature collection structure.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the thermal conducting pad <NUM> is set in such a way that a thickness of the thermal conducting pad <NUM> in an original state (that is, in an uncompressed state) is greater than a distance between the lower surface of the temperature sensor <NUM> and the top cover <NUM>, to better match with the bearing structure <NUM> and be closely abutted against the top cover <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the battery module <NUM> of the present embodiment does not include a harness plate, therefore, the temperature sensor <NUM> can no longer be arranged on the harness plate as what is done in the prior art, and the temperature sensor <NUM> can no longer be fixed by the harness plate. The bearing structure <NUM> arranged in the present embodiment can effectively solve the problem.

It can be known from <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> that, in the present embodiment, the bearing structure <NUM> bears the temperature collection structure and is connected with both the bus bar <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM>, and the bearing structure <NUM> includes a bearing body <NUM> and two elastic sheets <NUM>.

The bearing body <NUM> provides an installation base for the temperature collection structure and the elastic sheet <NUM>, and is connected with the bus bar <NUM>, such that the connection between the bearing structure <NUM> and the bus bar <NUM> is realized, the temperature collection structure is fixed and limited, and the bearing structure <NUM> can press the temperature collection structure under the effect of the bus bar <NUM>.

Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, in the present embodiment, a lower surface of the bearing body <NUM> is provided with a limiting groove 13a, and the temperature sensor <NUM> and the thermal conducting pad <NUM> are both arranged in the limiting groove 13a. In this way, the temperature collection structure is arranged on the bearing body <NUM>, and the limiting groove 13a can play a certain limiting role on the temperature collection structure, to prevent unanticipated displacement of the temperature sensor <NUM> and the thermal conducting pad <NUM> under severe working conditions, which affects accuracy in temperature collection by affecting the contact between the temperature collection structure and the top cover <NUM>. Meanwhile, the limiting groove 13a of the present embodiment further plays a role of facilitating electrical connection between the elastic sheet <NUM> and the temperature sensor <NUM>, which will be illustrated in more details below in combination with the setting characteristics of the elastic sheet <NUM>.

Moreover, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the bearing body <NUM> of the present embodiment is internally provided with an accommodating space, and the elastic sheets <NUM> are arranged in the accommodating space, that is, in the present embodiment, the elastic sheet <NUM> is arranged inside the bearing body <NUM>. Based on this, the bearing body <NUM> can limit and fix the elastic sheet <NUM>, and prevent the elastic sheet <NUM> from being damaged or reducing damage to the elastic sheet <NUM>, meanwhile, the bearing body <NUM> can further exert a certain pressure onto the elastic sheet <NUM>, which is beneficial for enhancing the pressing effect of the elastic sheet <NUM> on the temperature sensor <NUM>.

To realize connection between the bearing body <NUM> and the bus bar <NUM>, in the present embodiment, the bearing body <NUM> is provided with a first clamping structure, and the bus bar <NUM> is provided with a second clamping structure configured to be clamped with the first clamping structure, in this way, based on the match between the first clamping structure and the second clamping structure, the bearing body <NUM> is clamped with the bus bar <NUM>.

The bearing body <NUM> is clamped onto the bus bar <NUM>, such that the temperature collection unit <NUM> is entirely fixed by the bus bar <NUM>, moreover, assembly is convenient, and fixation is reliable, displacement does not occur easily due to an external force, thereby improving reliability and stability of the contact between the temperature collection structure and the top cover <NUM>. Meanwhile, the bus bar <NUM> can exert a pressing effect onto the temperature collection structure through the clamped bearing body <NUM>, such that the temperature sensor <NUM> can be in closer contact with the top cover <NUM> through the thermal conducting pad <NUM>, to improve the accuracy in temperature collection.

Specifically, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the present embodiment, the first clamping structure includes a clamping groove 13b and a buckle 13c, and the second clamping structure includes an installation groove <NUM> and a limiting opening <NUM>. The clamping groove 13b is matched with the installation groove <NUM>, to limit up and down as well as left and right displacements of the bearing body <NUM>; and the buckle 13c is matched with the limiting opening <NUM>, to limit the front and rear displacements of the bearing body <NUM>.

More specifically, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a shape of the installation groove <NUM> is matched with a shape of the bearing body <NUM>, the bearing body <NUM> is accommodated in the installation groove <NUM>, and the wall of the installation groove <NUM> is inserted into the clamping groove 13b, meanwhile, the limiting opening <NUM> is arranged on the wall of the installation groove <NUM>, and the buckle 13c is clamped into the limiting opening <NUM>.

As can be known in combination with <FIG> and <FIG>, in the present embodiment, the installation groove <NUM> and the bearing body <NUM> are generally shaped as a Chinese character "convex" along their assembly direction (as shown by an arrow in <FIG>, which is also the direction from the circuit board <NUM> to the bus bar <NUM>), in other words, the installation groove <NUM> and the bearing body <NUM> both include two rectangles with different sizes which are arranged along the assembly direction of the installation groove <NUM> and the bearing body <NUM> and are connected with each other, wherein the rectangle with a larger area is more adjacent to the circuit board <NUM> than the rectangle with a smaller area, that is, the area of the rectangle far away from the circuit board <NUM> is smaller than the area of the other rectangle adjacent to the circuit board <NUM>.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, in the present embodiment, the clamping groove 13b is arranged between an upper surface and the lower surface of the bearing body <NUM>, and is arranged at an edge of the bearing body <NUM>; while the buckle 13c is arranged at a tail end (that is, the end adjacent to the circuit board <NUM>) of the bearing body <NUM>, and two buckles 13c are arranged at two sides, along a length direction of the battery module <NUM>, of the bearing body <NUM>, correspondingly, as shown in <FIG>, the number of the limiting openings <NUM> is also two, and the two limiting openings <NUM> are respectively arranged at two opposite side walls, along the length direction of the battery module <NUM>, of the installation groove <NUM>.

The bearing body <NUM> of the present embodiment may be a plastic piece, and may be processed through an injection molding process. Since the bearing body <NUM> is a plastic piece, the bearing body <NUM> and the bus bar <NUM> are insulated from each other. It should be understood that, in other embodiments, the bearing body <NUM> may be made from insulating materials other than plastics.

The elastic sheet <NUM> is configured to electrically connect the temperature sensor <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM>, and exert a pressing effect onto the temperature sensor <NUM>, such that the bearing structure <NUM> itself also has a certain pushing and pressing effect on the temperature collection structure.

Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, in the present embodiment, the elastic sheet <NUM> as a metal elastic sheet is arranged inside the bearing body <NUM>, and is located above the temperature sensor <NUM>, moreover, the elastic sheet <NUM> of the present embodiment is provided with a first end 133a and a second end 133b which are opposite to each other, the first end 133a is electrically connected with the circuit board <NUM>, and the second end 133b is electrically connected with the temperature sensor <NUM>. Based on this, the elastic sheet <NUM> can realize electrical connection between the temperature sensor <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM>, such that the temperature signals detected by the temperature sensor <NUM> can be transferred to the circuit board <NUM> via the elastic sheet <NUM> and the metal sheet <NUM>, thereby further making it easier for the battery management system to control safety and charging and discharging of the battery based on the detected temperature signals.

The first end 133a realizes electrical connection with the circuit board <NUM> through connection with the metal sheet <NUM>. It can be known in combination with <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> that, in the present embodiment, the first end 133a is provided with a protruding part 133c, the metal sheet <NUM> is provided with a concave part <NUM> matched with the convex part 133c, and the convex part 133c is buckled with the concave part <NUM>. With the match between the convex part 133c and the concave part <NUM>, the first end 133a is clamped with the metal sheet <NUM>, assembly is simple, connection is reliable, and receding of the metal sheet <NUM> can be prevented. Of course, the positions of the convex part 133c and the concave part <NUM> may be interchanged, that is, the convex part 133c may be arranged on the metal sheet <NUM>, and the concave part <NUM> may be arranged on the first end 133a, in fact, as long as one of the convex part 133c and the concave part 41is arranged on the first end 133a, and the other one of the convex part 133c and the concave part <NUM> is arranged on the metal sheet <NUM>, the clamping between the first end 133a and the metal sheet <NUM> can be realized.

Meanwhile, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the present embodiment, the first end 133a is concave downwards and is arc-shaped, and the metal sheet <NUM> is inserted between a lower surface of the first end 133a and the bearing body <NUM>. Based on this, the elastic sheet <NUM> can effectively elastically press the metal sheet <NUM>, which is beneficial for realizing closer contact and more reliable connection between the metal sheet <NUM> and the first end 133a.

Moreover, as shown in <FIG>, in the present embodiment, a gap h exists between the lower surface of the first end 133a and the bearing body <NUM>, and the gap h provides a space for inserting and pulling the metal sheet <NUM>. The gap h may be set to be smaller than or equal to a thickness of the metal sheet <NUM>, so as to enhance the elastic pression effect of the elastic sheet <NUM> on the metal sheet <NUM>, thereby more effectively maintaining a good contact between the elastic sheet <NUM> and the metal sheet <NUM>.

The first end 133a which is concave downwards and arc-shaped and the convex part 133c arranged on the first end 133a may be formed by stamping.

In addition, as can be seen from <FIG>, an opening 13d for exposing the first end 133a is disposed on the upper surface of the bearing body <NUM> of the present embodiment, which not only facilitates deformation of the elastic sheet <NUM>, thereby being beneficial for exerting a pressing effect by the elastic sheet <NUM> onto the temperature sensor <NUM>, meanwhile, as shown in <FIG>, a side wall of the opening 13a (marked as an opening side wall 13f in <FIG>) and a bottom wall of the opening 13a (marked as an opening bottom wall 13e in <FIG>) can also play a role of guiding and limiting the metal sheet <NUM> when the metal sheet <NUM> is inserted between the lower surface of the first end 133a and the bearing body <NUM>, therefore, the setting of the opening 13a also facilitates insertion of the metal sheet <NUM>.

The opening 13a is arranged corresponding to the elastic sheet <NUM>, and two elastic sheets <NUM> are arranged in the present embodiment, therefore, the bearing body <NUM> is also correspondingly provided with two openings 13a.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the second end 133b is electrically connected with the temperature sensor <NUM> through welding with the temperature sensor <NUM>. Moreover, the second ends 133b of the two elastic sheets <NUM> are respectively welded with the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the temperature sensor <NUM>, so as to be respectively electrically connected with the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the temperature sensor <NUM>. Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the above-mentioned limiting groove 13a arranged on the lower surface of the bearing body <NUM> is arranged below the second ends 133b of the two elastic sheets <NUM>, and the bearing body <NUM> exposes the two second ends 133b, to realizing exposure of the two second ends 133b, thereby facilitating contact between the two second ends 133b and the temperature sensor <NUM>, and further facilitating the welding between the two second ends 133b and the temperature sensor <NUM>; meanwhile, it can be known from <FIG> that, in the present embodiment, the second end 133b is flat, such that the second end 133b can be in more sufficient contact with the temperature sensor <NUM>, thereby being beneficial for realizing more reliable welding between the second end 133b and the temperature sensor <NUM>.

A brief illustration will be given below on the assembly process of the battery module <NUM> of the present embodiment in combination with <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> below:
Firstly, as shown in <FIG>, the temperature sensor <NUM> is placed in the limiting groove 13a arranged on the bearing body <NUM>, and the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the temperature sensor <NUM> are welded to the second ends 133b of the two elastic sheets <NUM>, and then the thermal conducting pad <NUM> is pasted to the lower surface of the temperature sensor <NUM> to form a temperature collection unit <NUM>.

Afterwards, as shown in <FIG>, the temperature collection unit <NUM> is inserted into the installation groove <NUM> of the bus bar <NUM> according to the direction shown by the horizontal arrow in the figure, such that the wall of the installation groove <NUM> is clamped into the clamping groove 13b on the bearing body <NUM>, and the buckle 13c on the bearing body <NUM> is clamped into the limiting opening <NUM> on the wall of the installation groove <NUM>, thereby realizing fixation between the temperature collection unit <NUM> and the bus bar <NUM>.

Then, as shown in <FIG>, two metal sheets <NUM> on the circuit board <NUM> are inserted into the gap h between the lower surface of the first ends 133a of the two elastic sheets <NUM> and the bearing body <NUM> along the direction shown by the arrow in the figure, and the convex part 133c on the first end 133a is clamped into the concave part <NUM> on the metal sheet <NUM>, to form a sampling assembly.

And then, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the sampling assembly is assembled to a semi-finished product of the battery module <NUM>, and the bus bar <NUM> is welded onto the electrode terminal of the battery <NUM>, to realize assembly of the sampling assembly and the semi-finished product of the battery module <NUM>, and a housing can be further added subsequently to form a battery module <NUM>.

In the above assembly process, when the bus bar <NUM> is welded onto the electrode terminal of the battery <NUM>, the bus bar <NUM> can drive the bearing body <NUM> to press the thermal conducting pad <NUM> with the thickness being greater than the distance between the temperature sensor <NUM> and the top cover <NUM>, such that the thermal conducting pad <NUM> is in close fit with the top cover <NUM>, to form interference contact as shown in <FIG>. It can be seen that, in the battery module <NUM> of the present embodiment, the bearing structure <NUM> can press the temperature collection structure towards the direction adjacent to the top cover <NUM> under the effect of the bus bar <NUM>, as this can improve contact tightness and contact reliability between the top cover <NUM> and the temperature collection structure, the accuracy in temperature collection is higher then.

As can be seen in combination with the above, in the present embodiment, under the effect of the bus bar <NUM> and the bearing structure <NUM>, the contact tightness and the long-term contact reliability between the temperature collection structure and the top cover <NUM> are both improved, even under such severe working conditions as shock and vibration, the temperature collection structure can still be in favorable contact with the top cover <NUM>, therefore, a more accurate and reliable temperature collection process of the top cover can be realized.

Moreover, as to the battery module <NUM> of the present embodiment, a temperature collection path is as follows: the top cover <NUM>-the thermal conducting pad <NUM>-the temperature sensor <NUM>-the elastic sheet <NUM>-the metal sheet <NUM>-the circuit board <NUM>, which is a short thermal conducting path, with high temperature collection accuracy, and fast response speed.

In the above embodiment, although only one temperature collection unit <NUM> is shown in the figures, however, it should be noted that, the number of the temperature collection units <NUM> may also be two or more, such that the battery module <NUM> can have at least two temperature sampling points, thereby temperature collection of at least two sampling points being realized.

When a plurality of temperature collection units <NUM> are included, each temperature collection unit <NUM> is arranged on the batteries <NUM> at different positions along the length direction of the battery module <NUM>. For example, along the length direction of the battery module <NUM>, two batteries <NUM> at edges at two sides of the battery module <NUM> and the battery <NUM> in the middle position of the battery module <NUM> may be respectively provided with one temperature collection unit <NUM>. The temperature of the batteries <NUM> at two sides is generally low, and the temperature of the battery <NUM> in the middle position is high, therefore, temperature collection units <NUM> arranged at these three points can more accurately collect the temperature of the entire battery module <NUM>.

In addition, in the above embodiment, only the battery module <NUM> including no harness plate is taken as an example, which means to illustrate that the temperature collection solution of the top cover in the embodiments of the present application no longer relies on the harness plate, however, in fact, the solution of the embodiments of the present application is also applicable to the battery module <NUM> including a harness plate.

Embodiments of the present application further provide a device including the battery module described above, and the battery module is configured to provide electric energy. The device may be vehicles or energy-storage devices.

Claim 1:
A battery module, comprising:
at least two batteries (<NUM>) arranged side by side, and each battery (<NUM>) comprising a top cover (<NUM>) and an electrode terminal arranged on the top cover (<NUM>);
a bus bar (<NUM>), connecting electrode terminals of adjacent batteries (<NUM>);
a circuit board (<NUM>), arranged above the at least two batteries (<NUM>); and
at least one temperature collection unit (<NUM>), comprising a temperature collection structure and a bearing structure (<NUM>);
characterized in that,
the temperature collection structure comprises a temperature sensor (<NUM>) and a thermal conducting pad (<NUM>), the temperature sensor (<NUM>) collect temperature of the top cover (<NUM>) and is arranged on the bearing structure (<NUM>), the thermal conducting pad (<NUM>) is arranged between the temperature sensor (<NUM>) and the top cover (<NUM>) , and the bearing structure (<NUM>) electrically connects the temperature sensor (<NUM>) and the circuit board (<NUM>), and presses, under an effect of at least one of the circuit board (<NUM>) and the bus bar (<NUM>), the temperature collection structure to be abutted against the top cover (<NUM>).