Patent Description:
Secondary batteries have high applicability to various products and electrical properties such as a high energy density. The secondary batteries are not only applied to portable electronic devices, but also Electric Vehicles (EVs), Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) or energy storage systems that are driven by an electric driving source.

The secondary batteries are gaining attention for their advantage of remarkably reducing the use of fossil fuels and not generating by-products from the use of energy, making them a new eco-friendly and energy efficient source of energy.

A battery pack used for electric vehicles includes a plurality of battery modules connected to each other, each battery module including a plurality of battery cells, to obtain high output. Each battery cell includes an electrode assembly including positive and negative electrode current collectors, a separator, an active material and an electrolyte solution, and can repeatedly recharged by electrochemical reactions between the components.

Recently, with the use as a source of energy and the growing need for large-capacity structures, there is an increasing demand for battery packs of a multi module structure including a plurality of battery modules including a plurality of secondary batteries connected in series and/or in parallel. In this instance, the battery pack includes the battery modules arranged closely to each other so as to receive many secondary batteries in a limited space.

In an example of the battery pack, the plurality of battery modules is fixed in a tray. For example, each corner of the battery module is fixed onto the tray using a plurality of long bolts. In another example of the battery pack, a flange extending in the outward direction from each of the plurality of battery modules is fixed onto the tray using a plurality of long bolts.

However, this coupling method needs the plurality of long bolts for each of the plurality of battery modules. Accordingly, in the fabrication process, the bolting operation of the long bolts requires a very long time, and it is very difficult to reduce the fabrication time. Moreover, the plurality of long bolts increases the weight of the battery pack.

Documents <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> each discuss battery packs.

The present disclosure is designed to solve the above-described problem, and therefore the present disclosure is directed to providing a battery pack of which the fabrication time is effectively reduced through a simple fabrication process, and an electronic device and a vehicle comprising the same.

These and other objects and advantages of the present disclosure can be understood by the following description, and will be apparent from the embodiments of the present disclosure. In addition, it will be readily appreciated that the objects and advantages of the present disclosure can be realized by means and combinations thereof.

To achieve the above-described object, a battery pack, an electronic device and a vehicle according to the present invention is provided in claims <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, preferred embodiments are defined in dependent claims <NUM>-<NUM>.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the battery pack of the present disclosure includes the fixing rod horizontally inserted into the fixing tube provided in at least one battery module, so that a plurality of secondary batteries may be arranged in a direction and fixed by simply inserting the fixing rod to prevent them from moving up and down. Accordingly, compared to the battery pack using a plurality of long bolts to fix battery modules, it is possible to effectively shorten the fabrication time of the battery pack, and effectively reduce the weight of the battery pack.

According to this aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure fixes two ends of the fixing rod to which at least one battery module is fixed to the fixing wall provided in the pack tray, so that the plurality of battery modules may be fixed and coupled into the pack tray by simply mounting the plurality of battery modules in the pack tray of the battery pack. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively shorten the fabrication time of the battery pack, and greatly reduce the use of a separate fixing element.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the press-fit groove is recessed in the inward direction from top of the fixing wall of the pack tray, and one end or the other end of the fixing rod is press-fit and fixed into the press-fit groove, and thus two ends of the fixing rod coupled to at least one battery module may be inserted and coupled to the press-fit groove, and the at least one battery module may be mounted and fixed to the pack tray to prevent from moving back and forth, up and down, and to the left and right. Accordingly, it is possible to simplify the fabrication process of the battery pack and shorten the fabrication time.

According to this aspect of the present disclosure, the fixing rod of the present disclosure includes the press member configured to press the battery module toward the fixing wall of the pack tray, so that the plurality of battery modules may be easily fixed into the pack tray using the press member. Accordingly, the present disclosure may reduce the number of coupling elements and minimize the coupling process time.

The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the foregoing disclosure, serve to provide further understanding of the technical spirit of the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure is not to be construed as being limited to the drawings.

Therefore, the embodiments described herein and illustrations shown in the drawings are just a most preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, but not intended to fully describe the technical aspects of the present disclosure, so it should be understood that a variety of other equivalents and modifications could have been made thereto at the time that the application was filed.

<FIG> is a schematic perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a schematic partial exploded perspective view of the battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the battery pack <NUM> of the present disclosure includes at least one battery module <NUM> and a fixing rod <NUM> coupled to the at least one battery module <NUM>.

Here, the battery module <NUM> may include a plurality of secondary batteries <NUM>. The secondary battery <NUM> may be a cylindrical battery cell <NUM>. The cylindrical battery cell <NUM> may include a cylindrical battery can <NUM>, and an electrode assembly (not shown) received in the battery can <NUM>.

The cylindrical battery cell <NUM> may include the battery can <NUM> standing upright in a vertical direction. The battery can <NUM> may include a material having high electrical conductivity, for example, an aluminum alloy or a copper alloy.

<NUM> electrode terminals <NUM> may be formed on top and bottom of the battery can <NUM> respectively. In detail, a positive electrode terminal 111a may be formed on a flat circular upper surface on top of the battery can <NUM>, and a negative electrode terminal 111b may be formed on a flat circular lower surface on bottom of the battery can <NUM>.

The battery can <NUM> may be coated with an electrical insulating element on the side.

That is, the battery can <NUM> is electrically connected to an electrode (not shown) of the electrode assembly inside, and its side may be coated with an insulating film (not shown) or an electrical insulating adhesive as the insulating element to prevent electrical leakage caused by the contact between an unintentional conductive object and the battery can <NUM>.

The electrode assembly (not shown) may be formed by winding, into a jelly-roll shape, the positive electrode including a positive electrode plate coated with a positive electrode active material and the negative electrode including a negative electrode plate coated with a negative electrode active material with a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The positive electrode (not shown) may have a positive electrode tab attached thereto, and the positive electrode tab may be electrically connected to the positive electrode terminal 111a on top of the battery can <NUM>. The negative electrode (not shown) may have a negative electrode tab attached thereto, and the negative electrode tab may be electrically connected to the negative electrode terminal 111b on bottom of the battery can <NUM>.

The plurality of cylindrical battery cells <NUM> may be placed in a horizontal direction and arranged in the left-right direction (x direction).

When the plurality of secondary batteries <NUM> is mounted on the upper surface of a base plate <NUM> as described below, the plurality of secondary batteries <NUM> may be placed and arranged in in the horizontal direction.

Here, the horizontal direction refers to a direction parallel to the ground when the cylindrical battery cell <NUM> is placed on the ground, and may be at least one direction on the plane perpendicular to the vertical direction.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the battery module <NUM> includes <NUM> cylindrical battery cells <NUM>. The <NUM> cylindrical battery cells <NUM> may stand upright in the vertical direction within the cell frame <NUM> and be arranged closely to each other in the horizontal direction.

Referring back to <FIG> and <FIG>, the battery module <NUM> may include a cell frame <NUM> including an upper plate <NUM> and a lower plate <NUM>. The cell frame <NUM> may include an electrical insulating material. For example, the electrical insulating material may be plastic having an electrical insulating property. The plastic may be preferably polyvinyl chloride.

In detail, the cell frame <NUM> may be configured to fix the plurality of secondary batteries <NUM> in a predetermined arrangement. For example, the cell frame <NUM> may include the upper plate <NUM> mounted on the plurality of secondary batteries <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM> mounted below the plurality of secondary batteries <NUM>. At least one of the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM> may include a plurality of fixing protrusions <NUM> to support part of each of the plurality of secondary batteries <NUM> in order to fix the position of each of the plurality of secondary batteries <NUM>.

In another example, at least one of the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM> may have a plurality of section grooves (not shown) to fix the position of the plurality of secondary batteries <NUM>.

A busbar <NUM> may be mounted on the upper surface of the upper plate <NUM>. Here, the busbar <NUM> may include a body 221a disposed facing the electrode terminal <NUM> of the plurality of secondary batteries <NUM>. At least one connection terminal 221c may be provided at part of the body 221a of the busbar <NUM> and come into contact with the electrode terminal <NUM> of the plurality of secondary batteries <NUM>.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the upper plate <NUM> is mounted on the battery module <NUM>. The busbar <NUM> may be mounted on the upper surface of the upper plate <NUM>. The upper plate <NUM> may have <NUM> openings that are open in the vertical direction to bring the connection terminal 221c of the busbar <NUM> and the electrode terminal <NUM> of the plurality of secondary batteries <NUM> into contact with each other.

The busbar <NUM> may be mounted on the lower surface of the lower plate <NUM>. Here, the busbar <NUM> may include the body 221a disposed in contact with the electrode terminal <NUM> of the plurality of secondary batteries <NUM>. At least one connection terminal 221c may be provided at part of the body 221a of the busbar <NUM> and come into contact with the electrode terminal <NUM> of the plurality of secondary batteries <NUM>.

The busbar <NUM> may include an electrically conductive material. For example, the electrically conductive material may be a metal alloy including copper, nickel, aluminum, gold and silver as the main material.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the lower plate <NUM> is mounted below the plurality of secondary batteries <NUM>. The busbar <NUM> is mounted on the lower surface of the lower plate <NUM>. The lower plate <NUM> may have <NUM> openings that are open in the vertical direction to bring the connection terminal 221c of the busbar <NUM> and the electrode terminal <NUM> of the plurality of secondary batteries <NUM> into contact with each other.

However, the busbar of the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to this shape, and may electrically connect the plurality of secondary batteries <NUM> in series or in parallel through a metal wire (not shown). For example, an electrical connection may be established between a connecting busbar <NUM> as described below and the plurality of secondary batteries <NUM> through the metal wire.

The battery pack <NUM> may further include a connecting busbar <NUM> electrically connecting the plurality of battery modules <NUM>. The connecting busbar <NUM> may include an electrically conductive material. For example, the electrically conductive material may be a metal alloy including copper, nickel, aluminum, gold and silver as the main material. The connecting busbar <NUM> may be configured to contact or be connected to the busbar <NUM> provided in each of the plurality of battery modules <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, <NUM> connecting busbars <NUM> may be provided to electrically connect the plurality of battery modules <NUM>.

The plurality of secondary batteries <NUM> may be electrically connected to the connecting busbar <NUM> through the busbar <NUM>. That is, part of the busbar <NUM> may be electrically connected to the connecting busbar <NUM>.

The battery pack <NUM> may further include a battery management system (BMS) <NUM> configured to control the charge/discharge current of the battery module <NUM>. The battery management system <NUM> may include a protection circuit board <NUM>. The plurality of battery modules <NUM> may be electrically connected to the connecting busbar <NUM> through a connection terminal <NUM> of the protection circuit board <NUM>.

The cell frame <NUM> may include a fixing tube <NUM> disposed between the plurality of secondary batteries <NUM>. The fixing tube <NUM> may extend in the horizontal direction and have two open ends. For example, the fixing tube <NUM> may be provided between the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM> of the cell frame <NUM>.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the fixing tube <NUM> may be disposed at the center of each of the upper plate <NUM> and the lower plate <NUM>.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the fixing tube <NUM> extending in the upward direction may be provided at the center of the lower plate <NUM>.

The fixing rod <NUM> may be a cylindrical rod extending in a direction. The fixing rod <NUM> may be inserted into the fixing tube <NUM> in the horizontal direction. The battery module <NUM> may be configured to be moveable in the insertion direction of the fixing rod <NUM> on the fixing rod <NUM>.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the battery pack <NUM> may be configured to fix <NUM> battery modules <NUM> using one fixing rod <NUM>. Each of the <NUM> battery modules <NUM> has the fixing tube <NUM>, and the plurality of battery modules <NUM> may be arranged in a direction by inserting the cylindrical fixing rod <NUM> into each fixing tube <NUM> in the horizontal direction (left-right direction, x direction).

According to this configuration of the present disclosure, the battery pack <NUM> of the present disclosure includes the fixing rod <NUM> horizontally inserted into the fixing tube <NUM> provided in at least one battery module <NUM>, so that the plurality of secondary batteries <NUM> may be arranged in a direction and fixed to prevent them from moving up and down by simply inserting the fixing rod <NUM>. Accordingly, compared to the battery pack <NUM> using a plurality of long bolts to fix the plurality of battery modules <NUM>, it is possible to effectively shorten the fabrication time of the battery pack <NUM> and effectively reduce the weight of the battery pack <NUM>.

Referring back to <FIG> and <FIG>, the battery pack <NUM> includes a pack tray <NUM> including a base plate <NUM> and a fixing wall <NUM> provided on the upper surface of the base plate <NUM>.

In detail, the base plate <NUM> may have a larger area than the total size of the lower surface of the at least one battery module <NUM> so that the at least one battery module <NUM> is mounted on the base plate <NUM>. The base plate <NUM> may be in the shape of a plate that extends in the horizontal direction. The base plate <NUM> may have a flat upper surface.

The fixing wall <NUM> extends in the upward direction from the upper surface of the base plate <NUM>. For example, the fixing wall <NUM> may be provided on the outer periphery of the base plate <NUM> or at the end in the horizontal direction (x or y direction). For example, as shown in <FIG>, the pack tray <NUM> may include the base plate <NUM> on which <NUM> battery modules <NUM> are mounted and the fixing wall <NUM> extending in the upward direction (z direction) from each of the left end, the right end and the rear end on the upper surface of the base plate <NUM>.

The left and right ends (x direction) of the fixing rod <NUM> are fixed to the fixing wall <NUM> provided in the pack tray <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the two ends of the fixing rod <NUM> are coupled to the fixing wall <NUM> provided in each of the left and right ends (x direction) of the pack tray <NUM>.

According to this configuration of the present disclosure, the two ends of the fixing rod <NUM> to which at least one battery module <NUM> is fixed to the fixing wall <NUM> provided in the pack tray <NUM> of the present disclosure, so that the plurality of battery modules <NUM> may be fixed and coupled into the pack tray <NUM> by simply mounting the plurality of battery modules <NUM> in the pack tray <NUM> of the battery pack <NUM>. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively shorten the fabrication time of the battery pack <NUM> and greatly reduce the use of a separate fixing element (a long bolt).

<FIG> is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the battery module of <FIG>, taken along the A-A'.

Referring to <FIG> together with <FIG>, the fixing wall <NUM> of the pack tray <NUM> may have a fixing groove <NUM> into which one end or the other end of the fixing rod <NUM> is inserted and fixed. The fixing groove <NUM> may be provided on top or bottom of the fixing wall <NUM> or between the top and the bottom. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the fixing wall <NUM> may have the fixing groove <NUM> recessed in the downward direction from part of the upper surface. In this instance, an inner surface <NUM> of the fixing groove <NUM> may be configured to support the end of the fixing rod <NUM> in Y direction.

According to this configuration of the present disclosure, the fixing groove <NUM> is recessed in the downward direction partially from the top of the fixing wall <NUM> of the pack tray <NUM>, into which one end or the other end of the fixing rod <NUM> may be inserted and fixed, so that the at least one battery module <NUM> may be mounted on the pack tray <NUM> by inserting the two ends of the fixing rod <NUM> coupled to the at least one battery module <NUM> into the fixing groove <NUM> provided in the fixing wall <NUM> of the pack tray <NUM>. The fixing rod <NUM> may mount the at least one battery module <NUM> on the pack tray <NUM> and fix to prevent from moving back and forth and to the left and right. Accordingly, it is possible to simplify the fabrication process of the battery pack <NUM> and reduce the fabrication time.

<FIG> is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the battery module of the battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG> together with <FIG>, a press-fit groove <NUM> may be recessed in the inward direction in the fixing wall <NUM> of the pack tray <NUM>, into which one end or the other end of the fixing rod <NUM> may be press-fit and fixed. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the press-fit groove <NUM> recessed in the downward direction from the upper surface may be provided on top of the fixing wall <NUM>. The inner surface <NUM> of the press-fit groove <NUM> may be formed around the outer surface of the end of the fixing rod <NUM>. In this instance, the entry side (top) of the press-fit groove <NUM> may be narrower than the cross-sectional diameter of the fixing rod <NUM>.

That is, due to the narrow entry side of the press-fit groove <NUM>, one end or the other end of the fixing rod <NUM> may be press-fit. Accordingly, the fixing rod <NUM> may be fixed into the press-fit groove <NUM> to prevent slips or movements.

According to this configuration of the present disclosure, the press-fit groove <NUM> is recessed in the inward direction on top of the fixing wall <NUM> of the pack tray <NUM>, into which one end or the other end of the fixing rod <NUM> is press-fit and fixed, so that the two ends of the fixing rod <NUM> coupled to the at least one battery module <NUM> may be inserted and coupled to the press-fit groove <NUM>, and the at least one battery module <NUM> may be mounted and fixed to the pack tray <NUM> to prevent from moving back and forth, up and down and to the left and right. Accordingly, it is possible to simply the fabrication process of the battery pack <NUM> and reduce the fabrication time.

<FIG> is a schematic front view of some components of the battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a schematic plane view of the battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, for convenience of description of the drawing, <FIG> shows a press nut <NUM> in vertical cross section.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG> together with <FIG>, the fixing rod <NUM> may include a press member <NUM>. The press member <NUM> may be configured to press the battery module <NUM> toward the fixing wall <NUM> of the pack tray <NUM>. For example, the press member <NUM> may be a spring and a nut provided moveably to the left and right (x direction in <FIG>) on the fixing rod <NUM>.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, one fixing rod <NUM> may include two press members <NUM>. Each of the two press members <NUM> may be configured to move in the direction K1 toward the fixing wall <NUM> of the pack tray <NUM> to which the two ends of the fixing rod <NUM> are coupled.

The press member <NUM> may press the battery module <NUM> by moving toward the fixing wall <NUM> of the pack tray <NUM>. The battery module <NUM> may come into close contact with the fixing wall <NUM> of the pack tray <NUM> by the press member <NUM>. The battery module <NUM> may be fixed between the press member <NUM> and the fixing wall <NUM> of the pack tray <NUM> by a pressing force.

Referring back to <FIG> and <FIG>, a male screw <NUM> may be formed on at least part of the outer surface of the fixing rod <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the male screw <NUM> may be provided at two sides with respect to the center of the fixing rod <NUM>.

The press member <NUM> may be the press nut <NUM> having a female screw <NUM> to move along the male screw <NUM> of the fixing rod <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the fixing rod <NUM> may have <NUM> press nuts <NUM> configured to move to the left and right along <NUM> male screws <NUM> respectively. That is, the press nut <NUM> may press the at least one battery module <NUM> to fix the at least one battery module <NUM> in contact with the fixing wall <NUM>.

According to this configuration of the present disclosure, the fixing rod <NUM> includes the press member <NUM> configured to press the battery module <NUM> toward the fixing wall <NUM> of the pack tray <NUM>, thereby easily fixing the plurality of battery modules <NUM> into the pack tray <NUM> using the press member <NUM>. Accordingly, the present disclosure can reduce the number of coupling elements and minimize the coupling process time.

<FIG> is a schematic plane view of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a schematic perspective view of some components of the battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, compared with the battery pack <NUM> of <FIG>, the battery pack 300A of <FIG> further includes a heat sink <NUM> and a thermally conductive pad <NUM>. The remaining elements are the same as those of the battery pack <NUM> of <FIG>.

The battery pack 300A according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may include the two or more fixing rods <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG> fixing rods <NUM> may be mounted in the pack tray <NUM>.

The two or more battery modules <NUM> may be penetrated by each of the two or more fixing rods <NUM> through the fixing tube (<NUM> in <FIG>). For example, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG> battery modules <NUM> may be respectively inserted into <NUM> fixing rods <NUM> through the fixing tube <NUM>.

The battery pack 300A may further include the heat sink <NUM> interposed between the two or more battery modules <NUM>. That is, each of the left and right sides of the heat sink <NUM> may be disposed in contact with the outer side surface of the battery module <NUM>. Here, the heat sink <NUM> may have a coolant channel (not shown) through which a coolant moves. For example, the heat sink <NUM> may be in the shape of a box that is hollow and has a metal outer wall <NUM>.

The heat sink <NUM> may have the coolant therein or may be continuously supplied with the coolant from the outside. For example, the coolant may be water, a Freon-based coolant, ammonia, acetone, methanol, ethanol, naphthalene, sulfur or mercury. The heat sink may be configured to have the coolant therein or be continuously supplied with the coolant from the outside, and at the same time, force the heated coolant out. A pump may be used to supply the coolant or force it out.

The heat sink <NUM> may have a coupling structure into which part of each of the two or more fixing rods <NUM> is inserted. For example, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the coupling structure may have <NUM> insertion grooves <NUM> recessed in the upward direction from the lower surface of the heat sink <NUM>. Parts of the <NUM> fixing rods <NUM> may be inserted into the <NUM> insertion grooves <NUM> respectively.

Due to the pressing by the press member <NUM>, the contact area between the two or more battery modules <NUM> and the heat sink <NUM> may be increased.

According to this configuration of the present disclosure, the battery pack 300A further includes the heat sink <NUM> interposed between the two or more battery modules <NUM>, so that the heat sink <NUM> may be easily coupled and installed between the plurality of battery modules <NUM>. It is possible to effectively increase the coupling strength between the plurality of battery modules <NUM> pressed by the press member <NUM> and the heat sink <NUM>, thereby greatly increasing the cooling efficiency of the battery pack 300A.

<FIG> is a schematic perspective view of some components of the battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG> together with <FIG>, the battery pack 300A according to another embodiment may include the thermally conductive pad <NUM> between the battery module <NUM> and the heat sink <NUM>. In detail, the thermally conductive pad <NUM> may include a material having high thermal conductivity at least in part. For example, the material having high thermal conductivity may be silicone polymer.

The thermally conductive pad <NUM> may extend in the upward-downward and frontward-rearward directions. For example, the thermally conductive pad <NUM> may be configured to wrap around the left and right sides of the heat sink <NUM>. Alternatively, the thermally conductive pad <NUM> may be added to a region corresponding to the battery module <NUM> on the left and right sides of the heat sink <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG> thermally conductive pads <NUM> may be added to the left and right sides of the heat sink <NUM>. The thermally conductive pad <NUM> may have a size corresponding to one side of the <NUM> battery modules <NUM>.

A gas vent groove <NUM> recessed in the inward direction of the thermally conductive pad <NUM> may be formed. In detail, the gas vent groove <NUM> may extend linearly from top to bottom of the thermally conductive pad <NUM>, or from the front end to the rear end, or may extend in four directions from top to bottom and from the front end to the rear end. In the plurality of secondary batteries <NUM> of the battery module <NUM>, part in which a vent structure is provided (the positive electrode terminal is disposed) may be disposed in contact with the surface in which the gas vent groove <NUM> of the thermally conductive pad <NUM> is formed. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the thermally conductive pad <NUM> may have the gas vent groove <NUM> extending in the upward, downward, forward and rearward directions.

<FIG> is a schematic plane view of a battery pack according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a schematic perspective view of some components of the battery pack according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, compared with the battery pack 300A of <FIG>, the battery pack 300B according to still another embodiment may further include a cross beam <NUM> disposed on the base plate <NUM> of the pack tray <NUM>. The remaining elements are the same as those of the battery pack 300A of <FIG>.

In detail, the cross beam <NUM> may be coupled to the plurality of fixing rods <NUM>. The cross beam <NUM> may have a coupling structure into which part of each of the two or more fixing rods <NUM> is inserted. For example, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the coupling structure may have <NUM> coupling grooves <NUM> recessed in the upward direction from the lower surface of the cross beam <NUM>. Parts of the <NUM> fixing rods <NUM> may be inserted into the <NUM> coupling grooves <NUM> respectively.

The end of the cross beam <NUM> may be configured to be coupled to an outer sidewall <NUM> provided in the pack tray <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the cross beam <NUM> extending in the frontward-rearward direction may be provided at the center of the pack tray <NUM>. The rear end of the cross beam <NUM> may be coupled to the outer sidewall <NUM> provided in the pack tray <NUM>.

According to this configuration of the present disclosure, the battery pack further includes the cross beam <NUM> disposed on the base plate <NUM> of the pack tray <NUM> and configured to be coupled to the plurality of fixing rods <NUM>, and thus the cross beam <NUM> serves as a central axis of the structure of the battery pack 300B when coupled with the plurality of fixing rods <NUM>, thereby effectively increasing the mechanical strength of the entire battery pack 300B, and in particular, it is possible to effectively prevent the fixing rod <NUM> from being deformed or broken by external impacts by coupling between the cross beam <NUM> and the plurality of fixing rods <NUM>.

An electronic device according to the present disclosure may include the battery pack <NUM>. The electronic device (not shown) may include a case (not shown) to receive the battery pack <NUM> therein.

A vehicle (not shown) according to the present disclosure may include the battery pack <NUM>. The vehicle may be, for example, an electric vehicle having an electric motor (not shown) using the battery pack <NUM> as a source of power.

Claim 1:
A battery pack (<NUM>) comprising:
at least one battery module (<NUM>) including a plurality of secondary batteries (<NUM>) placed and arranged in a horizontal direction and electrically connected to each other, and a cell frame (<NUM>) having a fixing tube (<NUM>) configured to fix the plurality of secondary batteries (<NUM>) in a predetermined arrangement, the fixing tube (<NUM>) being disposed between the plurality of secondary batteries (<NUM>), extending in the horizontal direction and having two open ends; and
a fixing rod (<NUM>) extending in a direction and inserted into the fixing tube (<NUM>) in the horizontal direction,
a pack tray (<NUM>) including a base plate (<NUM>) on which the at least one battery module (<NUM>) is mounted and a fixing wall (<NUM>) extending in an upward direction from an upper surface of the base plate (<NUM>), and
two ends of the fixing rod (<NUM>) are fixed to the fixing wall (<NUM>) provided in the pack tray (<NUM>).