Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a battery module. The battery module includes a cell stack formed by stacking a plurality of battery cells; a bus bar frame assembly including a bus bar frame configured to cover one longitudinal end and the other longitudinal end of the cell stack and a plurality of bus bars fixed on the bus bar frame and electrically connected to the battery cells; and a FPCB assembly. The FPCB assembly includes a first FPCB extending along a longitudinal direction of the cell stack to cover at least a portion of an upper surface of the cell stack, a second FPCB extending from one longitudinal end of the first FPCB and electrically connected to the bus bars, and a connector having a connector pin inserted into a pin insert hole formed in the second FPCB.

<CIT> discloses a connection module. The connection module is mounted on a power storage element group including power storage elements having electrode terminals and connecting the power storage elements. The connection module includes a FPC including wiring portions and bus bars connected to the wiring portions and connecting the electrode terminals of the power storage elements that are adjacent to each other. The FPC includes a first multi-layered portion including the wiring portions that are overlapped with each other by folding the FPC and includes a second multi-layered portion including the wiring portions that are overlapped with each other by folding the FPC.

<CIT> discloses a flexible circuit board, the flexible circuit board is formed by folding at least two partial main strips which run next to and at a distance from each other and which are connected to each other at adjacent ends by a main connecting strip, the main connecting strip is folded double so that one partial main strip is folded until it is in line with the other. If a length of a main body of the flexible circuit board is very long, manufacturing difficulty will be significantly promoted, and cost is high. The prior art provides a folding construction which folds the main body to increase the length, production difficulty may be greatly lowered and utilization ratio of a material promoted.

However, the prior art provides a solution which only directs folding of the straight line type flexible circuit board. In another circumstance, in addition to straightly extend, a flexible circuit board further turns toward a plane different from a plane in which the flexible circuit board straightly extends, and in a circumstance that needs to provide a wire jumper to realize different output circuit definitions, the prior art does not disclose or teach how to promote utilization ratio of a material, realize a construction of the wire jumper and lower cost.

Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery connection module which can improve at least one deficiency of the prior art.

The object is solved by the features of the independent claims Preferred embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

A battery connection module of an embodiment of the present disclosure is used to connect a battery unit array, the battery connection module comprises a plurality of busbars and a plurality of sampling assemblies, the plurality of busbars are used to connect the battery unit array, each sampling assembly comprises a first flexible circuit board, an adapting circuit board and a second flexible circuit board, the first flexible circuit board connects the plurality of busbars, the first flexible circuit board is constituted by folding at least two sub flexible circuit boards, a rear end of the first flexible circuit board comprises a turning portion, the turning portion is connected to the adapting circuit board which is positioned in a plane different from a plane where the first flexible circuit board is presented, a front end of the second flexible circuit board is connected to the adapting circuit board, a rear end of the second flexible circuit board comprises at least one electrical connector.

The adapting circuit board has a wire jumper construction.

According to one or more embodiments, a wiring arrangement definition of the first flexible circuit board may be different from a wiring arrangement definition of the second flexible circuit board.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first flexible circuit board and the second flexible circuit board each may be a single layer wiring board.

According to one or more embodiments, the adapting circuit board may be a double layer wiring board.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the adapting circuit board may be a rigid circuit board.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, each first flexible circuit board may have the same construction.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, each second flexible circuit board may have a different length.

According to one or more embodiments, the lengths of the plurality of second flexible circuit boards may be set so that the respective electrical connectors of the rear ends of the respective second flexible circuit boards may be close to be compactly arranged.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first flexible circuit board may comprise the at least two sub flexible circuit boards which are integrally constructed and a folding portion/folding portions which each connect end portions of respective sub flexible circuit board.

According to one or more embodiments, each folding portion may comprise a folding close line and a folding away line.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, each sub flexible circuit board may comprise at least one wiring track, from a front end of the first flexible circuit board to the rear end of the first flexible circuit board, latter one the sub flexible circuit board may be more than former one the sub flexible circuit board by one wiring track.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first flexible circuit board may be provided at a top surface of the battery unit array.

According to one or more embodiments, the adapting circuit board and the second flexible circuit board may be provided at a side surface of the battery unit array.

One embodiment of the present disclosure at least has following advantages or beneficial effects. The first flexible circuit board performs folding by means of a plurality of sub flexible circuit boards, a length of the first flexible circuit board is increased in the process of folding away from each other, production difficulty may be greatly lowered and utilization ratio of a material is promoted. That the first flexible circuit board and the second flexible circuit board are adapted by the adapting circuit board may realized a layout of the first flexible circuit board and the second flexible circuit board in different planes, and that the first flexible circuit board and the second flexible circuit board may be each separately manufactured promotes utilization ratios of materials.

Now exemplary embodiments will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the exemplary embodiments can be implemented in a variety of forms, and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments described herein; on the contrary, providing these embodiments makes the present disclosure comprehensive and complete, and makes the concept of exemplary embodiments fully conveyed to those skilled in the art. The same reference numerals in the figures represent the same or similar structures, and therefore repeated description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> illustrates a schematic view of a battery connection module <NUM> of a first embodiment of the present disclosure mounted over a battery unit array <NUM>, <FIG> illustrates a partially enlarged view indicated by a dotted line frame A of <FIG>, and <FIG> illustrates a partially enlarged view indicated by a dotted line frame B of <FIG>. A battery connection module <NUM> of a first embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of busbars <NUM> and a plurality of sampling assemblies <NUM>. The plurality of busbars <NUM> are used to connect a battery unit array <NUM>. The plurality of sampling assemblies <NUM> electrically connect with the plurality of busbars <NUM>, and are used to collect temperatures, voltages or other battery parameters of the battery unit array <NUM>.

It may be understood that, the terms "includes (include/including)" and "has (have/having)" in the embodiments of the present disclosure and any variant thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product or device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but optionally also includes a step or unit that is not listed, or optionally also includes other step or component that is inherent to the process, method, product or device.

It is noted that, positive electrodes and negative electrodes of batteries of the battery unit array <NUM> all are positioned at a top surface of the battery unit array <NUM>, the plurality of busbars <NUM> are used to connect the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes of the batteries. The sampling assembly <NUM> may electrically connect the corresponding busbar <NUM> by a connecting piece <NUM>. Specifically, one end of the connecting piece <NUM> may connect a wiring of the sampling assembly <NUM> by welding, other end of the connecting piece <NUM> also may connect with the busbar <NUM> by welding.

Certainly, in other embodiments, the sampling assembly <NUM> also may directly connect busbar <NUM> by welding.

Each sampling assembly <NUM> includes a first flexible circuit board <NUM>, an adapting circuit board <NUM> and a second flexible circuit board <NUM>. The adapting circuit board <NUM> is used to adapt the first flexible circuit board <NUM> and the second flexible circuit board <NUM>. The first flexible circuit board <NUM> connects the plurality of busbars <NUM>. As mentioned previously, the first flexible circuit board <NUM> may be welded with the busbar <NUM> via the connecting piece <NUM>, also the first flexible circuit board <NUM> may be directly welded with the busbar <NUM>.

A rear end of the first flexible circuit board <NUM> includes a turning portion <NUM>, the turning portion <NUM> is connected to the adapting circuit board <NUM> which is positioned in a plane different from a plane where the first flexible circuit board <NUM> is presented. Specifically, the turning portion <NUM> of the first flexible circuit board <NUM> and the adapting circuit board <NUM> both are positioned at a side surface of the battery unit array <NUM>, and connect each other. The other part of the first flexible circuit board <NUM> except the turning portion <NUM> is positioned at the top surface of the battery unit array <NUM>. The adapting circuit board <NUM> and the second flexible circuit board <NUM> connect each other, and both are provided at the side surface of the battery unit array <NUM>.

That the first flexible circuit board <NUM> and the second flexible circuit board <NUM> are adapted by the adapting circuit board <NUM> may realize a layout of the first flexible circuit board <NUM> and the second flexible circuit board <NUM> in different planes, and that the first flexible circuit board <NUM> and the second flexible circuit board <NUM> may be each separately manufactured promotes utilization ratios of materials.

It may be understood that, the terms "rear end" and "front end" are defined that one end close to an electrical connector <NUM> is "rear end" and one end away from the electrical connector <NUM> is "front end".

A front end of the second flexible circuit board <NUM> is connected to the adapting circuit board <NUM>, a rear end of the second flexible circuit board <NUM> includes at least one electrical connector <NUM>. The electrical connector <NUM> is used to connect an external battery management system (not shown), the battery management system is used to detect temperatures, voltages or other battery parameters of the battery unit array <NUM>.

The adapting circuit board <NUM> has a wire jumper construction, and a wiring arrangement definition of the first flexible circuit board <NUM> is different from a wiring arrangement definition of the second flexible circuit board <NUM>. The first flexible circuit board <NUM> and the second flexible circuit board <NUM> each are a single layer wiring board, the adapting circuit board <NUM> is a double layer wiring board.

That the adapting circuit board <NUM> is designed as a double layer wiring board and has the wire jumper construction can realize different wiring arrangement definitions, that the first flexible circuit board <NUM> and the second flexible circuit board <NUM> each are a single layer board may greatly lower cost.

The adapting circuit board <NUM> is a rigid circuit board. That the first flexible circuit board <NUM> and the second flexible circuit board <NUM> each are a flexible circuit board is convenient to disassemble and assemble with the adapting circuit board <NUM>, that the adapting circuit board <NUM> is a rigid circuit board may further lower cost.

In an embodiment, each first flexible circuit board <NUM> has the same construction, which is convenient to better utilize a material and may be greatly save cost of mold and jig.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG> illustrates a schematic view the plurality of sampling assemblies <NUM> of <FIG> with the battery unit array <NUM> removed. Each second flexible circuit board <NUM> has a different length, the lengths of the plurality of second flexible circuit boards <NUM> are set so that the respective electrical connectors <NUM> of the rear ends of the respective second flexible circuit boards <NUM> are close each other to be compactly arranged.

In the present embodiment, the rear end of each second flexible circuit board <NUM> is provided with three electrical connectors <NUM>, by that lengths of the plurality of second flexible circuit boards <NUM> are designed as different, it may make the three electrical connectors <NUM> of the each second flexible circuit board <NUM> close to be compactly arranged with the three electrical connectors <NUM> of other corresponding second flexible circuit board <NUM>, the twelve electrical connectors <NUM> as shown in <FIG> are provided as two rows. Certainly, the arrangement of the plurality of electrical connectors <NUM> of the plurality of second flexible circuit boards <NUM> is not limited thereto.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> illustrates a schematic view of one of the plurality of sampling assemblies <NUM> of the first embodiment of the present disclosure, <FIG> illustrates an exploded schematic view of <FIG>, <FIG> illustrates a partially enlarged view indicated by a dotted line frame C of <FIG>, <FIG> illustrates a partially enlarged view indicated by a dotted line frame D of <FIG>, and <FIG> illustrates a schematic view that the first flexible circuit board <NUM> of the present disclosure is not folded. The first flexible circuit board <NUM> includes at least two sub flexible circuit boards <NUM> which are integrally constructed and a folding portion/folding portions <NUM> which each connect end portions of respective sub flexible circuit boards <NUM>, the first flexible circuit board <NUM> is constituted by folding the at least two sub flexible circuit boards <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the first flexible circuit board <NUM> includes two sub flexible circuit boards <NUM>, the two sub flexible circuit boards <NUM> are integrally constructed via a folding portion <NUM>. The turning portion <NUM> is provided on a rear end of one of the two sub flexible circuit boards <NUM>. Each folding portion212 includes a folding close line <NUM> and a folding away line <NUM>, here the folding close line <NUM> extends along a length direction of the sub flexible circuit board <NUM>, the folding away line <NUM> extends along a width direction of the sub flexible circuit board <NUM>. Before folding is performed on the folding portion <NUM>, the two sub flexible circuit boards <NUM> are parallel to each other and are provided to be arranged side by side along the width direction of the two sub flexible circuit boards <NUM>. After folding along the folding close line <NUM>, one sub flexible circuit board <NUM> is folded by <NUM> degrees relative to the other sub flexible circuit board <NUM> along the width direction, so that the two sub flexible circuit boards <NUM> form overlapped regions. Then folding is performed along the folding away line <NUM>, the two sub flexible circuit boards <NUM> will be folded by <NUM> degrees along the length direction relative to each other, so that the two sub flexible circuit boards <NUM> form the first flexible circuit board <NUM> having an elongated structure (as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>). Certainly, it also may be performed as that folding along the folding away line <NUM> is first performed and then folding along the folding close line <NUM> is performed.

In other embodiments, the folding portion <NUM> of the first flexible circuit board <NUM> also may only include the folding away line <NUM>, when folding along the folding away line <NUM> is performed, one sub flexible circuit board <NUM> is folded by <NUM> degrees relative to the other sub flexible circuit board <NUM> along the length direction, which similarly also forms the first flexible circuit board <NUM> having an elongated structure, the two sub flexible circuit boards <NUM> are staggered with each other along the width direction.

The first flexible circuit board <NUM> is constituted by folding at least two sub flexible circuit boards <NUM>, the at least two sub flexible circuit boards <NUM> are provided to be arranged side by side along the width direction before folding, so an entire length of the flexible circuit board is shorten, production difficulty is greatly lowered and utilization ratio of a material is promoted. After folding, the at least two sub flexible circuit boards <NUM> are sequentially provided along the length direction, a length of the flexible circuit board is increased, which meets the need for a long size circuit board.

Each sub flexible circuit board <NUM> includes at least one wiring track <NUM>, from a front end of the first flexible circuit board <NUM> to the rear end of the first flexible circuit board <NUM>, latter one sub flexible circuit board <NUM> is more than former one sub flexible circuit board <NUM> by one more wiring track <NUM>. Because conductive traces gradually increase in number from the front end of the first flexible circuit board <NUM> toward the rear until extend to the rear end of the first flexible circuit board <NUM>, that latter one sub flexible circuit board <NUM> is increased by one wiring track <NUM> relative to former one sub flexible circuit board <NUM> can accommodate more conductive traces to be arranged.

In the present embodiment, former one sub flexible circuit board <NUM> has two wiring tracks <NUM>, and latter one sub flexible circuit board <NUM> has three wiring tracks <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, <FIG> illustrates a schematic view that local parts of the second flexible circuit board <NUM> of the present disclosure are not folded, and <FIG> illustrates an exploded schematic view of <FIG>. A rear end of the second flexible circuit board <NUM> is provided one or a plurality of supporting arms <NUM> which each are used to connect an corresponding electrical connector <NUM>. A rear end of each supporting arm <NUM> has a comb-like conductor <NUM>, the comb-like conductor <NUM> is used to electrically connect with the corresponding electrical connector <NUM>. The electrical connector <NUM> includes an insulative housing <NUM> and a plurality of conductive terminals <NUM>, the plurality of conductive terminals <NUM> are provided in the insulative housing <NUM>. The comb-like conductor <NUM> are used to electrically connect with the corresponding conductive terminals <NUM>.

The supporting arm <NUM> is plurality in number, and a plurality of supporting arms <NUM> are provided in pair. The two comb-like conductors <NUM> of the two supporting arms <NUM> provided in pair electrically connect with the same electrical connector <NUM>. The two supporting arms <NUM> provided in pair are connected by a first folding construction <NUM> therebetween, by the first folding construction <NUM>, the two supporting arms <NUM> may realize folding close to each other.

The two adjacent pairs of supporting arms <NUM> are connected by a second folding construction <NUM> therebetween, a distance between the two adjacent pairs of supporting arms <NUM> may be adjusted by the second folding construction <NUM>, so that respective electrical connectors <NUM> at the rear end of the second flexible circuit board <NUM> are compactly arranged.

As shown in <FIG> illustrates a partially exploded schematic view of a sampling assembly <NUM> of a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The features of the second embodiment which are the same as those of the first embodiment are not repeated herein, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment as follows.

A rear end of the first flexible circuit board <NUM> has a first adapting connector <NUM>, a front end of the second flexible circuit board <NUM> has a second adapting connector <NUM>, the first flexible circuit board <NUM> is connected with the adapting circuit board <NUM> by the first adapting connector <NUM>, the second flexible circuit board <NUM> is connected with the adapting circuit board <NUM> by the second adapting connector <NUM>.

The first adapting connector <NUM> and/or the second adapting connector <NUM> may be connected with the adapting circuit board <NUM> by means of through-hole type welding. Certainly, a connection manner between the first adapting connector <NUM> and/or the second adapting connector <NUM> and the adapting circuit board <NUM> also may employ Surface Mounted Technology (SMT).

In an embodiment, the first adapting connector <NUM> is provided on the turning portion <NUM> of the first flexible circuit board <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, <FIG> illustrates a schematic view of a sampling assembly <NUM> of a third embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> illustrates a schematic view that the first flexible circuit board <NUM> of <FIG> is not folded. The features of the third embodiment which are the same as those of the first and second embodiments are not repeated herein, the second embodiment differs from the first and second embodiments as follows.

The first flexible circuit board <NUM> includes three sub flexible circuit boards <NUM>, which respectively are a first sub flexible circuit board <NUM>, a second sub flexible circuit board <NUM> and a third sub flexible circuit board <NUM>. A folding portion <NUM> is provided between an end portion of the first sub flexible circuit board <NUM> and an end portion of the second sub flexible circuit board <NUM>, and a folding portion <NUM> is provided between an end portion of the second sub flexible circuit board <NUM> and an end portion of the third sub flexible circuit board <NUM>.

Before folding, the first sub flexible circuit board <NUM>, the second sub flexible circuit board <NUM> and the third sub flexible circuit board <NUM> are provided to be arranged side by side along the width direction. After folding, the first sub flexible circuit board <NUM>, the second sub flexible circuit board <NUM> and the third sub flexible circuit board <NUM> are sequentially provided along the length direction and form an elongated structure.

The first sub flexible circuit board <NUM> has one wiring track <NUM>, the second sub flexible circuit board <NUM> has two wiring tracks <NUM>, and the third sub flexible circuit board <NUM> has three wiring track <NUM>.

The turning portion <NUM> is provided at an end portion of the third sub flexible circuit board <NUM> which is away from the second sub flexible circuit board <NUM>. The turning portion <NUM> has a third folding construction <NUM>.

In conclusion, advantages and beneficial effects of the battery connection module <NUM> of the embodiments of the present disclosure lie in that: the first flexible circuit board <NUM> performs folding by means of a plurality of sub flexible circuit boards <NUM>, a length of the first flexible circuit board <NUM> is increased in the process of folding away from each other, production difficulty may be greatly lowered and utilization ratio of a material is promoted. That the first flexible circuit board <NUM> and the second flexible circuit board <NUM> are adapted by the adapting circuit board <NUM> may realized a layout of the first flexible circuit board <NUM> and the second flexible circuit board <NUM> in different planes, and that the first flexible circuit board <NUM> and the second flexible circuit board <NUM> may be each separately manufactured promotes utilization ratios of materials. That the adapting circuit board <NUM> may be a double layer wiring board and provide wire jumper realizes different wiring arrangement definitions, that the flexible circuit boards <NUM>,<NUM> at two sides of the adapting circuit board <NUM> each may realize a single layer board greatly lowers cost. By the adapting circuit board <NUM>, a plurality of first flexible circuit boards <NUM> may have the same construction, which is convenient to better utilize a material and may be greatly save mold and jig cost; by the adapting circuit board <NUM>, a plurality of second flexible circuit boards <NUM> can utilize different length changes to make respective electrical connectors <NUM> at rear ends of respective second flexible circuit boards <NUM> can be close to be compactly arranged.

It may be understood that the embodiments/implementing manners provided by the present disclosure may be combined with each other without contradiction, which will not be described in detail herein.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the terms "first", "second" and "third" are only used for the purpose of description and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance; the term "plurality of" refers to two or more, unless otherwise expressly defined. The terms "mount, "connect with", "connect", "fix" and other likes should be understood in a broad sense. For example, "connect" maybe fixedly connect, detachably connect, or integrally connect; "connect with" may be directly connect with or indirectly connect with via an intermediate media. For ordinary technicians in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be understood according to specific situations.

In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be understood that the terms "up", "down", "left", "right", "front", "rear" and the like indicating the orientation or position relationship are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the figure, are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present disclosure and simplifying the description, rather than for indicating or implying that the device or unit referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, these terms cannot be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present disclosure.

In the description of this specification, the description of the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "specific embodiments" and the like means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in combination with this embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the embodiments of the present disclosure. In this specification, the schematic expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments or examples. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described may be combined in an appropriate manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

Claim 1:
A battery connection module (<NUM>) used to connect a battery unit array (<NUM>), the battery connection module (<NUM>) comprising:
a plurality of busbars (<NUM>) used to connect the battery unit array (<NUM>);
a plurality of sampling assemblies (<NUM>), each sampling assembly (<NUM>) comprising a first flexible circuit board (<NUM>), an adapting circuit board (<NUM>) and a second flexible circuit board (<NUM>), the first flexible circuit board (<NUM>) connecting the plurality of busbars (<NUM>), the first flexible circuit board (<NUM>) being constituted by folding at least two sub flexible circuit boards (<NUM>), a rear end of the first flexible circuit board (<NUM>) comprising a turning portion (<NUM>), the turning portion (<NUM>) being connected to the adapting circuit board (<NUM>) which is positioned in a plane different from a plane where the first flexible circuit board (<NUM>) is presented, a front end of the second flexible circuit board (<NUM>) being connected to the adapting circuit board (<NUM>), a rear end of the second flexible circuit board (<NUM>) comprising at least one electrical connector (<NUM>),
wherein the adapting circuit board (<NUM>) has a wire jumper construction.