Patent Description:
The normal operating temperature of a battery module is between -<NUM> and <NUM>, and when the temperature range is exceeded, the power of the battery module will be limited to realize safety protection of the battery module.

In a temperature collection structure of the battery module known to the applicant, temperature on an electrical connecting sheet is collected through a metal sheet, and is transmitted to a temperature sensor which serves as a temperature collection element, and the temperature of the electrical connecting sheet is deemed as the temperature inside a battery unit.

In the process of finding the present application, the inventor found that, a conventional temperature collection structure of the battery module has the following disadvantages:
the spatial size inside the battery module is limited, and in consideration of the manufacturing and cost influences, the width and thickness of the electrical connecting sheet cannot be manufactured to be very large. When the battery module is under a low-power working condition, the temperature of the electrical connecting sheet is approximate to the temperature of a cell, and when the battery module is under a high-power working condition, due to the limitation of an overcurrent area of the electrical connecting sheet, the temperature of the electrical connecting sheet will rise sharply, while the temperature of the battery rises slowly, a huge difference exists between the temperature of the electrical connecting sheet and the temperature inside the battery unit, the temperature collected by the temperature sensor on the electrical connecting sheet is not matched with the actual temperature inside the battery unit, thereby influencing discharge power of the battery module.

The metal sheet on a circuit board is welded with the electrical connecting sheet, a tail end of the metal sheet is connected with a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor is connected with the metal sheet through thermal conductive adhesive, the temperature collection transmission path is electrical connecting sheet → metal sheet → thermal conductive adhesive -> temperature sensor, the temperature collection transmission path is long, and the temperature collection accuracy and response speed are low.

European patent application <CIT> describes a battery module that includes at least one pair of first and second battery cells, each of the first and second battery cells including a first electrode terminal and a second electrode terminal and a first face including a first connecting portion, a terminal connecting member electrically connecting the first electrode terminal of the first battery cell and the second electrode terminal of the second battery cell, and a sensing member including a second connecting portion coupled with the first connecting portion. The first and second connecting portions are located on the first face and the terminal connecting member is in a pressure applying relationship with the first and second connecting portions. The first face may be provided by a cap plate, and the first and second electrode terminals are spaced apart at respective ends of the cap plate.

Chinese utility model <CIT> describes a battery module subassembly and battery package, wherein battery module subassembly includes: a battery module, top support, flexible circuit board and temperature sensor. The battery module includes a plurality of electric cores, the top support sets up the top at the battery module, the flexible circuit board is installed on the support of top, and the flexible circuit board includes: flexible circuit board body and temperature data collection arm, the temperature data collection arm links to each other with the flexible circuit board body, the temperature sensor sets up on the temperature data collection arm, and the temperature sensor laminating is on the surface of the electric core in order to gather the temperature.

An object of the present application is to provide a battery module and a device, aiming at solving the problem that the actual temperature inside the battery unit cannot be reflected through temperature collection of an electrical connecting sheet.

Embodiments of the present application provide a battery module, including: a plurality of battery units, wherein the battery unit includes a battery top cover; a temperature measurement unit, including a temperature collection element configured to collect temperature of the battery top cover; a harness plate, arranged on the battery top cover and including a harness plate body and a limiting structure arranged on the harness plate body, wherein the limiting structure cooperates with the temperature measurement unit to limit the position of the temperature measurement unit; a circuit board, arranged on the harness plate and including a circuit board body and an extending strip arranged on the circuit board body, wherein the temperature collection element is connected with the extending strip to transmit collected temperature signals to the circuit board body through the extending strip; and an electrical connecting sheet, connecting adjacent battery units and arranged on the harness plate, wherein the temperature measurement unit is arranged between the electrical connecting sheet and the battery top cover, and the electrical connecting sheet exerts pressure onto the temperature measurement unit, such that the temperature measurement unit is kept in fit with the battery top cover.

The limiting structure is arranged between the electrical connecting sheet and the battery top cover, and the electrical connecting sheet exerts pressure onto the temperature measurement unit through the limiting structure.

In some embodiments, the temperature measurement unit further includes a reinforcing plate, wherein the reinforcing plate is connected with the extending strip, a connecting area, on the extending strip, of the temperature collection element is within a connecting area, on the extending strip, of the reinforcing plate, the limiting structure is fitted with the reinforcing plate in a limiting manner, and the electrical connecting sheet exerts pressure onto the reinforcing plate of the temperature measurement unit through the limiting structure.

In some embodiments, the temperature collection element and the reinforcing plate are arranged at two sides of the extending strip respectively.

In some embodiments, the temperature collection element and the reinforcing plate are arranged at the same side of the extending strip, the reinforcing plate includes an accommodating hole, and the temperature collection element is arranged in the accommodating hole.

In some embodiments, the limiting structure includes a limiting clamping groove, and the reinforcing plate is installed in the limiting clamping groove.

In some embodiments, the limiting structure includes a limiting protrusion which protrudes towards the electrical connecting sheet, and the limiting protrusion abuts against the electrical connecting sheet.

In some embodiments, the temperature measurement unit includes a thermal conducting pad, and the thermal conducting pad is arranged between the temperature collection element and the battery top cover.

In some embodiments, the limiting structure includes a limiting hole, and the thermal conducting pad is arranged in the limiting hole.

In some embodiments, the temperature measurement unit includes a thermal conducting pad, the thermal conducting pad is arranged between the reinforcing plate and the battery top cover, the thermal conducting pad is an elastic pad, and the thickness of the thermal conducting pad in the original state is greater than the distance between the reinforcing plate and the battery top cover.

In some embodiments, the extending strip includes an extending strip body and an extending strip connecting part which connects the extending strip body with the circuit board body, the extending strip body is bent to be L-shaped, the extending strip body includes a first part which extends along a length direction of the circuit board and a second part which extends along a width direction of the circuit board body, and the temperature collection element is connected with the second part.

In some embodiments, the battery unit includes a top sheet fit with the battery top cover, the top sheet includes a temperature collection opening, and the temperature measurement unit is fit with the battery top cover exposed at the temperature collection opening.

In some embodiments, the electrical connecting sheet includes an avoiding hole, and the avoiding hole is configured to prevent contact between the electrical connecting sheet and the temperature collection element.

In some embodiments, the limiting structure is arranged in an opening of the harness plate body, and extends from the middle part of the harness plate body towards one side of the edge along a width direction of the harness plate body.

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

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

Based on the battery module provided in the embodiments of the present application, the temperature collection element collects temperature of the battery unit through collecting the temperature of the battery top cover. Compared with the temperature of the electrical connecting sheet, the temperature of the battery top cover is more approximate to the actual temperature inside the battery unit, the temperature difference between the two can still be within an acceptable range even if under severe working conditions, therefore, the temperature collected by the temperature collection element can more accurately reflect the actual temperature inside the battery unit, thereby being beneficial for ensuring discharge power of the battery module. In addition, since the harness plate includes a limiting structure which is matched with the temperature measurement unit to limit the position of the temperature measurement unit, the temperature measurement unit is arranged between the electrical connecting sheet and the battery top cover, the electrical connecting sheet exerts pressure onto the temperature measurement unit, such that the temperature measurement unit is kept in fit with the battery top cover, thereby being beneficial for ensuring stable and reliable temperature transmission path between the battery top cover and the temperature collection element, and further being beneficial for ensuring that the temperature collection element accurately collects the temperature of the battery top cover under various shocking or vibrating working conditions.

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.

Unless otherwise specified, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions and numerical values of the parts and steps described in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present application. Meanwhile, it should be understood that, to facilitate description, the dimension of each part shown in the accompanying drawings is not drawn according to actual proportions. The techniques, methods and devices known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, however, under appropriate conditions, the description of techniques, methods and devices should be deemed as a part of the authorized description. In all the examples shown and discussed herein, any specific value should be explained as merely exemplary, rather than as a limitation. Therefore, other examples of the exemplary embodiments can have different values. It should be noted that, in the following drawings, similar reference numerals and letters represent similar items, therefore, once one item is defined in one accompanying drawing, then the item does not need to be further discussed in the subsequent accompanying drawings.

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 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 the following description, the length direction of the battery module corresponds to the X direction shown in <FIG>, the width direction of the battery module corresponds to the Y direction shown in <FIG>, and the height direction of the battery module is the up and down direction and corresponds to the Z direction shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, embodiments of the present application provide a battery module <NUM>. The battery module <NUM> includes a plurality of battery units <NUM>, a temperature measurement unit <NUM>, a harness plate <NUM>, a circuit board <NUM> and an electrical connecting sheet <NUM>.

The battery unit <NUM> includes a battery top cover <NUM>. The temperature measurement unit <NUM> includes a temperature collection element <NUM> configured to collect temperature of the battery top cover <NUM>. The harness plate <NUM> is arranged on the battery top cover <NUM> and includes a harness plate body <NUM> and a limiting structure <NUM> arranged on the harness plate body <NUM>. The limiting structure <NUM> is matched with the temperature measurement unit <NUM> to limit the position of the temperature measurement unit <NUM>. The circuit board <NUM> is arranged on the harness plate <NUM> and includes a circuit board body <NUM> and an extending strip <NUM> arranged on the circuit board body <NUM>. The temperature collection element <NUM> is connected with the extending strip <NUM> to transmit collected temperature signals to the circuit board body <NUM> through the extending strip <NUM>. The electrical connecting sheet <NUM> is configured to connect adjacent battery units <NUM> and is arranged on the harness plate <NUM>. The temperature measurement unit <NUM> is arranged between the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> and the battery top cover <NUM>, and the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> exerts pressure onto the temperature measurement unit <NUM>, such that the temperature measurement unit <NUM> is kept in fit with the battery top cover <NUM>.

In the battery module <NUM> of the embodiment of the present application, since the temperature collection element <NUM> collects temperature of the battery unit <NUM> through collecting the temperature of the battery top cover <NUM>, compared with the temperature of the electrical connecting sheet <NUM>, the temperature of the battery top cover <NUM> is more approximate to the actual temperature inside the battery unit <NUM>, the temperature difference between the two can still be within an acceptable range even if under severe working conditions, for example, within <NUM>, therefore, the temperature collected by the temperature collection element <NUM> can more accurately reflect the actual temperature inside the battery unit <NUM>, thereby being beneficial for ensuring discharge power of the battery module <NUM>. In addition, since the harness plate <NUM> includes the limiting structure <NUM> which is matched with the temperature measurement unit <NUM> to limit the position of the temperature measurement unit <NUM>, the temperature measurement unit <NUM> is arranged between the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> and the battery top cover <NUM>, the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> exerts pressure onto the temperature measurement unit <NUM>, such that the temperature measurement unit <NUM> is kept in fit with the battery top cover <NUM>, thereby being beneficial for ensuring stable and reliable temperature transmission path between the battery top cover <NUM> and the temperature collection element <NUM>, and further being beneficial for ensuring that the temperature collection element <NUM> accurately collects the temperature of the battery top cover <NUM> under various shocking or vibrating working conditions. As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, in some embodiments, the limiting structure <NUM> is arranged between the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> and the battery top cover <NUM>, and the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> exerts pressure onto the temperature measurement unit <NUM> through the limiting structure <NUM>. In the device, the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> does not directly press downwards against the temperature measurement unit <NUM>, the limiting structure <NUM> directly bears the pressure of the electrical connecting sheet <NUM>, and places such important parts of the temperature measurement unit <NUM> as the temperature collection element <NUM> under the protection of the limiting structure <NUM>, thereby being beneficial for improving reliability and prolonging service life of the temperature measurement unit <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, in some embodiments, the temperature measurement unit <NUM> further includes a reinforcing plate <NUM>, wherein the reinforcing plate <NUM> is connected with the extending strip <NUM>, a connecting area, on the extending strip <NUM>, of the temperature collection element <NUM> is within a connecting area, on the extending strip <NUM>, of the reinforcing plate <NUM>; the limiting structure <NUM> is in limiting match with the reinforcing plate <NUM>, and the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> exerts pressure onto the reinforcing plate <NUM> of the temperature measurement unit <NUM> through a limiting structure <NUM>. In the arrangement, the limiting structure <NUM> and the reinforcing plate <NUM> mainly bear the pressure of the electrical connecting sheet <NUM>, on the one hand, the reinforcing plate <NUM> enhances the strength of the part at which the extending strip <NUM> is connected with the temperature collection element <NUM>, thereby being beneficial for reliable connection between the temperature collection element <NUM> and the extending strip <NUM>, and improving reliability of transmission of signals to the circuit board <NUM> by the temperature collection element <NUM>, on the other hand, the reinforcing plate <NUM> bears the pressure of the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> on the temperature measurement unit <NUM>, thereby being beneficial for protecting the temperature collection element <NUM> from damage of a mechanical force, and further being beneficial for improving reliability and prolonging service life of the temperature measurement unit <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, in some embodiments, the temperature collection element <NUM> and the reinforcing plate <NUM> are arranged at two sides of the extending strip <NUM> respectively. At this time, the reinforcing plate <NUM> can be arranged between the extending strip <NUM> and the battery top cover <NUM>, and can also be arranged between the extending strip <NUM> and the electrical connecting sheet <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the temperature collection element <NUM> and the reinforcing plate <NUM> are arranged on the same side of the extending strip <NUM>, the reinforcing plate <NUM> includes an accommodating hole, and the temperature collection element <NUM> is arranged in the accommodating hole. At this time, the reinforcing plate <NUM> and the temperature collection element <NUM> can be arranged between the extending strip <NUM> and the battery top cover <NUM> or arranged between the extending strip <NUM> and the electrical connecting sheet <NUM>.

Position changes of the temperature collection element <NUM>, the reinforcing plate <NUM> and the extending strip <NUM> can influence the temperature collection path or stress degree of the temperature collection element <NUM>, and the installation positions of the temperature collection element <NUM> and the reinforcing plate <NUM> can be selected according to the temperature collection environment required by the temperature collection element.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in some embodiments, the limiting structure <NUM> includes a limiting clamping groove <NUM>, and the reinforcing plate <NUM> is installed in the limiting clamping groove <NUM>. Connection between the limiting clamping groove <NUM> and the reinforcing plate <NUM> is beneficial for rapid assembly and disassembly of the temperature measurement unit <NUM> and the limiting structure <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in some embodiments, the limiting structure <NUM> includes a limiting protrusion <NUM> which protrudes towards the electrical connecting sheet <NUM>, and the limiting protrusion <NUM> is abutted against the electrical connecting sheet <NUM>. The connection between the limiting protrusion <NUM> and the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> is beneficial for controlling distance between the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> and the battery top cover <NUM>, and provides an installation space for the temperature measurement unit <NUM>, and is further beneficial for ensuring that key parts of the temperature measurement unit <NUM> are not subjected to a mechanical damage.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in some embodiments, the temperature measurement unit <NUM> includes a thermal conducting pad <NUM>, and the thermal conducting pad <NUM> is arranged between the temperature collection element <NUM> and the battery top cover <NUM>. Heat is transferred to the temperature collection element <NUM> through the thermal conducting pad <NUM>, a buffer layer can be formed between the battery top covers <NUM> and the temperature collection element <NUM>, thereby being beneficial for ensuring that heat conduction can still be maintained between the temperature collection element <NUM> and the battery top cover <NUM> through the thermal conducting pad <NUM> under various shocking or vibrating working conditions, and further being beneficial for maintaining continuity and stability of temperature signal collection by the temperature collection element <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, in some embodiments, the limiting structure <NUM> includes a limiting hole <NUM>, and the thermal conducting pad <NUM> is arranged in the limiting hole <NUM>. Placement of the thermal conducting pad <NUM> in the limiting hole <NUM> is beneficial for limiting position of the thermal conducting pad <NUM>, thereby effectively preventing the thermal conducting pad <NUM> and the temperature collection position on the battery top cover <NUM> or the temperature collection element <NUM> from cutting off heat conduction, and being beneficial for maintaining continuity and stability of temperature signal collection by the temperature collection element <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in some embodiments, the battery unit <NUM> includes a top sheet <NUM> arranged on the battery top cover <NUM>, and the top sheet <NUM> is attached to an upper surface of the battery top cover <NUM>. On the one hand, the top sheet <NUM> plays a role of insulation, and prevents short circuit between the battery top cover <NUM> and the external circuit, on the other hand, the top sheet <NUM> plays a role of protection, and prevents the battery top cover <NUM> from being scratched. To collect the surface temperature of the battery top cover <NUM>, the top sheet <NUM> includes a temperature collection opening <NUM>, and the temperature measurement unit <NUM> is fit with the battery top cover <NUM> exposed from the temperature collection opening <NUM>. The setting can avoid influence of the top sheet <NUM> on the temperature collection path of the temperature collection element <NUM>, thereby being beneficial for the temperature collection element <NUM> to collect temperature of the battery top cover <NUM> more timely and accurately.

As shown in <FIG>, in some embodiments, the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> includes an avoiding hole <NUM>, and the avoiding hole <NUM> is configured to prevent contact between the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> and the temperature collection element <NUM>. The setting is beneficial for preventing heat exchange between the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> and the temperature collection element <NUM>, thereby being beneficial for improving accuracy in temperature collection by the temperature collection element <NUM>.

Embodiments of the present application will be further illustrated below in combination with <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the battery module <NUM> includes a plurality of battery units <NUM>, a circuit board <NUM>, a harness plate <NUM>, an electrical connecting sheet <NUM>, a shell <NUM> and a temperature measurement unit <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the battery unit <NUM> includes a battery housing, an electrode assembly (not shown in the figure), a battery top cover <NUM>, a positive electrode terminal <NUM>, a negative electrode terminal <NUM>, an anti-explosion valve <NUM> and a top sheet <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the harness plate <NUM> includes a harness plate body <NUM> and a limiting structure <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the circuit board <NUM> includes a circuit board body <NUM>, a metal sheet <NUM>, an extending strip <NUM> and a connector <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the temperature measurement unit <NUM> includes a temperature collection element <NUM>, a reinforcing plate <NUM> and a thermal conducting pad <NUM>.

A plurality of battery units <NUM> are arranged side by side along a length direction X of the battery module <NUM> in the shell <NUM>. The harness plate <NUM> is arranged above the plurality of battery units <NUM>. The circuit board <NUM> is arranged above the harness plate <NUM>. The length direction X and the width direction Y of the harness plate <NUM> are correspondingly consistent with the length direction X and the width direction Y of the battery module <NUM>. The electrical connecting sheet <NUM> is arranged above the harness plate <NUM>. The number of the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> is determined according to the number of the battery units <NUM>, and the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> connects the electrode terminals of adjacent battery units <NUM>, to realize electrical connection between the battery units <NUM>.

The circuit board <NUM> is a flexible printed circuit (FPC). The circuit board body <NUM> of the circuit board <NUM> is strip-shaped, and is arranged in the middle position of the width direction Y of the harness plate <NUM>, and the length direction X and the width direction Y of the circuit board body <NUM> are consistent with the length direction X and the width direction Y of the battery module <NUM>.

The number of the metal sheet <NUM> of the circuit board <NUM> is consistent with the number of the electrical connecting sheet <NUM>, and the metal sheet <NUM> is configured to connect the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM>.

The connector <NUM> is arranged on an end of the length direction X of the circuit board body <NUM>, and is configured to connect the external circuit.

As shown in <FIG>, the extending strip <NUM> of the circuit board <NUM> includes an extending strip body <NUM> and an extending strip connecting part <NUM> which connects the extending strip body <NUM> and the circuit board body <NUM>. The extending strip connecting part <NUM> in the present embodiment is a section of connecting strip which extends along the width direction Y of the circuit board <NUM>. The extending strip <NUM> has the same material as the circuit board body <NUM>.

The extending strip body <NUM> has a flattened state when the circuit board <NUM> is not assembled into the battery module <NUM> and a bending state when the circuit board <NUM> is assembled into the battery module <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, in the flattened state, the length direction X of the extending strip body <NUM> is consistent with the length direction X of the circuit board body <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, in the bending state, the extending strip body <NUM> is bent to an L shape, the extending strip body <NUM> includes a first part 231A which extends along the length direction X of the circuit board <NUM> and a second part 231B which extends along a width direction Y of the circuit board body <NUM>, and the temperature collection element <NUM> is connected with the second part 231B.

The setting of the extending strip body along the length direction X of the circuit board <NUM> when the extending strip body is in a flattened state is beneficial for reducing material cost of the circuit board <NUM>. The extending strip body is bent along a bending line L (refer to <FIG>) to form an L shape, and the second part 231B of the extending strip body <NUM> extends along the width direction Y, thereby being beneficial for ensuring that the temperature collection element <NUM> on the tail end of 231B of the extending strip body <NUM> is just faced the position of the temperature collection opening <NUM> on the top sheet <NUM> above the battery top cover <NUM>.

The temperature collection element <NUM> in the present embodiment is an NTC (negative temperature coefficient) temperature sensor. The temperature collection element <NUM> is connected with the extending strip <NUM>, to transmit temperature signals collected by the temperature collection element <NUM> to the corresponding circuit in the circuit board body <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the temperature collection element <NUM> and the reinforcing plate <NUM> are respectively arranged at two sides of the extending strip <NUM>. The connecting area, on the extending strip <NUM>, of the temperature collection element <NUM> is within the connecting area, on the extending strip <NUM>, of the reinforcing plate <NUM>.

The reinforcing plate <NUM> can enhance the strength of the position at which the temperature collection element <NUM> is installed on the extending strip <NUM>, and the reinforcing plate <NUM> is further configured to bear a counter-acting force produced by prepressing the thermal conducting pad <NUM>.

The thermal conducting pad <NUM> should have a high thermal conductivity coefficient and amount of compression, and can bear expansion and deformation of the battery module <NUM> until the end of life (EOL) and the extrusion during shock or vibration.

As shown in <FIG>, the top sheet <NUM> fit on the battery top cover <NUM> is provided with a temperature collection opening <NUM>, and the part of the battery top cover <NUM> exposed at the temperature collection opening <NUM> is in direct contact with the thermal conducting pad <NUM> of the temperature measurement unit <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the temperature collection opening <NUM> on the top sheet <NUM> is arranged between the positive electrode terminal <NUM> and the negative electrode terminal <NUM> of the battery unit <NUM>, and is adjacent to the negative electrode terminal <NUM>, thereby being beneficial for more accurate collection of temperature of the battery unit <NUM> by the temperature collection element <NUM>.

The limiting structure <NUM> of the harness plate <NUM> limits position of the temperature measurement unit <NUM>, and simultaneously limits the position of the tail end of the extending strip <NUM> of the circuit board <NUM>.

The limiting structure <NUM> of the harness plate <NUM> is arranged in an opening <NUM> of the harness plate body <NUM>, and extends from the middle part of the harness plate body <NUM> to the side of the edge of the harness plate body <NUM> along the width direction Y of the harness plate body <NUM>. The set position of the limiting structure <NUM> is beneficial for realizing match between the limiting structure <NUM> and the extending strip <NUM> as well as the electrical connecting sheet <NUM>.

The limiting structure <NUM> as a whole is of a plate-shaped structure, and includes a limiting hole <NUM>, a limiting clamping groove <NUM> and a limiting protrusion <NUM>. The limiting hole <NUM> is arranged in the middle of the plate-shaped structure, and is a square hole. The limiting clamping groove <NUM> is formed by two L-shaped clamping blocks which are arranged correspondingly at two opposite edges of the limiting hole <NUM>. Each of the top ends of the two L-shaped clamping blocks is provided with a limiting rib which protrudes upwards as a limiting protrusion <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the plate-shaped structure includes a first plate which sinks relative to the harness plate body <NUM> and a second plate which connects the harness plate body <NUM> and the first plate and which is gradually downwards from the harness plate body <NUM> to the first plate. The limiting hole <NUM>, the limiting clamping groove <NUM> and the limiting protrusion <NUM> are all arranged on the first plate. The setting is beneficial for better limiting the position of each component of the temperature measurement unit <NUM>.

The limiting clamping groove <NUM> of the limiting structure <NUM> locates the position of the reinforcing plate <NUM> of the temperature measurement unit <NUM>, to prevent up and down movement of the reinforcing plate <NUM> due to force. The thermal conducting pad <NUM> is arranged in the limiting hole <NUM>, and the side wall of the limiting hole <NUM> limits the positions of the thermal conducting pad <NUM> in the length direction X and the width direction Y The limiting rib serving as the limiting protrusion <NUM> is fit with the lower surface of the electrical connecting sheet <NUM>, and the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> presses tightly against the limiting structure <NUM> and the reinforcing plate <NUM> connected with the limiting structure <NUM>, to prevent the limiting structure <NUM> and the reinforcing plate <NUM> from upwarping, and further to prevent separation of the thermal conducting pad <NUM> arranged below the reinforcing plate <NUM> from the battery top cover <NUM>.

When the assembly structure above the battery unit <NUM> of the battery module <NUM> is assembled, after the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> is assembled on the harness plate <NUM>, the circuit board <NUM> and the temperature measurement unit <NUM> are then assembled, the reinforcing plate <NUM> is installed in the limiting clamping groove <NUM>, and then the avoiding hole <NUM> of the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> corresponds to the position of the temperature collection element <NUM>.

The electrical connecting sheet <NUM> is provided with an avoiding hole <NUM> to avoid from the temperature collection element <NUM>, so as to avoid transmission of the temperature of the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> to the temperature collection element <NUM>. The electrical connecting sheet <NUM> pressing the limiting protrusion <NUM> of the limiting structure <NUM> should not be influenced by the forming of the avoiding hole <NUM>, to ensure that the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> presses downwards against the reinforcing plate <NUM> through pressing against the limiting protrusion <NUM>, so as to press downwards against the temperature measurement unit <NUM>.

After the above assembly steps are finished, the well-assembled assembly structure is turned over, a thermal conducting pad <NUM> is pasted on the back side of the reinforcing plate <NUM>, and the thermal conducting pad <NUM> is placed in the limiting hole <NUM> of the limiting structure <NUM>, to make it easy for a hole wall of the limiting hole <NUM> to limit displacement of the thermal conducting pad <NUM>. Of course, the thermal conducting pad <NUM> can also be directly pasted at the temperature collection position of the battery top cover <NUM>, and after the above well-assembled assembly and the battery unit <NUM> are assembled, contact between the thermal conducting pad <NUM> and the reinforcing plate <NUM> or the temperature collection element <NUM> can also be realized. The thermal conducting pad <NUM> may also be self-adhesive, and may be manufactured from silicone rubber. Such type of thermal conducting pad can be bonded with the battery top cover <NUM> and the reinforcing plate <NUM> through no adhesive layer, thereby shortening the temperature collection path of the temperature collection element <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the thickness of the thermal conducting pad <NUM> should be greater than the gap between the reinforcing plate <NUM> and the top cover, to ensure that the temperature collection path of the temperature collection element <NUM> is kept smooth. The initial thickness of the thermal conducting pad <NUM> can be set in consideration with shoulder height tolerance of the battery and deformations under various working conditions. After the above well-assembled assembly structure and the battery unit are assembled, each electrical connecting sheet <NUM> and the corresponding electrode terminals of the battery units <NUM> are welded.

After the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> is welded with the corresponding electrode terminals, the position of the electrical connecting sheet <NUM> in the height direction is defined, through pressing tightly against the limiting protrusion <NUM> of the limiting structure <NUM> through the lower surface of the electrical connecting sheet <NUM>, the thermal conducting pad <NUM> below the reinforcing plate <NUM> and the battery top cover <NUM> form interference contact, to ensure that the temperature collection path between the battery top cover <NUM> and the temperature collection element <NUM> is kept smooth, and improve reliability of temperature collection.

In the battery module <NUM> of the embodiment of the present application, the temperature collection element <NUM> realizes temperature collection of the battery unit <NUM> through collecting temperature of the battery top cover <NUM>. Compared with the temperature of the electrical connecting sheet <NUM>, the temperature of the battery top cover <NUM> is more approximate to the actual temperature inside the battery unit <NUM>, thereby being beneficial for ensuring the discharge power of the battery module <NUM>. The heat transfer path in the temperature collection process is effectively shortened compared with the prior art, thereby being beneficial for improving accuracy and response speed of temperature collection. The temperature measurement unit <NUM> ensures stable and reliable temperature transmission path between the battery top cover <NUM> and the temperature collection element <NUM> through the thermal conducting pad <NUM> and the reinforcing plate <NUM>, and can ensure that the temperature collection element <NUM> accurately collects the temperature of the battery top cover <NUM> under various shocking or vibrating working conditions.

Claim 1:
A battery module, comprising:
a plurality of battery units (<NUM>), comprising a battery top cover (<NUM>);
a temperature measurement unit (<NUM>), comprising a temperature collection element (<NUM>) configured to collect temperature of the battery top cover (<NUM>);
a harness plate (<NUM>), arranged on the battery top cover (<NUM>) and comprising a harness plate body (<NUM>) and a limiting structure (<NUM>) arranged on the harness plate body (<NUM>), wherein the limiting structure (<NUM>) is configured to cooperate with the temperature measurement unit (<NUM>) to limit the position of the temperature measurement unit (<NUM>);
a circuit board (<NUM>), arranged on the harness plate (<NUM>) and comprising a circuit board body (<NUM>) and an extending strip (<NUM>) arranged on the circuit board body (<NUM>), wherein the temperature collection element (<NUM>) is connected with the extending strip (<NUM>) to transmit collected temperature signals to the circuit board body (<NUM>) through the extending strip (<NUM>); and
an electrical connecting sheet (<NUM>), connecting adjacent battery units (<NUM>) and arranged on the harness plate (<NUM>);
characterized in that:
the temperature measurement unit (<NUM>) is arranged between the electrical connecting sheet (<NUM>) and the battery top cover (<NUM>), and the electrical connecting sheet (<NUM>) is configured to exert pressure onto the temperature measurement unit (<NUM>), such that the temperature measurement unit (<NUM>) is kept in fit with the battery top cover (<NUM>); and
wherein the limiting structure (<NUM>) is arranged between the electrical connecting sheet (<NUM>) and the battery top cover (<NUM>), and the electrical connecting sheet (<NUM>) is configured to exert pressure onto the temperature measurement unit (<NUM>) through the limiting structure (<NUM>).