Patent ID: 12261328

REFERENCE NUMERALS

10: BATTERY CELL11,12: LEAD100: BATTERY CELL ASSEMBLY110: LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION UNIT CELL200: MODULE CASE210: C-SHAPED WALL220: I-SHAPED WALL211: OPENING PORTION230: FRONT END PLATE240: REAR END PLATE300: VENTING PLATE310: MAIN PORTION311: GAS VENTING CHANNEL312: VENTING THROUGH HOLE313: LEAD BONDING THROUGH HOLE320: HEAT TRANSFER PROTECTION PLATE400,400′: SENSING LINE (FIRST SENSING LINE, SECOND SENSING LINE)410: ONE END OF THE SENSING LINE500,500′: TERMINAL BUSBAR (FIRST TERMINAL BUSBAR, SECOND TERMINAL BUSBAR)510,510′: TERMINAL BUSBAR SUPPORTING BLOCK600,600′: SENSING PLATE610,610′: COUPLING PORTION620,620′: PLATE PORTION1000: BATTERY MODULE

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, the present disclosure may have various modifications and various examples, thus specific examples are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. However, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to specific embodiments, and includes all modifications, equivalents or alternatives within the spirit and technical scope of the present disclosure.

The terms that the present disclosure use are only used to explain a specific example and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. A singular expression includes a plural expression unless the context indicates otherwise. The terms “comprise,” “include” and “have” used herein designate the presence of characteristics, numbers, steps, actions, components or elements described in the specification or a combination thereof, and it should be understood that the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other characteristics, numbers, steps, actions, components, elements or a combination thereof is not excluded in advance.

Further, when a portion such as a layer, a film, an area, a plate, or the like is referred to as being “on” another portion, this includes not only the case in which the portion is “directly on” the another portion but also the case in which still another portion is interposed therebetween. In contrast, when a portion such as a layer, a film, an area, a plate, or the like is referred to as being “below” another portion, this includes not only the case in which the portion is “directly below” the another portion but also the case in which still another portion is interposed therebetween. In addition, to be disposed “on” in the specification of the present disclosure may include the case disposed at the lower portion as well as the upper portion.

A battery module according to the present disclosure includes: a battery cell assembly in which two or more longitudinal unit cells, each of which is composed of two or more battery cells having leads provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction and arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction, are stacked in a thickness direction of the battery cell; a module case in which the battery cell assembly is accommodated; a sensing line electrically connected to the electrode lead of a battery cell included in the battery cell assembly, and having one end exposed to an outside of the module case; and a sensing plate that is coupled to one end of the sensing line exposed to the outside.

FIG.2is an exploded perspective view of the battery module of the present disclosure,FIG.3is a plan view illustrating an electric connection structure of a battery cell assembly that is included in the battery module ofFIG.2, andFIG.4is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a venting plate included in the battery module ofFIG.2.

For the convenience of illustration inFIG.2, the illustration of the sensing line inside the battery module, and the sensing plate coupled to the sensing line were omitted and only the remaining parts were disassembled to be illustrated.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the present disclosure includes a battery cell assembly100that comprises a longitudinal direction unit cell110and a module case200that accommodates the battery cell assembly100. InFIG.2, leads11,12are provided on both ends, and based on the conventional pouch-type battery cell10that is extended in longitudinal direction, X-direction represents the longitudinal direction of a battery cell10or a module (case), Y-direction represents the thickness direction (stacking direction of the battery cell) of the battery cell10or the module case200, and Z-direction represents the vertical direction.

The battery cell10of the present disclosure is intended for a battery cell (so called two-way battery cell/pouch cell) having electrode leads provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction. According to this configuration, because a cathode lead11and an anode lead12are each provided by being protruded from both ends of the single battery cell10, there is no interference between the leads, thereby increasing the area of the electrode lead, and the coupling process between the electrode lead and a busbar can be performed more easily.

The battery assembly100of the present disclosure includes a bundle of battery cells, in which two or more two-way battery cells are arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction and electrode leads of the battery cells facing each other in the longitudinal direction are electrically connected to each other, as the longitudinal direction unit cell110. InFIG.2, while two battery cells are connected in the longitudinal direction to form a longitudinal direction unit cell110, two or more battery cells can be connected in the longitudinal direction. As long as the battery pack space where the battery module case200or the battery module1000is installed is permitted, the number of battery cells10connected in the longitudinal direction is not limited in principle. However, because there is a limit to the space of the battery module1000or the battery pack that can be practically installed in a vehicle or the like, it is desirable to connect approximately 2 to 4 battery cells in the longitudinal direction. In addition, based on the size (length) of the battery cell10being connected, the number of the battery cells10connected in longitudinal direction may vary. As described above, in the present specification, an assembly of battery cells10provided by having two or more battery cells10that have leads11,12provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction arranged in a row and electrically connecting the leads11,12of the battery cell ends facing each other is referred to as a longitudinal direction unit cell110.

The battery cell assembly100included in the battery module1000of the present disclosure is formed by stacking two or more rows of the longitudinal direction unit cells100in the thickness direction (Y-direction) of the battery cell. The number of rows in which the longitudinal direction unit cells110are stacked also depends on the space allowed in the battery module1000and the battery pack, the size of the battery cell10, etc. In addition, the number of battery cells10in the longitudinal direction and the number of rows can be decided by considering the capacity required by the electric device. As such, because the present disclosure can adjust the number of cells in the longitudinal direction and the number of rows of the battery cells of the battery cell assembly100accommodated in the module case200, the degree of freedom in design is improved. In addition, instead of stacking dozens of battery cell assembly100as in the prior art, the battery cell assembly100can be more compactly formed if, for example, 2 to 4 battery cells are layered in the longitudinal direction and 2 to 6 rows are layered in the thickness direction. In addition, if such battery cell assembly100that is constructed with such a small number of battery cells10is accommodated in a separate module case200, and if the battery module1000including such module case200is stacked like LEGO blocks in the longitudinal or in the thickness direction, a battery pack can be more freely configured by considering the space where the battery module1000or the battery pack is installed. For example, if the battery module1000is layered in the longitudinal direction, the same effect can be achieved even if the battery cells of the longitudinal direction unit cells110are not connected longer in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, each battery module (unit module) can be configured more compactly. Moreover, the degree of freedom in designing can be improved by stacking the required number of battery modules1000in the battery cell thickness direction. As inFIG.1, it is hard to configure a battery pack as desired with a structure where dozens of battery cells are stacked in a single module case. That is, because the minimum unit of the battery cells included in the battery module constituting the battery pack are different, the conventional battery module1has a low degree of freedom in design.

In addition, in the case where, for example, a portion of the battery cell10included in the battery module gets ignited, the battery module1inFIG.1can easily spread the flame to the adjacent battery cells10. However, because the structure of the battery module1000or a battery pack comprising the same has a small number of battery cell assemblies100inFIG.2separately accommodated inside the battery module1000, it is unlikely for ignition to be transferred to other battery modules1000even if ignition occurs in the battery cell10within the single battery module1000.

From the above, the battery cell assembly100of the present disclosure is connected in the longitudinal direction and the battery cell thickness direction, and the battery cell assembly100composed of a specific number of battery cells10is accommodated in each module case. Therefore, the battery module1000of the present disclosure can be referred to as an expandable module since various types of battery pack can be manufactured depending on the stacking (design) method of the battery module1000including the battery cell assembly100.

The battery cell assembly100of an exemplary embodiment illustrated inFIG.2andFIG.3has a so-called 2P4S connection structure in which two battery cells10are connected in the longitudinal direction and the longitudinal direction unit cells110are stacked in four rows, having a battery cell assembly100composed of a total of eight battery cells10.

However, by varying the number of rows of the longitudinal direction unit cell having two connected in the longitudinal direction, a battery cell assembly with even number of rows such as 2-row layer (1P4S), 6-row layer (3P4S), 8-row layer (4P4S) can be made possible. In addition, a structure that connects three instead of two in the longitudinal direction (1P6S,2P6S,3P6S, . . . ), a structure that connects four (1P8S,2P8S,3P8S, . . . ), and more linking structures can be made possible. In short, an advantage of the present disclosure is that it can change the stacking structure of the longitudinal direction unit cell and the battery cell assembly into various and expandable ways based on the design requirements of the battery module and the battery pack described above.

For the convenience of illustration,FIG.3does not illustrate the venting plate300and only illustrates the electrical connection structure of the battery cell assembly100.

InFIG.3, in terms of the longitudinal direction unit cell110of four rows, the electrode leads11,12of the battery cells facing each other in the longitudinal direction of the upper two rows are not coupled to each other but instead are each coupled to the terminal busbar of different polarities. However, the electrode leads11,11/12,12of the battery cells adjacent in the thickness direction of the upper two rows of battery cells can be coupled to each other, and the coupled electrode lead can also be coupled together to the terminal busbar. On the other hand, in terms of the longitudinal direction unit cell110of lower 2 rows that are not coupled to the terminal busbar, the electrode leads11,12of the battery cells facing each other in the longitudinal direction are coupled to each other. Specifically, in the longitudinal direction unit cell110of lower 2 rows, after the electrode leads11,11/12,12of adjacent battery cells in the battery cell thickness direction are coupled to each other, they can then be coupled to the electrode leads12,12/11,11of the other battery cells in the lower 2 rows facing each other in the longitudinal direction.

Meanwhile, the leads11,12of the battery cells included in the longitudinal direction unit cell110of adjacent rows at the front and rear ends in the longitudinal direction are bent in the thickness direction of the battery cell and are welded to each other.

The present disclosure also includes a module case200in which the battery cell assembly100is accommodated.

That is, as illustrated inFIG.2, the present disclosure includes a module case200that surrounds and accommodates the battery cell assembly100. The module case200has a cuboid structure elongated in the longitudinal direction to accommodate the battery cell assembly specific to the present disclosure. InFIG.2, the module case200is formed by combining a C-shaped wall210and an I-shaped wall220, but is not limited thereto. For example, it is possible to combine two C-shaped walls disposed left and right or up and down, and it is also possible to separate the up/down/left/right cases and combine them by welding, hooking, or with a fastening member.

In addition, the module case200of the present disclosure has a front end plate230and a rear end plate240. The front end plate230and the rear end plate240are each coupled to the C-shaped wall-I-shaped wall assembly to close the front and rear sides of the module.

The module case200, in order to have one end of the sensing line, which will be described later, can be exposed to the outside, can have an opening portion211at a position corresponding to one end of the sensing line. The sensing line can be exposed to the exterior through the opening portion and can have its one end coupled to the sensing plate to be described below.

The battery module of the present disclosure also includes a sensing line400electrically connected to the electrode lead of the battery cell included in the battery cell assembly. The sensing line400may be a sensing metallic wire of the conducting wire or a sensing cable with a predetermined sheath on the sensing metallic wire. Preferably, the sensing line400should have flexibility, and more preferably, the sensing line400should be able to be bent and become a sensing cable capable of plastic deformation by maintaining its bent shape. Selecting a sensing line made with such material may allow the electrode lead portion within the battery module or the path of the sensing line connected to the busbar or a sensing member to be freely changed to conform to the space within the module and get drawn outside the module case.

The sensing line400of the present disclosure is for sensing the electrical characteristics of the battery module such as voltage, current, resistance, etc. Therefore, the sensing line400may be connected to the sensing apparatus outside the module such as a sensing cable, and ultimately be connected to BMS, ECU, or a controller installed in the battery pack to measure electrical characteristics between a plurality of battery modules or between unit battery modules. In order to measure electrical characteristics of the battery modules, the sensing line400needs to be electrically connected to the electrode lead of every battery cell10included in the battery cell assembly100. However, the sensing line400does not need to be directly connected to each electrode lead, and it can be electrically connected to the electrode lead through a terminal busbar500coupled to the electrode lead.

A characteristic feature of the present disclosure is that one end of the sensing line400is exposed to the outside of the module case200. That is, similar to the conventional battery module, a connector with male and female coupling structure is not installed for sensing, but instead redirect the sensing line400electrically connected to the battery cell inside the module towards the outer, and expose one end of the sensing line400to the outer of the module case200. When the exposed one end of the sensing line400is coupled to the sensing plate600to be described later, the electrical properties of the battery module can be easily sensed. The specific formation of the sensing line400and its coupling relationship with other members will be described later.

The present disclosure includes a sensing plate600that is coupled to one end of the sensing line400exposed to the outside. The sensing plate600can sense the electrical characteristics of the battery module end by being coupled to one end of the sensing line400. In addition, the sensing plate600can be connected to an adjacent battery module, or be connected to BMS or the like through a sensing cable. As such, because the sensing structure of the present disclosure is in the type of simple coupling between the sensing400and the sensing plate600rather than a connector structure, electrical coupling with an external terminal can be easily made. In addition, there is no need to a mold a complicated connector. As the sensing plate600, a commonly used electrical connection member can be used, but it is necessary to have a plate portion620with a large area for connection with an external terminal.

FIG.4is a schematic diagram representing an exemplary embodiment of a sensing plate according to the present disclosure.

As illustrated above, the sensing plate600has a coupling portion610coupled to one end of the sensing line400and a plate portion620connected to the external terminal. While the bonding portion610may be coupled to one end of the sensing line by welding or screwing, the coupling method is not limited thereto, and it can employ different coupling methods as long as it can effectively couple the sensing line400to the sensing plate600. The sensing plate600in (a) ofFIG.4has a coupling portion610for welding, and the sensing plate in (b) ofFIG.4has a coupling portion610′ provided with a fastening hole that allows coupling with a fastening member such as a screw. In order to be connected with the external terminal, the plate portion620has an area greater than that of the coupling portion610,610′. Because the sensing plate600has a flat plate formation, it can be bonded to the outer surface of the module case200in close contact. For example, the sensing plate600can be more firmly coupled to the module case if the coupling portion610is coupled to one end of the exposed sensing line and the back surface of the plate portion620is coupled to the outer surface of the module case. A specific coupling formation between the sensing plate and the sensing line will be described below.

The battery module of the present disclosure also supports the battery cell assembly100, the sensing line400, and a terminal busbar500described below, and may have a venting plate300that ventilates gas inside the module.

FIG.5is a perspective view and a front view illustrating the structure of a venting plate included in the battery module ofFIG.2.

Referring toFIG.2andFIG.5, the venting plate300is installed extending in the longitudinal direction of the battery cell across the front and rear ends of the module case200between the rows of the longitudinal direction unit cell110constituting the battery cell assembly100. The venting plate300may prevent the spread of heat and flame in the battery cell thickness direction when flame is generated inside the battery cell due to overheating by being disposed between the rows of the longitudinal direction unit cells110. Preferably, both sides of the venting plate300should each have the longitudinal direction unit cell110with the same number of rows disposed with respect to the longitudinal direction of the battery cell10. In the present embodiment, two rows of the longitudinal direction unit cells110are disposed on the left and right sides with respect to the venting plate300. The size of the venting plate300should be greater than the battery cell in order to cover the entire surface area of the battery cell. That is, the width of the venting plate300should be wide enough to cover the entire width of the battery cell. The length of the venting plate300can be extended in the battery cell longitudinal direction across the front end and rear end of the module case200, long enough to cover the entire longitudinal direction unit cells110.

Especially, the venting plate300has a hollow structure with a gas venting channel311provided inside that can discharge gas and flame.

The gas inside the battery module is mostly generated near the lead of the battery cell, and based on the pouch cell, near the gas pocket which is a terrace portion between the lead and the battery cell main portion. Therefore, it is desirable for the venting channel311to have a gas inlet E (venting through hole312or an opening communicating therewith) communicating with the inside of the battery module at the position of the venting plate300corresponding to the gas pocket portion. Referring toFIG.5, the venting plate300has a total of four venting through hole312at positions corresponding to the gas pocket portion of the battery cell included in the battery cell assembly100, and these venting through holes312may communicate with the gas venting channel311.

In addition, the gas venting channel311may have an outlet O through which the gas and flame can be discharged. Because the gas and flame flowing through the gas inlet corresponding to the gas pocket portion is high in temperature, the outlet O of the venting channel needs to be located far away from the inlet to lower the gas temperature and discharge it to the outside. To this end, the gas venting channel311of the present disclosure has a flow channel extending from the gas inlet E to the outlet O.

Specifically, the gas venting channel311may include a longitudinal direction channel311aextending in the longitudinal direction of the venting plate300, and a width direction channel311bcommunicating with the longitudinal direction channel311aand opened to the outside of the venting plate300. Here, it is desirable for the width direction channel311bto be provided at a position corresponding to the middle point between the leads of battery cell both ends included in the longitudinal direction unit cell110when the battery cell assembly is coupled to the venting plate300. As illustrated inFIG.5, the gas moves from the gas pocket portion near the lead of the battery cell end to the corresponding middle point through the longitudinal direction channel311a, and from that point, it can easily discharge gas and flame through the width direction channel311b.

The gas venting channel, especially the longitudinal direction channel311a, can be provided in plurality along the longitudinal direction of the venting plate300. Referring to the front view inFIG.5, five longitudinal direction channels311aof the venting plate300are provided by being separated by partition walls W. The gas that passed through these a plurality of longitudinal direction channels311ais joined in the width direction channel311band can be discharged to the outside towards at least any one of upper and lower parts of the venting plate300in the width direction.

Meanwhile, the venting plate300of the present embodiment, besides the main portion310that gets extended in the longitudinal direction of the battery cell, has a heat transfer protection plate320installed perpendicular to the main portion310. The heat transfer protection plate320is installed in a position corresponding to a place between the electrode leads of the battery cells facing each other in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal direction unit cell110. Therefore, the heat transfer between the battery cells arranged in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal direction unit cell110can be blocked by the heat transfer protection plate320.

Among the battery cells of the battery cell assembly100, the adjacent battery cells that are not coupled to the terminal busbar described later can be directly connected to electrode leads. The venting plate300is either coupled to such an electrode lead, or includes a separate through hole321supporting the electrode lead portion coupled to the electrode lead. In the present embodiment, the separate through hole321is provided on one side of the heat transfer protection plate320. In addition, in order to provide a space for the electrode lead of the battery cell at the front or rear of the longitudinal direction unit cell110are bent and welded, a lead bonding through hole313is provided at the front and rear ends of the venting plate300for the electrode lead of the battery cell to pass through. The size of the lead bonding through hole313can be varied depending on the purpose (a size that facilitates coupling between the leads or a size that is enough to support the coupled leads, etc.).

As illustrated above, the sensing line400is electrically connected to the electrode lead of the battery cell assembly100. In order to sense the electrical properties of the module end, instead of coupling the sensing line400to electrode lead of each battery cell, it is more efficient to couple the sensing line400to the terminal busbar500electrically connected to the electrode lead. Because the terminal busbar500, in terms of the battery module, is a terminal that is connected to external terminals by being electrically connected to each battery cell, it can sense the electrical characteristics of all battery cells within the battery module, that is, at the module end, if the sensing line400is connected to the terminal busbar500.

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, by connecting the sensing line400to the terminal busbar500that is coupled to the electrode lead of the battery cell included in the battery cell assembly100, is consequentially electrically connecting the sensing line400to the battery cell10through the terminal busbar500. Prior to explaining the connecting structure between the sensing line400and the terminal busbar500, in terms of the expandable battery module as in the present disclosure, the connecting structure of the terminal busbar500and the battery cell assembly100will be explained. Accordingly, the electrical connecting structure of the battery module represented by the terminal busbar500becomes clear, and it can be easily understood that sensing cam be easily performed at the module end of the battery module simply by connecting the sensing line400to the terminal busbar500.

FIG.6is a perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of the middle part of the battery module excluding the sensing line and the module case of the present disclosure, andFIG.7is a perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of the end of the battery module according to the present disclosure.

(a) ofFIG.6illustrates a coupling between the electrode leads of the battery cell facing in the longitudinal direction corresponding to the middle of the longitudinal direction unit cell110. On one side (front side) of the venting plate300, terminal busbars500,500′ are coupled to the main portion310located on the left and right sides of the heat transfer protection plate320, and the leads of battery cells in the front two rows are respectively coupled to the terminal busbars500,500′. Terminal busbar supporting blocks510,510′ are installed on the venting plate to facilitate coupling between the terminal busbars500,500′ to the venting plate, and the terminal busbars may be inserted and coupled to the supporting blocks510,510′ (refer to (a) ofFIG.6). However, with respect to the battery cells of front two rows, the electrode leads11,12of the battery cells facing each other in the longitudinal direction cannot be coupled to each other.

(b) ofFIG.6shows the other side (rear side) of the venting plate300, and it illustrates the electrode leads11,12of both sides of the battery cell facing in the longitudinal direction being welded through the through hole321for lead coupling provided on the heat transfer protection plate320of the venting plate300. However, the bond between the electrode leads11,12is not limited to the coupling through direct welding, and it is also possible to be coupled, for example, by interposing an inter-busbar (not illustrated) between the electrode leads.

FIG.7illustrates a bonding relationship between the electrode leads of the battery cell located on the ends of the longitudinal direction unit cell110; (a) ofFIG.7and (b) ofFIG.7each represents a state before coupling and a state after coupling, respectively.

In (a) ofFIG.7, the electrode leads12,12of the two-row longitudinal direction unit cell110on one side (front side) of the venting plate300are bent to the venting plate300side in the battery cell thickness direction, and the electrode leads11,11of the two-row longitudinal direction unit cell110of the other side (rear side) are also bent to the venting plate300side.

It is shown in (b) ofFIG.7that the bent electrode-leads11,12of the battery cell are welded through the lead coupling through hole313provided on the venting plate300. However, even in this case, the coupling between the electrode leads11,12is not limited to the coupling through direct welding, and it is also possible to be coupled, for example, by interposing an inter-busbar between the electrode leads.

As illustrated inFIG.3,FIG.6, andFIG.7, the battery cell assembly100of the present disclosure is electrically connected in a 2P4S structure, and the terminal busbar500is each coupled to the leads by being located between the leads of the battery cell10facing each other in the longitudinal direction. More specifically, the terminal busbar500is composed of a first terminal busbar500that is coupled to electrode lead on one side or electrode leads among the electrode leads of battery cells facing each other in the longitudinal direction, and a second terminal busbar500′ that is coupled to an electrode lead on the other side or electrode leads. The first and second terminal busbars500,500′ are connected to electrode leads of different polarities, respectively. As described below, the sensing line is composed of a first sensing line400coupled to the first terminal busbar500and a second sensing line400′ coupled to the second terminal busbar500′, and can sense the electrical characteristics of the module end. In addition, the sensing plate has a first and a second sensing plate600,600′ that are each coupled to the first and the second sensing lines, respectively.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a coupling structure of a specific sensing line and a sensing plate will be explained in the case where the terminal busbar is disposed between the battery cells facing each other in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal direction unit cell.

First Embodiment

FIG.8is a perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of the middle part of the battery module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

The terminal busbars500,500′ are located between leads on both sides of the battery cell facing each other in the longitudinal direction, and has a first and a second terminal busbar500,500′ that are each coupled to the leads on both sides. In addition, a module case200with a cuboid structure surrounding the battery cell assembly and the terminal busbar is illustrated inFIG.8. InFIG.8, it is shown that the sensing lines400,400′ are coupled to the terminal busbars500,500′ inside the module case200and the sensing plates600,600′ located outside of the module case, respectively. That is, the other ends of the sensing lines400,400′ are horizontally bent towards the sensing plates600,600′ and welded to the sensing plates. The sensing lines400,400′ also have the first and the second sensing lines400,400′ corresponding to the terminal busbars500,500′, and one end of the first and the second sensing line is bent towards the module case200. One end of the sensing line400,400′ is exposed to the outside of the module case through the opening portion provided in the module case, and the coupling portion of the sensing plates600,600′ may be coupled to this exposing portion by welding, a fastening member, etc.

Second Embodiment

FIG.9is a perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of the middle part of the battery module according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

The basic coupling structure of the sensing line and the sensing plate of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. However, one difference is that the other end of the sensing line is not directly coupled to the terminal busbar, but is connected to the terminal busbar through the same sensing plate installed outside the module case.

In the first embodiment, the sensing line was horizontally bent toward the terminal busbar500,500′ from the portion where the sensing lines400,400′ are being vertically extended in order to be coupled to the terminal busbars500,500′. In this case, because the sensing lines400,400′ are sharply bent, the bending portion could be damaged due to the bending load if used for a long period of time. In addition, because the position of the terminal busbars500,500′ can vary depending on the type, form, and internal structure of the battery module, it is inefficient to mold by changing the shape (path) of the sensing line corresponding to the location of the terminal busbars500,500′. For example, the problem gets bigger if the sensing lines400,400′ are molded into a conductive metal plate. In the present embodiment, by placing the sensing plates600,600′ between the other end of the sensing lines400,400′ and the terminal busbar, even if the location of the terminal busbars500,500′ and the path of the sensing lines400,400′ are different, it can easily connect the sensing line to the terminal busbar by using the sensing plates600,600′ as a kind of a bridge. Therefore, there is no need to forcedly bend or mold the sensing lines400,400′. That is, by appropriately installing the sensing plate by considering the shape and the location of the sensing line as well as the location of the terminal busbar, there may be an advantage of electrically connecting the sensing lines400,400′ to the terminal busbars500,500′ corresponding to various types of module internal structures.

Meanwhile, one end of the sensing lines400,400′ may be exposed by being protruded to the outside. However, it is desirable that the sensing lines400,400′ are not completely protruded to the outside of the module case200in order to reduce the space occupied by the sensing unit and to configure the battery module more compactly by bringing the sensing plate into close contact with the module case. If the exposed surface of the sensing lines400,400′ is positioned at the same height as the side of the module case210, the portion where one end of the sensing line410is protruded to the outside will be gone, and the sensing plates600,600′ can be coupled to the exposed surface.FIG.10shows a schematic diagram of the cross section of a bond between a sensing line and a sensing plate. As illustrated, while one end410of the sensing line400is exposed through the opening portion of the module case400, the sensing line400does not get protrude outside of the case because the exposed surface of one end410is at the same height as the side of the module case210. Therefore, the sensing plate600arranged in parallel to the side of the module case can have its coupling portion410tightly coupled to the exposed surface of one end of the sensing line. Accordingly, the plate portion620of the sensing plate600is also closely contacted to the side of the module case210. Therefore, the entire sensing plate600may be closely coupled to the module case to compose a more compact battery module.

In the meantime, one end410of the sensing line400is horizontally bent to form a portion that is parallel to the sensing plate600. That is, the horizontally bent portion forms a coupling plate facing the sensing plate600so that it is coupled to the coupling portion610of the sensing plate600with a sufficient contact area.

FIG.11shows a drawing of the upper surface of a battery module layer in which battery modules of the present disclosure are stacked and coupled.

The present drawing shows the case where two battery modules are stacked in the thickness direction of the battery cell.

The terminal busbars500,500′ of each battery module1000are protruded to the outside in order to be connected to the external terminal. In addition, on both sides of the terminal busbars500,500′, the sensing plates600,600′ are located on the module case. The coupling portion of the sensing plates600,600′ is coupled to one end410of the sensing lines400,400′ exposed to the outside through the opening portion211provided on the upper side surface of the module case. The electrical characteristics at the module end can be easily sensed when a sensing cable, etc. is connected to the plate portion620of the sensing plates600,600′.

As such, according to the present disclosure, sensing at the module end and connecting the sensing portion between the neighboring battery modules can be easily performed without the need to prepare complicated connector structure, inter-busbar, harness, etc. That is, a battery module with a sensing portion for sensing can be formed more compactly to conform to the structure of the module with expandability. In addition, because a plurality battery modules can be directly connected to the sensing cable by having sensing line and sensing plate exposed to the outside, a direct sensing structure can be implemented in a simple form.

WhileFIG.11illustrates two battery modules being stacked, two or more battery modules1000can be stacked in the thickness direction of the battery cell. In addition, a battery pack can be composed by accommodating these battery modules in a pack case.

Battery pack with a direct sensing structure can be implemented by connecting the sensing plate of the battery module to the BMS or the like of the battery pack.

The exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure are considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, and the scope of the invention is not limited by the embodiments. It should be interpreted that the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, and encompasses all modifications and equivalents that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Meanwhile, in the present specification, although the terms such as, upward, downward, left, right, forward, and rearward, which indicate directions, have been used, the terms are only for the sake of convenience in the description, and it is clear that the directions change according to a position of a target object or an observer.