Patent ID: 7892669

Claim:
A middle- or large-sized battery module comprising: (a) a battery cell stack including a plurality of unit modules connected in series with each other; (b) an upper case constructed in a structure to entirely surround an upper end of the battery cell stack and to partially surround a front end and a rear end of the battery cell stack, the upper case being provided at a front part thereof with external input and output terminals; (c) a lower case coupled with the upper case, the lower case being constructed in a structure to entirely surround the lower end of the battery cell stack and to partially surround the front and rear ends of the battery cell stack, the lower case being provided at a front part thereof with bus bars for connecting electrode terminals of the battery cell stack to the external input and output terminals; (d) a sensing member including sensing parts mounted in spaces defined on the front part and a rear part of the lower case and a conduction part for interconnecting the sensing parts; (e) a front cover mounted to the front part of the lower case for protecting connections between the electrode terminals of the plurality of unit modules and the bus bars from the outside, the front cover being made of an insulative material; and (f) a battery management system mounted to the rear part of the lower case, while being connected to the sensing member, for monitoring and controlling operation of the battery module, wherein the plurality of unit modules each includes plate-shaped battery cells having the electrode terminals formed at front and rear ends thereof, and each of the plurality of unit modules further includes two or more of the battery cells constructed in a stacked structure in which the electrode terminals of the battery cells are connected in series with each other and electrode terminal connections are bent such that the battery cells are stacked, and a pair of high-strength cell covers for surrounding outer surfaces of the battery cells excluding the electrode terminals of the battery cells when the cell covers are coupled with each other.