Patent ID: 8287185

Claim:
A cell temperature sensing apparatus for a battery module including at least one battery cell, the apparatus comprising: a planar circuit board supported on the battery module over a case of the battery cell, the circuit board including an opening in alignment with a temperature sensing location on the case of the battery cell and a set of electrical contacts surrounding said opening; and a temperature-sensing unit received in the opening for sensing a temperature of the battery cell, including a socket mechanically locked to said circuit board and an insert extending between a base of said socket and the temperature sensing location on the case of the battery cell, said insert including a thermistor element in thermal proximity to said temperature sensing location, a compressible member compressed between said socket and the case of said battery cell to resiliently retain the thermistor element in thermal proximity to said temperature sensing location, and conductors electrically coupling said thermistor element to terminals formed in said socket and coupled to said electrical contacts surrounding said opening.