Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0119097, filed on Dec. 3, 2009, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a circuit substrate module to which a plurality of communication connectors drawn from a plurality of battery units are connected, and a battery module using the circuit substrate module. 
     2. Description of the Related Technology 
     Secondary batteries refer to batteries that can be charged or discharged compared to batteries that cannot be charged, for example, primary batteries. Secondary batteries are widely used in small mobile devices, such as cellular phones, laptop computers, and camcorders, and in electronic devices, such as electronic drilling devices, electric cars, hybrid electric automobiles, electric bicycles, and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) devices. A representative example of the secondary batteries is a lithium secondary battery. 
     Compact mobile devices are typically used by connecting a small battery cell thereto. On the other hand, in order to manufacture a battery to be used in electric cars or large electronic devices, e.g., such as UPS devices, which require high capacity and high output, a plurality of battery units, in which each battery unit includes a plurality of battery cells, may be connected to one another via a connection member such as a bus bar to manufacture a battery module. 
     In each battery unit, a plurality of battery cells is typically arranged in a case serially or in parallel, and a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal that are connected to the plurality of battery cells protrude out of the case. Also, each battery unit typically includes a controller for controlling functions of the plurality of battery cells therein, such as a battery management system (BMS), and a communication connector for transmitting an electrical signal. A plurality of thermistor lines and a plurality of balancing lines are typically connected to the communication connector to detect a temperature of the battery cells or a charging state. 
     A general battery module is manufactured by assembling a battery unit by inserting a plurality of battery cells into a case, and a plurality of thermistor lines and a plurality of balancing lines electrically connected to the battery cells are connected to a communication connector. A connection line drawn from the communication connector is electrically connected to a controller such as a BMS. 
     However, in order to manufacture a conventional battery module, a plurality of thermistor lines and a plurality of balancing lines typically need to be connected to a controller such as a BMS for each battery unit, which is a complicated manufacturing process. Meanwhile, there is a need for the coupling structure of a connection member that electrically connects adjacent battery units, such as a bus bar, to be simpler. 
     SUMMARY 
     One or more embodiments of the present invention include a circuit substrate module in which a communication connector formed in a plurality of battery units and a battery management system (BMS) are easily connected, and a battery module using the circuit substrate module. 
     One or more embodiments of the present invention include a circuit substrate module in which a coupling structure of bus bars that electrically connect electrode terminals of adjacent battery units is simplified, and a battery module using the circuit substrate module. 
     Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments. 
     According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a battery module includes: a plurality of battery units, wherein each battery unit comprises a plurality of battery cells, a case accommodating the plurality of battery cells, a plurality of electrode terminals, and a plurality of communication connectors coupled to the battery cells and protruding out of the case; and a circuit substrate module mounted on the plurality of battery units and comprising a circuit substrate, wherein a plurality of circuit substrate connectors are coupled to the plurality of communication connectors, wherein the plurality of circuit substrate connectors are coupled to a single external connector that is connected to an external device. 
     The plurality of communication connectors may be electrically connected to the plurality of corresponding circuit substrate connectors by connection lines. 
     Leads may be electrically connected to the plurality of circuit substrate connectors, and the plurality of leads may be patterned on the circuit substrate and connected to the single external connector. 
     At least one thermistor line and at least one balancing line connected to the plurality of battery cells may be connected to the plurality of communication connectors. 
     A bus bar may be formed to electrically connect a pair of adjacent battery units, and a first end of the bus bar may be connected to one electrode terminal of a first battery unit having a first polarity, and a second end of the bus bar may be connected to one electrode terminal of a second battery unit having a polarity opposite to the first polarity. 
     The bus bar may be coupled to the electrode terminals between the circuit substrate and the battery units by a coupling member. 
     A plurality of coupling holes may be formed in the circuit substrate, and the electrode terminals may be inserted into the plurality of coupling holes, and the bus bar may be coupled to the electrode terminals on the circuit substrate by a coupling member. 
     A plurality of coupling holes may be formed in the circuit substrate, and the bus bar may be inserted into the plurality of coupling holes, and the bus bar may be coupled to the electrode terminals within the circuit substrate by a coupling member. 
     The bus bar may be formed in the circuit substrate by insert injection molding and fixed to the electrode terminals by a coupling member. 
     The bus bar may be inserted into a groove formed in the circuit substrate facing the battery units and fixed to the electrode terminals by a coupling member. 
     According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a circuit substrate module accommodating a plurality of battery cells comprises: a plurality of battery units coupled to the circuit substrate module, wherein each of the plurality of battery units comprises a plurality of electrode terminals and a plurality of communication connectors that are coupled to the plurality of battery cells; a plurality of circuit substrate connectors that is coupled to the plurality of communication connectors; a circuit substrate to which the plurality of circuit substrate connectors is mounted; and a single external connector that is coupled to the plurality of circuit substrate connectors and is configured to be connected to an external device. 
     The plurality of communication connectors may be electrically connected to corresponding circuit substrate connectors by respective connection lines. 
     A plurality of leads may be respectively electrically connected to the plurality of circuit substrate connectors, and the plurality of leads may be patterned in the circuit substrate and connected to the single external connector. 
     At least one thermistor line and at least one balancing line connected to the plurality of battery cells may be connected to the circuit substrate connector so as to be electrically connected to the circuit substrate connector. 
     A bus bar may be coupled between the circuit substrate and the battery units, wherein the bus bar is connected to electrode terminals that have different polarities of adjacent battery units. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a separated perspective view illustrating a battery unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a separated perspective view illustrating a battery module in which the battery unit of  FIG. 1  is stacked a plurality of times; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view illustrating a portion of the battery module where a circuit substrate module of  FIG. 2  is mounted; 
         FIG. 4  is a separated perspective view illustrating the portion of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded separated perspective view illustrating a portion of a battery module where a circuit substrate module is mounted, according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the portion of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of a battery module where a circuit substrate module is mounted, according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of a battery module where a circuit substrate module is mounted, according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of a battery module where a circuit substrate module is mounted, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. In this regard, the embodiments discussed below may have different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein. Accordingly, the embodiments are merely described below, by referring to the figures, to explain certain aspects of the present description. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a battery unit  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the battery unit  100  can include a case  102  in which a plurality of battery cells  101  are accommodated, electrode tabs  103  that electrically connect the plurality of battery cells  101  to one another, a plurality of electrode terminals  104  that are electrically connected to the electrode tabs  103  and are drawn out of the case  102 , and a communication connector  105  that transmits an electrical signal that indicates temperatures or charging states of the battery cells  101 . 
     Each battery cell  101  may be a cylindrical secondary battery. As well known in the art, a cylindrical secondary battery can include an electrode assembly that includes a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator that is interposed between the positive and negative electrode plates and that is wound in a jelly-roll type manner, a cylindrical can in which the electrode assembly is accommodated, and a cap assembly that seals an opening portion of the cylindrical can. 
     According to the current embodiment of the present invention, the battery cells  101  may be arranged parallel to one another and electrically connected to each other to form a high output and high capacity battery unit  100 . The battery cells  101  are not limited to being cylindrical secondary batteries and may instead be prismatic secondary batteries or polymer secondary batteries. 
     The case  102  may include an upper case  106 , and a lower case  107  that is coupled to the upper case  106 . When the upper case  106  and the lower case  107  are coupled to each other, an inner space that accommodates the plurality of battery cells  101  can be formed. A plurality of heat dissipation holes  108 , for dissipating heat generated during driving of the battery unit  100  out of the battery unit  100 , can be formed in the upper case  106 , the lower case  107 , or in both. 
     The plurality of battery cells  101  may be arranged parallel to one another in the case  102  continuously in a length direction, and may be connected to one another via the electrode tabs  103 . The electrode tabs  103  may include a first electrode tab  109  connected to a first side of the battery cell  101  and a second electrode tab  110  connected to a second side of the battery cell  101 . 
     The first electrode tab  109  and the second electrode tab  110  may be conductive plates formed of, for example, nickel, and be strip-shaped. The first electrode  109  and the second electrode tab  110  may be electrically connected to each of the battery cells  110  by welding. The first electrode tab  109  may be mounted at an inner side of a first sidewall  107   a  in a length direction of the lower case  107 , and the second electrode tab  110  may be mounted at an inner side of a second sidewall  107   b  that is opposite to the first sidewall  107   a.    
     The plurality of battery cells  101  may be connected to one another in parallel via the first electrode tab  109  and the second electrode tab  110 . Alternatively, the plurality of battery cells  101  may be connected serially or in a serial-parallel combined manner. 
     A plurality of electrode terminals  104  may be formed at a front side of the case  102 . The electrode terminals  104  may include a first electrode terminal  111  that is electrically connected to the first electrode tab  109  and a second electrode terminal  112  that is electrically connected to the second electrode tab  110 . The first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  may extend from an inner portion of the case  102  and drawn out of the case  102 . The first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  may be bolt type terminals but are not limited thereto. 
     The communication connector  105  may be disposed at the front side of the case  102  in which the first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  are installed while a plurality of connection pins  113  are installed in a connector housing unit  114 . The communication connector  105  may be electrically connected to a plurality of thermistor lines  115  and a plurality of balancing lines  116  so as to transmit an electrical signal that indicates data regarding states of the battery cells  101 , such as temperature or charging states of the battery cell  101  to a controller such as a BMS. 
     A thermistor sensor  117  is a device that detects the temperature of one battery cell  101  and can be installed at an end portion of each thermistor line  115 . A balancing sensor  118  can detect an amount of electric charge stored inside one battery unit  100  and can be installed at an end portion of each balancing line  116 . As long as the thermistor sensors  117  and the balancing sensors  118  are electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells  101 , the placement of the thermistor sensors  117  and the balancing sensors  118  are not limited to that as described above. The pluralities of thermistor lines  115  and balancing lines  116  may be electrically connected to the connection pins  113 . The number of the connection pins  113  is not limited to that described in the present embodiment, and may be various. 
     Bus bars  119  that electrically connect the battery unit  100  to adjacent battery units  100  may be installed at each of the first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  of the battery unit  100 . Each bus bar  119  can be a conductive plate. Insertion holes  120  through which the first electrode terminal  111  of a first battery unit  100  and the second electrode terminal  112  of a battery unit  100  adjacent to the first battery unit  100  are inserted may be formed in each bus bar  119 . While a washer  121  may be interposed around each of the first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112 , the bus bars  119  may be coupled thereto by using nuts  122 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a battery module  200  in which the battery unit  100  of  FIG. 1  is stacked a plurality of times. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a plurality of battery units  100  can be formed. The battery units  100  may be arranged such that polarities of adjacent battery units  100  alternate. The first electrode terminal  111  of a first battery unit  100  may be connected to the second electrode terminal  112  of a battery unit  100  that is adjacent to the above battery unit  100  for all first and second electrode terminals  111  and  112  via the bus bars  119 . The plurality of battery units  100  may be continuously connected to one another, thereby forming the battery module  200 . The number of battery units  100  may be determined in consideration of required charging and discharging capacities. 
     While being connected serially or in parallel via the bus bars  119 , the plurality of battery units  100  may be arranged in a case  201 . The case  201  includes an upper case  202  and a lower case  203  that is coupled to the upper case  202 . 
     A plurality of guide grooves  204  through which the plurality of battery units  100  are mounted when the upper case  202  and the lower case  203  are coupled to each other may be formed in the upper case  202  and the lower case  203 . Accordingly, each of the battery units  100  may be coupled to the case  201  by being guided by the guide grooves  204 . 
     A circuit substrate module  300  may be installed at an opening portion  205  of the case  201 , that is, at an inlet where the battery units  100  are inserted to be mounted. The circuit substrate module  300  may include a circuit substrate  302  that may be detachably coupled to the case  201  via a groove of a guide unit  206  formed along two sidewalls of the lower case  203  that are adjacent to the opening portion  205 . Alternatively, the circuit substrate  302  may be coupled to the upper case  202  or the lower case  203  by installing a coupling member, such as a boss and screw-coupling, and then coupling the circuit substrate  302  thereto. 
     The communication connectors  105  of the battery units  100  may be electrically connected to a plurality of circuit substrate connectors  301  mounted on the circuit substrate module  300  by connection lines  210 , and the plurality of circuit substrate connectors  301  may be electrically connected to a single external connector  303 . 
     The configuration described above will be further described in detail below. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view illustrating a portion of the battery module  200  where the circuit substrate module  300  of  FIG. 2  is mounted, and  FIG. 4  is a separated perspective view illustrating a portion of the battery module  200  where the circuit substrate module  300  of  FIG. 3  is mounted. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the circuit substrate module  300  may include the circuit substrate connectors  301  electrically connected to the communication connectors  105  formed in the plurality of battery units  100  via the connection lines  210 , the circuit substrate  302  to which the circuit substrate connectors  301  are mounted, and the external connector  303  that is electrically connected to the circuit substrate connectors  301  and that is to be connected a controller such as a BMS via a cable  304 . 
     The number of circuit substrate connectors  301  may correspond to the number of communication connectors  105 , and the circuit substrate connectors  301  may be connected to the communication connectors  105  via the connection lines  210 , respectively. Accordingly, in each battery unit  100 , the thermistor lines  115  and the balancing lines  116  electrically connected to the battery cells  101  (see  FIG. 1 ) may be connected to one circuit substrate connector  301 , and data signals indicating the temperatures or the charging states of the battery cells  101  in the battery unit  100  may be transmitted. 
     The circuit substrate connectors  301  may be separated a predetermined distance from one another along an edge of the circuit substrate  302 . The plurality of circuit substrate connectors  301  may be electrically connected to a plurality of leads  305 , respectively, and the plurality of leads  305  may be patterned in the circuit substrate  302 . The plurality of leads  305  may be collected and respectively connected to the external connector  303 . 
     Accordingly, in the plurality of battery units  100 , the communication connectors  105  and the circuit substrate connectors  301  may be connected to each other via the connection lines  210 , and the leads  305  connected to each of the circuit substrate connectors  301  may be collected and respectively connected to the external connector  303 , and the cable  304  drawn from the external connector  303  may be electrically connected to a controller such as a BMS. 
     As described above, the pluralities of thermistor lines  115  and balancing lines  116  electrically connected to the battery cells  101  may be electrically connected to the plurality of communication connectors  105 , the plurality of connection lines  210 , the plurality of circuit substrate connectors  301 , and the plurality of leads  305 , and collected in the external connector  303 , thereby easily controlling the states of the battery cells  101 . 
     The bus bars  119  may electrically connect the first electrode terminal  111  of the battery units  100  and the second electrode  112  of adjacent battery units  100  and may be installed between the battery units  100  and the circuit substrate  302 . 
     The circuit substrate module  300  may further include a unit that not only connects the communication terminals described above but also to which the bus bars  119  may be coupled for convenience of assembling. 
       FIG. 5  may be an extended separated perspective view illustrating a portion of a battery module where a circuit substrate module  500  is mounted, according to another embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the portion of the circuit substrate module  500  of  FIG. 5 . 
     Hereinafter, like reference numerals denote like elements throughout the drawings. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a circuit substrate  502  may be disposed on the plurality of battery units  100  disposed adjacent to one another. A plurality of circuit substrate connectors  501  may be mounted on the circuit substrate  502  in a length direction. A plurality of communication connectors  105  electrically connected to thermistor lines  115  (see  FIG. 1 ) and balancing lines  116  within battery units  100  via a plurality of connection lines  210  may be connected to the plurality of circuit substrate connectors  501 . 
     The circuit substrate connectors  501  may be electrically connected to a plurality of leads  505 , and the leads  505  may be patterned in the circuit substrate  502 . The patterned leads  505  are collected and respectively connected to a single external connector  503 , and one cable  504  that is electrically connected to the external connector  503  may be electrically connected to a controller such as a BMS. 
     A plurality of coupling holes  506  may be formed in the circuit substrate  502 . First electrode terminals  111  and second electrode terminals  112  may be inserted into the coupling holes  506 , respectively. The first electrode terminals  111  and the second electrode terminals  112  may be bolt-type terminals, but are not limited thereto. 
     A gasket  511  may be installed between the battery unit  100  and the circuit substrate  502  along circumferences of each of the first electrode terminals  111  and the second electrode terminals  112  for insulation, and washers  512  and first nuts  513  may be interposed on upper surfaces of the gaskets  511 . Bus bars  119  may be positioned on the first nuts  513  to electrically connect the first electrode terminals  111  and the second electrode terminals  112  of pairs of the battery units  100  that are adjacent to each other. 
     The bus bars  119  may be coupled to the first electrode terminals  111  and the second electrode terminals  112  of pairs of battery units  110  that are adjacent to each other. Second nuts  514  may be positioned on the bus bars  119  so that the first electrode terminals  111  and the second electrode terminals  112  are firmly fixed with respect to the bus bars  119 . 
     The first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  may be coupled to the bus bar  119  by not only using a bolt and nut coupling method but also by any of various other methods such as, for example, a welding coupling method or a laser coupling method. Also, the number or shape of the coupling members including the gaskets  511 , the washers  512 , the first nuts  513 , and the second nuts  514  is not limited. 
     As described above, the first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  may be inserted through the coupling holes  506  of the circuit substrate  502  between the battery unit  100  and the circuit substrate  502 . Thus, ends of the first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  may protrude through the circuit substrate  502 , and the bus bar  119  may be coupled to the first electrode  111  and the second electrode  112  on the circuit substrate  502 . 
     Also, sizes of the coupling holes  506  formed in the circuit substrate  502  may be greater than sizes of the first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112 . 
     That is, when an internal pressure of the battery units  100  increases while being driven, the battery units  100  can thermally expand. When the battery units  100  are deformed, portions where the battery units  100  are connected via the bus bars  119  can also be deformed. 
     Even though portions where the first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  are coupled with respect to the bus bar  119  are deformed, the circuit substrate  502  in which the coupling holes  112  are formed can be formed so as to maintain a movement space in which the deformation described above may be accommodated. Thus, deformation of the portion where the first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  are coupled with respect to the bus bar  119  may be prevented in advance. 
     As described above, the plurality of circuit substrate connectors  501  and the plurality of leads  505  connected to the circuit substrate connectors  501  and patterned so as to transmit electrical signals to the single external connector  503  are formed in the circuit substrate module  500 , and thus the battery cells  101  in the plurality of battery units  100  may be easily controlled. 
     Furthermore, the first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  may be positioned through the coupling holes  506  formed in the circuit substrate  502 , and the first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  may be coupled and fixed on the circuit substrate  502 , and thus the battery unit  100  and the circuit substrate module  500  may form a module. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion where a circuit substrate module  700  is mounted, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a circuit substrate  702  is disposed on a plurality of battery units  100  that are adjacent to each other. A plurality of coupling holes  706  may be formed in the circuit substrate  702 . A first electrode terminal  111  and a second electrode terminal  112  may be inserted into the coupling hole  706 , and end portions of the first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  may protrude through the circuit substrate  702 . The first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  in the illustrated embodiment are bolt-type terminals but are not limited thereto. 
     A washer  712  and a first nut  713  may be stacked on an upper surface of a gasket  711  along a circumference of the first electrode terminal  111  for insulation and the same structure may also be stacked along a circumference of the second electrode terminal  112  for insulation between the battery units  100  and the circuit substrate  702 . A bus bar  119  may be disposed on each first nut  713  to electrically connect the first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  of a pair of battery units  100  that are adjacent to each other. 
     Sizes of the coupling holes  706  formed in the circuit substrate  702  may be greater than sizes of the bus bar  119 . That is, a number of coupling holes  706  corresponding to the number of bus bars  119  may be formed in the circuit substrate  702 , and the coupling holes  706  may be formed with a size in which the bus bar  119  may be accommodated. When the bus bar  119  is inserted into the coupling hole  706 , there can be a gap g between an inner wall of the circuit substrate  702  in which the coupling hole  706  is formed and a boundary of the bus bar  119 . 
     The bus bar  119  may be coupled to the first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  of a pair of battery units  110  that are adjacent to each other. A second nut  714  may be disposed on the bus bar  119  so as to firmly fix the first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  with respect to the bus bar  119 . The bus bar  119  may preferably fix the first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  on substantially the same plane as the circuit substrate  702  substantially. 
     Accordingly, when the battery units  110  are thermally expanded due to an increase of internal pressure, even though portions of the circuit substrate  702  where the first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  are inserted can be deformed with respect to the bus bar  119 , since there is the gap g between the inner wall of the circuit substrate  702  in which the coupling holes  706  are formed and the boundary of the bus bar  119 , a movement space for the portions of the circuit substrate  702  where the first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  are coupled with respect to the bus bar  119  may be provided. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion where a circuit substrate module  800  is mounted, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a circuit substrate  802  may be disposed on a plurality of battery units  100  that are disposed adjacent to one another. A plurality of circuit substrate connectors  801  may be mounted on the circuit substrate  802  in a length direction. The plurality of circuit substrate connectors  801  may be connected to a plurality of communication connectors  105  that are electrically connected to thermistor lines  115  and balancing lines  116  in the battery units  100  via a plurality of connection lines  210 . 
     The circuit substrate connectors  801  may be electrically connected to leads  805 , respectively, and the plurality of the leads  805  may be patterned in the circuit substrate  802 . The patterned leads  805  may be collected in a single external connector  803 , and one cable  804  that is electrically connected to the external connector  803  may be electrically connected to a controller such as a BMS. 
     A bus bar  119  may be formed in the circuit substrate  801  by insert injection molding. A first electrode terminal  111  and a second electrode terminal  112  may be inserted into the bus bar  119 . The first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  are bolt-shaped in the illustrated embodiment but are not limited thereto. 
     A gasket  811  is installed between the battery unit  100  and the circuit substrate  802  along a circumference of the first electrode terminal  111  and another gasket  811  may be similarly installed along a circumference of the second electrode terminal  112 , and a washer  812  and a first nut  813  may be interposed above each gasket  811 . A second nut  814  may be disposed on the bus bar  119  so as to firmly fix the first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  with respect to the bus bar  119 . 
     As described above, since the bus bar  119  is inserted and injected on the circuit substrate module  800 , the battery units  100  and the circuit substrate module  800  may be formed as a module. 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion where a circuit substrate module  900  is mounted, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , a circuit substrate  902  may be disposed on a plurality of battery units  100  that are disposed adjacent to each other. A mounting groove  906  may be formed in a surface of the circuit substrate  902  that faces the battery units  100 . The mounting groove  906  has a size that is sufficient for each of a plurality of bus bars  119  to be inserted thereinto. The number of mounting grooves  906  can correspond to the number of bus bars  119 . 
     A first electrode terminal  111  and a second electrode terminal  112  may be respectively inserted into the bus bar  119 . The first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  are bolt-type terminals in the illustrated embodiment, but are not limited thereto. 
     A gasket  911  for insulation, a washer  912 , and a first nut  913  may be interposed between the battery unit  100  and the bus bar  119  along a circumference of the first electrode terminal  111  and the same structure may be similarly interposed along a circumference of the second electrode terminal  112 . A second nut  914  may be disposed on the circuit substrate  902  so as to firmly fix the first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  with respect to the bus bar  119 . 
     As described above, as the bus bar  119  that is fixed with respect to the first electrode terminal  111  and the second electrode terminal  112  may be mounted in the mounting groove  906  in the circuit substrate  902 , the battery units  100  and the circuit substrate module  900  may be formed as a module. 
     As described above, according to the one or more of the above embodiments of the present invention, when using the circuit substrate module and the battery modules using the circuit substrate modules, effects as follows may be obtained. 
     First, a thermistor line and a balancing line drawn from the battery unit may be connected to a communication connector, and two end portions of a connection line may be coupled between a plurality of communication connectors and a plurality of circuit substrate connectors, and thus the assembling operation of the circuit substrate module can be simplified. 
     Second, since a plurality of leads connected to the plurality of circuit substrate connectors formed in the circuit substrate can be collected and respectively connected to a single external connector, it is easy to work on the circuit substrate module. 
     Third, a bus bar may be disposed on or under the circuit substrate or in the circuit substrate, and an electrode terminal is coupled to the bus bar, and thus the battery unit and the circuit substrate may be formed as a module. 
     It should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described therein should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each embodiment should typically be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other embodiments.

Technology Category: h