Battery module and method of coupling first and second electrical terminals of first and second battery cells to a voltage sense member of an interconnect assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10020483-B2
Application number	US-201514617230-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 9, 2015
Priority date	Feb 9, 2015
Publication date	Jul 10, 2018
Grant date	Jul 10, 2018

Abstract

A battery module and a method are provided. The battery module includes a first battery cell having a first electrical terminal, a second battery cell having a second electrical terminal, and an interconnect assembly having a plate portion, a first finger portion, and a first voltage sense member. The first voltage sense member is coupled to the first finger portion. The first electrical terminal has a first terminal portion disposed directly on and coupled to a first voltage sense wall of the first voltage sense member. The second electrical terminal has a first terminal portion disposed on and coupled to the first terminal portion of the first electrical terminal such that the first terminal portion of the first electrical terminal is sandwiched between the first voltage sense wall of the first voltage sense member and the first terminal portion of the second electrical terminal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A battery module, comprising:
a first battery cell having a first electrical terminal;
a second battery cell having a second electrical terminal;
an interconnect assembly having a plate portion, a first finger portion, and a first voltage sense member;
the first finger portion being coupled to and extending from a first end of the plate portion, the first finger portion having first and second side surfaces and a first flat outer surface, the first flat outer surface of the first finger portion being disposed between the first and second side surfaces of the first finger portion;
the first voltage sense member being coupled to the first finger portion, the first voltage sense member having first, second, and third voltage sense walls; the second and third voltage sense walls of the first voltage sense member being coupled to and extending from first and second ends, respectively, of the first voltage sense wall of the first voltage sense member; the second and third voltage sense walls of the first voltage sense member extending substantially perpendicular to the first voltage sense wall of the first voltage sense member; the first voltage sense wall of the first voltage sense member being disposed directly on the first flat outer surface of the first finger portion; the second and third voltage sense walls of the first voltage sense member being disposed directly on the first and second side surfaces, respectively, of the first finger portion;
the first electrical terminal having a first terminal portion disposed directly on and coupled to the first voltage sense wall of the first voltage sense member;
the second electrical terminal having a first terminal portion disposed on and coupled to the first terminal portion of the first electrical terminal such that the first terminal portion of the first electrical terminal is sandwiched between the first voltage sense wall of the first voltage sense member and the first terminal portion of the second electrical terminal;
the first electrical terminal further includes a second terminal portion being disposed directly on the second voltage sense wall of the first voltage sense member; and
the second electrical terminal further includes a second terminal portion being disposed directly on the third voltage sense wall of the first voltage sense member.

2. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the first finger portion has a T-shaped cross-sectional profile along a plane extending through first finger portion that is substantially parallel to the first end of the plate portion.

3. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the plate portion and the first finger portion are each constructed of plastic, and the first voltage sense member is constructed of a metal.

4. A battery module, comprising:
a first battery cell having a first electrical terminal;
a second battery cell having a second electrical terminal;
an interconnect assembly having a plate portion, a first finger portion, and a first voltage sense member;
the first finger portion being coupled to and extending from a first end of the plate portion, the first finger portion having first and second side surfaces and a first flat outer surface, the first flat outer surface of the first finger portion being disposed between the first and second side surfaces of the first finger portion;
the first voltage sense member being coupled to the first finger portion, the first voltage sense member having first, second, and third voltage sense walls; the second and third voltage sense walls of the first voltage sense member being coupled to and extending from first and second ends, respectively, of the first voltage sense wall of the first voltage sense member; the second and third voltage sense walls of the first voltage sense member extending substantially perpendicular to the first voltage sense wall of the first voltage sense member; the first voltage sense wall of the first voltage sense member being disposed directly on the first flat outer surface of the first finger portion; the second and third voltage sense walls of the first voltage sense member being disposed directly on the first and second side surfaces, respectively, of the first finger portion;
the first electrical terminal having a first terminal portion disposed directly on and coupled to the first voltage sense wall of the first voltage sense member;
the second electrical terminal having a first terminal portion disposed on and coupled to the first terminal portion of the first electrical terminal such that the first terminal portion of the first electrical terminal is sandwiched between the first voltage sense wall of the first voltage sense member and the first terminal portion of the second electrical terminal;
a third battery cell having a third electrical terminal;
a fourth battery cell having a fourth electrical terminal;
the interconnect assembly further having a second finger portion and a second voltage sense member;
the second finger portion being coupled to an extending from the first end of the plate portion, the second finger portion extending substantially parallel to the first finger portion and being spaced apart from the first finger portion, the second finger portion having first and second side surfaces and a first flat outer surface, the first flat outer surface of the second finger portion being disposed between the first and second side surfaces of the second finger portion;
the second voltage sense member being coupled to the second finger portion, the second voltage sense member having first, second, and third voltage sense walls; the second and third voltage sense walls of the second voltage sense member being coupled to and extending from first and second ends, respectively, of the first voltage sense wall of the second voltage sense member; the second and third voltage sense walls of the second voltage sense member extending substantially perpendicular to the first voltage sense wall of the second voltage sense member; the first voltage sense wall of the second voltage sense member being disposed directly on the first flat outer surface of the second finger portion; the second and third voltage sense walls of the second voltage sense member being disposed directly on the first and second side surfaces, respectively, of the second finger portion;
the third electrical terminal having a first terminal portion disposed directly on and coupled to the first voltage sense wall of the second voltage sense member;
the fourth electrical terminal having a first terminal portion disposed on and coupled to the first terminal portion of the third electrical terminal such that the first terminal portion of the third electrical terminal is sandwiched between the first voltage sense wall of the second voltage sense member and the first terminal portion of the fourth electrical terminal;
a first frame member having a frame extension portion;
the first and second battery cells being disposed against and contacting one another;
the third and fourth battery cells being disposed against and contacting one another; and
the first frame member being disposed against and contacting the second and third battery cells such that the frame extension portion is disposed in a gap between the second and third electrical terminals of the second and third battery cells, respectively, to electrically isolate the second electrical terminal from the third electrical terminal.

5. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the first voltage sense member further includes first and second coupling members coupled to and extending from third and fourth ends, respectively, of the first voltage sense wall; the first and second coupling members adapted to hold the first voltage sense member on the first flat outer surface of the first finger po

Assignees

• Lg Chemical Ltd

Inventors

• Merriman Robert
• Yang Heekook

Classifications

• H01R43/0221

  Laser welding (H01R43/0228 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B23K26/22

  Spot welding · CPC title

• G01R31/364

  Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements · CPC title

• G01R31/396

  Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery · CPC title

• H01M10/425 Primary

  Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00) · CPC title