Pouch frame with integral circuitry for battery module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9748548-B2
Application number	US-201313954798-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2013
Priority date	Jul 30, 2013
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

A battery cell assembly for use in a battery module including a battery cell that includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode and a rigid frame coupled to the battery cell. The rigid frame includes a first frame connector and a second frame connector. The frame is configured to facilitate electrical coupling of the positive electrode of the battery cell with the first frame connector, and to facilitate electrical coupling of the negative electrode of the battery cell with the second frame connector. The first and second frame connectors are configured to interface with frame connectors of other battery cell assemblies to facilitate physical and electrical connection of a plurality of battery cell assemblies disposed in a stacked orientation relative to each other.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A battery cell assembly for use in a battery module, comprising:
an electrochemical stack comprising a positive electrode and a negative electrode;
a rigid, one-piece polymer frame having a central opening extending through the frame, and wherein the electrochemical stack is disposed completely within the central opening and enclosed about a perimeter by the frame; and
an upper pouch material film and a lower pouch material film coupled to opposite sides of the frame to seal the electrochemical stack between the upper and lower pouch material films within the central opening of the frame, wherein the frame comprises a first frame connector that is electrically coupled to the positive electrode and a second frame connector that is electrically coupled to the negative electrode; wherein the first and second frame connectors are configured to interface with frame connectors of other battery cell assemblies to facilitate physical and electrical connection of a plurality of battery cell assemblies disposed in a stacked orientation relative to each other.

2. The battery cell assembly of claim 1 , comprising a first contact plate coupled to the positive electrode and a second contact plate coupled to the negative electrode of the electrochemical stack, and wherein the frame comprises a first contact tab electrically coupled between the first contact plate and the first frame connector and a second contact tab electrically coupled between the second contact plate and the second frame connector.

3. The battery cell assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first and second contact plates are disposed on opposite ends of the electrochemical stack, and wherein the first and second contact tabs are disposed on opposite ends of the frame.

4. The battery cell assembly of claim 2 , wherein the frame comprises a sensor electrically connected to the first contact tab or the second contact tab, or both.

5. The battery cell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the upper pouch layer comprises a respective opening to expose the first frame connector, and wherein the lower pouch layer comprises a respective opening to expose the second frame connector to facilitate the physical and electrical connection of the plurality of battery cell assemblies in the stacked orientation.

6. The battery cell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a vent configured to open when a pressure within the central opening exceeds a threshold.

7. The battery cell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first frame connector is a female connector and the second frame connector is a male connector.

8. The battery cell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the battery cell assembly comprises a first sensor disposed on a first end of the frame and configured to measure a first parameter associated with the battery cell assembly.

9. The battery cell assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first sensor is a voltage sensor.

10. A battery cell assembly, comprising:
a rigid, one-piece polymer frame defining a central opening that extends through the frame and that is configured to receive an electrochemical stack completely within the central opening to enclose the electrochemical stack about a perimeter of the electrochemical stack;
an upper pouch material film and a lower pouch material film configured to bond to opposite sides of the frame to seal the electrochemical stack between the upper and lower pouch material films within the central opening of the frame;
a first contact tab disposed on the frame and configured to be placed in electrical communication with a positive electrode of the electrochemical stack when the electrochemical stack is loaded into the frame;
a second contact tab disposed on the frame and configured to be placed in electrical communication with a negative electrode of the electrochemical stack when the electrochemical stack is loaded into the frame;
a first frame connector electrically coupled to the first contact tab; and
a second frame connector electrically coupled to the second contact tab wherein the first and second frame connectors are configured to interface with frame connectors of other frames to facilitate physical and electrical connection of a plurality of battery assemblies coupled to the respective frames when disposed in a stacked orientation relative to each other.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first frame connector comprises a male connector extending out from the frame and through a corresponding opening the upper pouch material film, and the second frame connector comprises a female connector defined in the frame disposed below a corresponding opening in the lower pouch material film.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the frame comprises a plurality of sensors disposed on the frame and configured to measure a respective plurality of parameters associated with the electrochemical stack.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of sensors are electrically connected to the first contact tab or the second contact tab, or both.

14. The battery cell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the central opening is substantially rectangular and enclosed about the perimeter of the electrochemical stack, and wherein the frame does not enclose a top side and a bottom side of the electrochemical stack.

15. The battery cell assembly of claim 8 , comprising a second sensor disposed on a second end of the frame, opposite the first end, and configured to measure a second parameter associated with the electrochemical stack.

16. The battery cell assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first sensor is a temperature sensor and the first parameter is a temperature of the electrochemical stack, and wherein the second sensor is a voltage sensor and the second parameter is a voltage of the electrochemical stack.

17. The battery cell assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first sensor is a pressure sensor and the first parameter is a pressure within the central opening of the battery cell assembly, and wherein the second sensor is a voltage sensor and the second parameter is a voltage of the electrochemical stack.

18. The battery cell assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first sensor is a pressure sensor and the first parameter is a pressure within the central opening of the battery cell assembly, and wherein the second sensor is a temperature sensor and the second parameter is a temperature of the electrochemical stack.

19. The battery cell assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first sensor is disposed on a first inner side of the first end of the frame facing the electrochemical stack, and wherein the second sensor is disposed on a second inner side of the second end of the frame facing the electrochemical stack.

20. The battery cell assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first sensor is disposed on a first outer side of the first end of the frame facing away from the electrochemical stack, and wherein the second sensor is disposed on a second outer side of the second end of the frame facing away from the electrochemical stack.

21. The battery cell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower pouch material films each include a middle metallic foil layer disposed between a first and a second electrically insulating polymer layer.

22. The battery cell assembly of claim 10 , wherein the upper and lower pouch material films each include a middle metallic foil layer disposed between a first and a second electrically insulating polymer layer.

Assignees

• Johnson Controls Tech Co

Inventors

• Malcolm Robert G
• Niedzwiecki Mark
• Wyatt Perry M
• Nguyen Thanh T

Classifications

• H01M10/613 Primary

  Cooling or keeping cold · CPC title

• H01M10/486

  for measuring temperature · CPC title

• H01M10/48

  Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte (constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569) · CPC title

• H01M50/291

  characterised by their shape · CPC title

• H01M50/517

  by fixing means, e.g. screws, rivets or bolts · CPC title