KR20190090306A - Battery pack - Google Patents

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a battery pack. An object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack capable of accurately performing welding between a cell tab of a battery cell and a conductive tab of a protective circuit module by easily checking positional relationship between the cell tab of the battery cell and a support of a case. To this end, the present invention discloses a battery pack comprising: a battery cell having a cell tab; a case having a support on which the cell tab is seated and a body on which the battery cell is seated; and a protective circuit module seated on the cell tab and having the conductive tab electrically connected to the cell tab. The support comprises a tab position indicator for indicating a seating position of the cell tab.

Description

Battery pack

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a battery pack.

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, electronic devices such as a notebook, a mini notebook, a netbook, a mobile computer, an Ultra Mobile Personal Computer (UMPC), and a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP) . The battery pack includes a protective circuit module (PCM) for protecting the battery cell from overcharging, overdischarging, and / or overcurrent, and the battery cell and the protection circuit module may be incorporated together in the case.

The above-described information disclosed in the background of the present invention is only for improving the understanding of the background of the present invention, and thus may include information not constituting the prior art.

A problem to be solved according to an embodiment of the present invention is to easily check the positional relationship between the cell tap of the battery cell and the support of the case so as to precisely weld the cell tab of the battery cell and the conductive tab of the protection circuit module And a battery pack.

A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a battery cell having a self tap; A case having a support on which the cell tab is seated and a body on which the battery cell is seated; And a protection circuit module having a conductive tab that is seated on the cell tab and electrically connected to the cell tab, wherein the support includes a tab position indicator for indicating a seating position of the cell tab.

The support may protrude from the main body and include a through hole.

The support may be in the form of a square ring protruding from the body.

The support includes a first support region; A second support region spaced apart from and parallel to the first support region; A third support region connecting one end of the first and second support regions; And a fourth support region formed parallel to the third support region and spaced apart from the third support region and connecting the other ends of the first and second support regions.

The tab position indicator includes a first tab position indicator extending outwardly from the first support region in a direction perpendicular to the first support region and parallel to the third support region; And a second tab position indicator extending outwardly from the second support region in a direction perpendicular to the second support region and formed parallel to the third support region.

The first tap position indicator and the second tap position indicator may extend in mutually opposite directions.

A third tab position indicator extending outwardly from the third support area in a direction perpendicular to the third support area and formed in parallel with the first support area; And a fourth tab position indicator extending outwardly from the third support region in a direction perpendicular to the third support region and formed in parallel with the second support region.

The third tap position indicator and the fourth tap position indicator may extend in parallel with each other in the same direction.

A fifth tab position indicator extending outwardly from the first support area in a direction perpendicular to the first support area and parallel to the fourth support area; And a sixth tab position indicator extending outwardly from the second support region in a direction perpendicular to the second support region and formed parallel to the fourth support region.

The fifth tap position indicator and the sixth tap position indicator may extend in mutually opposite directions.

The width of the tab may be greater than the width of the support and less than the width of the tab position indicator.

The protection circuit module includes a module through hole formed in a region corresponding to the conductive tab, and the width of the module through hole may be smaller than the width of the cell tab.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a battery pack that enables accurate welding between a cell tab of a battery cell and a conductive tab of a protection circuit module by easily checking the positional relationship between the cell tab of the battery cell and the support of the case . In some examples, at least one tab position indicator is further formed around the support on which the tab is seated, so that the positional relationship between the tab and the tab can be grasped through the relationship between the tab position indicator and the tab. Therefore, if the positional relationship between the support table and the cell tab meets a predetermined reference state, a subsequent welding process is performed. If the positional relationship between the support table and the cell tab does not match the predetermined reference state, the subsequent welding process is stopped, The positional relationship can be corrected. Therefore, the embodiment of the present invention can fundamentally prevent a weld defect between the cell tab of the battery cell and the conductive tab of the protection circuit module.

1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are partial plan views showing a state before and after a battery cell is seated in a case among the battery packs according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are partially enlarged plan views showing states of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention before and after a cell tab of the battery cell is seated on a support of a case. FIG.
4 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the tabs of the cell tab and the protection circuit module are welded to each other after the cell tab of the battery cell is seated on the support of the case among the battery packs according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The embodiments of the present invention are described in order to more fully explain the present invention to those skilled in the art, and the following embodiments may be modified into various other forms, It is not limited to the embodiment. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be more faithful and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

In the following drawings, thickness and size of each layer are exaggerated for convenience and clarity of description, and the same reference numerals denote the same elements in the drawings. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed items. In this specification, "connectable" means not only a case where the A member and the B member are directly connected but also a case where the C member is interposed between the A member and the B member and the A member and the B member are indirectly connected it means.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include singular forms unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, " comprise, " and / or "comprising, " when used in this specification, are intended to be interchangeable with the said forms, numbers, steps, operations, elements, elements and / And does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, operations, elements, elements, and / or groups.

Although the terms first, second, etc. are used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and / or portions, these members, components, regions, layers and / It is obvious that no. These terms may only be used to distinguish one member, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first member, component, region, layer or section described below may refer to a second member, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

It is to be understood that the terms related to space such as "beneath," "below," "lower," "above, But may be utilized for an easy understanding of other elements or features. Terms related to such a space are for easy understanding of the present invention depending on various process states or use conditions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. For example, if an element or feature of the figure is inverted, the element or feature described as "lower" or "below" may be "upper" or "above." Thus, "lower" is a concept encompassing "upper" or "lower ".

Referring to FIG. 1, an exploded perspective view of a battery pack 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

1, a battery pack 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a battery cell 110, a lower case 120, a protection circuit module 130, and an upper case 140 .

The battery cell 110 has a substantially square or rectangular thin plate shape, which supplies power to an external electronic device and can be recharged. In some instances, the battery cell 110 may be referred to as a lithium polymer battery, a lithium polymer ion battery, a lithium ion battery, a zinc air battery, a lithium sulfur battery, a lithium air battery, a sodium ion battery, a magnesium battery, have. Further, in some examples, the battery cell 110 may be referred to as a pouch battery, a prismatic battery, or a cylindrical battery.

The battery cell 110 may include a cell tap 111 extending from one side to the outside in a predetermined length. The cell tab 111 may include a positive cell tab 111a and a negative cell tab 111b. In some examples, the selftap 111 may be referred to as an electrode tab, a lead tab, a lead, an electrode lead, a connecting lead or a connection tab, and the like. The self-tap 111 may be electrically connected to an external electronic device to supply power or be electrically connected to the charger to receive power.

Meanwhile, one battery cell 110 may be provided, but a plurality of battery cells 110 may be provided as shown in FIG. In some examples, the plurality of battery cells 110 may be arranged in a row or in multiple rows, or may be arranged in one layer or in multiple layers. Furthermore, the battery cells 110 may be connected to one another in series and / or in parallel.

The lower case 120 may include a support 121 and a body 122. The cell tab 111 may be seated on the support 121 and the battery cell 110 may be seated on the body 122. The number of supports 121 may be equal to the number of the tabs 111. For example, if the battery cell 110 includes two cell tabs 111, it may include two supports 121 per body 122. In some instances, the support 121 may be referred to as a reel, frame, protrusion, or protrusion, and the like. The support base 121 serves to stably support the cell tabs 111 and the conductive tabs 131 from below during welding between the cell tabs 111 and the conductive tabs 131. Also, in some instances, the body 122 may be referred to as a housing, frame, or cover, and the like. The main body 122 not only accommodates the battery cell 110 in the lower portion but also protects the battery cell 110 from the external environment.

The protection circuit module 130 includes a conductive tab 131, which can be seated on top of the SELF- For example, the conductive tab 131 may be attached to the lower surface of the protection circuit module 130, and the through hole 132 may be formed in the insulation layer of the protection circuit module 130 corresponding to the conductive tab 131 have. Therefore, the conductive tab 131 can be welded to the cell tab 111 by the contact of the laser beam or the electrode with the conductive tab 131 through the through hole 132. In some examples, the protection circuit module 130 may be referred to as a battery protection circuit, a cell protection circuit, a battery monitoring system, a protective circuit board, or a printed circuit board. The protection circuit module 130 basically protects the battery cell 110 by preventing the battery cell 110 from being overdischarged and / or overcharged, or by preventing the overcurrent from flowing to the battery cell 110 .

To this end, the protection circuit module 130 includes a conductive tab 131 connected to the cell tab 111 as described above. In addition, a protection IC, a charge FET, a discharge FET, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, a temperature sensor And / or a connector 133 for connection to a charger or an external electronic device.

The upper case 140 is seated on the battery cell 110 and the protection circuit module 130 and can be coupled and fixed to the lower case 120. In some instances, the upper case 140 may be referred to as a housing, a frame, a cover, or the like. The upper case 140 not only receives the battery cell 110 and the protection circuit module 130, but also isolates and protects them from the external environment.

2A and 2B, a plan view of a battery pack 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown before and after a battery cell 110 is seated in a lower case 120 .

2A, the support base 121 formed on the lower case 120 protrudes upward from the generally flat main body 122 by a predetermined thickness, and has a support base through-hole 121e formed at a substantially central portion thereof . In some instances, the support 121 may be in the form of a substantially square ring as viewed in plan. Although the four support regions 121a, 121b, 121c, and 121d are shown as one support 121 in FIG. 2A, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the number of the support areas 121a, 121b, 121c, and 121d may be smaller or larger than four.

In some examples, the support 121 may further include a tab location indicator 123 extending a certain length in the outward direction. Although two tap position indicators 123 (123a, 123b, 123c, 123d, 123e, 123f) are shown extending outward from the support table 121 in FIG. 2a, the present invention is not limited in this respect. That is, the number of tap position indicators 123 may be less than or greater than six.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the cell tab 111 extending from the battery cell 110 may be seated on the support 121. Here, the width of the cell tab 111 may be greater than the width of the support 121. However, the width of the tab 111 may be less than the width of the tab position indicator 123 (or the distance or width between the two tab position indicators 123). Thus, the tab 121 is not visible, but the tab position indicator 123 is visible along the perimeter of the tab 111 on the operator's eye or the camera of the manufacturing equipment. Thus, it can be easily understood by the operator or the manufacturing equipment whether or not the cell tab 111 is seated at the reference position on the support table 121.

In some examples, if the tap position indicator 123 on one side is not visible or photographed by the cell tab 111, the cell tab 111 may be determined to not be seated in the reference position on the support table 121. In this case, the operator or manufacturing equipment may stop additional manufacturing processes such as seating and welding of the protection circuit module 130.

In some examples, if all the tab position indicators 123 can be photographed by the cell tab 111 to the same size or length, the cell tab 111 can be judged to be seated at the reference position on the support 121. In this case, the operator or manufacturing equipment may perform additional manufacturing processes such as seating and welding of the protection circuit module 130.

3A and 3B, before the cell tab 111 of the battery cell 110 is seated on the support 121 of the lower case 120 among the battery pack 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, A partial enlarged plan view of the latter state is shown.

3A, in some examples, the support 121 includes a first support region 121a having a substantially straight line shape and a second support region 121a having a substantially straight line shape, which is formed substantially parallel to the first support region 121a, A third support region 121c having a substantially straight line shape connecting the support region 121b and one end of the first and second support regions 121a and 121b and a third support region 121c spaced apart from the third support region 121c And a fourth support area 121d in the form of a substantially straight line connecting the other ends of the first and second support areas 121a and 121b. In some examples, the first, second, third, and fourth support regions 121a, 121b, 121c, and 121d may protrude from the main body 122 of the lower case 120 by a predetermined thickness in a substantially upward direction .

3A, in some examples, the tab position indicator 123 extends outward from the first support region 121a in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first support region 121a And a first tab position indicator 123a that is formed substantially parallel to the third support region 121c or extends from the third support region 121c.

3A, in some examples, the tab position indicator 123 extends outward from the second support region 121b in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the second support region 121b, And a second tab position indicator 123b formed parallel to the third support area 121c or extending from the third support area 121c.

Here, the first tap position indicator 123a and the second tab position indicator 123b may extend in mutually opposite directions.

3A, in some examples, the tab position indicator 123 extends outward from the third support region 121c in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the third support region 121c And a third tab position indicator 123c formed substantially parallel to the first support area 121a.

3A, in some examples, the tab position indicator 123 extends outward from the third support region 121c in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the third support region 121c, And a fourth tab position indicator 123d formed substantially parallel to the second support area 121b.

Here, the third tap position indicator 123c and the fourth tap position indicator 123d may extend in substantially the same direction in parallel with each other.

3A, in some examples, the tab position indicator 123 extends outward from the first support region 121a in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first support region 121a, And a fifth tab position indicator 123e that is formed substantially parallel to the fourth support area 121d or extends from the fourth support area 121d.

Here, the first tap position indicator 123a and the fifth tap position indicator 123e may extend substantially in parallel with each other in the same direction.

3A, in some examples, the tab position indicator 123 extends outward from the second support region 121b in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the second support region 121b, And a sixth tab position indicator 123f formed parallel to the fourth support area 121d or extending from the fourth support area 121d.

Here, the second tab position indicator 123b and the sixth tab position indicator 123f may extend substantially in parallel with each other in the same direction. Here, the fifth tap position indicator 123e and the sixth tab position indicator 123f may extend in mutually opposite directions.

Meanwhile, in the embodiment of the present invention, only one of the first tab position indicator 123a to the sixth tab position indicator 123f may be formed around the support base 121, or some selected ones may be formed. In some instances, an embodiment of the present invention may be formed with a tap position indicator 123 with a six fractional probability at the periphery of the support 121. For example, the tab position indicator 123 may be provided in the form of 6! = 6 x 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1, that is, 720 arrangements.

In addition, in an embodiment of the present invention, the tap position indicator 123 may include a coating layer (not shown) having a different color from the body 122 and / or the support 121 on the surface. For example, if the surface (upper surface) of the body 122 and / or the support 121 is black or gray, the surface (upper surface) of the tab position indicator 123 may have a different color, for example, Green, white, and the like. In addition, such yellow, red, green, white, etc. may further include phosphors. Thus, the operator or the manufacturing equipment can more accurately recognize the relationship between the tab tap position indicator 123 and the tabs 111 that are seated on the support 121.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the cell tab 111 can be seated on the support 121. Because the width (width in the transverse direction and / or width in the transverse direction) of the cell tab 111 is greater than the width (width in the transverse direction and / or width in the transverse direction) of the support 121, ) May not be observed. However, since the width of the tab position indicator 123 (the width between the tab position indicators 123 that are spaced apart from each other) is larger than the width of the tabs 111, the tabs 111 are properly seated in a predetermined area of the tabs 121 The tab position indicator 123 can be observed from outside the cell tab 111. [0050] FIG.

In some examples, the tap position indicator 123 can be observed with approximately the same length in the periphery of the tabs 111. [ For example, the length of the first and fifth tap position indicators 123a and 123e observed from the left side of the cell tab 111 and the length of the second and sixth tab position indicators 123b and 123f observed from the right side of the cell tab 111 The length can be the same. Furthermore, the lengths of the third and fourth tap position indicators 123c and 123d observed on the upper side (the upper region in the drawing) of the cell-tap 111 are the same as the lengths of the first, second, fifth and sixth tap position indicators 123a, 123e, and 123f, respectively. Therefore, at this time, it is judged that the seating state of the cell-tab 111 is normal, and an additional process (for example, the seating of the protection circuit module and the welding process) is performed.

However, some of the tab position indicators 123 may not be observed from the outside of the cell-tab 111, or the lengths thereof may be different from each other, unless the cell-tab 111 is properly seated in a predetermined area of the support table 121. For example, the first and second tap position indicators 123a and 123e may be observed on the left side of the cell tap 111, but the second and sixth tap position indicators 123b and 123f may not be observed on the right side of the cell tap 111 . In addition, the third and fourth tap position indicators 123c and 123d may not be observed on the upper side (upper region in the drawing) of the cell-tap 111. [

As another example, the lengths of the first and second tap position indicators 123a and 123e observed from the left side of the cell tab 111 and the lengths of the second and sixth tab position indicators 123b and 123f observed from the right side of the cell tab 111 Can be different. Furthermore, the lengths of the third and fourth tap position indicators 123c and 123d observed on the upper side (the upper region in the drawing) of the cell-tap 111 are the same as the lengths of the first, second, fifth and sixth tap position indicators 123a, 123e, and 123f, respectively.

Accordingly, at this time, it is determined that the seating state of the cell-tab 111 is defective and the additional process (for example, the seating of the protection circuit module and the welding process) is stopped and the position of the cell- .

4, after the cell tab 111 of the battery cell 110 is seated on the support 121 of the battery pack 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the cell tab 111 and the protection circuit module 130 Are partially welded to each other. As shown in Fig.

4, the lower case 120 includes a body 122 and a support 121 protruding upward from the body 122, and the support 121 includes a through hole 121e can do. Further, the tap position indicator 123 can be extended from the support base 121. [

In some examples, the thickness or height of the tab location indicator 123 may be equal to the thickness or height of the support 121. In some examples, the upper surface of the tap position indicator 123 and the upper surface of the support 121 may be flush with each other. Therefore, when the cell tab 111 is seated on the support table 121 and the tab position indicator 123, the shape of the cell tab 111 (for example, a flat plate shape) is not deformed. Further, as described above, the positional accuracy of the cell-tab 111 placed on the support base 121 can be judged by the tap position indicator 123. [ In some examples, the thickness of the selctt 111 may be approximately 0.01 mm to 0.1 mm.

Also, the protection circuit module 130 may be seated on the cell tab 111. In some examples, the conductive tabs 131 of the protection circuit module 130 can be seated over the cell tabs 111. In some examples, the thickness of the conductive tab 131 may be approximately 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm. In some examples, a module through hole 132 may be formed in a region corresponding to the conductive tab 131 of the protection circuit module 130. Here, the size of the module through-hole 132 may be smaller than the size of the support through-hole 121e. If the size of the module through-hole 132 is equal to or larger than the size of the support through-hole 121e, the problem that the mounting area of the other electronic components or the area of the circuit pattern is reduced by the protection circuit module 130 is reduced Also, there is a problem that the rigidity of the protection circuit module 130 is reduced.

In this way, the jig (not shown) presses the cell tab 111 and the conductive tab 131 upward through the support through-hole 121e, for example, through the module through- The beam can be irradiated to the conductive tab 131 and the cell tab 111. [ Accordingly, predetermined regions of the conductive tab 131 and the cell tab 111 are melted and cooled, and can be electrically and mechanically connected to each other. As another example, in the state where the jig presses the cell tab 111 and the conductive tab 131 upward through the support through-hole 121e, an electric welding rod or an ultrasonic welding rod is inserted through the module through hole 132 into the conductive tab 131 And the cell tab 111 can be pressed downward and welded to each other.

As described above, the embodiment of the present invention can easily confirm the positional relationship between the cell tab 111 of the battery cell 110 and the support base 121 of the case, Welding failure between the conductive tabs 131 of the circuit module 130 can be prevented. In some examples, at least one tap position indicator 123 is further formed in the periphery of the support 121 on which the tabs 111 are seated, so that through the relationship between the tap position indicators 123 and the tabs 111, It is possible to grasp the positional relationship of the light source 111. Thus, if the positional relationship of the cell-tab 111 meets a predetermined reference state, a subsequent welding process is performed, and if the positional relationship of the cell-tab 111 does not match a preset reference state, 111 can be corrected. Therefore, the embodiment of the present invention can fundamentally prevent the welding failure between the cell tab 111 of the battery cell 110 and the conductive tab 131 of the protection circuit module 130.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may be modified in various ways within the scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

100; A battery pack 110; Battery cell
111; Cell tap 111a; Anode cell tab
111b; Cathode-cell tab 120; The lower case
121; A support 121a; The first support area
121b; A second support region 121c; Third support area
121d; A fourth support region 121e; Support Base Through Hole
122; A body 123; Tab Locator
123a; A first tap position indicator 123b; The second tap position indicator
123c; A third tap position indicator 123d; The fourth tap position indicator
123e; A fifth tap position indicator 123f; Sixth tab position indicator
130; A protection circuit module 131; Conductive tab
132; Module through hole 133; connector
140; The upper case

Claims (12)

A battery cell having a cell tab;
A case having a support on which the cell tab is seated and a body on which the battery cell is seated; And
And a protection circuit module having a conductive tab that is seated on the cell tab and is electrically connected to the cell tab,
Wherein the support base includes a tab position indicator for indicating a seating position of the tab. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the support base includes a through-hole protruding from the main body. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the support base is in the form of a rectangular ring protruding from the main body. The method according to claim 1,
The support includes a first support region; A second support region spaced apart from and parallel to the first support region; A third support region connecting one end of the first and second support regions; And a fourth support region formed parallel to the third support region and spaced apart from the third support region and connecting the other ends of the first and second support regions. 5. The method of claim 4,
The tab position indicator includes a first tab position indicator extending outwardly from the first support region in a direction perpendicular to the first support region and parallel to the third support region; And a second tab position indicator extending outwardly from the second support region in a direction perpendicular to the second support region and formed parallel to the third support region. 6. The method of claim 5,
Wherein the first tab position indicator and the second tab position indicator extend in mutually opposite directions. 5. The method of claim 4,
A third tab position indicator extending outwardly from the third support area in a direction perpendicular to the third support area and formed in parallel with the first support area; And a fourth tab position indicator extending outwardly from the third support region in a direction perpendicular to the third support region and formed parallel to the second support region. 8. The method of claim 7,
And the third tap position indicator and the fourth tap position indicator extend in parallel with each other in the same direction. 5. The method of claim 4,
A fifth tab position indicator extending outwardly from the first support area in a direction perpendicular to the first support area and parallel to the fourth support area; And a sixth tab position indicator extending outwardly from the second support region in a direction perpendicular to the second support region and formed parallel to the fourth support region. 10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein the fifth tab position indicator and the sixth tab position indicator extend in mutually opposite directions. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the width of the tab is larger than the width of the tab and smaller than the width of the tab position indicator. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the protection circuit module includes a module through hole formed in a region corresponding to the conductive tab, and a width of the module through hole is smaller than a width of the cell tab.

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