This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. ยง 119, of German Patent Application DE 10 2021 116 447.8, filed Jun. 25, 2021; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a cell-contacting system for a battery module having a plurality of battery cells, and to a battery module having such a cell-contacting system.
Cell management controllers (CMC), which monitor the individual battery cells of the battery module in order to carry out, for example, charging processes and balancing of voltages and states of charge, temperature-control processes, etc. for the battery cells, require a cell-contacting system for contacting the battery cells in order to obtain corresponding measurement signals, for example of the potentials and temperatures of the battery cells. Conventional cell-contacting systems usually require a high manufacturing and assembly effort for the connection of the signal sources to the signal line system.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved cell-contacting system for a battery module and a battery module with such a cell-contacting system, which overcome the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known systems and modules of this general type and which have a simple structure and a simple and reliable assembly.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a cell-contacting system for a battery module having a plurality of battery cells, a plurality of cell connectors for electrically conductively connecting cell terminals of different battery cells, and a (preferably rigid) printed circuit board having a plurality of signal lines each for connecting a signal source of one of the plurality of cell connectors to a signal management circuit or a connection interface. The plurality of cell connectors serve as a power supply line system and the printed circuit board serves as a signal line system. The signal sources of the plurality of cell connectors are each electrically conductively connected to one of the plurality of signal lines of the printed circuit board through at least one connection element. According to the invention, at least one, preferably a plurality, more preferably all, of these connection elements is in the form of a press-fit connection element having a first press-in portion for pressing into a hole in the printed circuit board, a second press-in portion for pressing into a hole in the signal source, and a connection portion between the first and second press-in portions.
The dependent claims relate to particularly advantageous configurations and developments of the invention.
The use of such press-fit connection elements for electrically conductive connection of the signal sources of the cell connectors to the signal lines of the printed circuit board has several advantages. The press-fit technology allows simple, fast and automated assembly of the connection elements and thus simple, fast and automated connection of the signal sources to the signal line system. This advantage arises in particular from the fact that soldering or welding processes are avoided. Furthermore, in addition to the electrical connection function, these press-fit technology connection elements also have a mechanical connection function and a thermal connection function without additional measures. The press-fit connection elements can be used particularly well in conjunction with a rigid printed circuit board, which results in further advantages because a rigid printed circuit board allows easy handling during manufacturing and assembly and also allows the mounting of components, such as electronic circuit elements, thereon. Overall, the cell-contacting system can thus be produced simply, reliably, and with positional accuracy, which also makes it possible to produce the entire battery module more easily and more reliably.
The cell-contacting system preferably further includes at least one signal management circuit connected to the signal lines of the printed circuit board. The at least one signal management circuit can, for example, be integrated into the rigid printed circuit board or connected to the printed circuit board as an external circuit through a corresponding connection interface. The integrated or external signal management circuit is additionally preferably connected to a battery module controller through a connection interface. The cell-contacting system, the signal management circuit and the battery module controller can also be referred to together as a cell management controller (CMC).
Preferably, the signal sources have at least one voltage tap point provided on one of the plurality of cell connectors and/or at least one temperature-measuring device provided on one of the plurality of cell connectors. Preferably, all cell connectors are each provided with a voltage tap point connected to a signal line of the printed circuit board. Preferably, some or even all of the cell connectors each have a temperature-measuring device attached thereto that is connected to a signal line of the printed circuit board.
The at least one temperature-measuring device preferably has a sensor printed circuit board with a temperature-sensing element, the sensor printed circuit board being connected to the corresponding cell connector through a contact element and being connected to a signal line of the printed circuit board through a connection element. In this embodiment, the connection element for the temperature-measuring device is preferably in the form of a press-fit connection element having a first press-in portion for pressing into a hole in the printed circuit board, a second press-in portion for pressing into a hole in the sensor printed circuit board, and a connection portion between the first and second press-in portions. In addition, in this embodiment, due to the multiple functionality of the press-fit technology mentioned above, the contact element for the temperature-measuring device can also be in the form of a press-fit contact element having a first press-in portion for pressing into a hole in the cell connector, a second press-in portion for pressing into a hole in the sensor printed circuit board, and a connection portion between the first and second press-in portions. Preferably, the first and second press-in portions of the press-fit contact element can be disposed one behind the other with substantially coinciding longitudinal axes, and the connection portion of the press-fit contact member may run substantially along the common longitudinal axis between the press-in portions.
The at least one voltage tap point can be formed by a corresponding cell connector. In this embodiment, the connection element for the voltage tap point is preferably in the form of a press-fit connection element, which has a first press-in portion for pressing into a hole in the printed circuit board, a second press-in portion for pressing into a hole in the cell connector, and a connection portion between the first and second press-in portions.
In one embodiment of the invention, the cell-contacting system has at least one press-fit connection element, in which the first press-in portion and the second press-in portion are disposed one behind the other with substantially coinciding longitudinal axes, and the connection portion runs substantially along the common longitudinal axis between the press-in portions. This embodiment of the press-fit connection element is particularly suitable for connecting a temperature-measuring device to a signal line of the printed circuit board, if the temperature-measuring device is disposed on a cell connector in such a way that the device (for example its sensor printed circuit board) also protrudes somewhat above the printed circuit board.
In one embodiment of the invention, the cell-contacting system has at least one press-fit connection element in which the first press-in portion and the second press-in portion are disposed side by side with substantially parallel longitudinal axes, and the connection portion of the press-fit connection element runs transversely (for example, substantially perpendicularly) to the longitudinal axes of the press-in portions between the press-in portions. This embodiment of the press-fit connection element is particularly suitable for connecting a voltage tap point to a signal line of the printed circuit board or also for connecting a temperature-measuring device, if the latter is disposed completely only on a cell connector so that the device does not also extend over the printed circuit board, to a signal line of the printed circuit board.
The cell-contacting system of the invention can also include at least one press-fit connection element of the first-mentioned embodiment (press-in portions one behind the other) and at least one press-fit connection element of the second-mentioned embodiment (press-in portions side by side).
In a press-fit connection element of the second-mentioned embodiment (having press-in portions disposed side by side), the connection portion of the press-fit connection element can be (i) configured in such a way that the first and second press-in portions of the press-fit connection element are positioned at the same height, or (ii) configured in such a way that the first and second press-in portions of the press-fit connection element are positioned at different heights. The first variant is suitable for connecting a voltage tap point or temperature-measuring device to a signal line of the printed circuit board when the upper side of the printed circuit board and the upper side of the cell connector or temperature-measuring device are positioned at substantially the same level in the battery module or are oriented in substantially the same plane. The second variant is suitable for connecting a voltage tap point or temperature-measuring device to a signal line of the printed circuit board when the upper side of the printed circuit board and the upper side of the cell connector or temperature-measuring device are positioned at different levels in the battery module or extend in different planes.
In one embodiment of the invention, the cell-contacting system has at least one press-fit connection element in which the connection portion is at least partially elastic in such a way that it allows movement of the corresponding cell connector relative to the printed circuit board in a plane parallel to the printed circuit board plane. The flexibility thus formed allows the connection element to compensate for movements and swellings of the battery cells that may occur, for example, during charging and discharging cycles.
In one embodiment of the invention, the cell-contacting system has at least one press-fit connection element in which the connection portion is configured to be rigid in such a way that it prevents movement of the corresponding cell connector relative to the printed circuit board.
The cell-contacting system of the invention can also include at least one press-fit connection element of the first-mentioned embodiment (having an elastic connection portion) and at least one press-fit connection element of the second-mentioned embodiment (having a rigid connection portion). The embodiment of the press-fit connection elements can be selected, for example, depending on the application (for example on the type of battery cells).
In a further embodiment of the invention, the printed circuit board of the cell-contacting system has at least one ventilation opening, for example in the form of a plurality of holes or a gap. The ventilation openings can support a cooling process of the battery cells under the rigid printed circuit board region.
With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a battery module that has a plurality of battery cells and a cell-contacting system of the invention as described above. With this battery module, the same advantages can be achieved as explained above in conjunction with the cell-contacting system according to the invention.
The battery cells are connected to each other through the cell connectors of the cell-contacting system and can be connected to a consumer or a charging system through an electrical connection of the battery module. The battery cells and the cell-contacting system are preferably both accommodated in a module housing. The invention is not limited to any particular type, number, size or arrangement of the plurality of battery cells. In particular, the invention is also usable for Li-ion battery modules.
The battery module generally further has at least one battery module controller for operating the battery module, the battery module controller being connected to the at least one signal management circuit (integrated in the printed circuit board or connected to the printed circuit board as an external circuit through a connection interface). The module controller performs, for example, charging processes, balancing of the voltages and the states of charge, temperature-control processes such as, in particular, cooling processes, and the like, at least partially depending on the measurement signals obtained by the cell-contacting system.
The invention is advantageously applicable to battery modules for vehicles, in particular electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles and in particular motor vehicles and motorcycles, and also to energy storage systems and other electrical appliances (for example, electronic household appliances).
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a cell-contacting system for a battery module and a battery module with such a cell-contacting system, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to
The battery module 10 has a plurality of battery cells (for example Li-ion battery cells) 12. In this exemplary embodiment, the battery cells 12 are disposed side by side in the right-left direction of
The battery module 10 further has a cell-contacting system 20 disposed above the battery cells 12. The battery cells 12 together with the cell-contacting system 20 are usually disposed in a module housing (not shown).
The cell-contacting system 20 has a plurality of cell connectors 22 forming a power supply line system. In this exemplary embodiment, the cell connectors 22 each have two contact regions 22a, 22b and a (preferably elastic) compensation region 22c between the two contact regions 22a, 22b and are mounted on the battery cells 12 in such a way that they each couple the negative terminal of a battery cell 12 to the positive terminal of an adjacent battery cell 12 through their two contact regions 22a, 22b, resulting in a series connection of the battery cells 12 in the battery module 10. The battery cells 12 are additionally connectable to a consumer or a charging system through an electrical connection of the battery module 10.
The cell-contacting system 20 further includes a preferably rigid printed circuit board 24 forming the signal conduction system and being disposed over the battery cells 12 in the region between the two rows of cell connectors 22 along the entire length of the battery cell array. The shape and size of the printed circuit board 24 can, in principle, be adapted to any construction of battery modules, in particular to any arrangements, sizes or numbers of battery cells.
As shown in
As indicated only schematically in
As indicated in
The voltage tap points 32 can each be formed directly by a contact region 22a, 22b of a cell connector 22. At least one (in this exemplary embodiment, two) connection element 40 in the form of a press-fit connection element is provided in each case for connecting the voltage tap points 32 to the signal lines 30 of the printed circuit board 24. The structures and modes of operation of these press-fit connection elements 40 are illustrated in
The temperature-measuring devices 34 are each mounted on a cell connector 22. In order to connect the temperature-measuring devices 34 to the signal lines 30 of the printed circuit board 24, at least one (in this exemplary embodiment, two) connection element 44 is provided in each case and is also in the form of a press-fit connection element. The structures and modes of operation of these press-fit connection elements 44 are illustrated in
Referring now to
Since the press-fit technology is basically known to the person skilled in the art, there is no need to explain further details and modes of operation. In addition, various embodiments of the press-fit technology can, in principle, be used for the cell-contacting system according to the invention.
Referring now to
In this first variant of the temperature-measuring device 34, the press-fit connection element 44 for connecting the temperature-measuring device 34 to a signal line 30 of the printed circuit board 24 is configured analogously to
Referring now to
With reference to
The described battery modules 10 with the cell-contacting systems 20 according to the invention can be used, for example, for vehicles, in particular electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles and in particular motor vehicles and motorcycles, or for energy storage systems or for other electrical appliances (for example electronic household appliances).
The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2021 116 447.8 | Jun 2021 | DE | national |