Patent Application
20220181752
Various types of electric vehicles, including electric bicycles, scooters, and so on, utilize battery assemblies formed of multiple Lithium-ion (Li-ion) cells. The battery assemblies, or battery packs, incorporate large cylindrical cells, and include connections that connect the cylindrical cells together in series (and sometimes also in parallel).
Common types of electrical connections for Lithium-ion cells include connections that are applied or formed via spot welding, ultrasonic welding, and/or wire bonding techniques. Often, processes utilize a “wear items,” such as copper electrodes or steel tips, during the manufacturing process, in order to successfully connect the cells to one another. Such processes often access both the exposed tops and bottoms (e.g., the anodes and cathodes) of the cells during manufacturing.
Materials for inter-cell connections include nickel plated steel, pure nickel, aluminum, and/or copper. While the processes can utilize these materials, certain processes, such as those that incorporate spot welding techniques, can become increasingly difficult when using the more conductive materials, such as copper. Thus, currently the mass production of battery assemblies is often realized through cheap labor and/or the manual assembly of the cells within the assemblies, using a spot-welding technique with nickel plated steel or pure nickel as the conductive material.
These and other drawbacks exist with conventional battery assembly and manufacturing processes.
In the drawings, some components are not drawn to scale, and some components and/or operations can be separated into different blocks or combined into a single block for discussion of some of the implementations of the present technology. Moreover, while the technology is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific implementations have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not to limit the technology to the particular implementations described. On the contrary, the technology is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the technology as defined by the appended claims.
Various embodiments directed to manufacturing a battery assembly or battery pack are described. In some embodiments, the manufacturing process utilizes a welding jig to facilitate the placement and disposition of cell connection materials to battery cells when forming a battery assembly or pack. Using the welding jig, the connection materials can be fused to the battery cells (e.g., to top portions of the cells) using a laser welding process. In doing so, the manufacturing process enables certain materials, typically unsuitable for welding processes (e.g., spot welding), to be utilized as connection materials or components that connect battery cells in a battery assembly or pack.
For example, the manufacturing process can include positioning multiple battery cells into a group of battery cells, disposing a foil connector onto a top portion of each battery cell of the group of battery cells, pressing a conforming material onto the disposed foil connector, and welding the foil connector to the group of battery cells. For example, the process can place the battery pack within a welding jig and press the conforming material onto the disposed foil connector using a top plate of the welding jig.
In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of implementations of the present technology. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that various implementations or embodiments of the present technology can be practiced without some of these specific details. The phrases “in some implementations,” “according to some implementations,” “in the implementations shown,” “in other implementations,” “in some embodiments,” “according to some embodiments,” “in the embodiments shown,” “in other embodiments,” and the like generally mean the particular feature, structure, or characteristic following the phrase is included in at least one implementation or embodiment of the present technology and can be included in more than one implementation or embodiment. In addition, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same implementations/embodiments or different implementations/embodiments.
In some embodiments, a battery pack or assembly manufacturing process employs a welding jig to facilitate making connections between the individual cells of the battery pack.
The welding jig 100 includes a top plate 110 and a bottom plate 120, which sandwich a battery pack through a latch system. The bottom plate 120 and top plate 110 connect and move relative to each other through a set of linear slides 130 or indexing features, which facilitate the movement of the top plate 110 to a specific position above the bottom plate 120. Once positioned, the top plate 110 is secured in position via a clamp 140 or other latching mechanism.
The top plate 110 and bottom plate 120 are formed of a rigid material, such as a metallic material (e.g., steel). The bottom plate 120 is coated with an insulating layer, which separates the plate 120 from battery cells that sit within the welding jig 100. In some cases, a corner of the bottom plate 120 is used to accurately place or guide the welding jig 100 within a laser machine or welding machine.
In some cases, the top plate 110 has an access area 115 that includes angled cutouts, which expose portions of an underlying cell connection material (e.g., a foil connector) to be welded or lased during the manufacturing process of the battery assembly. For example, the angled cutouts of the access area 114 enable a laser to impinge the exposed portions of the cell connection material and be laser welded to the top portions of the battery cells. The cutouts can have angled sides so the laser hits the top portions of the battery cells from various positions and at different angles.
The underside of the top plate 110 has a conforming layer 210, formed of a high temperature tolerant foam or rubber, which conforms to the shape of the top portions of battery cells positioned within the welding jig 100. This conforming material or layer, in some cases, can also form or adapt a shape of the foil material (e.g., the cell connection material) over any curves of the battery cells when the top plate 110 is clamped into place on a battery pack, ensuring each battery cell receives adequate pressure from the top plate 110 during welding.
The battery cell 300 can be various types of cells, including Lithium-ion (Li-ion) cells. For example, the battery cell 300 can be a Li-ion cell having an 18650 form factor, where the diameter of the cell is 18 mm, the height of the cell is 65 mm, and the cell is cylindrical. Of course, other battery cells, having different chemistries and/or form factors or shapes, can be connected using the technology described herein.
The battery packs and assemblies described herein can include a range of a total number of cells (e.g., 4-18 cells, or more). Further, the batteries can be connected in series as well as in parallel, and in a variety of configurations. For example, a battery pack can include fourteen battery cells having a voltage of about 3.6V, providing the pack with a total voltage of 48V. Of course, a battery pack can provide other voltages or cell types or capabilities.
As described herein, the welding jig 100 is utilized to hold and/or secure connection material (e.g., a foil connector) to the top portions of multiple battery cells positioned in the jig 100 during a welding phase of a battery assembly manufacturing process.
Referring to
Once the foil connector 410 is positioned onto the battery cells 430, the top plate 110 is moved down towards the battery cells, where the conforming layer 210, disposed under the top plate 210, contacts and is pressed into the foil connector 410. The top plate 110 is then secured in the pressed position, as depicted in
The insulating layers 510, 530 may include openings that expose the foil 520, such as areas of the foil 520 that are expected to be in contact with the battery cells or with other bonds or connections. In some cases, the foil 520 is formed of copper coated aluminum or copper clad aluminum, which can operate as a fuse material for cell-level fusing within a battery pack.
As described herein, the processed thin metal or thick foil connector 410 is placed on top of the groupings of battery cells 430 within the holders 420, 425 and pressed down with the welding jig 100. The grouping of battery cells 430 and the foil connection 410, in some cases, forms the battery pack. The welding jig 100, and the battery pack placed inside the jig, is then placed into a laser projection machine at a set location. Via the machine, the foil connector 410 is then fused to the top of the cell (e.g., fused to both the positive button top 310 and the negative case 330) and exposed using an application specific pattern that the laser follows.
The conductive foil 520, as shown in
Further, the foil 520 can include a fuse 730 at each battery cell. These fuses 730 can prevent possible catastrophic failure in the case of internal or external short circuit events (e.g., events due to incorrect assembly, trauma or pack enclosure punctures) at the cells.
The foil 520 also includes fold lines or relief holes 740, which facilitate the folding of the layers 510, 520, 530 after welding. As shown, the layers may fold towards the middle part of the pack (over the welded cells), or the layers can be folded down the sides of the pack (parallel to the cells 430).
As described herein, the laser welding process can facilitate the addition of a fuse between an individual cell and the conductive connection material.
In some cases, the manufacturing process can facilitate the disposition and use of a thermistor at or near the welded cells, such as for a group of cells connected in parallel (e.g., a p-group of cells).
The thermistor 1040, which can measure the temperature at the cell by supplying a constant current and detecting the change in voltage at the thermistor 1040, is connected via a trace 1052 to the BMS, which is part of a voltage divider circuit. For the voltage divider circuit, the ground is sourced directly from the measured p-group of cells and connects to one end of the thermistor 1040. A positive V-tap trace 1050 from the same p-group is connected to the resistor 1030. The two available ends of the thermistor 1040 and resistor 1030 are connected together, and the trace 1052 leads to the BMS.
The BMS measures the input voltage of the voltage divider circuit by comparing the voltage taps adjacent to either side of the voltage divider. The voltage divider outputs a variable voltage from the trace. The BMS can compare this variable voltage to the adjacent voltage taps and extrapolate a temperature present at the thermistor 1040. Thus, the on-battery circuit allows for single-wire temperature measurement by combining datasets the BMS already measures (e.g., the voltage taps).
In some embodiments, the battery pack, using the welding process, can extend the interconnect material behind or below a surface mounted thermistor.
The battery cell includes several fused cells 1110, as well as interconnect material 1120 that extends away from the fused cells 1110, forming a trident shape. The trident shape 1120 extends under a surface mounted thermistor 1125. The thermistor 1125, and associated V-tap trace 1124, bridges across two BMS traces (e.g., Therm2 trace 1122 and Therm1 trace 1128).
The thermistor 1125, having two wires or traces 1122 and 1128, is disposed physically over a leg or trace from the interconnect material (over the trident shape 1120). The leg or trace has a direct thermal path to the connected cell 1110 (or parallel group of cells) and can approximate the temperature at the cell 1110 or grouping of cells.
In some cases, an insulating layer 1130 includes an access opening or window 1135 that provides an access connection to the traces. Using the access window 1135, a BMS or other pin connect can contact the thermistor 1125 and measure the temperature at the battery cells. Thus, in these implementations, the welding process can facilitate the disposition and/or mounting of a thermistor to a battery cell or grouping of cells when the interconnect or connection materials are welded to the battery cells, among other benefits.
As described herein, in some cases, the battery pack can be configured to be coupled to a heat sink.
Then, a thermally conductive insulating layer 1220 (e.g., a silicone and fiberglass composite material) is disposed below the battery cells in the battery pack. The battery pack, having the layer 1220 placed underneath, can then be coupled to a heat sink, in order to facilitate the dissipation of heat from the pack. Thus, because the cells are connected on the top portions of the cells, the bottom of the cells can be prepared and configured to transfer heat out of the pack via a coupled heat sink.
As described herein, various battery manufacturing processes employ the welding jig 100 described herein.
In operation 1310, multiple cells are positioned into a group of cells. For example, the cells can be positioned into different cell configurations, and can be secured by one or more holders.
In operation 1320, foil connection material is disposed or placed onto top portions of each of the multiple battery cells of the group of battery cells. As described herein, the foil connection material 410 can be several underlying materials. Example materials include copper clad aluminum, copper coated aluminum, and other multiple layered or alloyed thin metal films. For example, the process can utilize dissimilar metals, such as nickel-plated or nickel-coated steel cells with copper plated aluminum connectors, as well as similar materials, such as aluminum cased cells.
In operation 1330, the battery pack is placed into a welding jig. For example, once the foil connector 410 is positioned onto the battery cells 430, the top plate 110 is moved down towards the battery cells, where the conforming layer 210, disposed under the top plate 210, contacts and is pressed into the foil connector 410. The top plate 110 is then secured in the pressed position.
In operation 1340, pressure is applied to the disposed foil connection material using a top plate of the welding jig. For example, when the top plate 110 is latched and the battery pack is fixed into the welding jig 100, the foil connector 410 is pressed into the tops of the battery cells by the conforming material 210, as described herein.
In operation 1350, the disposed foil connection material is laser welded to the top portions each of the multiple battery cells of the group of battery cells. In some cases, welding the disposed foil connection material to the top portions of each of the multiple cells includes welding the foil connection material to a positive button top and a negative case of the top portions of each of the multiple cells of the group of cells.
In some cases, fusing the disposed foil connection material to the tops of each of the multiple cells of the group of cells including laser welding the disposed foil connection material to the tops of each of the multiple cells of the group of cells. For example, the manufacturing process can include positioning multiple battery cells into a group of battery cells, disposing a foil connector onto a top portion of each battery cell of the group of battery cells, pressing a conforming material onto the disposed foil connector, and welding the foil connector to the group of battery cells. For example, the process can place the battery pack within a welding jig and press the conforming material onto the disposed foil connector using a top plate of the welding jig.
Thus, in various embodiments and/or implementations described herein, the welding jig 100 and its components enable the laser welding of connection materials (e.g., conductive foils) to a group of battery cells for a battery pack, among other benefits.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” or any variant thereof means any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling of connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the above Detailed Description using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word “or,” in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list.
The above detailed description of implementations of the technology is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the technology to the precise form disclosed above. While specific implementations of, and examples for, the technology are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the technology as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.
In addition, while processes are presented in a given order, alternative implementations may perform routines having blocks, or employ systems having blocks, in a different order; and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified to provide alternative or subcombinations. Each of these processes may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed in parallel, or may be performed at different times. Further, any specific numbers noted herein are only examples: alternative implementations may employ differing values or ranges.
The teachings of the methods and technology provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the technology described above. The elements, blocks and acts of the various implementations described above can be combined to provide further implementations.
Any patents, applications and other references noted above, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the technology can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further implementations of the technology.
These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the above Detailed Description. While the above description describes certain implementations of the technology, and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably in its implementation details, while still being encompassed by the technology disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the technology should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the technology with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific implementations disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed implementations, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under the claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/121,544, filed on Dec. 4, 2020, entitled BATTERY ASSEMBLY AND MANUFACTURING PROCESS, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63121544 | Dec 2020 | US |
