Patent Application
20200014083
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-071959, filed on Apr. 4, 2019, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-128690, filed on Jul. 6, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The disclosure relates to a mounting structure of a temperature sensor configured to detect temperature of a battery cell included in a battery pack.
A mounting structure of a temperature sensor for detecting temperature of a battery cell included in a battery pack being mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid-electric vehicle or the like and used as a driving source is disclosed in JP 2015-69738 A.
The mounting structure of the temperature sensor described in JP 2015-69738 A is a contact structure that contacts a single battery cell of the battery pack and detects the temperature with the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor includes at least a substrate having a lower surface made of metal and a conductive path formed on the upper surface, and a chip type temperature measuring component soldered to the conductive path of the substrate.
In the mounting structure of the temperature sensor, the temperature sensor is pushed downward by an elastic member or the like to bring the substrate of the temperature sensor soldered with at least the temperature measuring component into contact with the top surface of the battery cell.
However, in such a mounting structure of the temperature sensor, each core wire of two coated electric wires is connected by soldering to a conductive path formed on the upper surface of the substrate, which is the conductive path soldered to the temperature measuring component, and the connected part was coated with moisture-proof material or potting material. Accordingly, the size of the substrate is large, and the entire mounting structure including the substrate is large and thick. Therefore, restrictions may occur when mounting the temperature sensor onto a battery cell.
JP 2017-27831 A discloses a battery wiring module in which a current limiting component is soldered to a voltage detection line of a flexible printed circuit (FPC) and an insulating resin material is applied to cover the current limiting component. However, the configuration of such a battery wiring module has not described a configuration that can restrict the spread of the applied insulating resin material. Therefore, the battery wiring module of JP 2017-27831 A is not easy to achieve reduction in thickness, size and weight.
An object of the present invention is to provide amounting structure of a temperature sensor that can be made thin, compact and lightweight, and capable of mounting onto a battery cell side with a small space.
A mounting structure of a temperature sensor according to an embodiment is configured to detect temperature of a battery cell included in a battery pack having a plurality of battery cells being connected by mounting on the battery cell. The mounting structure includes a flexible thin plate-like electric-wire including a conductor exposed part where the conductor is exposed, a chip-shaped temperature measuring component mounted on the conductor exposed part, a resin case arranged on a periphery of the conductor exposed part and surrounding the temperature measuring component, and a moisture-proof material coating the temperature measuring component arranged in the resin case.
The above configuration provides a mounting structure of a temperature sensor that can be made thin, compact and lightweight, and capable of mounting onto a battery cell side with a small space by using a flexible thin plate-like electric-wire as an electric wire and by coating the temperature measuring component with moisture-proof material in a resin case surrounding the temperature measuring component mounted on the conductor exposed part of the flexible thin plate-like electric-wire.
In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing.
Description will be herein below provided for embodiments of the present invention by referring to the drawings. It should be noted that the same or similar parts and components throughout the drawings will be denoted by the same or similar reference signs, and that descriptions for such parts and components will be omitted or simplified. In addition, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and therefore different from the actual ones.
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The biasing unit 40 includes a spring retainer (elastic member retainer) 41 made of synthetic resin configured to engaging or disengaging the respective engage part 42 with respective lock receiving portion 61 having an inverse-concave-shaped formed to face each other on a holder 60 on the battery cell S side, and a compression coil spring (elastic member) 43 which is held by the spring retainer 41 and press-biases the rectangular cylindrical case 30 made of a synthetic resin toward the battery cell S side.
The battery pack M is a battery pack mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle (EV), a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) or the like and is used as a drive source. Further, the compression coil spring 43 is held by the holding shaft part 41a of the spring retainer 41 so as not to come off. Moreover, a box-like spring accommodating and holding part 35 is integrally molded on the upper surface of the case 30.
As described above, the mounting structure 10 of the temperature sensor 11 according to the first embodiment is capable of making the entire mounting structure to be thin, compact, and lightweight, and can be mounted onto the battery cell S to detect temperature with space saving, since the flexible printed wiring board (FPC) 20 is employed as the voltage detection line (electric wire) connected to a battery monitoring unit (not shown) that monitors the voltage of the battery cell S of the battery pack M and since the chip NTC thermistor 12 is coated and/or laminated with the moisture-proof material 27 and the adhesive 28 in the rectangular cylindrical case 30 made of synthetic resin surrounding the chip NTC thermistor 12 soldered on the exposed part 23 of the wiring pattern 22 of the flexible printed wiring board (FPC) 20.
When the flexible printed wiring board 20 is connected to the battery monitoring unit, the wiring pattern 22 of the flexible printed wiring board 20 can be connected to the battery monitoring unit. Therefore, a connector for connecting with coated electric wire is not necessary. Accordingly, cost reduction can be achieved by reducing the number of components.
The temperature sensor 11 made compact and thin is capable of minimizing its contact area and can reduce its heat capacity, since the temperature sensor 11 is pressed downward via the rectangular cylindrical case 30 made of synthetic resin and contacts the upper surface of the battery cell S by the elastic force of the compression coil spring 43 held by the spring retainer 41 that locks the lock part 42 to the lock receiving portion 61 of the holder 60 on the battery cell S. Thereby, a heat capacity can be reduced, and temperature measurement performance can be improved.
Furthermore, by using the chip NTC thermistor 12 mounted by soldering on the wiring pattern 22 exposed at the conductor exposed part 23 of the flexible printed wiring board 20, it is possible to easily secure improvement in the temperature measurement performance and insulation. In particular, the moisture-proof material 27 or the adhesive resin material 28 can be applied or filled in a leak-proof manner and can easily and reliably prevent the moisture-proof material 27 and the adhesive resin material 28 from spreading, since the rectangular cylindrical case 30 made of synthetic resin fixed via the support member 50 is arranged to surround the soldered part H of the chip NTC thermistor 12. Thereby, the periphery of the soldered portion H of the chip NTC thermistor 12 can be sealed to ensure insulation.
The mounting structure 10 of the temperature sensor 11 according to a second embodiment is different from the mounting structure of the first embodiment in that a pair of arm-like elastic parts (elastic members) 33 engaged with the respective lock receiving portions 61 of the pair of holding members 60 are formed to protrude from the upper surface of a pair of side wall parts 32 of the case 30 as a single piece. Since the other configurations are the same as that of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted with the same reference numerals and the detailed description will be omitted.
In the mounting structure 10 of the temperature sensor 11 of the second embodiment, distal end portions of the pair of arm-like elastic parts 33 formed of the case 30 are engaged with the lock receiving portion 61 of the holder 60, whereby the case 30 is pressed to the battery cell S side by the bending deformation of the arm-like elastic parts 33 and a part of the flexible printed wiring board 20, where the chip NTC thermistor 12 is mounted, contacts the battery cell S. Thereby, the same operation and effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.
Further, since the arm-like elastic parts 33 of the case 30 has a function as an elastic member, the number of components is reduced accordingly, and cost reduction can be achieved. Furthermore, since the case 30 has both the effects of fixing the flexible printed wiring board 20 and restricting the spread of the moisture-proof material 27 and the adhesive 28, the part of the flexible printed wiring board 20 where the chip NTC thermistor 12 is mounted can be reduced in size and thickness.
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The rectangular cylindrical case 30 made of synthetic resin of the temperature sensor 11 configured as described above is pressed against the battery cell S side via the biasing unit 40, as illustrated in
The biasing unit 40 includes a spring retainer 41 made of synthetic resin configured to engaging or disengaging the respective engage part 42 with respective lock receiving portion 61 having an inverse-concave-shaped formed to face each other on a holder 60 on the battery cell S side, and a compression coil spring (elastic member) 43 which is held by the spring retainer 41 and press-biases the rectangular cylindrical case 30 made of a synthetic resin toward the battery cell S side.
The battery pack M is a battery pack mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle (EV), a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) or the like and is used as a drive source. Further, the compression coil spring 43 is held by the holding shaft part 41a of the spring retainer 41 so as not to come off. Moreover, a box-like spring accommodating and holding part 35 is integrally molded on the upper surface of the case 30.
As described above, the mounting structure 10 of the temperature sensor 11 according to the first embodiment is capable of making the entire mounting structure to be thin, compact, and lightweight, and can be mounted onto the battery cell S to detect temperature with space saving, since the flexible printed wiring board (FPC) 20 is employed as the voltage detection line (electric wire) connected to a battery monitoring unit (not shown) that monitors the voltage of the battery cell S of the battery pack M and since the chip NTC thermistor 12 is coated and/or laminated with the moisture-proof material 27 and the adhesive 28 in the rectangular cylindrical case 30 made of synthetic resin surrounding the chip NTC thermistor 12 soldered on the exposed part 23 of the wiring pattern 22 of the flexible printed wiring board (FPC) 20.
When the flexible printed wiring board 20 is connected to the battery monitoring unit, the wiring pattern 22 of the flexible printed wiring board 20 can be connected to the battery monitoring unit. Therefore, a connector for connecting with coated electric wire is not necessary. Accordingly, cost reduction can be achieved by reducing the number of components.
The temperature sensor 11 made compact and thin is capable of minimizing its contact area and can reduce its heat capacity, since the temperature sensor 11 is pressed downward via the rectangular cylindrical case 30 made of synthetic resin and contacts the upper surface of the battery cell S by the elastic force of the compression coil spring 43 held by the spring retainer 41 that locks the lock part 42 to the lock receiving portion 61 of the holder 60 on the battery cell S. Thereby, a heat capacity can be reduced, and temperature measurement performance can be improved.
Furthermore, by using the chip NTC thermistor 12 mounted by soldering on the wiring pattern 22 exposed at the conductor exposed part 23 of the flexible printed wiring board 20, it is possible to easily secure improvement in the temperature measurement performance and insulation. In particular, the moisture-proof material 27 or the adhesive resin material 28 can be applied or filled in a leak-proof manner and can easily and reliably prevent the moisture-proof material 27 and the adhesive resin material 28 from spreading, since the periphery of the soldered part H of the chip NTC thermistor 12 is firmly fixed by the double sided adhesive tape 26. Thereby, the periphery of the soldered portion H of the chip NTC thermistor 12 can be sealed to ensure insulation.
The mounting structure 10 of the temperature sensor 11 according to a fourth embodiment is different from the mounting structure of the third embodiment in that a pair of arm-like elastic parts (elastic members) 33 engaged with the respective lock receiving portions 61 of the pair of holding members 60 are formed to protrude from the upper surface of a pair of side wall parts 32 of the case 30 as a single piece. Since the other configurations are the same as that of the third embodiment, the same components are denoted with the same reference numerals and the detailed description will be omitted.
In the mounting structure 10 of the temperature sensor 11 of the fourth embodiment, distal end portions of the pair of arm-like elastic parts 33 formed of the case 30 are engaged with the lock receiving portion 61 of the holder 60, whereby the case 30 is pressed to the battery cell S side by the bending deformation of the arm-like elastic parts 33 and a part of the flexible printed wiring board 20, where the chip NTC thermistor 12 is mounted, contacts the battery cell S. Thereby, the same operation and effect as the third embodiment can be obtained.
Further, since the arm-like elastic parts 33 of the case 30 has a function as an elastic member, the number of components is reduced accordingly, and cost reduction can be achieved. Furthermore, since the case 30 has both the effects of fixing the flexible printed wiring board 20 and restricting the spread of the moisture-proof material 27 and the adhesive 28, the part of the flexible printed wiring board 20 where the chip NTC thermistor 12 is mounted can be reduced in size and thickness.
In each of the above embodiments, a flexible printed wiring board (FPC) is employed as a flexible thin plate-like electric-wire. However, a flexible flat cable (FFC) or the like may also be employed as a flexible thin plate-like electric-wire.
Further, in each of the above embodiments, chip NTC thermistor having a negative temperature coefficient (a component whose resistance decrease as temperature rises) is employed as a chip-shaped temperature measuring component. However, chip PTC thermistor (a component whose resistance increases as temperature rises), chip CTR thermistor or the like may also be employed as a chip-shaped temperature measuring component.
Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, the compression coil spring is employed as an elastic member for biasing the temperature sensor toward the battery cell side. However, the elastic member is not limited to the compression coil spring. Other elastic members such as a leaf spring, a rubber material or the like may also be employed.
The mounting structure 110 of the temperature sensor 11 according to the fifth embodiment is different from the mounting structure of the third embodiment in that the mounting structure 110 includes: a cylindrical case 130 which is arranged on the surface surrounding the part on the flexible printed wiring board 20 where two wiring patterns 22 at an exposed part (conductor exposed part) 23, surrounds a chip NTC thermistor 12 of a temperature sensor 11, and function as a holder; a biasing unit 140 made of synthetic resin which bias the case 130 against a battery cell S; and a holder 160 arranged on the battery cell S to lock the case 130 and the biasing unit 140.
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Further, on the inner surface side of both sides of the opening part 165 on the front wall part 164 of the holder 160, locking concave parts (other lock parts) where the pair of lock protrusions 134 of the case 130 are engaged and disengaged are formed in a step shape. The other configuration of the flexible printed wiring board 20 and the like is the same as that of the third embodiment, so the same reference numerals are given to the same components and the detailed description will be omitted.
In the mounting structure 110 of the temperature sensor 111 according to the fifth embodiment, first, the compression coil spring 143 is mounted onto the holding shaft part 141a of the spring retainer 141 of the biasing unit 140, and lock the pedestal part of the compression coil spring 143 is locked in a gap in the upper part of the rib 141b of the holding shaft part 141a, and the compression coil spring 143 is held so as not to come off the holding shaft portion 141a. The spring retainer 141 and the compression coil spring 143 are integrated, and at the final assembly, the lock hole 142a formed on the lock arm part 142 of the spring retainer 141 and the lock protrusion of the holder 160 positioned on the battery cell S are locked. As a result, the final assembly is completed with a simple operation of locking the lock protrusion 162a of the holder 160 to the lock hole 142a formed on the lock arm part 142.
As described above, the temperature sensor 111 can be mounted to the battery cell S in a space-saving manner, and the thickness, size, and weight of the entire mounting structure can be further reduced by employing the thin and small biasing unit 140 capable of holding the compression coil spring 143 so as not to come off the holding shaft part 141a of the spring retainer 141.
Furthermore, since the lock hole 142a of the flexible lock arm part 142 of the spring retainer 141 is fitted into the inward locking protrusion 162a of the holder 160 positioned on the battery cell S, and the biasing unit 140 and the holder 160 are locked to each other, rattling of the biasing unit 140 housed between the side walls 162 of the holder 160 can also be absorbed. As a result, a mounting structure 110 of the temperature sensor 111 with high accuracy is provided.
Embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
Moreover, the effects described in the embodiments of the present invention are only a list of optimum effects achieved by the present invention. Hence, the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in the embodiment of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-128690 | Jul 2018 | JP | national |
| 2019-071959 | Apr 2019 | JP | national |
