BATTERY MODULE
1. Field
[000 11 Embodiments relate to a battery module.
BACKGROUND
2. Descri~tiono f the Related Art
[0002] A high-power battery module using a non-aqueous electrolyte with high energy
density has been developed. The high-power battery module is configured as a largecapacity
battery module manufactured by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series
so as to be used for driving devices, e.g., motors of electric vehicles and the like, which
require high power. The battery cells provide energy to an external device or load, e.g.,
a motor vehicle, electronic device, etc., through an electrochemical reaction.
SUMMARY
[0003] Embodiments are directed to a battery module, including a first battery cell, the
first battery cell having a first terminal portion, a second battery cell, the second battery
celI having a second terminal portion, and a terminal connection member connecting the
first and second terminal portions together, the terminal connection member including:
a first contact portion, the first contact portion having a first facing portion contacting
the first terminal portion, a second contact portion, the second contact portion having a
second facing portion contacting the second terminal portion, the second facing portion
being spaced apart from the first facing portion in a first direction, an outermost portion
of the first contact portion being spaced apart in the first direction from an outermost
portion of the second contact portion by a first distance, and a support portion, the
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support portion extending in the first direction between the first contact portion and the
second contact portion and electrically and physically connecting the first and second
contact portions, the support portion having an overall length in the first direction that is
greater than the first distance.
[0004] The support portion may include respective c-shaped sections connecting the
support portion to the first and second contact portions, each c-shaped section including
a first leg connected to the support portion, a second leg connected to the respective
contact portion, and a joining portion connected between the first leg and the second leg.
[OOOS] Each c-shaped section may be in the shape of a continuous curve.
[0006] Each c-shaped section may be in the shape of a trilateral member.
[0007] The contact portions may be connected to a side of the respective c-shaped
sections of the support portion, such that the contact portions are connected at about a
midpoint of the respective second legs.
[OOOS] The first facing portion and the second facing portion may face towards one
another, the first and second facing portions contacting the respective terminal portions
with the respective terminal portions interposed between the first facing portion and the
second facing portion.
[0009] The first facing portion and the second facing portion may face away &om one
another, the first and second facing portions contacting the respective terminal portions
with the first and second facing portions interposed between the respective terminal
portions.
[00 lo] The first and second facing portions may be roughened.
[OO 1 11 The terminal connection member may be elastically deformable in the first
direction, the terminal connection member being configured to press the first and
second facing portions against the first and second terminal portions, respectively.
[OO 1 21 The first and second facing portions may be welded to the first and second
terminal portions, respectively.
[00 131 The terminal portions may project away fiom the battery cells and the terminal
connection member may be installed fiom an end of the terminal portions, such that the
terminal portions are interposed between the support portion and a case of the battery
cells.
[OO 141 The terminal portions may project away fiom the battery cells and the terminal
connection member may be installed from a side of the terminal portions, such that the
support portion is alongside the terminal portions.
[00 151 The first battery cell may include a third terminal portion, the third terminal
portion being spaced apart from the first terminal portion in a second direction
orthogonal to the first direction, the second battery cell may include a fourth terminal
portion spaced apart from the second terminal portion in the second direction, and the
support portion may be between the first terminal portion and the third terminal portion,
and between the second terminal portion and the fourth terminal portion.
[00 161 Embodiments are also directed to a battery module, including a first battery cell
having a first terminal portion, the first terminal portion including a first side and a
second side, the first and second sides being connected, a second battery cell having a
second terminal portion, the second terminal portion including a third side and a fourth
side, the third and fourth sides being connected, and a terminal connection member, the
terminal connection member including a first contact portion that contacts the first side,
a second contact portion that contacts the third side, and a support portion that connects
the first and second contact portions, the support portion overlapping the second and
fourth sides.
[00 1 71 The first contact portion may have a first facing portion contacting the first
terminal portion, the second contact portion may have a second facing portion
contacting the second terminal portion, the second facing portion being spaced apart
from the first facing portion in a first direction, an outermost portion of the first contact
portion being spaced apart in the first direction from an outermost portion of the second
contact portion by a first distance, and the support portion may have an overall length in
the first direction that is greater than the first distance.
[00 181 The first and second contact portions may be interposed between the first side
and the third side.
[00 191 The support portion may include respective c-shaped sections connecting the
support portion to the first and second contact portions, the c-shaped sections
overlapping the second and fourth sides.
[0020] The first battery cell may include a third terminal portion spaced apart from the
first terminal portion, the second battery cell may include a fourth terminal portion
spaced apart from the second terminal portion, and the support portion may be between
the first terminal portion and the third terminal portion, and between the second
terminal portion and the fourth terminal portion.
The first terminal portion and the first contact portion may be welded together
fiom a side opposite the second side, and the second terminal portion and the second
contact portion may be welded together fiom a side opposite the fourth side.
A first weld may be formed where the first terminal portion and the first contact
portion are welded together, and a second weld may be formed where the second
terminal portion and the second contact portion are welded together, and the support
portion may have an overall length sufficient to extend beyond the first and second weld
areas such that outermost portions of the support portion overlap the first and second
weld areas.
BREF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Features will become apparent to those of skill in the art by describing in detail
example embodiments with reference to the attached drawings in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a battery module according to an
example embodiment.
FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the battery module of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of a terminal connection member according to an
example embodiment.
FIG. 4A illustrates an enlarged view of portion A of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4B illustrates an exploded perspective view of FIG. 4A.
FIG. 5 illustrates a plan view of FIG. 4A.
FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view schematically showing a terminal
connection member and a terminal portion according to another example embodiment.
[003 11 FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a terminal connection member according
to still another example embodiment.
[0032] FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view schematically showing a terminal
connection member and a terminal portion according to still another example
embodiment.
[003 31 FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a terminal connection member according
to still another example embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] Example embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with
reference to the accompanying drawings; however, they may be embodied in different
forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth
herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough
-and complete, and will fully convey example implementations to those skilled in the art.
[0035] In the drawing figures, the dimensions of layers and regions may be exaggerated
for clarity of illustration. It will also be understood that when a layer or element is
referred to as being "on" another layer or substrate, it can be directly on the other layer
or substrate, or intervening layers may also be present. Further, it will be understood
. -
that when a layer is referred to as being "under" another layer, it can be directly under,
and one or more intervening layers may also be present. In addition, it will also be
understood that when a layer is referred to as being "between" two layers, it can be the
only layer between the two layers, or one or more intervening layers may also be
present. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
[0036] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery module 100 according to an example
embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module of FIG. 1.
[0037] In the present example embodiment, the battery module 100 includes a plurality
of battery cells 10 aligned in a first direction and each having respective first and
second terminal portions 1 1 and 12 on a first surface 14 thereof; a terminal connection
member 150 connecting terminal portions 1 1 and 12 of first and second battery cells 10
adjacent to each other; and a housing 110, 120,130, and 140 accommodating the
plurality of battery cells 10 therein. The terminal connection member 150 includes a
pair of contact portions 15 1 provided in parallel while being spaced apart from each
other, and a support portion 152 connecting the contact portions 15 1 to each other. The
pair of contact portions 15 1 may contact the terminal portions 1 1 and 12 of the first and
second battery cells 10, respectively.
[0038] The battery cell 10 may include a battery case having the first surface 14, and an
electrode assembly and an electrolyte accommodated in the battery case. The electrode
assembly and the electrolyte generate energy through an electrochemical reaction
therebetween. The first surface 14 of the battery cell 10 is provided with the terminal
portions 1 1 and 12 electrically connected to the electrode assembly, and a vent 13 that is
a passage along which gas generated inside the battery cell 10 is exhausted. For
example, the terminal portions 1 1 and 12 may be positive and negative electrode
terminals 11 and 12 having different polarities from each other. The terminal portions
1 1 and 12 of the adjacent battery cells 10 may be electrically connected in series or
parallel by the terminal connection member 150. A gasket 15 made of an electrical
insulation material may be provided on the first surface 14 of the battery cell 10. The
terminal portions 11 and 12 are protruded to the outside of the gasket 15. The terminal
portions 1 1 and 12 of the adjacent battery cells 10 may be connected by the terminal
connection member 150 on the gasket 15.
[0039] The plurality of battery cells 10 may be aligned in the first direction so that wide
surfaces of the battery cells 10 face each other. The aligned battery cells 10 may be
fixed by the housing 1 10,120,130, and 140. The housing 1 10,120,130, and 140 may
include a pair of end plates 1 10 and 120 facing the wide surfaces of the battery cells 10,
and side and bottom plates 130 and 140 connecting the pair of end plates 1 10 and 120 to
each other. The side plate 130 may support side surfaces of the battery cells 10, and the
bottom plate 140 may support bottom surfaces of the battery cells 10. The pair of end
plates 110 and 120, the side plate 130, and the bottom plate 140 may be connected by
members such as bolts 20.
[0040] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a terminal connection member 150 according to an
example embodiment. FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of portion A of FIG. 1. FIG. 4B is
an exploded perspective view of FIG. 4A.
[004 11 Referring to the example embodiment shown in FIGS. 3,4A and 4B, the
terminal connection member 150 may include a pair of contact portions 15 1 and a
support portion 152 connecting the pair of contact portions 15 1 to each other. In the
present example embodiment, the pair of contact portions 15 1 are spaced apart from
each other at a predetermined interval, and the terminal portions 1 1 and 12 of first and
second battery cells 10a and lob that are adjacent battery cells 10 may contact the
contact portions 1 5 1, respectively. The support portion 152 may maintain the spacing
distance between the pair of contact portions 15 1 and adjust the interval between the
pair of contact portions 15 1. For example, the pair of contact portions 15 1 and the
support portion 152 may be connected perpendicular to each other.
The terminal connection member 150 may M e r include round or c-shaped
sections 153, which may be at one and the other ends of the support portion 152,
respectively. The c-shaped sections may include a first leg 153c connected to the
support portion 152, a second leg 153d connected to the respective contact portion 15 1,
and a joining portion 153e connected between the first leg 153c and the second leg 153d.
The contact portion 15 1 may be connected to the c-shaped section 153 at an end of the
c-shaped section 153. For example, the c-shaped section 153 may be formed in a Ushape
to connect between the support portion 15 1 and the contact portion 15 1. A first
end 153a of the c-shaped section 153 formed in the U-shape may be connected in
parallel to the support portion 152, and a second end 153b of the c-shaped section 153
may be connected perpendicular to the contact portion 15 1. The second end 153b of the
c-shaped section 153 and the contact portion 15 1 may be connected perpendicular to
each other at a corner of the terminal portion 1 1 or 12.
[0043] The terminal portions 11 and 12 may be made of, e-g., aluminum, copper, etc.,
and the terminal connection member 150 may be made of, e.g., aluminum. The battery
cell 10 may generate high current. Thus, the terminal portions 11 and 12 and the
terminal connection member 150 may be provided with a predetermined strength so that
the high current stably flows therethrough. Thus, the terminal connection member 150
may have a firm structure so as to have a predetermined strength, but may also have
some flexibility provided by the c-shaped section 153. For example, the c-shaped
sections 153 may facilitate the bending of the terminal connection member 150, and
may have elasticity to facilitate the reciprocating movement of the pair of contact
portions 15 1 connected to the support portion 152. Thus, contact between the terminal
portions 11 and 12 and the terminal connection member 150 may be improved while
providing assembling tolerance to facilitate the connection between the terminal
portions 11 and 12 and the terminal connection member 150.
[0044] When one of the adjacent battery cells 10 is referred to as a first battery cell 10a
and the other of the adjacent battery cells 10 is referred to as a second battery cell lob,
the terminal portions 11 and 12 of the first and second battery cells 10a and lob may be
electrically connected to each other by the terminal connection member 150. The
terminal portion 1 1 of the first battery cell 10a may include a first facing portion 1 la,
and the terminal portion of the second battery cell lob may include a second facing
portion 12a facing the first facing portion 1 la. The first and second battery cells 10a
and lob may be aligned so that the first and second facing portions 1 la and 12a face
each other, and the first and second facing portions 1 la and 12a may be spaced apart
from each other at a predetermined interval. According to the present example
embodiment, the pair of contact portions 15 1 of the terminal connection member 150
are pressed inward to be forcibly inserted between the first and second facing portions
1 la and 12a. The pair of contact portions 15 1 may thus firmly contact the first and
second facing portions 1 la and 12% respectively.
[0045] As described above, the terminal connection member 150 may be provided with
an ability to bend by the c-shaped sections 153 while having a predetermined strength.
The pair of contact portions 15 1 may be bent by an external force so as to be inserted
between the first and second facing portions 1 la and 12a. After the external force is
removed, the elasticity of the terminal connection member 150 may restore the pair of
contact portions 15 1 to contact the respective first and second facing portions 1 la and
12a.
[0046] In the present example embodiment, one or more portions of each of the
terminal portions 11 and 12 may be formed as a hexahedron in which the first and
second facing portions 1 1 a and 12a have a quadrangular shape. The section of the
contact portion 15 1 may be provided to correspond to the first or second facing portion
1 1 a or 12a contacting the contact portion 15 1. The first and second facing portions 1 1 a
and 12a and the contact portions 15 1 may contact each other through their wide surfaces,
and thus current may efficiently flow between the first and second battery cells 1Oa and
1 Ob.
[0047] FIG. 5 is a plan view of FIG. 4A.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 5, the terminal portions 1 1 and 12 of the first and second
battery cells 10a and lob and the terminal connection member 150 may be connected
while being adhered closely to each other without being spaced apart. In the present
example embodiment, the terminal connection member 150 forms overlaps S where the
terminal portions 1 1 and 12 are overlapped by the c-shaped sections 153. The width of
the overlap S may be, e.g., 0.2 to 0.6 mm. The terminal connection member 150 and
the terminal portions 11 and 12 may be physically firmly fixed by the fixing force of the
housing, fixing the aligned battery cells 10 by pressing inward the aligned battery cells
10, and the elastic restoring force between the contact portions 15 1 of the terminal
connection member 150, forcibly inserted between the first and second facing portions.
[0049] In the present example embodiment, a process may be performed to improve
adhesion between the terminal connection member 150 and the terminal portions 1 1 and
12. For example, the terminal connection member 150 and the terminal portions 1 1 and
12 may be welded to each other by a laser beam L. In the present example embodiment,
the laser beam L is provided in parallel with the surfaces of the contact portions 15 1 and
the terminal portions 11 and 12, which face each other, so as to connect the terminal
connection member 150 and the terminal portions 11 and 12. For example, in FIG. 5,
the laser beam may be directed substantially parallel to the top surface of the battery
cell in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 5.
[0050] For example, the terminal portions 1 1 and 12 may include a positive electrode
terminal 11 made of aluminum and a negative electrode terminal 12 made of copper,
and the terminal connection member 150 may include a bus-bar made of aluminum.
The positive electrode terminal 1 1 and the terminal connection member 150 may be
made of the same metal, so as to be easily adhered closely to each other. In case of the
negative electrode terminal 12 and the terminal connection member 150, the laser beam
L may be provided adjacent to the negative electrode terminal 12, and accordingly, the
interface of the terminal connection member 150 contacting the negative electrode
terminal 12 may be melted so that the terminal connection member 150 can be adhered
closely to the negative electrode terminal 12. Thus, even when the positive and
negative electrode terminals 1 1 and 12 are made of different metals fiom each other, the
terminal connection member 150 and the terminal portions 11 and 12 may be connected
using relatively low power without forming the terminal connection portion 150 with
clad metal (because the laser beam L is not provided in a direction perpendicular to the
direction in which the terminal portions 11 and 12 and the terminal connection member
1 50 contact each other).
[005 11 In the terminal connection member 150, the width of the overlap S may be, e.g.,
0.2 to 0.6 rnrn. In the present example embodiment, the overlap S is provided
perpendicular to the direction in which the laser beam L is provided, so as to block the
transmission of the laser beam L beyond the weld area. Accordingly, it may be possible
to prevent the battery cell 10, e.g., the electrode assembly and the electrolyte fiom being
damaged by the laser beam L and heat generated by the laser beam L. The laser beam L
may be provided in the form of a beam to a target material by amplified laser and
locally heat the target material with a high energy density for a short period of time. As
such, it may be possible to minimize the thermal deformation and cooling time of the
target material and to effectively perform welding even in a narrow area. In a case
where the width of the overlap S is less than 0.2 mm, a portion of the laser beam L may
be transmitted even though there is some overlap S, and therefore, the battery cell 10
may be damaged. In a case where the width of the overlapping portion S exceeds 0.6
mm, the size of the terminal connection member 150 may be unnecessarily enlarged,
and therefore, a short circuit between adjacent terminal connection members 150 may
be possible. Thus, the width of the overlap S may be about 0.2 to about 0.6 mm.
[0052] FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically showing a terminal connection
member 260 and a terminal portion according to another example embodiment.
[0053] Referring to example embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the terminal connection
member 260 may connect the terminal portions 1 1 and 12 respectively provided to the
first surfaces 14 of the first and second battery cells 10a and lob. The terminal
connection member 250 may include a pair of contact portions 25 1 provided in parallel
with each other, a support portion 252 provided approximately perpendicular to the
contact portions 25 1, and a c-shaped section 253 provided to be bent between the
contact portion 25 1 and the support portion 252.
[0054] In the terminal connection member 250, the pair of contact portions 25 1 may be
provided to come in surface contact with the terminal portions 11 and 12, respectively.
Thus, the terminal portion 1 1 of the first battery cell 10a and the terminal portion 12 of
the second battery cell lob may face each other while being spaced apart fiom each
other at a predetermined interval. The terminal connection member 250 may be
inserted into the interval between the terminal portions 1 1 and 12 in a direction
perpendicular to the first surface 14. In the present example embodiment, the c-shaped
sections 253 adjacent to the contact portions 251 contact upper surfaces of the terminal
portions 11 and 12, respectively, so as to guide the distance at which the contact
portions 25 1 are inserted between the terminal portions 11 and 12, acting as stops. The
terminal connection member 250 is inserted between the terminal portions 1 1 and 12
above the terminal portions 11 and 12. Thus, the terminal connection member 250 may
be easily inserted between the terminal portions 11 and 12 even when the size of the
battery cells 10 is small.
[0055] Hereinafter, other example embodiments will be described with reference to
FIGS. 7 to 9. Contents of these example embodiments, except the following contents,
are similar to those of the example embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6,
and therefore, their details will not be repeated.
[0056] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a terminal connection member according to still
another example embodiment. FIG. 8 is a perspective view schematically showing a
terminal connection member and a terminal portion according to still another example
embodiment.
[0057] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the battery module according to this example
embodiment may include a plurality of battery cells 10 and a terminal connection
member 350 electrically connecting the battery cells 10 to each other. The battery cells
10 include adjacent first and second battery cells 10a and lob, and terminal portions 1 1
and 12 respectively provided to the first and second battery cells 10a and lob may be
coupled to the terminal connection member 350.
[005 81 The terminal portions 1 1 and 12 of the first and second battery cells 10a and lob
face each other. The terminal portions 11 and 12 may be formed in the shape of a
hexahedron, so that the quadrangular sections of the terminal portions 1 1 and 12 face
each other. The terminal connection member 350 may include a pair of contact portions
35 1 provided in parallel with each other, and a support portion 352 maintaining the
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spacing distance between the pair of contact portions 35 1. The terminal connection
member 350 may further include c-shaped sections 353. In the present example
embodiment, the c-shaped sections 353 are provided at one and the other ends of the
support portion 352, respectively, and the contact portion 35 1 may be connected to an
end of the c-shaped section 353.
[0059] The support portion 352 and the contact portion 35 1 are provided perpendicular
to each other, and the contact portion 35 1 may have a stepped portion 355 recessed
inwardly. The stepped portions 355 are respectively provided to the surfaces of the pair
of contact portions 351, which face each other. Therefore, the stepped portions 355
respectively provided to the pair of contact portions 35 1 may also face each other.
[0060] The terminal portions 1 1 and 12 of the first and second battery cells 10a and lob
may be electrically connected by the terminal connection member 350. The terminal
portions 1 1 and 12 may be inserted between the pair of contact portions 35 1. In the
present example embodiment, the stepped portions 355 may be provided to have shapes
corresponding to the terminal portions 11 and 12, respectively. Therefore, after the
terminal portions 11 and 12 are mounted in the respective stepped portion 355, each of
the terminal portions 1 1 and 12 may be provided to form the approximately same plane
as peripheral portions of the stepped portion 355. Accordingly, the stepped portion 355
guides the position at which the terminal portion 11 or 12 is provided, and thus the
terminal connection member 350 may be easily coupled to the first and second battery
cells 10a and lob.
[006 11 The terminal connection member 350 according to this example embodiment
may electrically connect the first and second battery cells 1Oa and lob and
simultaneously fix the positions of the first and second battery cells 10a and lob. The
terminal portions 1 1 and 12 of the first and second battery cells 10a and lob may be
forcibly inserted between the pair of contact portions 35 1 of the terminal connection
member 350, which have a predetermined strength. Thus, the first and second battery
cells 10a and lob may be physically fixed to each other by the terminal connection
member 350, and may not easily be moved by an external impact, thereby helping
efficiently perform the assembly of the battery module. Accordingly, the terminal
connection member 350 may maintain the alignment of the battery cells 10 even when
the housing fixing the battery cells 10 is omitted.
[0062] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a terminal connection member according to still
another example embodiment.
[0063] The terminal connection member 450 according to this example embodiment
may be coupled to terminal portions of adjacent battery cells so that the battery cells are
electrically connected to each other. The terminal connection member 450 may have a
fastening portion 455 provided to a surface contacting the terminal portion. The
terminal connection member 450 may include a pair of contact portions 45 1 directly
contacting the respective terminal portions of the battery cells, a support portion 452
maintaining the spacing distance between the pair of contact portions 45 1, and c-shaped
sections 453 facilitating the reciprocating movement of the pair of contact portions 45 1.
In the present example embodiment, the pair of contact portions 41 5 may be provided to
face each other, and the fastening portion 455 may be provided to any one surface of
each of the pair of contact portions 45 1. For example, the fastening portion 455 may
include surface roughness.
[0064] The terminal connection member 450 may be inserted between the terminal
portions of the adjacent battery cells. The terminal connection member 450 and the
terminal portion may be implemented as an electrical conductor, and may be made of
metal or the like. The fastening portion 455 may increase the fictional force between
the terminal connection member 450 and the terminal portion of the battery cell, so as to
help improve the coupling between the terminal connection member 450 and the
fastening portion 455.
[0065] As described above, a battery module may be configured with a plurality of
battery cells, the plurality of battery cells being fixed in a housing so as to be used as a
single power source. The battery cells may be electrically connected to one another by
bus-bars or the like. It is of interest to stably and efficiently maintain high current
flowing between the battery cells.
[0066] By way of summation and review, embodiments relate to a battery module
configured to enhance insulation property and safety. Embodiments may provide a
battery module having a terminal connection member. Embodiments may also provide
a battery module configured to improving efficiency and safety of current flow.
[0067] Example embodiments have been disclosed herein, and although specific terms
are employed, they are used and are to be interpreted in a generic and descriptive sense
only and not for purpose of limitation. In some instances, as would be apparent to one
of ordinary skill in the art as of the filing of the present application, features,
characteristics, and/or elements described in connection with a particular embodiment
may be used singly or in combination with features, characteristics, and/or elements
described in connection with other embodiments unless otherwise specifically
indicated. Accordingly, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various
changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of
the present invention as set forth in the following claims.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A battery module, comprising:
a first battery cell, the first battery cell having a first terminal portion;
*-
a second battery cell, the second battery cell having a second terminal portion;
and
a terminal connection member connecting the first and second terminal portions
together, the terminal connection member including:
a first contact portion, the first contact portion having a first facing portion
contacting the first terminal portion;
a second contact portion, the second contact portion having a second facing
portion contacting the second terminal portion, the second facing portion being spaced
apart fkom the first facing portion in a first direction, an outermost portion of the first
contact portion being spaced apart in the first direction fkom an outermost portion of the
second contact portion by a first distance; and
a support portion, the support portion extending in the first direction between the
first contact portion and the second contact portion and electrically and physically
connecting the first and second contact portions, the support portion having an overall
length in the first direction that is greater than the first distance.
2. The battery module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support portion
includes respective c-shaped sections connecting the support portion to the first and
second contact portions, each c-shaped section including a first leg connected to the
support portion, a second leg connected to the respective contact portion, and a joining
portion connected between the first leg and the second leg.
3. The battery module as claimed in claim 2, wherein each c-shaped section
is in the shape of a continuous curve.
4. The battery module as claimed in claim 2, wherein each c-shaped section
is in the shape of a trilateral member.
5. The battery module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the contact portions
are connected to a side of the respective c-shaped sections of the support portion, such
that the contact portions are connected at about a midpoint of the respective second legs.
6. The battery module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first facing
portion and the second facing portion face towards one another, the first and second
facing portions contacting the respective terminal portions with the respective terminal
portions interposed between the first facing portion and the second facing portion.
ORIGINAL
7. The battery module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first facing
portion and the second facing portion face away fiom one another, the first and second
facing portions contacting the respective terminal portions with the first and second
facing portions interposed between the respective terminal portions.
8. The battery module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second
facing portions are roughened.
9. The battery module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the terminal
connection member is elastically deformable in the first direction, the terminal
connection member being configured to press the first and second facing portions
against the first and second terminal portions, respectively.
10. The battery module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second
facing portions are welded to the first and second terminal portions, respectively.
1 1. The battery module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the terminal portions
project away fiom the battery cells and the terminal connection member is installed
from an end of the terminal portions, such that the terminal portions are interposed
between the support portion and a case of the battery cells.
12. The battery module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the terminal portions
project away fiom the battery cells and the terminal connection member is installed
from a side of the terminal portions, such that the support portion is alongside the
terminal portions.
13. The battery module as claimed in claim 12, wherein:
the first battery cell includes a third terminal portion, the third terminal portion
being spaced apart from the first terminal portion in a second direction orthogonal to the
first direction,
the second battery cell includes a fourth terminal portion spaced apart fiom the
second terminal portion in the second direction, and
the support portion is between the first terminal portion and the third terminal
portion, and between the second terminal portion and the fourth terminal portion.
14. A battery module, comprising:
a first battery cell having a first terminal portion, the first terminal portion
including a first side and a second side, the first and second sides being connected;
a second battery cell having a second terminal portion, the second terminal
portion including a third side and a fourth side, the third and fourth sides being
connected; and
a terminal connection member, the terminal connection member including a first
contact portion that contacts the first side, a second contact portion that contacts the
5 JAN . '
c P ~ l i* -l. c , i A
4,
third side, and a support portion that connects the first and second contact portions, the
support portion overlapping the second and fourth sides.
15. The battery module as claimed in claim 14, wherein:
the first contact portion has a first facing portion contacting the first terminal
portion,
the second contact portion has a second facing portion contacting the second
terminal portion, the second facing portion being spaced apart from the first facing
portion in a first direction, an outermost portion of the first contact portion being spaced
apart in the first direction from an outermost portion of the second contact portion by a
first distance, and
the support portion has an overall length in the first direction that is greater than
the first distance.
16. The battery module as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first and second
contact portions are interposed between the first side and the third side.
17. The battery module as claimed in claim 16, wherein the support portion
includes respective c-shaped sections connecting the support portion to the first and
second contact portions, the c-shaped sections overlapping the second and fourth sides.
18. The battery module as claimed in claim 14, wherein:
the first battery cell includes a third terminal portion spaced apart from the first
terminal portion,
the second battery cell includes a fourth terminal portion spaced apart fiom the
second terminal portion, and
a. the support portion is between the first terminal portion and the third terminal
portion, and between the second terminal portion and the fourth terminal portion.
19. The battery module as claimed in claim 18, wherein:
4 the first terminal portion and the first contact portion are welded together from a
side opposite the second side, and
the second terminal portion and the second contact are welded together
fiom a side opposite the fourth side.
20. The battery module as claimed in claim 19, wherein:
a first weld is formed where the first terminal portion and the first contact
portion are welded together, and a second weld is formed where the second terminal
portion and the second contact portion are welded together, and
the support portion has an overall length sufficient to extend beyond the first and
second weld areas such that outermost portions of the support portion overlap the first
and second weld areas.
Dated this 15& day of January, 2014
(s WATI PAHUJA)
OF REMFRY & SAGAR
ATTORNEY FOR THE APPLICANT[S]