Secondary battery pack having PCM

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a secondary battery pack including an anode terminal and a cathode terminal of a battery cell connected to a protection circuit module (PCM), the anode terminal and the cathode terminal of the battery cell being made of plate-shaped conductive members, the battery cell having the anode terminal and the cathode terminal formed at one end thereof, the battery cell having a thermally bonded surplus part formed at the end thereof at which the anode terminal and the cathode terminal are formed, and the PCM including a protection circuit board (PCB) having a protection circuit formed thereon, an external input and output terminal connected to the protection circuit of the PCB, and an electrically insulative PCM case configured to have a hollow structure in which the PCB is mounted, the PCM case being provided with a slit, through which the electrode terminals of the battery cell are inserted, the PCM being loaded on the thermally bonded surplus part of the battery cell in a state in which the PCM is electrically connected to the battery cell.

Claims

1. A secondary battery pack comprising: an anode terminal and a cathode terminal of a battery cell connected to a protection circuit module (PCM), the anode terminal and the cathode terminal of the battery cell being made of plate-shaped conductive members; the battery cell having the anode terminal and the cathode terminal formed at one end thereof, the battery cell having a thermally bonded surplus part formed at the end thereof at which the anode terminal and the cathode terminal are formed; and the PCM comprising a protection circuit board (PCB) having a protection circuit formed thereon, an external input and output terminal connected to the protection circuit of the PCB, and an electrically insulative PCM case configured to have a hollow structure in which the PCB is mounted, the PCM case being provided with a slit, through which electrode terminals of the battery cell are inserted, the PCM being loaded on the thermally bonded surplus part of the battery cell in a state in which the PCM is electrically connected to the battery cell, wherein the PCM case is formed in the shape of a quadrangular bar in which one end of the quadrangular bar is open and the other end of the quadrangular bar is closed, and wherein the PCM case is configured to have a structure in which the slit is formed at an edge of one side of the quadrangular bar.

2. The secondary battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the battery cell is a secondary battery having an electrode assembly comprising a separator disposed between a cathode and an anode mounted in a battery case made of a laminate sheet comprising a metal layer and a resin layer in a sealed state.

3. The secondary battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the PCM case wraps the PCM excluding the external input and output terminal.

4. The secondary battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the anode terminal and the cathode terminal of the battery cell and the external input and output terminal of the PCM are inserted through the slit from one end of the PCM case such that the PCB is mounted into the PCM case.

5. The secondary battery pack according to claim 4, wherein the PCB is mounted into the PCM case in a sliding fashion.

6. The secondary battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising a label attached to the PCM, excluding the external input and output terminal, and the battery cell in a wrapping fashion.

7. The secondary battery pack according to claim 6, wherein the label is attached to the PCM, excluding the external input and output terminal, and thermally bonded edges of opposite sides of the battery cell in a wrapping fashion.

8. The secondary battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the battery cell is a lithium secondary battery.

9. A device comprising a secondary battery pack according to claim 1 as a power source.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the device is selected from among a mobile phone, a portable computer, a smart phone, a smart pad, a tablet PC, and a netbook computer.

11. A method of manufacturing a secondary battery pack, the method comprising: (a) connecting a nickel plate to a cathode terminal of a battery cell by welding; (b) connecting an anode terminal and the cathode terminal of the battery cell to an anode terminal joint part and a cathode terminal joint part formed at a protection circuit board (PCB) of a protection circuit module (PCM), respectively, by welding; (c) inserting the electrode terminals of the battery cell through a slit of a PCM case such that the PCB is mounted into the PCM case in a sliding fashion; (d) bending the electrode terminals of the battery cell and mounting the PCM at a thermally bonded surplus part of the battery cell; and (e) wrapping the PCM, excluding an external input, an output terminal, and a top of the PCM, and the battery cell in a label, wherein the PCM case is formed in the shape of a quadrangular bar in which one end of the quadrangular bar is open and the other end of the quadrangular bar is closed, and wherein the PCM case is configured to have a structure in which the slit is formed at an edge of one side of the quadrangular bar.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a secondary battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a protection circuit module (PCM) case shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a PCM case according to another embodiment of the present invention;

(5) FIGS. 4 to 6 are perspective views showing a process of manufacturing the secondary battery pack of FIG. 1; and

(6) FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an external input and output terminal connected to a structure shown in FIG. 6.

BEST MODE

(7) Now, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted, however, that the scope of the present invention is not limited by the illustrated embodiments.

(8) FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view typically showing a secondary battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(9) Referring to FIG. 1, a secondary battery pack 100 includes a battery cell 110 having an anode terminal 114 and a cathode terminal 112 protruding from one end thereof, a protection circuit module (PCM) 120, and a label 140.

(10) The anode terminal 114 and the cathode terminal 112 of the battery cell 110 are made of plate-shaped conductive members. The anode terminal 114 and the cathode terminal 112 of the battery cell 110 are electrically connected to a protection circuit board (PCB) 122 of the protection circuit module (PCM) 120.

(11) The battery cell 110 is a pouch-shaped secondary battery having an electrode assembly of a cathode/separator/anode structure received in a battery case made of a laminate sheet including a metal layer and a resin layer in a sealed state. The anode terminal 114 and the cathode terminal 112 are formed at one end of the battery cell 110. A thermally bonded surplus part 115 is formed at an upper end case extension part of the battery cell 110.

(12) The PCM 120 includes the PCB 122, which has a protection circuit formed thereon, an external input and output terminal 128 electrically connected to the protection circuit of the PCB 122, and a PCM case 124 coupled to the PCB 122 while wrapping the PCB 122.

(13) In addition, the PCM 120 is loaded on the thermally bonded surplus part 115 in a state in which the PCM 120 is electrically connected to the battery cell 110.

(14) The PCM case 124 is configured to have a hollow structure in which the PCB 122 is mounted. In addition, the PCM case 124 is provided with a slit 125, through which the electrode terminals 112 and 114 are inserted into the PCM case 124.

(15) The external input and output terminal 128 is configured to have a plate structure including a connector mounted at one end thereof.

(16) In a state in which the PCB 122, electrically connected to the cathode terminal 112 and the anode terminal 114 of the battery cell 110, is wrapped by the PCM case 124, the PCM 120 is loaded on the thermally bonded surplus part 115 located at the upper end case extension part of the battery cell 110. As compared with a conventional embedded type secondary battery pack, therefore, it is possible to effectively protect the PCB 122, to greatly reduce the number of parts constituting the secondary battery pack 100, to configure the secondary battery pack 100 so as to have a more compact structure.

(17) In addition, unlike a conventional PCM case having a structure in which a plurality of parts is assembled, the PCB 122 is inserted into the PCM case 124, which is constituted by a single member, in a sliding insertion fashion. Consequently, it is possible to improve manufacture processability.

(18) FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the PCM case shown in FIG. 1.

(19) Referring to FIG. 2 together with FIG. 1, the PCM case 124 is formed in the shape of a quadrangular bar open at opposite ends thereof. In addition, the PCM case 124 is configured to have a hollow structure in which the PCB 122 is mounted. The slit 125 is formed along the edge of one side of the quadrangular bar. The anode terminal 114 and the cathode terminal 112 of the battery cell 110 and the external input and output terminal 128 of the PCM 120 are inserted through the slit 125 from one end of the PCM case 124 such that the PCB 122 is mounted into the PCM case 124.

(20) FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a PCM case according to another embodiment of the present invention.

(21) Referring to FIG. 3, a PCM case 124 is configured to have a structure in which one end of the PCM case 124 is open and the other end 126 of the PCM case 124 is closed unlike the PCM case 124 of FIG. 2 which is open at the opposite ends thereof. The closed end 126 of the PCM case 124 functions as a stopper to stop sliding of the PCB 122 at an appropriate position of the PCM case 124 when the PCB 122 slides into the PCM case 124.

(22) FIGS. 4 to 6 are perspective views showing a process of manufacturing the secondary battery pack of FIG. 1.

(23) The process of manufacturing the secondary battery pack will be described with reference to these drawings together with FIG. 1.

(24) Referring first to FIG. 4, a nickel plate 132 is connected to the top of the cathode terminal 112 of the battery cell 110, which is coupled to a cathode terminal joint part 123a of the PCB 122, by ultrasonic welding. Subsequently, the anode terminal 114 and the cathode terminal 112 of the battery cell 110 are respectively connected to an anode terminal joint part 123b and the cathode terminal joint part 123a formed at the PCB 122 by spot welding to electrically connect the PCB 122 to the battery cell 110.

(25) A process of mounting the PCB 122 into the PCM case 124 is shown in FIG. 5. The cathode terminal 112 and the anode terminal 114 of the battery cell 110 are inserted through the slit 125 such that the PCB 122 is mounted into the PCM case 124 in a sliding fashion. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 6, the electrode terminals 112 and 114 of the battery cell 110 are bent and the PCM 120 is mounted at the thermally bonded surplus part 115 of the battery cell 110.

(26) Subsequently, the PCM 120, excluding the external input and output terminal 128, and thermally bonded edges of the opposite sides of the battery cell 110 are wrapped by the label 140 to manufacture the secondary battery pack 100.

(27) The label 140 fixes the thermally bonded edges such that the thermally bonded edges are in tight contact with a main body of the battery cell 110 while maintaining an insulation state of the battery cell 110. In addition, the label 140 more stably secures electrical connection between the cathode terminal 112 and the anode terminal 114 of the battery cell 110 and the PCB 122.

(28) FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the external input and output terminal connected to the structure shown in FIG. 6.

(29) Referring to FIG. 7, the external input and output terminal 128 is connected to the PCB 122 disposed in the PCM case 124 through the slit 125. A connector 129, which is coupled to an external device, is formed at one end of the external input and output terminal 128.

(30) Although the external input and output terminal 128 is connected to the PCB 122 in a state in which the external input and output terminal 128 protrudes between the cathode terminal 112 and the anode terminal 114 of the battery cell 110 as shown in FIG. 7, the external input and output terminal 128 may protrude from the open side of the PCM case 124.

(31) In addition, the external input and output terminal 128 may be connected to the PCB 122 together with the cathode terminal 112 and the anode terminal 114 of the battery cell 110 and then protrude outward through the processes shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. That is, the electrode terminals 112 and 114 may be bent such that the slit 125 of the PCM case 124 is directed in the outward direction of the battery cell 110 and then the PCM 120 may be mounted at the thermally bonded surplus part 115 of the battery cell 110 such that the external input and output terminal 128 protrudes outward.

(32) Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(33) As is apparent from the above description, a secondary battery pack according to the present invention is configured to have a structure in which a protection circuit module (PCM) including a PCM case in which a printed circuit board (PCB) is mounted through a slit formed at the PCM case is loaded on a thermally bonded surplus part of a battery cell. As compared with a conventional embedded type secondary battery pack, therefore, it is possible to effectively protect the PCB and to greatly reduce the number of parts constituting the secondary battery pack, thereby reducing manufacturing cost.

(34) In addition, the secondary battery pack according to the present invention is configured to have a structure in which the PCB is inserted into the PCM case, which is constituted by a single member, in a sliding insertion fashion. As compared with an assembly process of a conventional PCM configured to have an assembly fastening structure, therefore, it is possible to greatly improve manufacture processability. Furthermore, the secondary battery pack according to the present invention is configured to have a structure which can be easily automated.