Battery pack having fixing part for PCM

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a battery pack configured to have a structure including a plate-shaped battery cell having electrode terminals formed at one side thereof including a sealed surplus part and a protection circuit module (PCM) mounted at the sealed surplus part, wherein each of the electrode terminals of the battery cell is made of a plate-shaped conductive member, the PCM includes a protection circuit board (PCB), a safety element electrically connected between one of the electrode terminals of the battery cell and the PCB or loaded on the PCB, an external input and output terminal electrically connected to a protection circuit of the PCB, and an electrically insulative module case in which the PCB and the safety element are mounted in a state in which the external input and output terminal extends outside, the module case includes a PCB receiving part open outward at one side thereof and at least one fixing part to mount the module case to the sealed surplus part of the battery cell, and the PCM is loaded on the sealed surplus part of the battery cell while being received in the module case in a state in which the PCM is electrically connected to the electrode terminals of the battery cell.

Claims

1. A battery pack configured to have a structure comprising: a plate-shaped battery cell having electrode terminals formed at one side thereof, the plate-shaped battery cell comprising a sealed surplus part; and a protection circuit module (PCM) mounted at the sealed surplus part, wherein each of the electrode terminals of the battery cell is made of a plate-shaped conductive member, and wherein the PCM comprises: a protection circuit board (PCB); a safety element electrically connected between one of the electrode terminals of the battery cell and the PCB or loaded on the PCB; an external input and output terminal electrically connected to a protection circuit of the PCB; and an electrically insulative module case in which the PCB and the safety element are mounted in a state in which the external input and output terminal extends outside, wherein the module case comprises a PCB receiving part open outward at one side thereof and a hook to mount the module case to the sealed surplus part of the battery cell, wherein the hook is connected to a side wall of the module case, the hook extending along an exterior surface of the sealed surplus part, and wherein the PCM is loaded on the sealed surplus part of the battery cell while being received in the module case in a state in which the PCM is electrically connected to the electrode terminals of the battery cell.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the plate-shaped battery cell is a pouch-shaped secondary battery having an electrode assembly received in a battery case made of a laminate sheet comprising a metal layer and a resin layer in a sealed state.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the electrode assembly is configured to have a structure comprising a cathode, an anode, and a separator disposed between the cathode and the anode and is received in the battery case together with an electrolyte in a sealed state.

4. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the sealed surplus part is an upper end sealed part formed when a battery case is thermally bonded in a sealed state.

5. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the safety element comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) element, a fuse, and a thermal cutoff or cutout (TCO).

6. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the external input and output terminal is configured in the form of a plate or a wire.

7. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the hook is formed at a middle of a long side of the module case, and opposite end regions of the module case facing the sealed surplus part protrude toward the sealed surplus part by a length corresponding to a thickness of the hook.

8. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein a region of the module case at which the hook is formed is depressed in a direction opposite to the sealed surplus part.

9. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the sealed surplus part, to which the hook is coupled, is provided with a mount part protruding toward the module case.

10. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the module case is configured to have a rectangular parallelepiped box structure.

11. The battery pack according to claim 10, wherein the module case is provided at an inside thereof with at least one PCB fixing protrusion part.

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

13. A protection circuit module (PCM) loaded on a sealed surplus part of a plate-shaped battery cell having electrode terminals, each of which is made of a plate-shaped conductive member, formed at an upper end thereof, comprising: a protection circuit board (PCB); a safety element electrically connected between one of the electrode terminals of the battery cell and the PCB or loaded on the PCB; an external input and output terminal electrically connected to a protection circuit of the PCB; and an electrically insulative module case in which the PCB and the safety element are mounted in a state in which the external input and output terminal extends outside, the module case comprising a PCB receiving part open outward at one side thereof; and a hook to mount the module case to the sealed surplus part of the battery cell, the hook extending outwardly and downwardly from a side wall of the module case, so that a bottom edge of the hook is below a top edge of the side wall of the module case, wherein the PCM is loaded on the sealed surplus part of the battery cell while being received in the module case in a state in which the PCM is electrically connected to the electrode terminals of the battery cell.

14. The PCM according to claim 13, wherein the at least one fixing part of the module case is configured to have a hook structure coupled to one end of the sealed surplus part.

15. A method of manufacturing a battery pack according to claim 1, the method comprising: (a) connecting an external input and output terminal to a PCB by welding or soldering; (b) connecting the PCB to electrode terminals of a battery cell by welding or soldering; (c) mounting the PCB in a PCB receiving part; (d) loading the PCM on a sealed surplus part of the battery cell and coupling a PCM fixing part to the sealed surplus part of the battery cell; and (e) attaching a label to outer surfaces of the PCM and the battery cell excluding the external input and output terminal in a wrapping fashion.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the welding is spot welding, laser welding, or ultrasonic welding.

17. A mobile device comprising a battery pack according to claim 1 as a power source.

18. The mobile device according to claim 17, wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone, a laptop computer, a netbook computer, a tablet PC, or a smart pad.

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 a perspective view showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery pack shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIGS. 3 to 8 are perspective views showing a process of manufacturing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

(5) FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a module case according to an embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE

(6) 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.

(7) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery pack shown in FIG. 1.

(8) Referring to these drawings, a battery pack 600 includes a plate-shaped battery cell 100 having electrode terminals 110 and 120 formed at one side thereof including a sealed surplus part 130 and an electrically insulative module case 400 to receive a protection circuit module (PCM) 200. The plate-shaped battery cell 100 and the module case 400 are wrapped by a protection label 500.

(9) In addition, a mount part 131 is formed at the sealed surplus part 130 of the battery cell 100 such that the mount part 131 protrudes in a direction in which the module case 400 is loaded.

(10) Meanwhile, the PCB 200 is electrically connected to a connection part 310 of an external input and output terminal 300. The external input and output terminal 300 extends outward from the module case 400. A connector 320 configured to be connected to an external device is formed at the end of the external input and output terminal 300.

(11) FIGS. 3 to 8 are perspective views showing a process of manufacturing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(12) Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, terminal joint parts 210 and 220 of a PCB 200 are electrically connected to electrode terminals 110 and 120 of a plate-shaped battery cell 100, respectively, by spot welding (see reference numerals 111 and 121). by the

(13) After electric connection between the PCB 200 and the electrode terminals 110 and 120 is achieved, the terminal joint parts 210 and 220 of the PCB 200 are bent (see reference numeral 201) such that the terminal connection parts 210 and 220 of the PCB 200 are disposed in parallel to the top and the bottom of the plate-shaped battery cell 100.

(14) Referring to FIG. 4, an external input and output terminal connection part 310 electrically connected to an external input and output terminal joint part 230 of the PCB 200 is directed downward due to bending of the terminal joint parts 210 and 220. A sealed surplus part 130 of the battery cell 100 is formed to have the same width as the PCB 200.

(15) Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, the PCB 200 is received in a module case 400 and is then loaded on the sealed surplus part 130 of the battery cell 100 by bending of the electrode terminals 110 and 120. Subsequently, a fixing part 410 is fastened to a mount part 131 of the sealed surplus part 130. As a result, the module case 400 is securely fixed to the sealed surplus part 130 of the battery cell 100.

(16) Specifically, referring to FIGS. 7 and 9, the fixing part 410, which is formed at one surface of the module case 400, is configured to have a downwardly-bent hook structure and the mount part 131, which is formed on the sealed surplus part 130 of the battery cell 100, is configured to have a structure in which a portion of the sealed surplus part 130 protrudes in a direction in which the module case 400 is loaded.

(17) Meanwhile, as the module case 400 is loaded on the sealed surplus part 130 of the battery cell 100, an external input and output terminal 300 extending outward from the module case 400 is directed upward.

(18) At this time, the width and the length of the module case 400 loaded on the sealed surplus part 130 of the battery cell 100 are approximately equal to the width and the length of the sealed surplus part 130 of the battery cell 100.

(19) In addition, the height of the module case 400 loaded on the sealed surplus part 130 of the battery cell 100 is equal to the thickness of the battery cell 100.

(20) The module case 400 is configured to have a rectangular parallelepiped box structure, the outer surface of which is smooth and which has no additional members. In addition, a plurality of PCB fixing protrusion parts 421 is formed at the inside of the module case 400.

(21) Consequently, the PCB 200 and a safety element (not shown) are securely and stably fixed by the PCB fixing protrusion parts 421 in a state in which the PCB 200 and the safety element are received in a PCB receiving part 420 such that the PCB 200 and the safety element can be electrically isolated and protected from the outside.

(22) As described above, the module case 400 is configured to have an assembly type fastening structure which does not require an additional fixing member or protection member. Consequently, productivity is improved through a simplified assembly process.

(23) In addition, the outer surface of the module case 400 is smooth. Consequently, the battery pack has a smooth outer surface. As a result, the battery pack may be manufactured to have correct dimensions and, at the same time, the battery pack may provide a pleasing external appearance.

(24) Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the module case 400 may be easily loaded on the sealed surplus part 130 of the battery cell 100 because the module case 400 has a rectangular parallelepiped box structure, the outer surface of which is smooth.

(25) As a result, the battery pack according to the embodiment of the present invention has a more compact structure than a conventional battery pack. In addition, it is possible to utilize a space occupied by a PCM, a PCM fixing member, or PCM protection members of the conventional battery pack as a space for electrical capacity. Consequently, it is possible to increase electrical capacity of the battery pack.

(26) Referring to FIG. 8, the outer surface of the battery cell 100 and the outer surface of the module case 400 excluding the external input and output terminal 300 are wrapped by a protection label 500.

(27) The label 500, which displays product information, more stably secures electrical connection between the electrode terminals 110 and 120 of the battery cell 100 and the PCB 200 while maintaining insulation from the battery cell 100.

(28) 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

(29) As is apparent from the above description, a battery pack according to the present invention is configured to have a module case structure including a PCB receiving part open outward at one side thereof and one or more fixing parts to mount a module case to a sealed surplus part of a battery cell. Consequently, it is possible to simplify a manufacturing process, to improve structural stability, to provide a battery pack having a compact structure, and to increase electric capacity of a battery pack having the same standard as a conventional battery pack.