# US 10,312,487 B2 · Rechargeable battery module > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,312,487 B2 - Document ID: US10312487B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/296,375 - Filed: 2016-10-18 - Published: 2017-04-20 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-19 - Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Young-Deok Kim; Ji-Soon Lim; Shi-Dong Park - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10312487B2 ## CPC - H01M 50/209: adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells (H01M50/216 takes precedence) - H01M 50/507: comprising an arrangement of two or more busbars within a container structure, e.g. busbar modules - H01M 50/509: characterised by the type of connection, e.g. mixed connections - H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A rechargeable battery module includes unit cells that are arranged in a first direction, a bus bar that electrically connects the unit cells, a pair of end plates that are spaced apart from each other along the first direction at opposite ends of the unit cells to support the unit cells, and at least one side plate between the pair of end plates and connected to the pair of end plates, the at least one side plate extending along the unit cells and spaced apart from the unit cells a predetermined distance, wherein the side plate includes a stepped portion facing the unit cells. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rechargeable battery module, comprising: unit cells arranged in a first direction; a bus bar that electrically connects the unit cells; a pair of end plates spaced apart from each other along the first direction at opposite ends of the unit cells to support the unit cells; and at least one side plate between the pair of end plates and connected to the pair of end plates, the at least one side plate extending along the unit cells and spaced apart from the unit cells a predetermined distance, wherein the at least one side plate includes: stepped portions facing the unit cells, the stepped portions including a flat base at an outermost side of the at least one side plate, and at least one protruding portion that protrudes toward the unit cells from the flat base along a second direction crossing the first direction, and a through-hole adjacent to the unit cells, and wherein an insulating sheet is adhered to the at least one protruding portion and adjacent to the unit cells. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rechargeable battery module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stepped portions have depths in a second direction crossing the first direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The rechargeable battery module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flat base and the protruding portion are connected at a right angle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The rechargeable battery module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one side plate includes a plurality of through holes along a third direction crossing the first and the second directions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The rechargeable battery module as claimed in claim 4, wherein one stepped portion corresponds to each of the plurality of through holes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The rechargeable battery module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a height of the at least one protruding portion along the second direction is about 30% to about 40% of a thickness of the at least one side plate along the second direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The rechargeable battery module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one protruding portion gradually decreases and protrudes from the flat base to the unit cells. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The rechargeable battery module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one protruding portion is repeatedly directed from the flat base to the unit cells and directed from the unit cells to an opposite side thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The rechargeable battery module as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the at least one side plate is a metal sheet with a predetermined thickness, and the stepped portions extend along an entire thickness of the at least one side plate in a second direction crossing the first direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The rechargeable battery module as claimed in claim 1, further including a flange along bottoms of the unit cells to support the bottoms of the unit cells, the flange being connected to a lower end portion of the at least one side plate to extend in a second direction crossing the first direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The rechargeable battery module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the flange includes a rib that protrudes in a third direction crossing the first and second direction, the rib extending in the first direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The rechargeable battery module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an end support between the end plate and an outermost unit cell, the end support being an insulator. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The rechargeable battery module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an insulating sheet between the at least one side plate and the unit cells. ### Claim 14 A rechargeable battery module, comprising: unit cells arranged in a first direction; a bus bar that electrically connects the unit cells; a pair of end plates spaced apart from each other along the first direction at opposite ends of the unit cells to support the unit cells; and at least one side plate between the pair of end plates and connected to the pair of end plates, the at least one side plate extending along the unit cells and spaced apart from the unit cells a predetermined distance, wherein the at least one side plate includes stepped portions facing the unit cells, and wherein the stepped portions include: a flat base at an outermost side of the at least one side plate, the flat base being parallel with the at least one side plate, and at least one protruding portion that protrudes toward the unit cells from the flat base along a second direction crossing the first direction, a first edge of the at least one protruding portion being connected to the flat base, and a second edge of the at least one protruding portion being opposite the first edge and spaced apart from the unit cells along the second direction to have an empty space therebetween.