# US 12,002,982 B1 · Battery pack assembly

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- Number: US 12,002,982 B1
- Document ID: US12002982B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 18/341,454
- Filed: 2023-06-26
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2023-06-26
- Assignees: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
- Applicants: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
- Inventors: Brandon Louis Fennema; Jonathan Oliver Samuel De Laine; Tyler Jacobs; Akshay Kishor Murkute
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12002982B1

## CPC

- H01M 50/284: with incorporated circuit boards, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB]
- H01M 10/425: {Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00)}
- H01M 10/486: {for measuring temperature}
- H01M 50/249: specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains (constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64)
- H01M 50/262: with fastening means, e.g. locks
- H01M 50/271: Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
- H01M 50/289: characterised by spacing elements or positioning means within frames, racks or packs (spacing elements inside cells other than separators, membranes or diaphragms H01M50/471)
- H01M 2010/4271: {Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing}
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- 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

## Abstract

An apparatus can include a cell carrier that defines a first engagement feature and a second engagement feature. The first engagement feature and the second engagement feature can be configured to engage with a housing. The cell carrier can be configured to couple with the housing via at least one of the first engagement feature or the second engagement feature.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus, comprising:
a cell carrier that defines a first engagement feature and a second engagement feature, the first engagement feature defines an opening located on a side of the cell carrier, the cell carrier to house an energy storage device; and
a housing engaged with the first engagement feature and the second engagement feature, the housing comprises a first interface element extending through the opening to couple the housing with the cell carrier, a portion of the first interface element disposed inside the cell carrier with the housing coupled with the cell carrier; and
the cell carrier configured to couple with the housing via the first engagement feature.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:
the housing comprising a second interface element;
the second engagement feature to receive the second interface element to facilitate proper positioning of the housing relative to the cell carrier.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:
the second engagement feature comprising a first opening and a second opening, the first opening providing a two-way locating scheme for the housing and the second opening providing a four-way locating scheme for the housing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:
a balancing voltage and temperature module (BVT), the BVT comprising the housing and a circuit board, the circuit board heat staked with the housing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:
a circuit board disposed in the housing, the circuit board comprising a first side and a second side, the circuit board comprising electrical components on both the first side and the second side.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:
a circuit board coupled with the housing, the circuit board to be spaced away from the cell carrier with the housing coupled with the cell carrier.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:
the housing comprising a plurality of tabs and a plurality of protrusions;
the first engagement feature comprising a plurality of retention openings, the plurality of tabs to engage with the plurality of retention openings to couple the housing with the cell carrier; and
the second engagement feature comprising a plurality of locating openings, the plurality of protrusions correspond with the plurality of locating openings to position the housing relative to the cell carrier.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:
a circuit board disposed in the housing; and
the housing comprising a connector to electrically couple an external component with the circuit board, the external component comprising at least one of a voltage sensor, a temperature sensor, or a communications component.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:
the housing comprising:
a connector opening to expose a connector to electrically couple with an external component; and
a lip extending from a side of the housing adjacent the connector opening, the lip to prevent material from entering the connector opening and the connector.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:
the housing comprising a post, the post to abut a busbar coupled with the cell carrier, the post to provide clearance from the busbar and prevent rotation of the housing relative to the cell carrier.

### Claim 11

A method, comprising:
providing a cell carrier, the cell carrier defines a first engagement feature and a second engagement feature, the first engagement feature defines an opening located on a side of the cell carrier, the cell carrier to house an energy storage device;
engaging a first interface element of a housing with the first engagement feature to couple the housing with the cell carrier, the first interface element extends through the opening to couple the housing with the cell carrier, a portion of the first interface element disposed inside the cell carrier with the housing coupled with the cell carrier; and
engaging a second interfacing element with the second engagement feature to prevent at least some lateral movement of the housing relative to the cell carrier.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, comprising:
disposing a circuit board in the housing; and
coupling the circuit board with the housing via heat staking.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, comprising:
coupling a circuit board with the housing, the circuit board to be disposed away from the cell carrier with the housing coupled with the cell carrier, the circuit board comprising a first side and second side, the circuit board comprising electrical components on both the first side and the second side.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the first engagement feature comprises a plurality of retention openings and the second engagement feature comprises a plurality of locating openings, the method comprising:
engaging a plurality of tabs of the housing with the plurality of retention openings; and
engaging a plurality of protrusions of the housing with the plurality of locating openings.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, comprising:
preventing rotation of the housing relative to the cell carrier via a post of the housing; and
providing a clearance from a busbar of the cell carrier via the post.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, comprising:
preventing material from entering the housing via a lip of the housing, the lip extending from the housing at a location adjacent to a connector opening of the housing.

### Claim 17

A subassembly, comprising:
a housing to couple with a cell carrier, the housing comprising:
a first interface element to couple the housing with the cell carrier;
a second interface element to facilitate proper positioning of the housing relative to the cell carrier,
a side defining a connector opening; and
a lip extending from the side in front of the connector opening, the lip extends beyond an edge of a cell carrier with the housing coupled with the cell carrier, the lip forms a barrier to prevent material from entering the connector opening.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The subassembly of claim 17, comprising:
a circuit board disposed in the housing, the circuit board comprising a first side and a second side, the circuit board comprising electronics on both the first side and the second side.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The subassembly of claim 17, comprising:
the housing comprising a post, the post to provide clearance from a busbar of the cell carrier and to prevent rotation of the housing relative to the cell carrier.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The subassembly of claim 17, comprising:
a circuit board disposed in the housing; and
the housing comprising a connector to electrically couple an external component with the circuit board.