# US 12,015,172 B2 · Battery pack including connection plate, electronic device and vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,015,172 B2 - Document ID: US12015172B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/279,343 - Filed: 2020-07-02 - Published: 2021-12-30 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-02 - Assignees: LG Energy Solution, Ltd. - Applicants: LG Chem, Ltd. - Inventors: Jin-Oh Yang; Young-Su Son - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015172B2 ## CPC - H01M 50/503: characterised by the shape of the interconnectors - H01M 10/44: Methods for charging or discharging (circuits for charging H02J7/00) - H01M 10/613: Cooling or keeping cold - H01M 10/625: Vehicles - H01M 10/643: Cylindrical cells - H01M 10/6562: with free flow by convection only - H01M 10/658: by thermal insulation or shielding - H01M 50/213: adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic (H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence) - 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 50/258: Modular batteries; Casings provided with means for assembling - H01M 50/262: with fastening means, e.g. locks - H01M 50/264: for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames - H01M 50/291: characterised by their shape - H01M 50/505: comprising a single busbar - H01M 50/516: by welding, soldering or brazing - H01M 50/528: Fixed electrical connections, i.e. not intended for disconnection - H01M 50/548: on opposite sides of the cell - H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - 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 A battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules disposed in a front and rear direction. Each of the battery modules includes a plurality of battery cells; a module housing; and a connection plate including a contact portion at an upper or lower portion of the plurality of battery cells and having a plurality of connection terminals in a portion thereof and respectively electrically contacted and connected to the electrode terminals at the plurality of battery cells, and a connection portion bent at least once from one end of the contact portion to extend in at least one direction among an upper direction, a lower direction, a front direction and a rear direction so that the bent and extending region of the connection portion is on a left or right outer wall of the module housing to contact a part of a connection plate of another battery module. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A battery pack, comprising: a plurality of battery modules disposed in a front-to-rear direction, wherein each of the plurality of battery modules includes: a plurality of battery cells arranged in a horizontal direction and having electrode terminals respectively at upper and lower portions thereof; a module housing configured to have an inner space in which the battery cells are accommodated; and a connection plate including a contact portion at an upper or lower portion of the plurality of battery cells and having a plurality of connection terminals formed in a portion thereof and respectively electrically contacted and connected to the electrode terminals at the plurality of battery cells, and a connection portion bent at least once from one end of the contact portion to extend in at least one direction among an upper direction, a lower direction, the front-to-rear direction so that the bent and extending region of the connection portion is on a left or right outer wall of the module housing to contact a part of a connection plate of another battery module, wherein each module housing includes a protection portion at the left or right outer wall thereof to have a plane so that the connection portion is placed thereon in an overlapping state, and wherein the protection portion of each module housing has an air hole at an inner side thereof to be opened to an outside. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein each connection plate of each respective battery module includes: a first connection plate having a plate shape and located at the upper portion of the plurality of battery cells, the first connection plate including a first contact portion having the connection terminal electrically contacted and connected to the electrode terminal at the upper portion of the battery cell, and a first connection portion bent from a front or rear end of the first contact portion to extend in the lower direction and bent from a left or right end of the bent and extending region to extend in the front-to-rear direction; and a second connection plate having a plate shape and located at the lower portion of the plurality of battery cells, the second connection plate including a second contact portion having the connection terminal electrically contacted and connected to the electrode terminal at the lower portion of the battery cell, and a second connection portion bent from a left or right end of the second contact portion to extend in the upper direction so that the bent and extending region is contacted and connected to a portion of the first connection portion of the first connection plate of an adjacent battery module. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein each module housing includes ribs at the left and right outer walls thereof to protrude in the horizontal direction and continuously extend linearly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein each module housing of each respective battery module has a guide protrusion at the left or right outer wall thereof to protrude in an outer direction, and wherein a part of the guide protrusion is configured to face the first connection portion of the first connection plate or the second connection portion of the second connection plate of a respective battery module. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The battery pack according to claim 4, wherein the guide protrusion of each module housing of each respective battery module has a hook structure configured to press a portion of the first connection portion or the second connection portion of a respective battery module so that the first connection portion of the first connection plate or the second connection portion of the second connection plate is fixed onto the outer wall of the module housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein each module housing includes a coupling protrusion on a front outer wall thereof to protrude forward and a guide groove at a rear outer wall thereof to be recessed inward. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein each module housing includes: fixing holes at left and right outer sides thereof; and fixing tubes configured to extend in the upper direction to be inserted into the fixing holes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein the first connection portion and second connection portion of each respective module housing partially face left and right outer sides of respective fixing tubes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The battery pack according to claim 7, further comprising: a tray including a body portion having a plate shape so that the plurality of battery modules are mounted thereon, a front cover portion provided at a front end of the body portion and configured to cover a foremost side of the plurality of battery modules, and a rear cover portion provided at a rear end of the body portion and configured to cover a rearmost side of the plurality of battery modules; an upper cover configured to cover an upper portion of the plurality of battery modules; and an electric equipment configured to control a charging/discharging current of the plurality of battery modules. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The battery pack according to claim 9, wherein the electric equipment is mounted to an outer side of the front cover portion or the rear cover portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The battery pack according to claim 9, wherein each of the body portion of the tray and the upper cover includes a fixing member configured such that a first part of the fixing member is fixed to the body portion and a second part of the fixing member protrudes toward a respective battery module, and wherein the second part of the fixing member is inserted into a respective fixing tube of the respective battery module and fixed thereto. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An electronic device, comprising the battery pack as defined in claim 1. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A vehicle, comprising the battery pack as defined in claim 1. ### Claim 14 A battery pack, comprising: a plurality of battery modules disposed in a front-to-rear direction, wherein each of the plurality of battery modules includes: a plurality of battery cells arranged in a horizontal direction and having electrode terminals respectively at upper and lower portions thereof; a module housing configured to have an inner space in which the battery cells are accommodated; and a connection plate including a contact portion at an upper or lower portion of the plurality of battery cells and having a plurality of connection terminals formed in a portion thereof and respectively electrically contacted and connected to the electrode terminals at the plurality of battery cells, and a connection portion bent at least once from one end of the contact portion to extend in at least one direction among an upper direction, a lower direction, the front-to-rear direction so that the bent and extending region of the connection portion is on a left or right outer wall of the module housing to contact a part of a connection plate of another battery module, wherein each connection plate of each respective battery module includes: a first connection plate having a plate shape and located at the upper portion of the plurality of battery cells, the first connection plate including a first contact portion having the connection terminal electrically contacted and connected to the electrode terminal at the upper portion of the battery cell, and a first connection portion bent from a front or rear end of the first contact portion to extend in the lower direction and bent from a left or right end of the bent and extending region to extend in the front-to-rear direction; and a second connection plate having a plate shape and located at the lower portion of the plurality of battery cells, the second connection plate including a second contact portion having the connection terminal electrically contacted and connected to the electrode terminal at the lower portion of the battery cell, and a second connection portion bent from a left or right end of the second contact portion to extend in the upper direction so that the bent and extending region is contacted and connected to a portion of the first connection portion of the first connection plate of an adjacent battery module, and wherein each module housing includes: fixing holes at left and right outer sides thereof; and fixing tubes configured to extend in the upper direction to be inserted into the fixing holes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The battery pack according to claim 14, wherein the first connection portion and second connection portion of each respective module housing partially face left and right outer sides of respective fixing tubes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The battery pack according to claim 14, further comprising: a tray including a body portion having a plate shape so that the plurality of battery modules are mounted thereon, a front cover portion provided at a front end of the body portion and configured to cover a foremost side of the plurality of battery modules, and a rear cover portion provided at a rear end of the body portion and configured to cover a rearmost side of the plurality of battery modules; an upper cover configured to cover an upper portion of the plurality of battery modules; and an electric equipment configured to control a charging/discharging current of the plurality of battery modules. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The battery pack according to claim 16, wherein the electric equipment is mounted to an outer side of the front cover portion or the rear cover portion.