Battery module and method of manufacturing the same
AssigneePanasonic Corporation
InventorsOsamu Uchida, Kazuhiro Ikurumi, Seiji Kumazawa, Koji Funami, Masazumi Adachi
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Abstract
A battery module 8 containing parallel blocks 9 connected to a protection circuit via a lead plate 2, wherein the parallel blocks 9 are welded to both sides of the lead plate without bending the lead plate 2 into a U shape. Thus it is possible to reduce the length of the lead plate 2 and suppress a voltage drop on the lead plate 2. Further, since the lead plate 2 is not bent into a U shape, the assembling accuracy of the battery module is improved and the battery module is easily packaged with a small size.
Claims10
A battery module containing cells that are connected in parallel and series and include a first cell and a second cell, the first and second cells being connected such that an electrode of a cap of the first cell and an electrode of a metal jacket bottom of the second cell are connected to each other via a lead plate,
- wherein the electrode of the cap of the first cell is connected to one surface of the lead plate, and the electrode of the metal jacket bottom of the second cell is connected to the other surface of the lead plate.
A method of manufacturing a battery module, the battery module containing cells that are connected in parallel and series and include a first cell and a second cell, the first and second cells being connected such that an electrode of a cap of the first cell and an electrode of a metal jacket bottom of the second cell are connected to each other via a lead plate,
- the manufacturing method comprising:
- a first step of bending the lead plate comprising multiple leads divided by slits;
- a second step of connecting the electrode of the cap of the first cell to central one of the divided and bent leads, on one surface of the lead plate;
- a third step of connecting the electrode of the metal jacket bottom of the second cell to the other divided and bent leads that are paired on both ends of the lead plate, on the other surface of the lead plate;
- and
- a fourth step of folding back the bent lead plate to an original state after the second and third steps.
A method of manufacturing a battery module, the battery module containing cells connected in parallel and series via a lead plate comprising projecting portions and a flat portion adjacent to the projecting portions,
- the manufacturing method comprising the steps of:
- forming multiple parallel blocks, each containing the cells connected in parallel by spot welding electrodes of caps of the cells and the projecting portions;
- placing electrodes of metal jacket bottoms of one of the parallel blocks on the flat portion of the lead plate connected to another one of the parallel blocks;
- and
- connecting the parallel blocks in series by laser welding the electrodes of the metal jacket bottoms and the flat portion, the laser welding being performed by irradiating the flat portion with laser from a clearance formed between the parallel blocks by the projecting portions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.