# US 2020/0403197 A1 · Battery module with stacked cells having offset tabs > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0403197 A1 - Document ID: US20200403197A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/444,667 - Filed: 2019-06-18 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-18 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Evan J. Dawley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200403197A1 ## CPC - H01M 50/209: adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells (H01M50/216 takes precedence) - H01M 50/211: adapted for pouch cells - 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 50/509: characterised by the type of connection, e.g. mixed connections - 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 module includes a housing and multiple battery cells. The housing may have a positive battery module terminal and a negative battery module terminal. The battery cells may be mounted in the housing. Each battery cell may have a positive battery cell terminal and a negative battery cell terminal disposed on opposing battery cell ends. The positive battery cell terminal and the negative battery cell terminal of each battery cell may be offset from a plane perpendicular to the opposing battery cell ends and passing through a center of the battery cell. The battery cells may be arranged as multiple groups with a common side. The positive and negative battery cell terminals on the common side may alternate about the plane in every other group. The groups may be electrically connected in series between the positive battery module terminal and the negative battery module terminal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A battery module comprising: a housing having a positive battery module terminal and a negative battery module terminal; and a plurality of battery cells mounted in the housing, wherein: the plurality of battery cells are configured to store electrical energy; each of the plurality of battery cells has a positive battery cell terminal and a negative battery cell terminal disposed on opposing battery cell ends; the positive battery cell terminal and the negative battery cell terminal of each of the plurality of battery cells are offset from a plane perpendicular to the opposing battery cell ends and passing through a center of the battery cell; the plurality of battery cells are arranged as a plurality of groups with a common side; the positive battery cell terminals and the negative battery cell terminals on the common side alternate about the plane in every other one of the plurality of groups; and the plurality of groups are electrically connected in series between the positive battery module terminal and the negative battery module terminal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The battery module of claim 1, wherein the positive battery cell terminal and the negative battery cell terminal of each of the plurality of battery cells are offset in opposite directions from the plane. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The battery module of claim 1, wherein the positive battery cell terminal and the negative battery cell terminal of each of the plurality of battery cells are offset in a same direction from the plane. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The battery module of claim 1, wherein the positive battery module terminal and the negative battery module terminal are mounted on the housing neighboring a same end battery cell of the plurality of battery cells. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The battery module of claim 1, wherein the positive battery module terminal and the negative battery module terminal are mounted between a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells and a last battery cell of the plurality of battery cells. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The battery module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of groups are arranged as a plurality of sets, and each of the plurality of sets has one or more groups of the plurality of groups oriented with the positive battery cell terminals on the common side. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The battery module of claim 6, wherein the positive battery cell terminals and the negative battery cell terminals physically alternate every other one of the sets in the housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The battery module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery cells form part of a high-voltage battery pack. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The battery module of claim 8, wherein the high-voltage battery pack is mountable in a vehicle. ### Claim 10 A method for manufacturing a battery module, the method comprising: providing a housing having a positive battery module terminal and a negative battery module terminal; mounting a plurality of battery cells in the housing, wherein: the plurality of battery cells are configured to store electrical energy; each of the plurality of battery cells has a positive battery cell terminal and a negative battery cell terminal disposed on opposing battery cell ends; and the positive battery cell terminal and the negative battery cell terminal of each of the plurality of battery cells are offset from a plane perpendicular to the opposing battery cell ends and passing through a center of the battery cell; arranging the plurality of battery cells as a plurality of groups with a common side, wherein the positive battery cell terminals and the negative battery cell terminals on the common side alternate about the plane in every other one of the plurality of groups; and electrically connecting the plurality of groups in series between the positive battery module terminal and the negative battery module terminal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the positive battery cell terminal and the negative battery cell terminal of each of the plurality of battery cells are offset in opposite directions from the plane. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the positive battery cell terminal and the negative battery cell terminal of each of the plurality of battery cells are offset in a same direction from the plane. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: mounting the positive battery module terminal and the negative battery module terminal on the housing neighboring a same end battery cell of the plurality of battery cells. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: mounting the positive battery module terminal and the negative battery module terminal between a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells and a last battery cell of the plurality of battery cells. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: arranging the plurality of groups as a plurality of sets, wherein each of the plurality of sets has one or more groups of the plurality of groups oriented with the positive battery cell terminals on the common side. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: physically alternating the positive battery cell terminals and the negative battery cell terminals every other one of the sets in the housing. ### Claim 17 A battery pack for a vehicle, the battery pack comprising: a positive battery pack terminal; a negative battery pack terminal; and a plurality of battery modules electrically connected between the positive battery pack terminal and the negative battery pack terminal, wherein each of the plurality of battery modules includes: a housing having a positive battery module terminal and a negative battery module terminal, and a plurality of battery cells mounted in the housing, wherein: the plurality of battery cells are configured to store electrical energy; each of the plurality of battery cells has a positive battery cell terminal and a negative battery cell terminal disposed on opposing battery cell ends; the positive battery cell terminal and the negative battery cell terminal of each of the plurality of battery cells are offset from a plane perpendicular to the opposing battery cell ends and passing through a center of the battery cell; the plurality of battery cells are arranged as a plurality of groups with a common side; the positive battery cell terminals and the negative battery cell terminals on the common side alternate about the plane in every other one of the plurality of groups; and the plurality of groups are electrically connected in series between the positive battery module terminal and the negative battery module terminal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The battery pack of claim 17, further comprising a pack floor, wherein the plurality of battery modules are disposed on the pack floor, and the positive battery module terminals and the negative battery module terminals are disposed on a side of the plurality of battery modules opposite the pack floor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The battery pack of claim 17, wherein the vehicle comprises a first rocker panel, and the positive battery module terminals and the negative battery module terminals are disposed on a side of the plurality of battery modules opposite the first rocker panel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The battery pack of claim 19, wherein the vehicle comprises a second rocker panel, each of the plurality of battery modules extends from proximate the first rocker panel to proximate the second rocker panel, and the positive battery module terminals and the negative battery module terminals are disposed part way between the first rocker panel and the second rocker panel.