JP3609683B2 - Pack battery - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a battery pack in which a printed circuit board on which a protection circuit or the like is mounted is incorporated in a case.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The battery pack can be charged and discharged in a more ideal environment by incorporating a protection circuit for preventing overcharge and overdischarge of the battery. An electronic component that realizes the protection circuit is mounted on a printed circuit board, and is built in a case of a battery pack together with a secondary battery. By the way, since the battery pack is used by being mounted on a device, it is necessary to have an outer shape suitable for the electronic device to be mounted. In the battery pack whose outer shape is specified, the internal volume of the case is restricted. Further, the size of the battery pack is determined from the capacity of the built-in secondary battery. For this reason, only a very limited space remains in the case, and it is extremely difficult to arrange the printed circuit board in the limited space without difficulty. In particular, in a battery mounted on a recent laptop personal computer or the like, it is necessary to output various information to the personal computer. Therefore, the electronic circuit mounted on the printed circuit board becomes extremely complicated, and the printed circuit board is growing.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In order to dispose a printed circuit board in an empty space of a case, for example, a flexible substrate that can be deformed or a structure in which a plurality of printed circuit boards are connected has been developed. The flexible substrate is convenient to be accommodated in an empty space having a complicated shape. For this reason, it can be conveniently stored in a complicated uneven case such as a camera, for example, but it is difficult to improve the reliability against vibration and the like. In addition, the structure in which two printed circuit boards are connected in an L shape can be efficiently stored in the space that can be made vertically and horizontally in the case, but the empty space that can be made in the case is not always vertically and horizontally. Less space is available continuously. For this reason, there exists a fault which cannot be conveniently stored in the case of various battery packs.
[0004]
The present invention has been developed for the purpose of solving such drawbacks. An important object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack in which a printed circuit board can be disposed by effectively using a narrow space formed in a case.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The battery pack of the present invention has a secondary battery 2 and a printed circuit board 3 on which a protection circuit and the like are mounted in a case 1. The printed circuit board 3 includes a plurality of separate substrates 4, and each separate substrate 4 is connected by a bending connector 5. The bending connector 5 is coupled so that a predetermined gap is formed between the separate substrates 4 in a state where the separate substrates 4 are folded in a parallel posture. Further, a connector 6 for connecting the separate substrate 4 is fixed to the separate substrate 4 at a position facing the separate substrate 4 while being folded in a parallel posture by the bending connector 5. The separate substrate 4 is electrically connected by the connector 6, and the plurality of separate substrates 4 are connected in parallel by both the connector 6 and the bending connector 5.
[0006]
The bent connector 5 is preferably a lead plate that electrically connects the printed circuit board 3 using a deformable metal plate. Furthermore, the separate substrate 4 is connected by a plurality of lead plates, and the relative position of the separate substrate 4 folded in parallel is specified. The separate substrate 4 in which the folding position is specified can easily connect the connector 6. This is because when the two separate substrates 4 are folded in parallel, the pair of connectors 6 connected to the opposing positions are arranged at the connection position.
[0007]
The printed circuit board 3 is preferably electrically connected by both the lead plate and the connector 6. Since the lead plate can pass a larger current than the contact of the connector 6, the lead plate is used for a circuit in which a larger current flows than the connector 6, for example, a +-power line.
[0008]
Since the bending connector 5 is connected in parallel so that there is a gap between the separate substrates 4, the electronic component 8 can be mounted on the opposing surface of the separate substrate 4 that is folded in parallel. The structure in which the electronic component 8 is disposed on the opposing surface of the separate substrate 4 has an advantage that the electronic component 8 disposed here can be effectively protected by the separate substrate 4. Furthermore, the separate substrate 4 can also be mounted with electronic components 8 on both sides. Therefore, the printed circuit board 3 connecting the two separate substrates 4 can mount the electronic component 8 on four surfaces.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the example shown below illustrates the battery pack for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention does not specify the battery pack as follows.
[0010]
Further, in this specification, in order to facilitate understanding of the scope of claims, the numbers corresponding to the members shown in the examples are referred to as “the scope of claims” and “the means for solving the problems”. It is added to the member shown by. However, the members shown in the claims are not limited to the members in the embodiments.
[0011]
The battery pack shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 1 has a case 1, a secondary battery 2 built in the case 1, and electronic components (not shown) for realizing a protection circuit for the secondary battery 2, and the like. Printed circuit board 3.
[0012]
The case 1 is divided into upper and lower parts and molded into a square box shape with plastic. Each case 1 is provided with a peripheral wall 9 formed integrally. The peripheral wall 9 incorporates the secondary battery 2 and the printed circuit board 3 and is connected by a structure such as welding, adhesion, and screwing. In the case 1 shown in the figure, an electrode window 10 for opening the output terminal 7 fixed to the printed circuit board 3 to the outside is opened.
[0013]
The secondary battery 2 is a battery that can be charged and used repeatedly many times, such as a nickel-hydrogen battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, or a lithium ion secondary battery. In the illustrated battery pack, eight cylindrical secondary batteries are housed in the case 1 side by side in the vertical and horizontal directions.
[0014]
The printed circuit board 3 is shown in FIGS. The printed circuit board 3 shown in these figures is separated into two separate substrates 4, and the two substrates are connected by a bending connector 5 and a connector 6. The printed circuit board 3 shown in the figure is composed of two separate substrates 4, but the battery pack of the present invention can also be composed of three or more separate substrates. The separate substrate 4 is a hard insulating substrate such as a glass epoxy substrate in which glass fibers are embedded and reinforced, and a conductive metal foil is attached to the surface. The metal foil is in contact with the electronic component fixed to the printed circuit board 3 for wiring.
[0015]
In the printed circuit board 3 shown in the figure, the separated substrate 4 is formed into an elongated rectangle having the same outer shape. The printed circuit board 3 having the same external shape as the separate substrate 4 can increase the mounting area of a plurality of separate substrates 4. However, the battery pack of the present invention does not necessarily have the same outer shape of all the separate substrates, and large and small separate substrates can be connected in parallel.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 3, the bending connector 5 connects the separate substrate 4 so that it can be bent. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the bending connector 5 connects the two separate substrates 4 so that a predetermined gap is formed between the separate substrates 4 in a state where the separate substrates 4 are folded in a parallel posture. This is because the electronic component 8 is mounted on the facing surface of each of the separate substrates 4 connected in parallel. The interval between the separate substrates 4 is an interval at which the electronic component 8 mounted and protruding from the surface can be disposed, or an interval at which the mounted electronic component 8 can be cooled by allowing air to pass therethrough. .
[0017]
The bending connector 5 shown in the figure is a lead plate that electrically connects the printed circuit board 3. The lead plate is, for example, a metal plate such as a nickel plate, or a metal plate obtained by metal plating on the surface of a nickel plate, a copper plate, an aluminum plate or the like, and is fixed to each separate substrate 4 by soldering both ends. Yes. The lead plate is bent as shown in FIG. 5 to connect the separate substrates 4 in parallel. The interval between the separate substrates 4 can be adjusted by the length of the lead plate. When the lead plate is lengthened, the interval between the separate substrates 4 is widened, and when the lead plate is shortened, the distance is narrowed.
[0018]
In the illustrated printed circuit board 3, a lead plate is fixed to one end of an elongated separate substrate 4. Furthermore, two lead plates are fixed in parallel to one end of the separate substrate 4 to connect the separate substrate 4. This structure can be bent like a hinge on a lead plate. That is, by bending the lead plate, it can be bent while specifying the relative position of each separate substrate 4 so that the outer shape of each separate substrate 4 is the same position when viewed from the top. That is, the two separate substrates 4 are parallel to each other so as to be overlapped at the same position as shown in FIG. 2 after passing the bent position in the middle of FIG. 4 from the planar state of FIG. Folded.
[0019]
Thus, when each separate substrate 4 is bent at the same position by the bending connector 5, the connector 6 can be easily connected. This is because when the separate substrates 4 are folded in a parallel posture, the pair of connectors 6 are connected to each other. The lead plates connected so that the separate substrate 4 can be bent can supply a large current. Therefore, the lead plate can be used for a circuit in which a larger current flows than the connector 6, for example, a power supply line. In the structure for supplying a large current with the lead plate, it is not necessary to supply a large current with the connector 6, and the reliability can be improved by using a small connector 6 having a small current capacity.
[0020]
Further, the structure in which the separate substrate 4 is connected by a plurality of lead plates is convenient for using the lead plates for the + side wiring and the − side wiring of the power source. The reason for supplying power to the separate substrate 4 is that at least two lead plates on the + side and the − side are required. Further, since the lead plate can flow a large current, it can be used for a line for supplying a current to the output terminal 7.
[0021]
The connector 6 is fixed at a position facing the separate substrate 4 that is folded in a parallel posture by the bending connector 5. A pair of connectors 6 made of male and female is fixed to the opposing position of each separate substrate 4, the male and female connectors 6 are connected, the separate substrate 4 is connected to a fixed position, and each separate substrate 4 is electrically connected. Also connect to. That is, the connector 6 electrically connects each separate substrate 4 and mechanically connects at a specific position.
[0022]
As described above, the separate substrates 4 are connected in parallel to each other by both the connector 6 and the bending connector 5 and are attached to the fixed position of the case 1. In the printed circuit board 3 shown in the figure, the lead plate is mechanically coupled to each separate substrate 4 in the same manner as the connector 6 while being electrically connected. However, the battery pack according to the present invention does not necessarily require the bending connector to be electrically connected to each separate substrate. Therefore, the separate substrates can be connected as a plastic hinge or a plastic plate that can be bent. A plastic hinge or a plastic plate is fixed to a separate substrate by a structure such as connection or screwing.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
The battery pack of the present invention has an advantage that a printed circuit board can be disposed by effectively utilizing a narrow space that can be formed in a case. In the battery pack of the present invention, the printed circuit board built in the case is composed of a plurality of separate substrates, and each separated substrate is folded in a parallel posture so that a predetermined gap is formed. This is because the separate substrate is electrically connected by the connector and the plurality of separate substrates are connected in parallel by both the connector and the bending connector. The battery pack having this structure is designed so that a printed circuit board composed of a plurality of separate substrates can be arranged in a narrow space in the case, and can be conveniently stored in various battery case cases. Therefore, the battery pack of the present invention has a feature that a printed circuit board on which a protection circuit or the like is mounted can be disposed in a space-saving manner by effectively using a narrow space without being restricted by the shape and size of the case.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a printed circuit board built in the battery pack shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a state where the printed circuit board shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the printed board shown in FIG. 3 is bent. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of the printed board on which electronic components are mounted.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Case 2 ... Secondary battery 3 ... Printed circuit board 4 ... Separate board 5 ... Bending connector 6 ... Connector 7 ... Output terminal 8 ... Electronic component 9 ... Perimeter wall 10 ... Electrode window

Claims (5)

In a battery pack in which a case (1) includes a secondary battery (2) and a printed circuit board (3) mounted with a protection circuit, etc.
The printed circuit board (3) is composed of a plurality of separate substrates (4), and each separated substrate (4) is folded in a parallel posture with a predetermined gap between the separate substrates (4). It is connected so that it can be bent through the bending connector (5)
Further, a connector (6) for electrically connecting the separate substrate (4) is fixed to the separate substrate (4) at a position opposed to the separate substrate (4) in a state of being folded in a parallel posture via the bending connector (5). And
A battery pack in which a plurality of separate substrates (4) are connected in a parallel posture by both a connector (6) and a bending connector (5) and are built in a case (1). The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the bending connector (5) is a lead plate for electrically connecting the printed circuit board (3). The separate substrate (4) is connected via a plurality of lead plates, and the plurality of lead plates specify the relative position of the separate substrate (4) folded in parallel, and the relative position is specified by the lead plate. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the separate substrates (4) are connected by a connector (6). The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the lead plate is used in a circuit through which a larger current flows than the connector (6). The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the separate substrate (4) is folded in parallel and the electronic component (8) is mounted on the facing surface.

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