Battery

[0001] [Technical field to which the invention belongs] The present invention relates to a battery pack used as a power source for a portable device such as a notebook personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a notebook computer) or a personal digital assistant, and particularly exhibits heat dissipation of a secondary battery. It relates to a battery pack in consideration of pressure resistance.

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To configure a battery pack by connecting a plurality of secondary batteries in series and / or in parallel when a high output voltage or a large battery capacity is required as a battery power source of a portable device. The battery pack is configured as a form in which a plurality of secondary batteries and a circuit board constituting a power supply circuit or the like are housed in a pack case and integrated, or a form of an assembled battery integrated with a heat-shrinkable tube or an adhesive tape. Will be done.

[0003] With the miniaturization of mobile devices, the battery pack is also required to be miniaturized, and a plurality of secondary batteries tend to be integrated in a state of being in close contact with each other. However, since the secondary battery generates heat during charging and discharging, even if the heat generation is small, the heat is not sufficiently dissipated when the plurality of secondary batteries are closely arranged, and the pack case is closed. The temperature of the secondary battery rises in the space, which adversely affects the charge / discharge characteristics related to the battery temperature.

[0004] As a prior application example for eliminating the harmful effects of arranging such secondary batteries in close contact with each other, a battery pack disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-100401 is known. In the battery pack disclosed here, when a plurality of cylindrical secondary batteries are arranged in parallel with the same cylindrical direction, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, there is a gap between the opposed spaces of the cylindrical secondary batteries 12. Spacers 43 having openings 48 and 49 formed in directions orthogonal to the spacers 43 are arranged between adjacent cylindrical secondary batteries 12 to improve heat dissipation of the secondary batteries.

[0005] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention] When the number of secondary batteries configured as a battery pack increases and they are arranged on a plane, the plane area as a battery pack increases, and the battery pack of a pack case or an apparatus A large space is required for the storage space, and in order to prevent the adverse effect on safety due to the increase in the internal battery pressure due to the pressure applied to the secondary battery when the external pressure is applied, the storage space for the pack case and equipment should be used. It is necessary to provide a support structure such as a support column to prevent deformation due to external pressure. In particular, in the flat and square secondary battery 2 shown in FIG. 12, the plane area becomes larger and the support structure becomes an indispensable condition.

[0006] The spacer 43 having the above-mentioned conventional configuration corresponds to the cylindrical secondary battery 12, but as shown in FIG. 12, it is applied to the flat secondary battery 2 to support the opening 48. It can be used for passing through. However, since this spacer 43 is not a connecting member, it is not possible to obtain a connecting strength sufficient to connect a number of flat secondary batteries 2. Further, the battery pack storage space of the device is not always rectangular, and often has a deformed shape, and the spacer 43 cannot cope with it. Further, it is desired to configure a battery pack having a high degree of freedom in providing a support structure by providing a larger open space between the secondary batteries 2 arranged in parallel to improve heat dissipation.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack in which a space for heat dissipation and rigidity enhancement is formed between a plurality of batteries so as to accommodate a deformed accommodation space.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, in the battery pack according to the present invention, a plurality of secondary batteries are connected in series and / or in parallel, and at predetermined intervals.<u style="single">Void</u>The surface orthogonal to the parallel line direction of any number of secondary batteries arranged in parallel is an insulating plate material.<u style="single">The relative positions between the secondary batteries arranged in parallel are substantially held.</u>It is characterized by being connected, and is at a predetermined interval.<u style="single">Void</u>Since the secondary batteries arranged in parallel with each other are connected by an insulating member, the secondary battery can be used.<u style="single">Void</u>When this is repeated any number of times in the parallel line direction, the plurality of secondary batteries will be connected between the parallel arrangements.<u style="single">Void</u>Is provided and integrated, and has good heat dissipation.<u style="single">Void</u>A support such as a support is arranged inside to prevent pressure in the compression direction from being applied to the secondary battery.

[0009] In the above configuration, by forming the surface orthogonal to the parallel line direction as the forming surface of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the secondary battery, an insulating plate material can be attached to the flat surface, and the connection between the secondary batteries can be formed. Can be done reliably.

[0010] Further, the positive electrode and the negative electrode formed on the plane orthogonal to the parallel line direction are connected by a metal plate material so that the secondary batteries are connected in series and / or in parallel, and the metal is formed at the position where the metal plate material exists. An insulating plate can be attached onto the plate, electrical connection and mechanical connection can be made at the same position, and a thin and low-strength metal plate can be protected by the insulating plate.

[0011] Further, it is a preferable means that the insulating plate material is configured such that both surfaces of the resin plate are subjected to adhesive treatment and the secondary batteries are connected by adhesive.

[0012] Predetermined intervals in an odd number of secondary batteries<u style="single">Void</u>An even number of secondary batteries arranged in parallel with each other are connected by an insulating plate material to the insulating plate material located at the end.<u style="single">、</u>The remaining secondary battery<u style="single">Different from the parallel line direction of the secondary batteries arranged in parallel</u>If it is configured to be joined in the direction, it is possible to correspond to the battery storage space having a deformed shape, and it is possible to integrally connect an odd number of secondary batteries that are difficult to arrange.

[0013] Further, the plurality of secondary batteries can be arranged in a combination of the arrangement directions according to the shape of the accommodation space of the secondary battery, and the number of arrangements in the parallel arrangement direction and the parallel line direction is matched with the shape of the accommodation space. And selectively combine to enable a high degree of freedom.

[0014] Further, the secondary battery is suitable for being applied to a flat-angled battery.

[0015] Further, by binding the connected or bonded secondary batteries with an adhesive tape in the parallel arrangement direction, the integrated structure of the plurality of connected or bonded secondary batteries can be strengthened.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for the purpose of understanding the present invention. The embodiments shown below are examples that embody the present invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0017] The present embodiment shows a battery pack configured as a battery power source for a notebook computer, and as shown in FIG. 1, the battery is housed in an additional case 20 detachably attached to the bottom surface of the notebook computer A. It is formed in a shape that can be accommodated in the space.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which the battery pack 1 according to the present embodiment is housed in the additional case 20, and the additional case 20 is in an open state with the lid fixed on the illustrated plane removed. Shown. The lid is formed in a plate shape and is screwed and solidified to a plurality of bosses 24 into which female screws are inserted. The battery pack 1 includes nine secondary batteries 2 housed in a battery housing frame 21 formed in the additional case 20, and a circuit board 3 constituting a battery protection circuit, a communication circuit with the notebook computer A, and the like. It is composed of. The secondary battery 2 is a flat-angled lithium-ion secondary battery, and three of them are connected in parallel, and eight of them are electrically connected in a state of being connected in series and arranged in parallel. The secondary batteries 2 are connected to each other with a connecting plate 5 at a predetermined interval W, and the remaining one secondary battery 2 is joined to the connecting plate 5 at the end.

[0019] In order to prevent the weight of the notebook computer A from being added to the additional case 20 and the pressurization from the human body applied on the notebook computer A, particularly directly above the storage position of the battery pack 1, to reach the secondary battery 2. A support column 22 is formed in the additional case 20 so as to be located within the interval W formed between the secondary batteries 2 arranged in parallel to prevent bending due to pressurization of a lid (not shown). Since the height of the support column 22 is formed to be the same as the height of the battery accommodating frame 21, the bending of the lid due to the pressurization on the secondary battery 2 is supported by the support column 22 and the battery accommodating frame 21. Therefore, no pressurization is applied to the secondary battery 2. Further, a positioning rib 23 corresponding to the interval W between the secondary batteries 2 arranged in parallel is provided, and the secondary battery 2 is positioned so that the interval W is maintained.

[0020] The detailed configuration of the battery pack 1 in which the plurality of secondary batteries 2 are provided with the interval W and integrated into the deformed shape as described above will be described below.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 3, the insulating paper 13 is attached to the forming surface of the positive electrode terminal 4 of the secondary battery 2. As shown in FIG. 4, eight of the secondary batteries 2 are arranged in series and connected in parallel on the jig, and the lead plate 6 is joined. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a connecting plate 5 having adhesive treatment on both sides is attached to a key point. The connecting plate 5 has electrical insulation and is formed of a highly rigid resin plate material into a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the secondary battery 2. When the eight secondary batteries 2 attached to the lead plate 6 and the connecting plate 5 are opened between the secondary batteries 2 in contact with each other from the deployment position Q shown in FIG. 5, the connecting plate 5 is attached. The connecting plate 5 is attached to the surface that is not attached, and as shown in FIG. 6, a state in which eight secondary batteries 2 are arranged in parallel with an interval W is obtained. As shown in FIG. 6, the side surface of one secondary battery 2 is attached to the connecting plate 5 at the end of the eight connected state, and as shown in FIG. 7, the flat plate of each secondary battery 2 is attached. When the adhesive tape 7 is attached across each secondary battery 2 on both sides of the surface, the nine secondary batteries are firmly integrated.

[0022] FIG. 7 shows the completed state of the battery pack 1, and the lead wire 9 for the connection between the secondary battery 2 and the circuit board 3 is wired, and the lead wire 9 is wired. A small-area adhesive tape 7a is attached to key points for processing and fixing the circuit board 3. In addition, the connector 11 is pulled out from the circuit board 3 so that it can be connected to the notebook computer A. Since each component of this battery pack 1 is integrated, it can be supplied to the manufacturer of notebook computer A in this state. When the battery pack 1 is housed in the additional case 20 as shown in FIG. 2, the battery pack 1 becomes the notebook computer A. The additional battery power supply can be easily manufactured. Furthermore, it can be built into the main body of the notebook computer A if it has the required shape.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 8, the plurality of secondary batteries 2 may be arranged in parallel by providing two or more secondary batteries 2 at predetermined intervals W. The length of the insulating plate 16 is determined according to the number of secondary batteries 2. In this way, the degree of freedom in arranging the secondary batteries 2 is high, and the design can be made according to the shape of the battery accommodation space.

[0024] Further, as shown in FIG. 9, cylindrical secondary batteries 12 can be arranged in parallel at intervals and connected by an insulating plate material 15.

[Effect of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, a space is formed between the secondary batteries, the heat dissipation of the secondary battery is improved, and the compression direction of the secondary battery is improved in the space. A support can be provided to support the pressurization of the secondary battery, and the secondary battery can be prevented from being pressurized. In addition, the degree of freedom in arranging a plurality of secondary batteries is high, and the batteries can be arranged according to the shape of the battery storage space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [FIG. 1] A side view showing an outline of a notebook computer to which a battery pack according to an embodiment is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which a battery pack is arranged in an additional case.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a pretreatment for a secondary battery.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a process of joining lead plates for assembling a battery pack.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a process of attaching a connecting plate for assembling a battery pack.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a process of arranging a secondary battery for assembling a battery pack.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a completed state of the battery pack.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing another aspect of the secondary battery arrangement.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an embodiment applied to a cylindrical secondary battery.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a spacer having a conventional configuration.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an arrangement state of secondary batteries by the same spacer.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an example in which the same spacer is applied to a flat square battery.

[Description of code] 1 Battery pack 2 Secondary battery 5 Connecting plate (insulating plate material) 7 Adhesive tape