IP Library Granted Patent US 11,509,022
Granted Patent B2
US 11,509,022 · App. 16/925,589 · Granted Nov 22, 2022

Systems and methods for battery structure, interconnects, sensing, and balancing

Inventors: W. Porter Harris (Pasadena, CA); Kenneth Kawanishi (Whittier, CA); W. Hunter Greene (Madison, GA); Robert Wesley Thibault (Santa Monica, CA); Arun Gunasekaran (Los Angeles, CA)
Assignee: Romeo Systems Technology, LLC
H01M50/502H01M10/482H01M10/486H01M50/503H01M50/583H01M50/213
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,509,022
App. No.
16/925,589
Granted
Nov 22, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Exemplary systems and methods enable efficient and reliable positioning, assembly, retention, interconnection, and management of battery cells in battery packs, for example battery packs utilized in electric vehicles.

Claims (30)

1. A battery interconnect assembly for electrically connecting a plurality of cells of a battery pack, the battery interconnect assembly comprising:

a first plate comprising:

a first window;

a first tab associated with the first window, the first tab configured to connect the first plate to a first terminal of a cell of the plurality of cells of the battery pack; and

a second plate comprising:

a second window aligned with the first window, wherein the first tab extends through the second window, wherein a first shape of the first window and a second shape of the second window are different;

a second tab associated with the second window, the second tab configured to connect the second plate to a second terminal of the cell.

2. The battery interconnect assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first plate is planar, and wherein a portion of the first tab is bent at least partially out of a plane of the first plate to pass through the second window.

3. The battery interconnect assembly of claim 2 , wherein a hole is disposed in the first tab.

4. The battery interconnect assembly of claim 3 , wherein the hole disposed in the first tab causes the first tab to operate as a fuse structure isolating the cell, from a remainder of the plurality of cells, in response to current through the first tab exceeding a threshold for a predetermined amount of time.

5. The battery interconnect assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first tab comprises a first narrow neck having a lower cross-sectional area than any other portion of the first tab.

6. The battery interconnect assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first narrow neck operates as a fuse structure isolating the cell, from a remainder of the plurality of cells, in response to current through the first tab exceeding a threshold for a predetermined amount of time.

7. The battery interconnect assembly of claim 6 , wherein the second tab comprises a second narrow neck causing the second tab to operate as a second fuse structure isolating the cell, from a remainder of the plurality of cells, in response to current through the second tab exceeding a second threshold for a second predetermined amount of time.

8. The battery interconnect assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first tab comprises a trench disposed between the first plate and the portion of the first tab connected to the first terminal of the cell.

9. The battery interconnect assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first plate comprises a plurality of first windows and a plurality of first tabs, wherein the second plate comprises a plurality of second windows and a plurality of second tabs, and wherein the plurality of first tabs and the plurality of second tabs serve as the only mechanical connection between the battery interconnect assembly and the battery pack.

10. The battery interconnect assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first tab and the second tab at least partially isolate the battery interconnect assembly from vibrations of the battery pack.

11. The battery interconnect assembly of claim 1 , wherein the battery interconnect assembly is coupled to, and forms a lid for, a vapor chamber that at least partially encloses the plurality of cells.

12. The battery interconnect assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first plate is physically separated from the second plate, wherein the first plate is electrically connected to the second plate through the cell, wherein the first terminal has a first polarity, and wherein the second terminal has a second polarity.

13. The battery interconnect assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first plate at least partially overlaps the second plate.

14. The battery interconnect assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first plate comprises a stack formed from a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer, and wherein the first conductive layer comprises the first tab.

15. A battery interconnect assembly for electrically connecting a plurality of cells of a battery pack, the battery interconnect assembly comprising:

a first plate comprising:

a first window;

a first tab associated with the first window, the first tab configured to connect the first plate to a first terminal of a cell of the plurality of cells of the battery pack; and

a second plate comprising:

a second window aligned with the first window, wherein the first tab extends through the second window;

a second tab associated with the second window, the second tab configured to connect the second plate to a second terminal of the cell, wherein:

the first plate comprises a plurality of first windows and a plurality of first tabs,

the second plate comprises a plurality of second windows and a plurality of second tabs, and

the plurality of first tabs and the plurality of second tabs serve as the only mechanical connection between the battery interconnect assembly and the battery pack.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2024
From: ROMEO SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY, LLC; ROMEO SYSTEMS, INC.; ROMEO POWER, INC.
To: SG SERVICE CO., LLC, AS ASSIGNEE FOR ROMEO POWER, INC.
Reel/Frame 066178/0777 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 8, 2023
From: SG SERVICE CO., LLC, AS ASSIGNEE FOR ROMEO POWER, INC.
To: MULLEN AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
Reel/Frame 064849/0948 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 19, 2020
From: ROMEO SYSTEMS, INC.
To: ROMEO SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY, LLC
Reel/Frame 053541/0961 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 14, 2020
From: HARRIS, W. PORTER; KAWANISHI, KENNETH; GREENE, W. HUNTER; THIBAULT, ROBERT WESLEY; GUNASEKARAN, ARUN
To: ROMEO SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053501/0991 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15857949 · Dec 29, 2017
Provisional Application 62440102 · Dec 29, 2016
Related Publication 20200343516A1 · Oct 29, 2020