IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,665,231
Granted Patent B2
US 12,665,231 · App. 18/175,547 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

End plate assembly including thermistor, battery module and battery pack including the same

Inventors: Jin Su Han (Daejeon, KR); Ji Eun Kang (Daejeon, KR); Min Song Kang (Daejeon, KR); Ju Yong Park (Daejeon, KR); Suk Ho Shin (Daejeon, KR); Ji Woong Kim (Daejeon, KR); Byeong Jun Pak (Daejeon, KR)
Assignee: SK On Co., Ltd.
H01M10/486H01M10/425H01M50/276H01M50/505H01M2010/4278
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,665,231
App. No.
18/175,547
Filed
Feb 28, 2023
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
1724
USPC
429/90
Abstract

A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells stacked in one direction; and an end plate assembly covering an outermost battery cell disposed on the outermost among the plurality of battery cells, wherein the end plate assembly includes at least one thermistor for measuring a temperature of the outermost battery cell.

Claims (50)

1 . A battery module, comprising:

a plurality of battery cells stacked in one direction; and

an end plate assembly covering an outermost battery cell disposed on the outermost among the plurality of battery cells,

wherein the end plate assembly includes at least one thermistor for measuring a temperature of the outermost battery cell,

wherein the end plate assembly is disposed to oppose a wide surface of the outermost battery cell,

wherein the end plate assembly includes:

a first plate disposed on an outermost side; and

a second plate disposed between the first plate and the outermost battery cell and includes the at least one thermistor on one surface facing the outermost battery cell,

wherein the one surface is disposed to oppose the wide surface of the battery cell, and

wherein the first plate and the second plate are manufactured in the form of a sandwich panel,

wherein the at least one thermistor includes:

a first thermistor in contact with a first region of the outermost battery cell; and

a second thermistor in contact with a second region of the outermost battery cell,

wherein the first region has a highest average temperature in the outermost battery cell and is adjacent to an upper corner portion of the outermost battery cell and a busbar assembly electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells, and the second region has a lowest average temperature in the outermost battery cell.

2 . The battery module of claim 1 ,

wherein the end plate assembly further includes a third plate disposed between the second plate and the outermost battery cell, and

wherein the third plate includes a hole in a position opposing the at least one thermistor such that the at least one thermistor is exposed toward the outermost battery cell.

3 . The battery module of claim 1 , further comprising:

a sensing module assembly disposed on one side of the plurality of battery cells in a length direction, and including a first substrate electrically connected to the at least one thermistor and receiving data on temperature of the outermost battery cell.

4 . The battery module of claim 3 ,

wherein the sensing module assembly further includes:

a second substrate disposed on the other side of the plurality of battery cells in a length direction; and

a connection substrate extending in the length direction of the plurality of battery cells and structurally and electrically connecting the first substrate to the second substrate.

5 . The battery module of claim 4 , further comprising:

the busbar assembly disposed in the length direction of the plurality of battery cells and electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells,

wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are coupled to the busbar assembly.

6 . The battery module of claim 1 , further comprising:

a side plate covering the plurality of battery cells in the length direction of the plurality of battery cells,

wherein the side plate is coupled to the end plate assembly.

7 . The battery module of claim 6 ,

wherein the side plate includes an extension portion extending toward the end plate assembly and covering a portion of the end plate assembly, and

wherein the side plate is coupled to the end plate assembly in the extension portion.

8 . A battery pack, comprising:

a pack housing;

a plurality of battery modules disposed in the pack housing, wherein each of the plurality of battery modules comprises the battery module of claim 1 ; and

a controller wirelessly communicating with the plurality of battery modules.

9 . An end plate assembly mounted on a battery module including a plurality of battery cells, the end plate assembly comprising:

a first plate; and

a second plate disposed on one side of the first plate and including at least one thermistor,

wherein the second plate includes one surface disposed to oppose a wide surface of the plurality of battery cells, and

wherein the at least one thermistor is disposed on the one surface,

wherein the at least one thermistor includes:

a first thermistor in contact with a first region of an outermost battery cell; and

a second thermistor in contact with a second region of the outermost battery cell,

wherein the first region has a highest average temperature in the outermost battery cell and is adjacent to an upper corner portion of the outermost battery cell and a busbar assembly electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells, and

wherein the second region has a lowest average temperature in the outermost battery cell.

10 . The end plate assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first plate is formed of a metal material, and the second plate is formed of an insulating material.

11 . The end plate assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:

a third plate disposed on one side of the second plate and formed of an elastic material,

wherein the third plate includes a hole exposing the at least one thermistor in a position opposing the at least one thermistor of the second plate.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2023
From: HAN, JIN SU; KANG, JI EUN; KANG, MIN SONG; PARK, JU YONG; SHIN, SUK HO; KIM, JI WOONG; PAK, BYEONG JUN
To: SK ON CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 062882/0279 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2022-0031552 · Mar 14, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230291022A1 · Sep 14, 2023
References Cited (24)
US 9666378B2 · Hayashida et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20120052359A1 · Yoshitake · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20120064386A1 · Oguri et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130164569A1 · Srinivasan · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20150147613A1 · Hayashida et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20210126314A1 · Masuda et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210218074A1 · Aoki et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210296714A1 · Yamashita et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220328890A1 · Aoki et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220359922A1 · Park · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20230043819A1 · Oh · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20230071238A1 · Hwang · 2023 [cited by applicant]
CN 215644726U · 2022 [cited by applicant]
EP 3770994A1 · 2021 [cited by examiner]
KR 1020200030967A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020200103465A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020210103832A · 2021 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020210145338A · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO 2013179798A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021166427A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021246633A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
Third Party Observation for the European Patent Application No. 23160840.7 issued by the European Patent Office on Nov. 15, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report on the European Patent Application No. 23160840.7 issued by the European Patent Office on Jul. 10, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Office Action for Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0031552 issued by the Korean Patent Office on Mar. 10, 2026. [cited by applicant]