JP2021068696A - Wiring module and power storage module - Google Patents

Abstract

To suppress a problem such as a decrease in assembly accuracy between a protector and a flexible printed circuit board.SOLUTION: A wiring module includes a first flexible printed circuit board, a second flexible printed circuit board, and an insulating protector having a first area in which the first flexible printed circuit board is arranged and a second area in which the second flexible printed circuit board is arranged, and the first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board each include a fixed portion to be fixed to the protector.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

This specification discloses techniques relating to wiring modules and power storage modules.

Conventionally, there is known a wiring module that is mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle and is attached to the upper surface of a power storage element group in which a plurality of power storage elements having positive electrode terminal and negative electrode terminals are arranged. The battery wiring module of JP2013-45508 (Patent Document 1) includes a plurality of bus bars connecting electrode terminals and a flexible printed circuit board in which a plurality of conductive paths for detecting the state of a single battery are formed. , A resin protector for holding these a plurality of bus bars and a flexible printed circuit board is provided. The flexible printed circuit board is provided with a plurality of through holes arranged in two rows, and the resin protector is provided with a plurality of pins penetrating the through holes of the flexible printed circuit board arranged in two rows.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-45508

By the way, as the number of power storage elements in the power storage element group increases with the increase in pressure of the power storage element group, the length of the flexible printed circuit board in the arrangement direction of the plurality of power storage elements tends to increase. In the configuration of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-45508 (Patent Document 1), since the flexible printed circuit board extends over the entire length in the arrangement direction of the plurality of cells, the resin protector and the resin protector are used according to the length of the flexible printed circuit board. , The tolerance between the flexible printed circuit board becomes large, and there is a concern that the resin protector and the flexible printed circuit board may have problems such as a decrease in assembly accuracy.

The wiring module described in the present specification includes a first flexible printed circuit board, a second flexible printed circuit board, a first region in which the first flexible printed circuit board is arranged, and a second flexible printed circuit board. The first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board each include a fixed portion fixed to the protector. ..

According to the technique described in the present specification, it is possible to suppress problems such as a decrease in assembly accuracy due to a large tolerance between the protector and the flexible printed circuit board.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a power storage module according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a wiring module. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the wiring module. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a process of assembling the first FPC and the second FPC to the protector. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the first FPC and the second FPC are assembled to the protector.

[Explanation of Embodiments of the present disclosure]
First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described.
(1) In the wiring module of the present disclosure, a first flexible printed circuit board, a second flexible printed circuit board, a first region in which the first flexible printed circuit board is arranged, and a second flexible printed circuit board are arranged. The first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board each include a fixed portion fixed to the protector. Wiring module.
According to the above configuration, since the first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board are fixed to different regions of the protector, as compared with the configuration in which one flexible printed circuit board is arranged over the entire protector, The tolerance between the protector and the flexible printed circuit board can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to suppress problems such as a decrease in assembly accuracy due to a large tolerance between the protector and the flexible printed circuit board.

(2) The first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board have a shape extending in a strip shape, and are arranged on the protector so that the extending directions are continuous with each other.
In this way, the tolerance between the first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board and the protector tends to be large, and the tolerance between the first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board is different from that of the protector. Can be absorbed.

(3) An oval-shaped through hole for a substrate is formed in the fixed portion, and the protector includes a convex portion to be inserted into the through hole for the substrate.
In this way, since the convex portion is inserted into the oval-shaped through hole for the substrate, the displacement of the through hole for the substrate in the major axis direction is allowed. It becomes easy to absorb the tolerance between the second flexible printed circuit board and the protector.

(4) A connector is attached to each of the first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board, and the connector on at least one of the first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board. A through hole for a connector is formed on the side, the protector is provided with a convex portion to be inserted into the through hole for the connector, and the hole diameter of the through hole for the connector is the same in the major axis direction of the through hole for the substrate. It is smaller than the hole diameter of the through hole for the substrate.
In this way, in the configuration in which the first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board are connected to the outside by the connector, the connector side can be positioned, so that the connector on the other side can be easily connected to the connector. it can.

(5) The through hole for the connector is provided at a position rearward of the connector in the fitting direction in which the connector is fitted with the mating connector.

(6) On at least one of the first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board, a pair extending on both sides of the connector along a fitting direction in which the connector is fitted with a mating connector. A slit portion is provided, and a pair of through holes for the connector are provided inside the pair of slit portions.

(7) At least one of the first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board has a band-shaped first extension portion and an interval along the first extension portion with respect to the first extension portion. It is provided with a second extension portion that extends in a band shape.
In this way, even if the flexible printed circuit board cannot be arranged in the region between the first extension portion and the second extension portion, the tolerance is increased by the first extension portion and the second extension portion. It is possible to suppress problems caused by the increase in size.

(8) In the present disclosure, a plurality of power storage elements having positive and negative electrode terminals, a plurality of bus bars connecting the electrode terminals of the plurality of power storage elements, and any one of the above (1) to (7) The first flexible printed board and the second flexible printed board are power storage modules connected to the bus bar.

[Details of Embodiments of the present disclosure]
Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to these examples, and is indicated by the scope of claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

<Embodiment>
The embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.
The power storage module 10 of the present embodiment is mounted on, for example, a power supply path of a vehicle such as an automobile, and wiring modules 20 are mounted on a plurality of power storage elements 11. The power storage module 10 (and the wiring module 20) can be mounted in any direction, but the X direction of FIG. 1 will be described as forward, the Y direction as left, and the Z direction as upward.

(Storage module 10)
As shown in FIG. 1, the power storage module 10 includes a plurality of power storage elements 11 arranged in a row and a wiring module 20 mounted on the upper surface of the plurality of power storage elements 11. The power storage element 11 has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape in which a power storage element (not shown) is housed, and has positive electrode terminals 12A and 12B on the upper surface thereof.

(Wiring module 20)
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the wiring module 20 includes a first flexible printed wiring board (hereinafter referred to as “first FPC21”) and a second flexible printed wiring board (hereinafter referred to as “second FPC22”). , A plurality of bus bars 35, and a protector 40 for holding the first FPC 21, the second FPC 22, and the plurality of bus bars 35.

(1st FPC21 and 2nd FPC22)
Both the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22 include a flexible and deformable FPC main body 23 and a connector 30 attached to one terminal portion of the FPC main body 23. The FPC main body 23 has a base film made of an insulating synthetic resin, a conductive path wired to the base film, and an insulating layer made of an insulating overlay film or a coating film covering the base film. The first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22 can be formed by using, for example, printing, etching, plating, or the like.

As the material of the base film and the insulating layer, any synthetic resin such as a thermosetting resin such as an epoxy resin, a thermoplastic resin, and a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) can be used as needed. Examples of the thermoplastic resin include polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyimide (PI), and any other thermoplastic resin as required. Can be used. The conductive path is made of a metal foil such as copper, a copper alloy, aluminum, or an aluminum alloy, and electronic components are mounted on the conductive path. Electronic components consist of FETs (Field Effect Transistors), resistors, capacitors, coils, thermistors, and the like.

Each FPC main body 23 of the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22 includes a base portion 24 having a region to which the connector 30 is mounted, and a pair of extension portions 26A and 26B extending in a strip shape in the front-rear direction with respect to the base portion 24. The base portion 24 has a pair of slit portions 25 that divide both sides of the connector 30. The connector 30 is mounted on the mounting surface 24A (FIG. 5) inside the pair of slit portions 25. As shown in FIG. 2, the pair of extension portions 26A and 26B include a first extension portion 26A and a second extension portion 26B having different lengths in the front-rear direction (extension direction), and both have a width dimension with respect to the base portion 24. Are made smaller and extend parallel to each other at intervals. A gap is provided between the pair of extension portions 26A and 26B of the first FPC 21 and the pair of extension portions 26A and 26B of the second FPC 22 to expose the protector 40.

As shown in FIG. 8, the FPC main body 23 of the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22 has a plurality of first through holes 27 (an example of a through hole for a substrate) and a plurality of second through holes 28 (an example of a through hole for a connector). ) Is formed through. The plurality of first through holes 27 have an oval shape that is long in the front-rear direction, and are provided side by side at predetermined intervals in the front-rear direction so as to pass through a pair of extension portions 26A and 26B of each FPC main body 23. There is. Further, one first through hole 27 is provided on the central portion side of the base portion 24. The hole diameter of the first through hole 27 in the major axis direction (front-rear direction) depends on the tolerance between the protector 40 and the convex portion 43 described later, which is generated according to the length of each FPC main body 23 in the extension direction (front-rear direction). It is set as appropriate.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the plurality of second through holes 28 both have a perfect circular shape having a diameter smaller than the diameter in the front-rear direction of the first through hole 27, and are provided in the vicinity of the connector 30. There is. Specifically, a pair of second through holes 28 are provided inside the slit portions 25 on both sides of the connector 30 and arranged side by side on the back surface side of the connector 30. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the vicinity of the first through hole 27 and the second through hole 28 (hole edge portion) in the FPC main body 23 is a fixed portion 29 fixed to the protector 40. As shown in FIG. 5, reinforcing plates 33 are stacked under the front and rear ends of the FPC main body 23. A through hole 33A connected to the second through hole 28 is formed through the reinforcing plate 33, and is fixed to the FPC main body 23 with an adhesive or the like.

The connector 30 includes a housing 31 made of synthetic resin and a connector terminal 32 held by the housing 31. The connector terminal 32 is soldered to a land connected to the conductive path of the FPC main body 23. The connector 30 is connected to a mating connector connected to the terminal portion of the electric wire. The mating connector is connected to an external ECU (Electronic Control Unit) or the like with respect to an electric wire. The voltage of the bus bar 35 is output to the ECU via the conductive path of the FPC main body 23. The ECU is equipped with a microcomputer, elements, etc., and has a function for detecting the voltage, current, temperature, etc. of each power storage element 11 and performing charge / discharge control control of each power storage element 11. It has a well-known configuration.

(Busbar 35)
The bus bar 35 has a rectangular shape made of a metal plate material such as copper, copper alloy, aluminum, or aluminum alloy, and connects adjacent electrode terminals 12A and 12B. A connection piece 36 that can be connected to a land connected to a conductive path of the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22 is provided on the peripheral edge of the bus bar 35. The connection piece 36 and the land are connected by soldering or the like.

(Protector 40)
The protector 40 is made of an insulating synthetic resin, and as shown in FIG. 8, has a plate-shaped protector main body 41 and a bus bar disposing portion 46 which is connected to both sides of the protector main body 41 and is provided with a bus bar 35. , Equipped with. Mounting recesses 45 having a recessed upper surface side are formed at both ends of the protector main body 41 in the front-rear direction. By mounting the connector 30 in the mounting recess 45, the height of the end portion of the wiring module 20 is lowered.

The protector body 41 is surrounded by a first area 42A on which the first FPC 21 is placed, a second area 42B on which the second FPC 22 is placed, and between the first area 42A and the second area 42B. It has a ventilation area 42C and. The ventilation region 42C is a region extending in a band shape in the front-rear direction, and a plurality of ventilation holes 44 penetrating the protector main body 41 are provided side by side in the front-rear direction. The ventilation hole 44 is capable of discharging the gas generated from the power storage element 11 to the outside, for example.

In the first region 42A and the second region 42B, a convex portion 43 for positioning the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22 stands up from the plate surface. The convex portion 43 has a columnar shape that can be inserted into each of the first through holes 27 and each of the second through holes 28, and is provided at a position corresponding to the plurality of first through holes 27 and the plurality of second through holes 28. .. Specifically, the protector main body 41 is provided side by side at intervals in the front-rear direction on the peripheral edge side or the like, and is also formed in the mounting recess 45 and in the vicinity of the mounting recess 45. The plurality of convex portions 43 fix the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22 to the protector 40 by, for example, deforming by heat welding. Before welding, the convex portion 43 has a height at which the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22 penetrate the through holes 27, 28 and project upward from the through holes 27, 28 in a state where the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22 are placed at predetermined positions of the protector 40. (Dimension in the axial direction). On the other hand, when the convex portion 43 is melted and solidified by heat welding, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a rivet shape having a diameter larger than that of the first through hole 27 and the second through hole 28 is formed on the FPC main body 23. Locking portion 43A is formed.

Each bus bar disposing portion 46 holds a plurality of bus bars 35 arranged in the front-rear direction, and as shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of through holes 47 through which the electrode terminals 12A and 12B of the power storage element 11 pass, and the bus bar. A regulation claw 48 for restricting the detachment of the 35 and an insulating wall 49 for insulating the adjacent bus bars 35 in the arranging direction are provided.

The assembly of the wiring module 20 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 8, the four (plurality) convex portions 43 at the front-rear end of the protector 40 are provided with the corresponding two (plurality) first through holes 27 and 2 of one of the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22. It is inserted into one (plural) second through holes 28. Here, since the clearance between each of the second through holes 28 and the corresponding convex portion 43 is small, one end of the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22 (the end on the connector 30 side) is the second through hole 28. Positioned with reference to position. Then, with respect to the FPC main body 23, the corresponding convex portions 43 are inserted in order from the first through hole 27 on the side closer to the connector 30. At this time, a tolerance is generated between the position of the convex portion 43 and the position of the first through hole 27 according to the length of the first FPC 21, but when compared with the overall length of the protector 40 in the front-rear direction, the first FPC 21 and the first through hole 27 are the first. One length of 2FPC22 becomes shorter. As a result, the tolerance between the convex portion 43 and the first through hole 27 is within the range of the tolerance that does not hinder the insertion of the convex portion 43 corresponding to all the first through holes 27.
Similarly, for the other of the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22, the four (plural) convex portions 43 on the end side of the protector 40 are inserted into the corresponding first through holes 27 and the second through holes 28 of the second FPC 22. After positioning by the second through hole 28 and the corresponding convex portion 43, the corresponding convex portion 43 is inserted into the first through hole 27 in order from the first through hole 27 on the side closer to the connector 30 (FIG. 9). ..

Then, with the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22 placed at predetermined positions on the protector 40, the convex portion 43 penetrating the first through hole 27 and the second through hole 28 is heat-welded using a tool or the like ( See FIGS. 4 and 5). As a result, the tip end side of the convex portion 43 is melted to become the locking portion 43A, and the FPC main body 23 is fixed to the protector 40. Next, a plurality of bus bars 35 are arranged side by side on the bus bar disposing portion 46, and the connection piece 36 is soldered to the land of each FPC main body 23. As a result, the wiring module 20 is formed (FIG. 2).
Next, the wiring module 20 is arranged on the plurality of power storage elements 11, and each bus bar 35 is connected to the adjacent electrode terminals 12A and 12B by welding or the like to form the power storage module 10 (FIG. 1). ).

According to this embodiment, the following actions and effects are exhibited.
The wiring module 20 has a first FPC21 (first flexible printed circuit board), a second FPC22 (second flexible printed circuit board), and a second area 42A in which the first FPC21 is arranged and a second FPC22. An insulating protector 40 having a region 42B, and a first FPC 21 and a second FPC 22 each include a fixed portion 29 fixed to the protector 40.
According to the present embodiment, since the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22 are fixed to different regions of the protector 40, the tolerance between the protector 40 and the FPC is compared with the configuration in which one FPC is arranged on the entire protector 40. Can be made smaller. As a result, it is possible to suppress problems such as a decrease in assembly accuracy due to a large tolerance between the protector 40 and the FPC.

The wiring module 20 according to claim 1, wherein the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22 have a shape extending in a band shape and are arranged on the protector 40 so that the extending directions are continuous with each other.
In this way, it is possible to absorb the tolerance with the protector 40 in the extending direction of the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22 in which the tolerance between the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22 and the protector 40 tends to be large.

Further, the fixed portion 29 is formed with an oval-shaped first through hole 27, and the protector 40 includes a convex portion 43 to be inserted into the first through hole 27.
In this way, by inserting the convex portion 43 into the oval-shaped first through hole 27, the displacement of the first through hole 27 in the major axis direction is allowed, so that the first FPC 21 and the first FPC 21 and the first through hole 27 can be further displaced. The tolerance between the 2FPC 22 and the protector 40 can be easily absorbed.

Further, a connector 30 is attached to each of the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22, a second through hole 28 is formed on the connector 30 side of at least one of the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22, and the protector 40 has a second through hole 28. A convex portion 43 to be inserted through the hole 28 is provided, and the hole diameter of the second through hole 28 is smaller than the hole diameter of the first through hole 27 in the major axis direction of the first through hole 27.
In this way, in the configuration in which the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22 are connected to the outside by the connector 30, the connector 30 side can be positioned, so that the connector on the other side can be easily connected to the connector 30.

The second through hole 28 is provided at a position rearward of the connector 30 in the fitting direction in which the connector 30 fits with the mating connector.

At least one of the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22 is provided with a pair of slit portions 25 extending along the fitting direction in which the connector 30 fits with the mating connector on both sides of the connector 30, and a pair of slit portions. A pair of second through holes 28 are provided inside the 25.

Further, at least one of the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22 has a first extending portion 26A extending in a band shape and a second extending portion 26B extending in a band shape along the first extending portion 26A at intervals with respect to the first extending portion 26A. And.
In this way, even if the FPC cannot be arranged in the region between the first extension portion 26A and the second extension portion 26B, the first extension portion 26A and the second extension portion 26B may be used. Problems caused by large tolerances can be suppressed.

<Other Embodiments>
The techniques described herein are not limited to the embodiments described above and in the drawings, and for example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the techniques described herein.
(1) Although the wiring module 20 has a bus bar 35, the wiring module 20 may not have the bus bar 35.

(2) The shapes of the first through hole 27 and the second through hole 28 are not limited to the shape of the above embodiment. For example, the first through hole 27 may have a perfect circular shape having a size (diameter) capable of absorbing tolerances.
(3) The convex portion 43 is inserted into the first through hole 27 and the second through hole 28 of the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first FPC or the second FPC may be provided with a convex portion so as to be inserted into the concave portion of the protector. Further, for example, the end portions of the first FPC and the second FPC may be fixed to the protector by a fixing means (tape winding or the like).

(4) The wiring module 20 may be configured such that FPCs (third FPC and the like) other than the first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22 are arranged in different regions of the protector 40.
(5) The first FPC 21 and the second FPC 22 are configured to include a first extension portion 26A and a second extension portion 26B, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the first FPC and the second FPC may have a shape that extends as a whole with the width dimension of the base 24.

10: Power storage module 11: Power storage elements 12A, 12B: Electrode terminals 20: Wiring module 21: First FPC (first flexible printed circuit board)
22: 2nd FPC (2nd flexible printed circuit board)
23: FPC main body 24: Base 24A: Mounting surface 25: Slit 26A: First extension 26B: Second extension 27: First through hole (example of through hole for substrate)
28: Second through hole (example of through hole for connector)
29: Fixed portion 30: Connector 31: Housing 32: Connector terminal 33: Reinforcing plate 33A: Through hole 35: Bus bar 36: Connection piece 40: Protector 41: Protector body 42A: First area 42B: Second area 42C : Ventilation area 43: Convex portion 43A: Locking portion 44: Ventilation hole 45: Mounting recess 46: Bus bar arrangement portion 47: Through hole 48: Regulatory claw 49: Insulation wall

Claims (8)

The first flexible printed circuit board and
With the second flexible printed circuit board
An insulating protector having a first region in which a first flexible printed circuit board is arranged and a second region in which a second flexible printed circuit board is arranged is provided.
The first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board are wiring modules each having a fixed portion fixed to the protector. The wiring module according to claim 1, wherein the first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board have a shape extending in a strip shape and are arranged on the protector so that the extending directions are continuous with each other. .. An oval-shaped through hole for a substrate is formed in the fixed portion.
The wiring module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the protector includes a convex portion inserted into the through hole for a substrate. A connector is attached to each of the first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board.
A through hole for a connector is formed on the connector side of at least one of the first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board.
The protector includes a protrusion that is inserted through the connector through hole.
The wiring module according to claim 3, wherein the hole diameter of the through hole for the connector is smaller than the hole diameter of the through hole for the substrate in the major axis direction of the through hole for the substrate. The wiring module according to claim 4, wherein the through hole for the connector is provided at a position rearward of the connector in a fitting direction in which the connector is fitted with the mating connector. At least one of the first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board has a pair of slits extending along the fitting direction in which the connector is fitted with the mating connector on both sides of the connector. It is provided,
The wiring module according to claim 4 or 5, wherein a pair of through holes for the connector is provided inside the pair of slit portions. At least one of the first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board has a strip-shaped extending portion extending in a strip shape and a strip-shaped portion along the first extending portion at intervals from the first extending portion. The wiring module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a second extension portion extending to. A plurality of power storage elements having positive electrode terminals and negative electrode terminals,
A plurality of bus bars connecting the electrode terminals of the plurality of power storage elements, and
The wiring module according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is provided.
The first flexible printed circuit board and the second flexible printed circuit board are power storage modules connected to the bus bar.

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