US6146778A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solid-state energy storage module employing integrated interconnect board
Assignee: Avestor LP
•
Filing: 1997-07-25
•
Granted: 2000-11-14
•
Expires: 2017-07-25
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is directed to an improved electrochemical energy storage device. The electrochemical energy storage device includes a number of solid-state, thin-film electrochemical cells which are selectively interconnected in series or parallel through use of an integrated interconnect board. The interconnect board is typically disposed within a sealed housing which also houses the electrochemical cells, and includes a first contact and a second contact respectively coupled to first and second power terminals of the energy storage device. The interconnect board advantageously provides for selective series or parallel connectivity with the electrochemical cells, irrespective of electrochemical cell position within the housing. In one embodiment, a sheet of conductive material is processed by employing a known milling, stamping, or chemical etching technique to include a connection pattern which provides for flexible and selective interconnecting of individual electrochemical cells within the housing, which may be a hermetically sealed housing. Fuses and various electrical and electro-mechanical devices, such as bypass, equalization, and communication devices for example, may also be mounted to the interconnect board and selectively connected to the electrochemical cells.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean Rouillard
- 👤 Christophe Comte
- 👤 Dominik Daigle
- 👤 Ronald A. Hagen
- 👤 Orlin B. Knudson
- 👤 Andre Morin
- 👤 Michel Ranger
- 👤 Guy Ross
- 👤 Roger Rouillard
- 👤 Philippe St-Germain
- 👤 Anthony Sudano
- 👤 Thomas A. Turgeon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:33
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/60; H01M10/61; H01M10/613; H01M10/04; H01M10/0413; H01M10/42; H01M10/48; H01M10/64; H01M10/647; H01M10/65; H01M10/653; H01M10/655; H01M10/6553; H01M10/6554; H01M10/6556; H01M10/656; H01M50/00; H01M50/20; H01M50/204; H01M50/207; H01M50/211; H01M50/289; H01M50/293; H01M50/296; H01M50/50; H01M50/502; H01M50/503; H01M10/0445; H01M10/62; H01M10/625; H01M10/659; H01M10/66; H01M10/667; H01M2200/00; H01M2200/10; H01M2200/103; H01M50/262; H01M50/264; H01M50/271; H01M50/569; H01M50/572; H01M50/574; H01M50/583; H01M6/00; H01M6/14; H01M6/18; H01M6/181; H01M6/50; H01M6/5011; H01M6/5016; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/11; H05K1/117; H05K1/18; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/50; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49108; Y10T29/4911
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A solid-state energy storage device, comprising: a sealed housing through which a first terminal and a second terminal pass; a plurality of thin-film electrochemical cells disposed in the housing; and an interconnect board disposed in the housing and having a first contact and a second contact respectively coupled to the first and second terminals, the interconnect board including an electrically conductive surface comprising a connection pattern that provides selective series and parallel connectivity with the electrochemical cells.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A solid-state energy storage device, comprising: a sealed housing through which a first terminal and a second terminal pass; a plurality of thin-film electrochemical cells disposed in the housing; and an interconnect board disposed in the housing and having a first contact and a second contact respectively coupled to the first and second terminals, the interconnect board including an electrically conductive surface comprising a connection pattern that provides selective series and parallel connectivity with the electrochemical cells.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
The device of claim 1, wherein: a first group of electrochemical cells of the plurality of electrochemical cells is connected through the interconnect board in parallel to form a first cell pack; a second group of electrochemical cells of the plurality of electrochemical cells is connected through the interconnect board in parallel to form a second cell pack; and the first and second cell packs are connected through the interconnect board in series.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fuses affixed to the interconnect board, each of the fuses connected in series with one of the electrochemical cells.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
The device of claim 2, further comprising a first fuse pack and a second fuse pack each affixed to the interconnect board, the first and second fuse packs each comprising a plurality of fuses, each of the plurality of fuses of the first fuse pack being connected in series with one of the electrochemical cells of the first group, and each of the plurality of fuses of the second fuse pack being connected in series with one of the electrochemical cells of the second group.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
The device of claim 2, wherein a first bypass device and a first equalizer device are affixed to the interconnect board and respectively coupled in series and parallel with the electrochemical cells of the first group, and a second bypass device and a second equalizer device are affixed to the interconnect board and respectively coupled in series and parallel with the electrochemical cells of the second group.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 1, wherein voltage and current characteristics of the solid-state energy storage device are alterable by altering the connection pattern of the sheet of conductive material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive surface comprises one of a machine milled connection pattern, a stamped connection pattern, or a chemically etched connection pattern.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive surface comprises copper or aluminum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the connection pattern of the sheet of conductive material provides selective series or parallel connectivity with the electrochemical cells.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 1, wherein each of the electrochemical cells comprises first and second terminals which are electrically coupled to the connection pattern of the electrically conductive surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second terminals of each of the electrochemical cells are ultrasonically welded to the connection pattern of the electrically conductive surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 1, wherein a current of up to approximately 400 amperes passes through the interconnect board.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the housing is a hermetically sealed housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
128 words
An energy storage device, comprising: a sealed housing through which a first terminal and a second terminal pass; an interconnect board disposed in the housing and having a first contact and a second contact respectively coupled to the first and second terminals, the interconnect board including an electrically conductive surface comprising a connection pattern that provides selective connectivity with a plurality of electrochemical cells; a first group of electrochemical cells of the plurality of electrochemical cells connected through the interconnect board in parallel to form a first cell pack; a second group of electrochemical cells of the plurality of electrochemical cells connected through the interconnect board in parallel to form a second cell pack; and the first and second cell packs connected through the interconnect board in series.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
128 words
An energy storage device, comprising: a sealed housing through which a first terminal and a second terminal pass; an interconnect board disposed in the housing and having a first contact and a second contact respectively coupled to the first and second terminals, the interconnect board including an electrically conductive surface comprising a connection pattern that provides selective connectivity with a plurality of electrochemical cells; a first group of electrochemical cells of the plurality of electrochemical cells connected through the interconnect board in parallel to form a first cell pack; a second group of electrochemical cells of the plurality of electrochemical cells connected through the interconnect board in parallel to form a second cell pack; and the first and second cell packs connected through the interconnect board in series.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
85 words
The device of claim 14, further comprising a first fuse pack and a second fuse pack each affixed to the interconnect board, the first and second fuse packs each comprising a plurality of fuses, each of the plurality of fuses of the first fuse pack being connected in series with one of the electrochemical cells of the first group, and each of the plurality of fuses of the second fuse pack being connected in series with one of the electrochemical cells of the second group.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device of claim 14, wherein a first bypass device is affixed to the interconnect board and coupled in series with the electrochemical cells of the first group, and a second bypass device is affixed to the interconnect board and coupled in series with the electrochemical cells of the second group.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device of claim 14, wherein a first equalizer device is affixed to the interconnect board and coupled in parallel with the electrochemical cells of the first group, and a second equalizer device is affixed to the interconnect board and coupled in parallel with the electrochemical cells of the second group.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
106 words
A solid-state energy storage device, comprising: a sealed housing through which a first terminal and a second terminal pass; a plurality of thin-film electrochemical cells disposed in the housing; an interconnect board disposed in the housing and having a first contact and a second contact respectively coupled to the first and second terminals of the housing, the interconnect board including a surface comprising a plurality of connection regions each being connected to particular ones of the plurality of electrochemical cells; a plurality of series connected current bypass devices that electrically couple the connection regions together and to the first and second contacts of the interconnect board.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
106 words
A solid-state energy storage device, comprising: a sealed housing through which a first terminal and a second terminal pass; a plurality of thin-film electrochemical cells disposed in the housing; an interconnect board disposed in the housing and having a first contact and a second contact respectively coupled to the first and second terminals of the housing, the interconnect board including a surface comprising a plurality of connection regions each being connected to particular ones of the plurality of electrochemical cells; a plurality of series connected current bypass devices that electrically couple the connection regions together and to the first and second contacts of the interconnect board.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
106 words
A solid-state energy storage device, comprising: a sealed housing through which a first terminal and a second terminal pass; a plurality of thin-film electrochemical cells disposed in the housing; an interconnect board disposed in the housing and having a first contact and a second contact respectively coupled to the first and second terminals of the housing, the interconnect board including a surface comprising a plurality of connection regions each being connected to particular ones of the plurality of electrochemical cells; and a plurality of parallel connected equalizer devices that electrically couple the connection regions together and to the first and second contacts of the interconnect board.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
106 words
A solid-state energy storage device, comprising: a sealed housing through which a first terminal and a second terminal pass; a plurality of thin-film electrochemical cells disposed in the housing; an interconnect board disposed in the housing and having a first contact and a second contact respectively coupled to the first and second terminals of the housing, the interconnect board including a surface comprising a plurality of connection regions each being connected to particular ones of the plurality of electrochemical cells; and a plurality of parallel connected equalizer devices that electrically couple the connection regions together and to the first and second contacts of the interconnect board.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
110 words
A solid-state energy storage device, comprising: a sealed housing through which a first terminal and a second terminal pass; a plurality of thin-film electrochemical cells disposed in the housing; an interconnect board disposed in the housing and having a first contact and a second contact respectively coupled to the first and second terminals of the housing, the interconnect board including a surface comprising a plurality of connection regions each being connected to particular ones of the plurality of electrochemical cells; and a plurality of parallel connected integrated equalizer and current bypass units that electrically couple the connection regions together and to the first and second contacts of the interconnect board.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
110 words
A solid-state energy storage device, comprising: a sealed housing through which a first terminal and a second terminal pass; a plurality of thin-film electrochemical cells disposed in the housing; an interconnect board disposed in the housing and having a first contact and a second contact respectively coupled to the first and second terminals of the housing, the interconnect board including a surface comprising a plurality of connection regions each being connected to particular ones of the plurality of electrochemical cells; and a plurality of parallel connected integrated equalizer and current bypass units that electrically couple the connection regions together and to the first and second contacts of the interconnect board.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
131 words
A solid-state energy storage device, comprising: a sealed housing through which a first terminal and a second terminal pass; a plurality of thin-film electrochemical cells disposed in the housing; an interconnect board disposed in the housing and having a first contact and a second contact respectively coupled to the first and second terminals of the housing, the interconnect board including a surface comprising a plurality of connection regions each being connected to particular ones of the plurality of electrochemical cells; a plurality of electrically conductive elements that electrically couple the connection regions together and to the first and second contacts of the interconnect board; and at least one communications connector affixed to the interconnect board that receives a mating connector disposed on a communication line that passes through the sealed housing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
131 words
A solid-state energy storage device, comprising: a sealed housing through which a first terminal and a second terminal pass; a plurality of thin-film electrochemical cells disposed in the housing; an interconnect board disposed in the housing and having a first contact and a second contact respectively coupled to the first and second terminals of the housing, the interconnect board including a surface comprising a plurality of connection regions each being connected to particular ones of the plurality of electrochemical cells; a plurality of electrically conductive elements that electrically couple the connection regions together and to the first and second contacts of the interconnect board; and at least one communications connector affixed to the interconnect board that receives a mating connector disposed on a communication line that passes through the sealed housing.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 21, wherein each of the electrically conductive elements comprises a series connected current bypass device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 21, wherein each of the electrically conductive elements comprises a parallel connected equalizer device.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 21, wherein each of the electrically conductive elements comprises a parallel connected integrated equalizer and current bypass unit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-14 | 2004-05-15 | 2004-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-14 | 2008-05-15 | 2008-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-14 | 2012-05-15 | 2012-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |