Abstract: A temperature-sensitive battery connector is disclosed. The connector can include a connector body and at least one conductor mounted to the connector body and configured to convey a current signal used to measure voltage from a battery pack or battery cell to a battery management system (BMS). The connector can include a thermal switching device mounted to the connector body and thermally coupled to a terminal of a battery pack or a battery cell. The thermal switching device can be configured to provide an overtemperature signal to the BMS by changing or interrupting a current conducted by at least one conductor when a temperature of the battery pack or battery cell exceeds a threshold temperature.

Abstract: Electromechanical circuit breakers are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the breakers can be integrated into battery management systems to simplify battery management circuitry and/or to provide redundancy to the battery management systems. In some embodiments, the breakers can be provided to reduce damage to the battery management systems during hot-swapping of a battery cell. The breakers can be automatically resettable or not automatically resettable in various embodiments.

Abstract: A temperature-sensitive battery connector is disclosed. The connector can include a connector body and at least one conductor mounted to the connector body and configured to convey a current signal used to measure voltage from a battery pack or battery cell to a battery management system (BMS). The connector can include a thermal switching device mounted to the connector body and thermally coupled to a terminal of a battery pack or a battery cell. The thermal switching device can be configured to provide an overtemperature signal to the BMS by changing or interrupting a current conducted by at least one conductor when a temperature of the battery pack or battery cell exceeds a threshold temperature.

Abstract: A battery housing can include a housing body defining a cavity sized and shaped to receive a cell for a battery, and a breaker coupled with the housing body. The battery housing can comprise a first electrical conductor at a first end portion of the housing body and electrically connected to the switch, the first electrical conductor configured to electrically connect to a first battery cell terminal of the cell. The battery housing can comprise a second electrical conductor at a second end portion of the housing body, the second electrical conductor configured to electrically connect to a second battery cell terminal of the cell to define a first electrical pathway between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor. The battery housing can include a bypass conductor to define a second electrical pathway between the switch and the second electrical conductor.

Abstract: Electromechanical circuit breakers are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the breakers can be integrated into battery management systems to simplify battery management circuitry and/or to provide redundancy to the battery management systems. In some embodiments, the breakers can be provided to reduce damage to the battery management systems during hot-swapping of a battery cell. The breakers can be automatically resettable or not automatically resettable in various embodiments.

Abstract: An electrical breaker responsive to a fault condition is disclosed. A thermally-activated switch can be disposed between a first terminal and second and third terminals of the breaker. The switch can have a normal operating condition in which the first terminal is electrically connected to the second terminal. The switch can have a fault condition in which the first terminal is electrically connected to both the second terminal and the third terminal, causing a majority of the current to flow between the first terminal and the third terminal and a minority of the current to flow between the first terminal and the second terminal. The breaker can include a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor between the first terminal and one of the second and third terminals. The thermally-activated switch can be integrated into a variety of structures, for example, a battery pack which can house one or more cells.

Abstract: A battery housing can include a housing body defining a cavity sized and shaped to receive a cell for a battery, and a breaker coupled with the housing body. The battery housing can comprise a first electrical conductor at a first end portion of the housing body and electrically connected to the switch, the first electrical conductor configured to electrically connect to a first battery cell terminal of the cell. The battery housing can comprise a second electrical conductor at a second end portion of the housing body, the second electrical conductor configured to electrically connect to a second battery cell terminal of the cell to define a first electrical pathway between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor. The battery housing can include a bypass conductor to define a second electrical pathway between the switch and the second electrical conductor.

Abstract: A battery housing can include a housing body defining a cavity sized and shaped to receive a cell for a battery, and a breaker coupled with the housing body. The battery housing can comprise a first electrical conductor at a first end portion of the housing body and electrically connected to the switch, the first electrical conductor configured to electrically connect to a first battery cell terminal of the cell. The battery housing can comprise a second electrical conductor at a second end portion of the housing body, the second electrical conductor configured to electrically connect to a second battery cell terminal of the cell to define a first electrical pathway between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor. The battery housing can include a bypass conductor to define a second electrical pathway between the switch and the second electrical conductor.

Abstract: An electrical breaker responsive to a fault condition is disclosed. A thermally-activated switch can be disposed between a first terminal and second and third terminals of the breaker. The switch can have a normal operating condition in which the first terminal is electrically connected to the second terminal. The switch can have a fault condition in which the first terminal is electrically connected to both the second terminal and the third terminal, causing a majority of the current to flow between the first terminal and the third terminal and a minority of the current to flow between the first terminal and the second terminal. The breaker can include a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor between the first terminal and one of the second and third terminals. The thermally-activated switch can be integrated into a variety of structures, for example, a battery pack which can house one or more cells.