Abstract: A battery pack may include a plurality of cells arranged substantially adjacent to each other such that longitudinal centerlines of each of the cells are aligned substantially in parallel with each other in a first direction, a physical cell connection assembly that includes a cell-retaining portion disposed to contact each of the cells to hold the cells in a housing, an electrical cell connection assembly that includes a plurality of cell connectors disposed to contact at least selected ones of the cells in groups to facilitate electrical connection of the cells associated with each of the groups, a contact portion of each of the cell connectors being disposed to electrically connect electrodes of at least two of the cells, and a printed circuit board (PCB) configured to monitor electrical parameters associated with the cells based on electrical communication between the PCB and the electrical cell connection assembly.

Abstract: A battery pack may include a plurality of cells, a cell connector assembly, and a common output. The cell connector assembly may be disposed to contact at least selected ones of the plurality of cells to facilitate parallel connection of contacted cells. The common output may be electrically coupled to the cell connector assembly to receive a combined output from the plurality of cells. The cell connector assembly may include a plurality of metallic arms arranged in a hierarchical structure including at least two levels each having at least one arm, such that the cell connector assembly defines a plurality of current paths from each of the contacted cells to the combined output. The plurality of current paths are substantially equal to each other in length.

Abstract: A battery pack may include a plurality of cells arranged substantially adjacent to each other such that longitudinal centerlines of each of the cells are aligned substantially in parallel with each other in a first direction, a physical cell connection assembly that includes a cell-retaining portion disposed to contact each of the cells to hold the cells in a housing, an electrical cell connection assembly that includes a plurality of cell connectors disposed to contact at least selected ones of the cells in groups to facilitate electrical connection of the cells associated with each of the groups, a contact portion of each of the cell connectors being disposed to electrically connect electrodes of at least two of the cells, and a printed circuit board (PCB) configured to monitor electrical parameters associated with the cells based on electrical communication between the PCB and the electrical cell connection assembly.

Abstract: A battery pack may include a plurality of cells, a cell connector assembly, and a common output. The cell connector assembly may be disposed to contact at least selected ones of the plurality of cells to facilitate parallel connection of contacted cells. The common output may be electrically coupled to the cell connector assembly to receive a combined output from the plurality of cells. The cell connector assembly may include a plurality of metallic arms arranged in a hierarchical structure including at least two levels each having at least one arm, such that the cell connector assembly defines a plurality of current paths from each of the contacted cells to the combined output. The plurality of current paths are substantially equal to each other in length.

Abstract: A cell housing, such as for a backpack battery pack, includes a first wall, a second wall, and a cell retention structure there-between, wherein the cell retention structure is configured to retain battery cells arranged in a matrix of rows and columns such that the longitudinal axis of each battery cell is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the other battery cells. A plurality of connectors are located on the exterior of the cell housing and are electrically connected to the battery cells through openings in the first and second walls of the cell housing. The connectors electrically connect the cells in each row in parallel and the cells in each column in series. The connectors may comprise unitary connectors that electrically connect the positive terminals of at least two cells of one row of cells to each other and also to the negative terminals of at least two cells of another row of cells.

Abstract: A battery system includes a connector electrically connecting, in parallel, three or more battery cells, where the connector includes a fuse integrally formed therein at least between a first one or more cells in the group of cells and a second one or more cells in the group of cells. The connector may be a unitary piece of conductive material that has a cross sectional area that narrows between each cell to form a fuse between each of the three or more battery cells and/or narrows between pairs of the three or more battery cells. Each fuse's cross-sectional area is dimensioned so as to disconnect the cell(s) on one side of the fuse from the cell(s) on the other side of the fuse, thereby preventing a thermal runaway event. A battery pack comprising this battery system may have an external fuse that responds to a short circuit occurring external to the battery system before the connector's fuses do.