CELL STACK AND BATTERY MODULE WITH INTEGRATED HEATER AND HEATER PANELS THEREFOR

摘要

A battery component is provided in which at least two cells of a pouch or prismatic type have an electrical resistance heater panel sandwiched between them with the heater panel extending over a substantial area of the cell units. The heater panel may have an electrically insulating support panel with one surface carrying an electrically conductive heating element in the nature of a generally rigid or semi-rigid printed circuit board in which the heater element is a sinuous printed circuit board conductor. The heating element may terminate in contacts at or adjacent an edge region of the support layer. The support layer may have an area thereof forming an outwardly projecting connection tab having a plurality of contacts associated therewith. The support layer may carry one or more temperature sensors with associated signal carrying electrical conductors terminating in contacts at an edge region of the panel. A cell stack and a heater panel in the form of a printed circuit board formed to provide an electrically conductive heating element are also provided.