BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a battery and a battery system.

2. Description of the Related Art

Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries such as lithium-ion secondary batteries are known as batteries. A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a power generating element configured by laminating two electrodes, each of which is formed by placing an active material layer is placed on a collector, are laminated with a separator intervening between them.

A feature of non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries such as lithium-ion secondary batteries is that they have higher energy density and can operate at a higher voltage than other secondary batteries. Therefore, non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries such as lithium-ion secondary batteries are used in information devices such as mobile telephones as secondary butteries that can be easily made lightweight and compact. In recent years, there are increasing demands for using non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles or as large power sources such as being stationary.

When a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is used as a large power source, a plurality of power generating elements are often stored in a single case. In a battery system including a plurality power generating elements, the voltage, temperature, internal pressure, or the like of each power generating element is monitored and controlled to assure a long life and high safety.

A conventional battery known as a battery that can monitor the voltage and the like of a power generating element stored in a case has a charge/discharge terminal used to charge and discharge the power generating element and also has a monitor terminal used to monitor the voltage, temperature, internal pressure, or the like of the power generating element.

In a bipolar secondary buttery disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 4111043, a power generating element is formed by alternately laminating bipolar electrodes and solid electrolytes. A positive-pole tab and a negative-pole tab that are used to charge and discharge the power generating element are connected to bipolar electrodes located at both end of the power generating element in the lamination direction of the power generating element, one at each end, and voltage detection tabs are connected to bipolar electrodes at other than both ends. The voltage detection tabs are drawn in directions different from the directions in which the positive-pole tab and negative-pole tab are drawn. The positive-pole tab, negative-pole tab, and voltage detection tabs are secured to external terminals.

In a battery pack disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-146943, a plurality of thin batteries are laminated in their thickness direction and electrode tabs adjacent to each other in the laminating direction are mutually connected so that the plurality of thin batteries are electrically connected in series and/or in parallel. A convex or concave fitting part to which a voltage detection connector fits by being inserted is formed on or in at least one of a plurality of electrode tabs that are adjacent by being overlaid in the lamination direction.

SUMMARY

In one general aspect, the techniques disclosed here feature a battery that includes at least one cell, a case that houses the at least one cell, at least one first charge/discharge terminal that is electrically connected to the at least one cell, and at least one first monitor terminal that is electrically connected to the at least one cell. The at least one first charge/discharge terminal has a protrusion that partially protrudes from a surface of the case. The at least one first monitor terminal has a recess that is partially recessed from the surface of the case.

Additional benefits and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will become apparent from the specification and drawings. The benefits and/or advantages may be individually obtained by the various embodiments and features of the specification and drawings, which need not all be provided in order to obtain one or more of such benefits and/or advantages.

