Modular battery cover

• US 10,003,062 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 06/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Global Technologies International Ltd. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte., Ltd. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bulur, Yakup, Fishbune, Richard J., Maresh, Mark E., Swenson, Neil C., Wheeler, Adam M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ridley, Basia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Erwin, James
• Application Number:
  US13/620,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20140077605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,104 Days
• Field of Search: 429124, 429151, 320107, 320117, 361748, 361761, 361780, 361781, 361794
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/507 comprising an arrangement of two or more busbars within a container structure, e.g. busbar modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/51 Connection only in series
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/512 Connection only in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/519 comprising printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A device may include an electronic component stack cover having an open end sized to receive a modular electronic component stack including a plurality of like modular electronic components, an at least partially closed end, and sides extending from the at least partially closed end toward the open end. The at least partially closed end and the at least one side may form a chamber. At least one electrically conductive probe may extend from the at least partially closed end into the chamber. The chamber may conform to an outer shape of at least a portion of the modular electronic component stack, and the electrically conductive probe may be configured to electrically interface with a first connector on the electronic component stack when the stack is within the chamber.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB) having a first PCB circuit including a positive circuit terminal, a negative circuit terminal, a plurality of electrical interfaces, a plurality of selectively actuatable jumpers, and a plurality of conductors;

the plurality of conductors connecting each one of the plurality of electrical interfaces through the jumpers to the positive and negative circuit terminals in a selectable one of a series connection and a parallel connection;

a plurality of modular battery stacks, each battery stack including at least one battery module, each battery module including a first battery connector, a second battery connector, and a battery, the battery having a positive battery terminal connected to the first battery connector and a negative battery terminal connected to the second battery connector; and

one of the first battery connectors of each battery stack being mechanically and electrically non-destructively removably connected to a respective first one of the plurality of electrical interfaces and one of the second battery connectors of each battery stack being mechanically and electrically non-destructively removably connected to a respective second one of the plurality of electrical interfaces, wherein the first and second battery connectors of each first battery module are configured to receive a second battery module;

a battery stack cover assembly including a cover configured to encase at least a portion of at least a first one of the plurality of battery stacks, the cover incorporating at least one return conductor; and

at least one fastener mounted to the battery stack cover for selectively fastening the battery stack cover to the PCB, wherein the first battery connector is exposed and the fastener is electrically conductive and connected to the respective first one of the plurality of electrical interfaces, the battery stack cover assembly further including a return conductor operatively connecting the respective first battery connector to the fastener.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first battery connector is exposed, and the return conductor is operatively connecting the first battery connector of the first one of the battery stacks to the respective first one of the plurality of electrical interfaces.

3. The system of claim 1, each battery module in each of the plurality of battery stacks further including at least one secondary electrical connector configured to mechanically and electrically mate with a connector on another battery module;

and the battery stack cover assembly further including a plurality of the return conductors and a plurality of the fasteners, each return conductor connecting the first battery connector or an exposed one of the at least one secondary electrical connector of the battery stack to a respective fastener when the battery stack cover is encasing at least a portion of the battery stack.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein each of the fasteners is configured to fasten the associated battery stack to a respective electrical interface on the PCB, the electrical interfaces associated with each battery stack being electrically interconnected.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the battery stack cover being substantially rigid, and further comprising a chamber having a shape conforming to a shape of the battery stack.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein each battery module includes exposed receptacles and the battery stack cover assembly includes a cap portion having a plurality of protrusions extending into the chamber, the cover having a height appropriate to connect the protrusions with corresponding receptacles on an outermost battery module when the battery stack cover is operatively placed on the battery stack.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second battery connectors permit an offset interconnection with the second battery module.