Rechargeable battery

• US 10,218,191 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2016
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Gojenola, Paul Andrew, Rymarz, Paul, Tan, Lawrence Carlson, Keith, McKenzie Robert, Greger, William Brian, Daniel, Alean
• Primary Examiner(s): Leja, Ronald W
• Application Number:
  US15/243,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20160359346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 307150, 361103
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 11/00 Emergency protective circuit arrangements for preventing the switching-on in case an undesired electric working condition might result
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 5/04 responsive to abnormal temperature specially adapted for electric machines H02H7/0852
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/18 for batteries; for accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/10 Plug-in assemblages of components , e.g. IC sockets
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A rechargeable battery pack can provide power to a device that also accepts at least one standard non-rechargeable battery. The rechargeable battery pack may include a housing for housing at least one battery cell and recharging circuitry. The at least one battery cell and the recharging circuitry can be housed substantially within the housing. The recharging circuitry can be coupled with the at least one battery cell. The recharging circuitry can be configured to charge the at least one battery cell when the battery pack is inserted into the device that also accepts at least one non-rechargeable battery. The rechargeable battery pack may further include a protection circuit coupled with the recharging circuitry.

Claims

1. A rechargeable battery pack configured to provide power to a device that also accepts at least one standard non-rechargeable battery, the rechargeable battery pack comprising:

a housing including;

a main housing portion having a form factor of the at least one standard non-rechargeable battery for housing at least one battery cell; and

a recharging circuitry housing portion molded integrally as part of the housing and extending laterally outward from a side of the main housing portion for housing a recharging circuitry;

the recharging circuitry coupled with the at least one battery cell, the recharging circuitry configured to charge the at least one battery cell when the rechargeable battery pack is inserted into the device that also accepts the at least one non-rechargeable battery;

a protection circuit coupled with the recharging circuitry;

power contacts on the main housing portion configured to provide power from the at least one battery cell to the device; and

one or more circuitry on the recharging circuitry housing portion configured to electrically couple the recharging circuitry to the device.

2. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 wherein the rechargeable battery pack is a master battery pack and the recharging circuitry is further configured to charge at least one battery cell of a separate slave battery pack.

3. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 wherein the protection circuit comprises at least one temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the at least one battery cell.

4. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 wherein the protection circuit is configured to detect when the at least one battery cell is fully charged.

5. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 further comprising:

a controller coupled with the recharging circuitry and the protection circuit.

6. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 further comprising:

a second battery cell; and

a protection device coupled with the at least one battery cell and the second battery cell;

the protection device configured to terminate current flowing between the at least one battery cell and the second battery cell when the current or temperature is higher than a predetermined range.

7. The rechargeable battery pack of claim 1 further comprising:

a second battery cell housed substantially within the main housing portion, the second battery cell coupled with the recharging circuitry; and

the recharging circuitry further configured to charge the second battery cell.

8. An electronic device configured to receive power from either at least one standard battery or at least one rechargeable battery pack, the electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a compartment in the housing, the compartment configured to receive either the at least one standard battery or the at least one rechargeable battery pack, wherein the compartment includes;

a main compartment portion having a form factor for fitting the at least one standard battery; and

a recharging circuitry compartment portion formed integrally as part of the compartment and extending laterally outward from a side of the main compartment portion;

power contacts located in the main compartment portion of the housing configured to receive power from either the at least one standard battery or the at least one rechargeable battery pack; and

a pin connector located in the recharging circuitry compartment portion of the housing, the pin connector comprising at least one pin configured to electrically couple the electronic device to a recharging circuitry housed in the at least one rechargeable battery pack when the at least one rechargeable battery pack is inserted into the compartment.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the at least one rechargeable battery pack is a master battery pack.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 further comprising:

a second compartment in the housing, the second compartment configured to receive either at least one standard battery or a slave rechargeable battery pack; and

a second pin connector on the housing, the second pin connector comprising at least one pin;

the second pin connector configured to receive at least one contact on the slave rechargeable battery pack when the slave rechargeable battery pack is inserted into the second compartment.

11. A system comprising:

an electronic device comprising;

a device housing; and

at least one compartment in the device housing, the at least one compartment configured to receive either at least one standard battery or at least one master rechargeable battery pack; and

a master rechargeable battery pack comprising;

a master battery pack housing including;

a main housing portion having a form factor of the at least one standard battery for housing at least one master battery cell; and

a recharging circuitry housing portion molded integrally as part of the master battery pack housing and extending laterally outward from a side of the main housing portion for housing a recharging circuitry;

the recharging circuitry coupled with the at least one master battery cell, the recharging circuitry configured to charge the at least one master battery cell when the master rechargeable battery pack is inserted into the electronic device;

power contacts on the main housing portion configured to provide power from the at least one master battery cell to the electronic device; and

one or more circuitry contacts on the recharging circuitry housing portion configured to electrically couple the recharging circuitry to the electronic device.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a slave rechargeable battery pack comprising;

a slave battery pack housing for housing at least one slave battery cell, the at least one slave battery cell housed substantially within the slave battery pack housing,

wherein the recharging circuitry is further configured to charge the at least one slave battery cell in the slave rechargeable battery pack when the master rechargeable battery pack and the slave rechargeable battery pack are inserted into the device.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the electronic device is configured to receive power from the master rechargeable battery pack and the slave rechargeable battery pack.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the master rechargeable battery further comprises a protection circuit coupled with the recharging circuitry.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the protection circuit comprises at least one temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the at least one master battery cell.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein a protection circuit is configured to detect when the at least one master battery cell is fully charged and the at least one slave battery cell is fully charged.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the master rechargeable battery pack further comprises:

a controller coupled with the recharging circuitry and the protection circuit.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the master rechargeable battery pack further comprises:

a second master battery cell; and

a protection device coupled with the at least one master battery cell and the second master battery cell;

the protection device configured to terminate current flowing between the at least on master battery cell and the second master battery cell when the current or temperature is higher than a predetermined range.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein the slave rechargeable battery further comprises a slave protection circuit housed substantially within the slave battery pack housing of the slave rechargeable battery, the slave protection circuit coupled with the at least one battery cell housed substantially within the slave battery pack housing of the slave battery pack.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the slave protection circuit comprises at least one temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the at least one slave battery cell.