Remote controller with a spare battery storage and mobile electronic apparatus

• US 20030224243A1
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Maeda, Osamu
• Application Number:
  US10/375,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20030224243A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/100
• 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: H01M 6/06 Dry cells, i.e. cells wherein the electrolyte is rendered non-fluid
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/425 Multimode batteries, batteries with "reserve cells"
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/44 of tubular or cup-shaped cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5011 for several cells simultaneously or successively

Abstract

A remote controller is provided comprising an array of operating keys arranged to be actuated by a user, a control circuit for controlling the action of corresponding components in response to the movement of the operating keys, a signal transmitter arranged responsive to control commands of the control circuit determined by the movement of the operating keys for transmitting radio signals, a case containing the above components therein, a battery holder provided in the case for holding dry cells to supply the power, and a spare battery storage provided in the case for storing spare dry cells which replace exhausted dry cells in the battery holder. When the dry cells in the battery holder are exhausted, they are removed out from the battery holder. Then, the spare dry cells in the spare battery storage are loaded into the battery holder. This can facilitate replacement of the dry cells.

Claims

1. A remote controller which is energized by power from dry cells for transmitting radio signals to remote control an apparatus to be controlled, comprising:

an array of operating keys arranged to be actuated by a user;

a control circuit for controlling the action of corresponding components in response to the movement of the operating keys;

a signal transmitter arranged responsive to control commands of the control circuit determined by the movement of the operating keys for transmitting the radio signals;

a case containing the above components therein;

a battery holder provided in the case for holding the dry cells with its electrodes connected to power supply terminals to supply the power for enabling the action of the corresponding components; and

a spare battery storage provided in the case for storing spare dry cells which replace exhausted dry cells in the battery holder.

2. A remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the spare battery storage includes elastic clamps for clamping the spare dry cells.

3. A remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the battery holder holds two or more dry cells connected in series and its power supply terminals connect directly to two opposite electrodes of end side ones of the dry cells.

4. A remote controller according to claim 3, wherein the spare battery storage stores two or more spare dry cells connected in series.

5. A remote controller according to claim 4, wherein the spare battery storage stores a row of the spare dry cells extending next to and in parallel to a row of the dry cells in the battery holder.

6. A remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit is mounted on a circuit board which is arranged to overlap both the battery holder and the spare battery storage.

7. A remote controller according to claim 6, wherein the control circuit is located between the battery holder and the spare battery storage.

8. A mobile electronic apparatus which is energized by power from dry cells, comprising:

an array of operating keys arranged to be actuated by a user;

a control circuit for controlling the action of corresponding components in response to the movement of the operating keys;

a case containing the above components therein;

a battery holder provided in the case for holding the dry cells with its electrodes connected to power supply terminals to supply the power for enabling the action of the corresponding components; and

a spare battery storage provided in the case for storing spare dry cells which replace exhausted dry cells in the battery holder.

9. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the spare battery storage includes elastic clamps for clamping the spare dry cells.

10. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the battery holder holds two or more dry cells connected in series and its power supply terminals connect directly to two opposite electrodes of end side ones of the dry cells.

11. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the spare battery storage stores two or more spare dry cells connected in series.

12. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the spare battery storage stores a row of the spare dry cells extending next to and in parallel to a row of the dry cells in the battery holder.

13. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control circuit is mounted on a circuit board which is arranged to overlap both the battery holder and the spare battery storage.

14. A mobile electronic apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the control circuit is located between the battery holder and the spare battery storage.