Information handling system including battery assembly having multiple separable subassemblies

• US 20050112457A1
• Filed: 11/25/2003
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Young, Chris, Taylor, Jay L., Breen, John J., Miller, Bruce
• Application Number:
  US10/721,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20050112457A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/99
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/345 Gastight metal hydride accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/00 Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators
• 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 50/256 Carrying devices, e.g. belts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/42 Grouping of primary cells into batteries H01M6/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5016 Multimode utilisation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making

Abstract

An information handling system includes a battery assembly that is separable into two or more battery subassemblies to facilitate shipping. The battery subassemblies mechanically and electrically connect together to provide a completed battery assembly that exhibits increased power capacity as compared with an individual battery subassembly alone. In one embodiment, the individual battery subassemblies are sufficiently small in power capacity or other characteristic to avoid the increased shipping expense incurred when batteries exceed a certain threshold in power capacity, chemistry or other threshold characteristic.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a battery powered device comprising:

providing first and second battery subassemblies, the first battery subassembly being connectable to the second battery subassembly to form a battery assembly having more electrical capacity than the first and second battery subassemblies individually;

connecting the first battery subassembly to the second battery subassembly to form the battery assembly; and

connecting the battery assembly to the battery powered device to supply power thereto.

2. The method of claim 1 including mechanically connecting the first battery subassembly to the second battery subassembly.

3. The method of claim 1 including electrically connecting the first battery subassembly to the second battery subassembly.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first battery subassembly exhibits a first cell chemistry

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the second battery subassembly exhibits a second cell chemistry.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the first cell chemistry is different from the second cell chemistry.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the first cell chemistry is lithium ion chemistry.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the second cell chemistry is nickel metal hydride chemistry.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first battery subassembly and second battery subassembly are in paralles when connected together.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first battery subassembly and second battery subassembly are in series when connected together.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second battery subassemblies are shipped separated from one another prior to connecting the first battery subassembly to the second battery subassembly to form the completed battery assembly.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the connecting is performed by an IHS configuration facility.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the connecting is performed by a customer.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery powered device is an information handling system.

15. A method of manufacturing a battery for use in a battery powered device, the method comprising:

providing a first battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly electrical connector and a device power connector for supplying power to the battery powered device, the first battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector; and

providing a second battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly electrical connector for electrically connecting to the subassembly to subassembly electrical connector of the first battery subassembly, the second battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector for mechanically connecting to the subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector of the first battery subassembly.

16. The method of claim 15 including electrically and mechanically connecting the first battery subassembly to the second battery subassembly to form a completed battery assembly.

17. The method of claim 16 including positioning the completed battery assembly in a bay of the battery powered device.

18. The method of claim 17 including electrically connecting the device power connector to a corresponding electrical connector of the battery powered device.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the first battery subassembly exhibits an energy capacity less than the threshold for triggering higher shipping costs due to regulations.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the first and second battery subassemblies are shipped separated from one another prior to connecting the first battery subassembly to the second battery subassembly to form the completed battery.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein the second battery subassembly exhibits a energy capacity less than the threshold for triggering higher shipping costs due to regulations.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein the first battery subassembly exhibits a first cell chemistry

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the second battery subassembly exhibits a second cell chemistry.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the first cell chemistry is different from the second cell chemistry.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the first cell chemistry is lithium ion chemistry.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the second cell chemistry is nickel metal hydride chemistry.

27. The method of claim 16 wherein the first battery subassembly and second battery subassembly are in parallel when connected to form the completed battery.

28. The method of claim 16 wherein the first battery subassembly and the second battery subassembly are in series when connected to form the completed battery.

29. An information handling system (IHS) comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a battery bay for receiving a battery assembly therein, the battery assembly providing power to the processor and the memory, the battery assembly including;

a first battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly electrical connector and a device power connector for supplying power to the battery powered device, the first battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector; and

a second battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly electrical connector for electrically connecting to the subassembly to subassembly electrical connector of the first battery subassembly, the second battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector for mechanically connecting to the subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector of the first battery subassembly.

30. The IHS of claim 29 wherein the first battery subassembly and the second battery subassembly are electrically and mechanically connecting together to form a completed battery assembly.

31. The IHS of claim 29 wherein the first battery subassembly exhibits a energy capacity less than the threshold for triggering higher shipping costs due to regulations.

32. The IHS of claim 29 wherein the second battery subassembly exhibits a energy capacity less than the threshold for triggering higher shipping costs due to regulations.

33. The IHS of claim 29 wherein the first battery subassembly exhibits a first cell chemistry

34. The IHS of claim 33 wherein the second battery subassembly exhibits a second cell chemistry.

35. The IHS of claim 34 wherein the first cell chemistry is different from the second cell chemistry.

36. The IHS of claim 34 wherein the first cell chemistry is lithium ion chemistry.

37. The IHS of claim 34 wherein the second cell chemistry is nickel metal hydride chemistry.

38. A battery powered device comprising:

electrical circuitry which requires power to operate; and

a housing in which the electrical circuitry is situated, the housing including a battery bay for receiving a battery assembly therein, the battery assembly including;

a first battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly electrical connector and a device power connector for supplying power to the battery powered device, the first battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector; and

a second battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly electrical connector for electrically connecting to the subassembly to subassembly electrical connector of the first battery subassembly, the second battery subassembly including a subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector for mechanically connecting to the subassembly to subassembly mechanical connector of the first battery subassembly.