BATTERY PACK WITH BUILT IN COMMUNICATION PORT

• US 20070126397A1
• Filed: 02/05/2007
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Yakhnich, Vladimir, Kogan, Eduard
• Granted Patent: US 7,768,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• 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: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A system and method for providing a communication port integral with a battery pack assembly is disclosed. The system provides a pathway between an external unit and a host unit via a printed circuit board of the battery pack. The battery pack can include communication ports mounted on the printed circuit board for interfacing with external units. The printed circuit board further includes a substrate(s) formed with a predetermined wiring pattern electrically and/or mechanically joined to the CPU of the host unit, as well as the battery cell(s).

Claims

1. A removable battery pack for a mobile terminal, comprising:

a latch that facilitates securing the battery pack to the mobile terminal;

at least one battery cell; and

a port that facilitates operatively coupling peripheral device(s) to the mobile terminal.

2. The battery pack of claim 1 further comprising a set of contacts that engage with contacts of the mobile terminal to operatively couple at least one of the battery and a peripheral device to the mobile terminal.

3. The battery pack of claim 1, the port comprising a set of pin connectors.

4. The battery pack of claim 3, the at least one battery cell is one of:

a Lithium-Ion cell, Nickel-Cadmium cell, Nickel-Metal-Hydride cell, Sealed-Lead-Acid cell, and a Lithium Polymer cell.

5. The battery pack of claim 1 further comprising a printed circuit board for passing signals between a peripheral device and the mobile terminal.

6. The battery pack of claim 1 further comprising a printed circuit board that enhances functionality of the mobile terminal.

7. The battery pack of claim 5, the port is coupled to the printed circuit board.

8. The battery pack of claim 7, a cable couples the port to the printed circuit board.

9. The battery pack of claim 1 further comprising a housing that provides access to the printed circuit board.

10. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the battery pack interlocks with the mobile terminal such that exposed surface areas of a housing of the battery pack and housing of the mobile terminal are substantially flush.

11. A method of coupling an external device to a mobile terminal comprising:

using a removable battery pack comprising an interface port to operatively couple the external device to the mobile terminal; and

passing signals between the external device and the mobile terminal through a printed circuit board of the battery pack.

12. A system that increases available connection ports of a mobile terminal, comprising:

a modular battery assembly that is detachable from the mobile terminal, wherein the battery assembly includes a communications port that can mate with a peripheral device, the battery assembly further comprising circuitry for passing signals between the peripheral device and the mobile terminal.

13. The system of claim 12, the communications port comprises at least one of male or female pin connectors.

15. The system of claim 12 further comprising means for passing signals between the external device and the mobile terminal.

14. A battery pack system for a mobile terminal, comprising:

means for supplying power to the mobile terminal; and

means for operatively coupling an external device to the mobile terminal.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for operatively coupling the external device to the mobile terminal comprising means for physically mating the external device with the battery pack system.