Card Configured To Receive Separate Battery

• US 20080156885A1
• Filed: 12/28/2007
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brightvolt, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Solicore Incorporated
• Inventors: Corey, David, Landau, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,967,214 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0702 the arrangement including a battery
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier

Abstract

An electronic card comprises a thin, flexible substrate having electrical circuitry embedded therein. An activation device is disposed in the substrate and is configured to complete a circuit in response to a stimulus, such as light or sound. An output device is disposed in the substrate and is configured to produce an output, such as music or vibration, wherein the output device is activated upon the completion of the circuit by the activation device. A cavity is formed in an outer surface of the substrate and has electrical contacts at an inner portion thereof in electrical communication with the electrical circuitry. The cavity further comprises retaining means for replaceably retaining a battery in the cavity to enable the battery to provide power to the electrical circuitry, the activation device, and the output device. The retaining means allows a battery to be removed from the cavity and replaced with another battery.

Claims

1. An electronic card comprising:

a thin, flexible substrate having electrical circuitry embedded therein;

an activation device disposed in the substrate configured to complete a circuit in response to a stimulus, the stimulus being at least one of the group consisting of light, sound, motion, wireless signals, touch, and pressure;

an output device disposed in the substrate configured to produce an output, the output being at least one of the group consisting of light, sound, movement, graphics, a message, music, and vibration, wherein the output device is activated upon completion of the circuit by the activation device; and

a cavity formed in an outer surface of the substrate, the cavity having electrical contacts at an inner portion thereof, the electrical contacts being in electrical communication with the electrical circuitry, and the cavity further comprising retaining means for replaceably retaining a battery inserted into the cavity,

wherein the retaining means is configured to hold a battery securely in the cavity to enable the battery to provide power to the electrical circuitry, the activation device, and the output device, the retaining means being further configured to allow a battery to be removed from the cavity and another battery to be inserted therein in order to continue electrical operation of the electronic card with power being provided by the other battery.

2. The electronic card of claim 1, wherein the substrate is made of paper or thin cardboard stock.

3. The electronic card of claim 1, wherein the substrate is made of plastic and is approximately equal in size to a conventional credit card.

4. The electronic card of claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprises tabs extending over the cavity from at least two opposing sides of the cavity.

5. The electronic card of claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprises an adhesive.

6. The electronic card of claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprises a chemical bond.

7. The electronic card of claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprises a screw that passes through the battery and is threaded into a tapped portion of the electronic card.

8. The electronic card of claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprises undercuts formed in interior walls of the cavity.

9. The electronic card of claim 1, wherein the cavity is formed in an edge surface of the substrate.

10. The electronic card of claim 9, wherein the retaining means comprises a spring loaded mechanism that allows a battery to be pushed into the cavity to be retained therein, and to be released from the cavity when the battery is pushed again.

11. The electronic card of claim 1, wherein the battery comprises a cut out sized such that the battery may be aided in removal by a user'"'"'s fingernail.

12. A method for inserting a battery into an electronic card comprising:

providing an electronic card having electrical circuitry embedded in a thin, flexible substrate, the card having a cavity formed in a surface thereof for receiving a battery and tabs on at least two opposing sides of the cavity and extending over a portion of the cavity;

bending the electronic card with the surface having the cavity being on a convex side of the card such that the tabs move away from each other when the card is bent;

inserting a battery into the cavity while the card is bent, wherein the battery has a width that is wider than the distance between the opposing tabs when the card is not bent; and

releasing the card to return to an unbent orientation wherein the tabs extend over portions of the battery, thereby retaining the battery in the cavity and in electrical communication with the electrical circuitry of the electronic card.

13. A method of transporting an electronic device such that it is not powered during transport, comprising:

mounting an electronic card to a substrate, the electronic card being thin and flexible, and having electrical circuitry and at least one electronic component embedded therein, the electronic card being in an unpowered state when fastened to the substrate;

mounting a battery to the substrate; and

mailing the substrate with the electronic card and the battery mounted thereto, wherein the battery is configured to be inserted into a cavity in the electronic card by a recipient for powering the electronic device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the battery comprises a battery module that includes an electronic circuit for controlling or driving the at least one electronic component.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising retaining the battery in the cavity by tabs extending over the cavity from at least two opposing sides.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising retaining the battery in the cavity by an adhesive.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising retaining the battery in the cavity by chemical bonding.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the cavity is open to an edge surface of the electronic card.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising retaining the battery in the cavity by undercuts disposed in an inner portion of the cavity.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising removing the battery from the cavity and inserting another battery in the cavity to power the at least one electronic component.