BATTERY REPLACEABLE PACK AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH BATTERY REPLACEABLE PACK

• US 20080252253A1
• Filed: 03/27/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Inventors: TSAI, Ming-Huei
• Granted Patent: US 7,915,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00041 in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters

Abstract

A battery replaceable pack for a portable electronic device is provided. The battery replaceable pack includes a containing casing, at least one battery, a protecting circuit board, and a connector. The protecting circuit board has a charging circuit and a detecting circuit electrically connected with each other. When the portable electronic device is connected to an external power supply, the charging circuit performs a testing charge on the battery and the detecting circuit detects the status of the battery. The detecting circuit detects whether the battery is rechargeable so as to assure the battery safety. An electronic device with the battery replaceable pack is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A battery replaceable pack for a portable electronic device, the battery replaceable pack comprising:

a containing casing;

at least one battery provided in the containing casing;

a protecting circuit board provided in the containing casing and electrically connected to two electrodes of the battery, wherein the protecting circuit board has a charging circuit and a detecting circuit electrically connected each other; and

a connector provided on and electrically connected to the protecting circuit board, wherein the connector passes through a hole of the containing casing to partially expose out of the containing casing to connect to the portable electronic device;

when the portable electronic device connects to an external power supply, the charging circuit performs a testing charge on the battery, and the detecting circuit detects the status changes of the battery.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the detecting circuit detects variance in capacitance or voltage of the battery after the testing charge is performed.

3. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein when the battery is rechargeable, the external power supply supplies power to the charging circuit, and the detecting circuit controls the charging circuit to continuously charge the battery;

and when the battery is non-rechargeable, the detecting circuit controls the charging circuit not to charge the battery.

4. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein when the battery is rechargeable, the external power supply supplies power to the charging circuit and the portable electronic device controls the charging circuit to continuously charge the battery, and when the battery is non-rechargeable, the portable electronic device controls the charging circuit not to charge the battery.

5. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the detecting circuit detects the status change of the capacitance or voltage of the battery to determine the remaining power of the battery.

6. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the protecting circuit board farther comprises:

a temperature sensing circuit for sensing temperature of the battery.

7. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of batteries are provided in the containing casing, and the plurality of batteries are disposed abreast and connected in electrical series.

8. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the containing casing comprises an upper casing and a lower casing, and the upper casing and the lower casing form the hole for the connector to pass through.

9. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the containing casing comprises a main casing and a side cover, the main casing has at least one opening, the battery is provided in the main casing, and the side cover covers the opening of the main casing.

10. The battery pack according to claim 1, farther comprising:

at least one conducting strip provided at an inner surface of the containing casing and electrically connecting the battery and the protecting circuit board.

11. An electronic device, comprising:

a portable electronic device; and

a battery replaceable pack applied to the portable electronic device, wherein the battery pack has a containing casing, at least one battery, a protecting circuit board, and a connector;

the battery is provided in the containing casing, the protecting circuit board is provided in the containing casing and is electrically connected with two electrodes of the battery, the connector is provided on the protecting circuit board and is electrically connected with the protecting circuit board, and the connector passes through a hole of the containing casing to be partially exposed out of the containing casing to connect with the portable electronic device;

wherein the protecting circuit board has a charging circuit and a detecting circuit electrically connected with each other, and when the portable electronic device is connected to an external power supply, the charging circuit performs a testing charge on the battery and the detecting circuit detects the status changes of the battery.

12. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the detecting circuit detects variance in capacitance or voltage of the battery after the testing charge is performed.

13. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein when the battery is rechargeable, the external power supply supplies power to the charging circuit and the detecting circuit controls the charging circuit to continuously charge the battery, and when the battery is non-rechargeable, the detecting circuit controls the charging circuit not to charge the battery.

14. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein when the battery is rechargeable, the external power supply supplies power to the charging circuit and the portable electronic device controls the charging circuit to continuously charge the battery, and when the battery is non-rechargeable, the portable electronic device controls the charging circuit not to charge the battery.

15. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the detecting circuit detects the status change of the capacitance or voltage of the battery to determine remaining power of the battery.

16. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the protecting circuit board further comprises:

a temperature sensing circuit for sensing temperature of the battery.

17. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein a plurality of batteries are provided in the containing casing, and the plurality of batteries are disposed abreast and connected in electrical series.

18. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the containing casing comprises an upper casing and a lower casing, and the upper casing and the lower casing form the hole for the connector to pass through.

19. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the containing casing comprises a main casing and a side cover, the main casing has at least one opening, the battery is provided in the main casing, and the side cover covers the opening of the main casing.

20. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the battery pack further comprises,

at least one conducting strip provided at an inner surface of the containing casing and electrically connecting the battery and the protecting circuit board.