Hot-Swappable Battery Retrofit Module

• US 20090251007A1
• Filed: 03/18/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thermo Niton Analyzers LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Thermo Niton Analyzers LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hamilton, Mark, Adams, William L.
• Application Number:
  US12/406,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20090251007A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• 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 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/267 having means for adapting to batteries or cells of different types or different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/001 Hot plugging or unplugging of load or power modules to or from power distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/06 Two-wire systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A retrofit module electrically connects to a device'"'"'s battery terminals, where an original main battery would otherwise connect to the device, and a hot-swappable battery electrically connects to the retrofit module, thereby retrofitting the device for operation with hot-swappable batteries, without shutting down the device to swap the batteries. When a charged hot-swappable battery is connected to the retrofit module, the retrofit module powers the device from the hot-swappable battery. The retrofit module includes a bridge battery and a circuit that charges the bridge battery from the hot-swappable battery and that provides power to the device from the bridge battery while the hot-swappable battery is replaced. The retrofit module may include a releasable structure that maintains the module in contact with the device'"'"'s battery terminals, even after the hot-swappable battery has been removed. The retrofit module may have a form factor and power supplying terminals similar to those of the main battery that the device is configured to accept.

Claims

1. A hot-swap battery retrofit module for connection to battery terminals of a device, the device'"'"'s battery terminals being compatible with terminals on a first battery, the module comprising:

a plurality of electric power receiving terminals compatible with terminals on a second battery;

a plurality of electric power supplying terminals compatible with the battery terminals of the device;

an energy storage device; and

a circuit connected to the energy storage device, the power receiving terminals and the power supplying terminals, such that;

in a first mode, the power receiving terminals are coupled to the power supplying terminals; and

in a second mode, the energy storage device is coupled to the power supplying terminals.

2. A hot-swap battery retrofit module according to claim 1, wherein the terminals on the first battery are configured in substantially the same manner as the terminals on the second battery.

3. A hot-swap battery retrofit module according to claim 1, wherein the circuit is configured to charge the energy storage device from power available via the power receiving terminals.

4. A hot-swap battery retrofit module according to claim 1, wherein:

in the first mode, a battery is coupled to the power receiving terminals; and

in the second mode no battery is coupled to the power receiving terminals.

5. A hot-swap battery retrofit module according to claim 1, wherein:

in the first mode, a battery having at least a predetermined level of charge is coupled to the power receiving terminals; and

in the second mode no battery, or a battery having less than the predetermined level of charge, is coupled to the power receiving terminals.

6. A hot-swap battery retrofit module according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the retrofit module has a form factor based on at least a portion of a form factor of the first battery.

7. A hot-swap battery retrofit module according to claim 1, further comprising:

a substrate on which the plurality of electric power receiving terminals and the plurality of electric power supplying terminals are disposed;

a housing separate from the substrate and in which the circuit is disposed; and

a cable connecting the circuit to the power receiving terminals and to the power supplying terminals.

8. A hot-swap battery retrofit module according to claim 1, further comprising a retaining structure configured to releasably maintain at least the power supplying terminals of the module in contact with the battery terminals of the device, absent a battery coupled to the power receiving terminals.

9. A hot-swap battery retrofit module according to claim 8, wherein the retaining structure comprises a resilient friction material proximate at least a portion of a surface of the retrofit module.

10. A hot-swap battery retrofit module according to claim 8, wherein the retaining structure comprises an expandable structure.

11. A hot-swap battery retrofit module according to claim 8, wherein the retaining structure comprises a structure capable of at least partial rotation.

12. A hot-swap battery retrofit module according to claim 8, further comprising a port configured to accept a removal tool.

13. A hot-swap battery retrofit module according to claim 1, further comprising a retaining structure configured to maintain the module in contact with the device'"'"'s battery terminals.

14. A hot-swap battery retrofit module according to claim 1, further comprising an index structure that cooperates with a structure of the device to limit orientation of the retrofit module.

15. A hot-swap battery retrofit module according to claim 14, wherein the index structure comprises a boss.

16. A hot-swap battery retrofit module according to claim 14, wherein the index structure comprises a ridge.

17. A hot-swap battery retrofit module according to claim 14, wherein the index structure defines a groove.

18. A hot-swap battery retrofit module according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage device comprises a rechargeable battery.

19. A hot-swap battery retrofit module according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage device comprises a capacitor.

20. A method for providing temporary electrical power to a device while a battery is replaced, the method comprising:

interposing a hot-swap battery retrofit module between battery terminals of the device and terminals on the battery, such that at least one of the terminals of the battery is not in physical and direct electrical contact with any battery terminal of the device; and

supplying electrical power from the hot-swap battery retrofit module to the battery terminals of the device while the battery is being replaced.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein:

interposing the hot-swap battery retrofit module comprises;

disposing a plurality of power receiving terminals in physical and direct electrical contact with the terminals on the battery;

disposing a plurality of power supplying terminals in physical and direct electrical contact with the battery terminals of the device; and

providing a circuit that includes an energy storage device and that is coupled to the power receiving and power supplying terminals; and

supplying the electrical power while the battery is being replaced comprises supplying electrical power from the energy storage device via the power supplying terminals.

22. A method according to claim 21, further comprising charging the energy storage device from a battery connected to the power receiving terminals.