BATTERY PACK

• US 20130136956A1
• Filed: 11/13/2012
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Energy Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakano, Masaya, Inaoka, Osamu, Takatsu, Takao, Yoneda, Haruhiko
• Granted Patent: US 9,263,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/7
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• 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 50/519 comprising printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/548 on opposite sides of the cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/559 Terminals adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round, elliptic or button cells H01M50/553 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to improve, using a simple configuration, mechanical and electrical connection precision so a battery pack is properly connected, both mechanically and electrically, to a device. A battery pack detachably mounted in a device for supplying power to the device to operate the device includes at least one rechargeable secondary battery (1), a battery case (31) housing the secondary battery (1), a mounting mechanism for mechanically mounting the battery case (31) in the device, an electrical connection connected electrically to the device for supplying power to the device, and a pack circuit board (74) securing the electrical connection. The battery case (31) is divided into a first casing and a second casing, the pack circuit board (74) is secured to the inside surface of the first casing, and the mounting mechanism is installed so the mounting mechanism is at least partially exposed on the surface of the first casing.

Claims

1. The battery pack comprising:

at least one rechargeable secondary battery (1),

a battery case (31) housing the secondary battery (1),

a mounting mechanism for mechanically mounting the battery case (31) in the device,

an electrical connection connected electrically to the device for supplying power to the device, and

a pack circuit board (74) securing the electrical connection;

the battery case (31) being divided into a first casing and a second casing, the pack circuit board (74) being secured to the inside surface of the first casing, and the mounting mechanism being installed so the mounting mechanism is at least partially exposed on the surface of the first casing.

2. A battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the first casing has a column-shaped portion (36) protruding from the inner surface in an erect position and an insertion pin (36a) protruding from an edge of the column-shaped portion (36), the pack circuit board (74) has a boss hole (76) formed in a position corresponding to the insertion pin (36a) in a position secured on the inner surface of the first casing, and the pack circuit board (74) is positioned with the first casing by inserting the insertion pin (36a) of the column-shaped portion (36) into the boss hole (76).

3. A battery pack according to claim 2, wherein a battery holder (70) is provided having a plurality of battery housing spaces for individually housing a secondary battery (1), a boss (72) for securing the pack circuit board (74) is provided in the upper surface of the battery holder (70), the boss (72) being provided in a position corresponding to the insertion pin (36a) with the battery holder (70) housed in the battery case (31), a pin coupling unit (73) is formed in the end surface of the boss (72) to couple with the insertion pin (36a), and the pack circuit board (74) is interposed between the pin coupling unit and the insertion pin (36a) by coupling the insertion pin (36a) with the pin coupling unit when the insertion pin (36a) has been inserted into the boss hole (76) of the pack circuit board (74).

4. A battery pack according to claim 1, wherein an electrical connection holder (14) for holding the electrical connection is provided on the inner surface of the first casing.

5. A battery pack according to claim 4, wherein the electrical connection is a connector (13) having a frame-shaped profile, and the electrical connection holder (14) is a clamping rib clamping both sides of the connector (13).

6. A battery pack according to claim 4, wherein the electrical connection is an external connection terminal (33) being a bent metal plate, and the electrical connection holder (14) is a terminal positioning rib (39) clamping the upper edge of the external connection terminal (33).

7. A battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the mounting mechanism is an engaging hook (54) protruding from the first casing, and inserted into a holding recess (17) formed in a device to engage the holding recess.

8. A battery pack according to claim 7, wherein the mounting mechanism is a detachment unit (52) for switching the engaging hook (54) to a locked position protruding from the first casing or to an unlocked position housed inside the first casing.

9. A battery pack according to claim 8, wherein the mounting mechanism is a latching unit (50, 50B) having an integrally formed engaging hook (54) and detachment unit (52), the detachment unit (52) is slidably exposed on a surface of the first casing in a position other than that of the protruding engaging hook (54) and the engaging hook (54) is exposed on the surface of the first casing by sliding the detachment unit (52).