FLEXIBLE SUBSTRATE BATTERY JACKET

• US 20140147719A1
• Filed: 11/29/2012
• Published: 05/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera AVX Components Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ethertronics, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Robin, Olivier, Ortiz, Francisco Carlos Sanchez
• Granted Patent: US 9,214,660 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/100
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/109 of button or coin shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/216 adapted for button or coin cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/51 Connection only in series
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/512 Connection only in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/526 having a layered structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A flexible battery jacket adapted to combine two or more batteries for forming a low profile power-pack assembly. The battery jacket folds about the two or more batteries and connects respective positive and negative terminals of the batteries at one or more contacts of the battery jacket. The contacts are coupled to conductors which communicate the power to a positive and a negative supply terminal, respectively, on a single portion of the battery jacket assembly. In this regard, the flexible battery jacket combines two or more batteries in parallel or series configuration and provides supply terminals on a single substrate surface for easily connecting with an electronic device.

Claims

1. A flexible battery jacket for electrically combining two or more batteries, comprising:

a flexible substrate having a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion;

the first portion having a first top surface and a first bottom surface opposite of the first top surface, and comprising;

a first contact disposed on the first top surface, the first contact being adapted to couple with a first battery at a positive terminal thereof; and

a second contact disposed on the first bottom surface, the second contact being adapted to couple with a second battery at a positive terminal thereof;

the third portion having a first top surface and a first bottom surface opposite of the first top surface and comprising;

a third contact disposed on the third bottom surface, the third contact being adapted to couple with the second battery at a negative terminal thereof;

the second portion having a second top surface and a second bottom surface opposite of the second top surface, and comprising;

a fourth contact disposed on the second bottom surface, the fourth contact being adapted to couple with the first battery at a negative terminal thereof;

a positive supply terminal disposed on the second top surface;

a first conductive trace adapted to couple the first and second contacts of the first portion with the positive supply terminal;

a negative supply terminal disposed on the second top surface;

a second conductive trace adapted to couple the third and fourth contacts with the negative supply terminal;

wherein the flexible battery jacket is adapted to fold about the two or more batteries and provide said positive and negative supply terminals on a common surface for electrically connecting the two batteries and the flexible battery jacket to an electronic device.

2. The flexible battery jacket of claim 1, wherein the flexible battery jacket is adapted to couple the two or more batteries in a parallel configuration.

3. The flexible battery jacket of claim 1, wherein the flexible battery jacket is adapted to couple the two or more batteries in a series configuration.

4. The flexible battery jacket of claim 1, further comprising a fourth portion and additional contacts thereon for coupling three batteries.

5. The flexible battery jacket of claim 1, comprising a removable liner being adhered to the flexible substrate by a conductive adhesive.

6. A flexible battery jacket, comprising:

a flexible substrate having a plurality of portions, each of the plurality of portions having a top and bottom surface, respectively, and each of the portions being connected one with another via a bridge member extending therebetween;

a plurality of contacts disposed on the plurality of portions, each contact being adapted to couple with one of;

a positive or a negative terminal of one or more batteries;

a positive supply terminal coupled to at least one of the contacts via a first conductive trace; and

a negative supply terminal coupled to at least one of the contacts via a first conductive trace;

wherein the flexible battery jacket is adapted to fold about the two or more batteries and provide said positive and negative supply terminals on a common surface for electrically connecting the two batteries and the flexible battery jacket to an electronic device.

7. The flexible battery jacket of claim 6, wherein the flexible battery jacket is adapted to couple the two or more batteries in a parallel configuration.

8. The flexible battery jacket of claim 6, wherein the flexible battery jacket is adapted to couple the two or more batteries in a series configuration.

9. The flexible battery jacket of claim 6, further comprising a fourth portion and additional contacts thereon for coupling three batteries.

10. The flexible battery jacket of claim 6, comprising a removable liner being adhered to the flexible substrate by a conductive adhesive.

11. A method for manufacturing a flexible substrate battery jacket, comprising:

providing a substrate base layer having multiple portions each having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite of the top surface;

adhering a top metal layer by electroplating, or printing conductive ink, the top metal layer forming one or more contacts for establishing an electrical connection with two or more batteries, a positive and negative supply terminal, and one or more conductive traces connecting the contacts to the supply terminals;

applying an adhesive layer over the substrate and top metal layer; and

applying a release paper liner to one or more portions of the flexible battery jacket.