CONNECTING MEMBER, POWER SUPPLY DEVICE, ELECTRONIC DEVICE, AND SYSTEM

• US 20170250554A1
• Filed: 02/16/2017
• Published: 08/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: TAJIMA, Ryota, YOSHIZUMI, Kensuke
• Granted Patent: US 10,770,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0053 Flexible straps
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/14 characterised by the way of fastening to a wrist-watch or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/1493 by means of a feather spring (Barette á ressort)
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/06 Electric connectors, e.g. conductive elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 19/00 Electric power supply circuits specially adapted for use in electronic time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/569 Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A device capable of being used for a long time is achieved. A power supply, a connection method of a power supply, or a connecting member, for easy attachment and detachment and non-detachment when in use, is provided. A power supply, a connection method of a power supply, or a connecting member for easy replacement is provided. A highly designed power supply is provided. Power from a battery is supplied to an electronic device through a connecting member including a pipe, a spring, and a pair of pivots. The pair of pivots are electrically insulated from each other, and electrically connected to any one of a pair of electrodes of the battery. The electronic device into which the pair of pivots are inserted includes a pair of bearings capable of receiving power.

Claims

1. A connecting member comprising:

a pair of pivots;

a pipe; and

a spring,

wherein each of the pivots comprises a tip portion, a collar portion, an axis portion, and an end portion,

wherein the spring is placed in the pipe and is placed between the pair of pivots,

wherein the end portion is a portion placed in the pipe,

wherein each of the tip portion and the collar portion is a portion projected from the pipe in a natural state,

wherein the axis portion is a portion placed between the collar portion and the end portion,

wherein the axis portion comprises a portion projected from the pipe in a natural state and placed in the pipe when the spring is compressed,

wherein each of the axis portion and the tip portion comprises a conductive portion, and

wherein the pair of pivots are electrically insulated from each other.

2. The connecting member according to claim 1, wherein each of a surface of the end portion and a surface of part of the axis portion on the end portion side in each of the pair of pivots has an insulating property.

3. The connecting member according to claim 1,

wherein the spring comprises two spring parts and a cushioning member between the two spring parts

wherein a surface of the cushioning member has an insulating property.

4. The connecting member according to claim 3, wherein the cushioning member and the pipe are integrated with each other.

5. The connecting member according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the spring has an insulating property.

6. A power supply device comprising:

the connecting member according to claim 1;

a battery; and

a band-like exterior body,

wherein the battery comprises a pair of electrodes,

wherein each of the pair of electrodes is electrically connected to the axis portion,

wherein the band-like exterior body is provided to cover the battery and the pipe of the connecting member, and

wherein the tip portion of the connecting member is provided not to be covered by the band-like exterior body.

7. The power supply device according to claim 6, comprising a pair of conductive members,

wherein the conductive members are electrically connected to the electrodes of the battery, and

wherein the axis portions fit into the conductive members so as to be in contact with each other.

8. The power supply device according to claim 7, wherein the axis portions fit into the conductive members so as to be rotatable in a rotating direction and to be slidable in an extending direction of the axis portion.

9. The power supply device according to claim 7, wherein the axis portions fit into the conductive members so as to be fixed in a rotating direction and be slidable in an extending direction of the axis portion.

10. The power supply device according to claim 6,

wherein the band-like exterior body is flexible, and

wherein the battery is configured to change its shape following a change in a shape of the band-like exterior body.

11. An electronic device comprising:

a housing; and

a power control circuit,

wherein the housing comprises a pair of bearings,

wherein the power control circuit is placed in the housing,

wherein each of the bearings is capable of being electrically connected to the tip portion of the connecting member,

wherein the pair of bearings are each electrically connected to the power control circuit by wirings, and

wherein the electronic device is attachable with the connecting member according to claim 1.

12. The electronic device according to claim 11, comprising a sensor in the housing, wherein the sensor is configured to sense whether the pair of bearings are electrically insulated from or electrically connected to each other.

13. The electronic device according to claim 11, comprising a sensor in the housing, wherein the sensor is configured to sense a potential difference between the pair of bearings.

14. A system comprising:

a pair of bearings;

a control portion;

a power supply control portion;

a first battery;

a sensor; and

a functional circuit,

wherein the sensor is configured to output a potential difference between the pair of bearings to the control portion as a potential information,

wherein the power supply control portion is controlled by the control portion and is configured to output any one of power of the first battery and power supplied from the pair of bearings to the functional circuit, and

wherein the control portion is configured to control the power supply control portion to output power of the first battery when the potential information is information indicating any of a conductive state, an insulated state, and a state in which the potential difference is under a predetermined value and is configured to control the power supply control portion to output the power supplied from the pair of bearings when the potential information is information indicating a state in which the potential difference is greater than or equal to the predetermined value.

15. The system according to claim 14, comprising a power receiving portion,

wherein the power supply control portion is configured to output power supplied from the power receiving portion to the first battery and the pair of bearings, and

wherein the control portion is configured to control the power supply control portion to output the power supplied from the power receiving portion to the bearings when the potential information is information indicating a state in which the potential difference is under the predetermined value.