Portable radio battery pack with on-off switch

• US 4,709,201 A
• Filed: 10/24/1985
• Issued: 11/24/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company, Com-Net Ericsson Canada Corp. (TE Connectivity Limited), Com-Net Ericsson Critical Radio Systems, Inc. (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Schaefer, Henry A., Garner, Terry N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Salce, Patrick R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ault, Anita M.
• Application Number:
  US06/790,903
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 455/89, 455/90, 455/343, 455/349, 429/7
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/016 combined with start switch, discrete keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/034 Portable transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An improved arrangement for powering a two-way portable radio or the like comprises rechargable battery cells and sets of power input and output contacts interconnected to each other and the battery cells in such a way that the output contacts may be electrically connected to the battery cells for powering the radio, or to the input contacts for receiving power directly from a battery charger for dead battery operation while simultaneously recharging the battery cells, all battery pack contacts being electrically isolated from the battery cells in the latter mode of operation.

Claims

1. A modular battery pack for powering a radio comprising:

a rechargeable battery cell;

a set of power output contacts;

a set of power input contacts;

means for electrically interconnecting said input and output contacts and said battery cell such that said output contacts may be alternatively interconnected to said battery cell, or to said input contacts while simultaneously electrically isolating battery cell power from said input and output contacts.

2. A modular battery pack for powering a radio comprising a rechargeable battery cell and sets of input and output contacts interconnected to each other and said battery cell in such a way that said output contacts may either be electrically connected to said battery cell for powering said radio in a first operating mode, or electrically connected to said input contacts for receiving power from a battery charger for dead battery operation in a second operating mode while simultaneously recharging said battery cell, and wherein battery cell power is electrically isolated from said input and output contacts.

3. Modular radio and battery pack apparatus comprising:

a radio module; and

a modular battery pack removably attachable to said radio module for providing power thereto through first mating electrical contacts on said radio module and said battery pack and removably attachable to a battery charger through second mating electrical contacts on said battery charger and said battery pack, said battery pack comprising a battery cell, electrical circuitry interconnecting said battery cell with said first and second battery pack electrical contacts, and switch means for interrupting said battery pack electrical circuitry to prevent battery cell power from reaching said first and second battery pack electrical contacts during removal of said battery pack from said radio module.

4. A modular battery pack for providing power for a portable radio to which it may be attached in modular fashion comprising:

at least one rechargeable battery cell having positive and negative terminals;

first and second power output contacts for removably electrically interconnecting said modular battery pack to said radio;

first, second and third power input contacts for removably electrically interconnecting said modular battery pack to a battery charger, said first power input contact being electrically connected to said first power output contact and said negative battery cell terminal; and

a switch alternatively electrically connecting said second power output contact to said third power input contact in an OFF position or to said positive battery cell terminal and said second power input contact through an isolation diode in an ON position;

whereby, with said switch in said ON position, battery cell power is available at said first and second power output contacts; and

, with said switch in said OFF position and said battery pack unconnected to said charger, no battery cell power is available at any of said power input or power output contacts; and

with said switch in said OFF position and said battery pack connected to said charger, said first and second power output contacts are powered while said battery cell may be recharged by said charger.

5. Apparatus for powering a portable radio comprising:

a battery charger for converting AC current to DC current, said charger having two positive output terminals and one negative output terminal; and

a modular battery pack for providing DC power for a radio module comprising;

a rechargeable battery cell;

two power output contacts for interconnecting to said radio;

three power input contacts for electrically connecting to said battery charger terminals, the first power input contact being electrically connected to the first power output contact and said battery cell and for also electrically connecting to the negative one of said charger terminals; and

a switch electrically connecting, in an ON position, the second power output contact with said battery cell and, through an isolation diode, the second power input contact, and further connecting, in an OFF position, said second power output contact with the third power input contact, said second and said third power input contacts each being electrically connectable with different ones of said positive chrager terminals;

whereby, with said switch in said ON position, battery cell power is available at said power output contacts;

with said switch OFF and said power input contacts unconnected to said charger, no battery cell power is available at any of said power input and power output contacts; and

, with said switch OFF and said power input contacts connected to said charger, dead battery operation of said radio is possible during recharging of said battery cell.

6. A rechargeable, removable battery pack for providing power to a portable radio comprising;

a rechargeable battery cell electrically connected across a first positive power input contact through an isolation diode, and a second negative power input contact to form a charging circuit for receiving power from mating contacts of an attachable battery charger;

a third positive power input contact for receiving power from another mating contact of said battery charger for powering said radio; and

two power output contacts for supplying power to mating radio contacts, said first power output contact being electrically connected to said second negative input contact and said battery, and said second power output contact being electrically connected to a switch operable between an ON position in which said first and second output contacts are placed in parallel electrical relationship with said charging circuit, thereby providing battery cell power to said power output contacts, and an OFF position in which said second output contact is electrically connected to said third positive power input contact, thereby permitting battery charger power to be provided to said power output contacts to directly power said radio and also thereby isolating battery cell power from all of said power input and power output contacts.

7. A modular battery pack comprising:

a rechargeable battery cell;

first and second power output contacts, the first of which is electrically connected to said battery cell and a first power input contact;

a second power input contact electrically connected to said battery cell through an isolation diode so as to provide, in combination with said first power input contact, an electrical charging circuit for said battery cell;

a third power input contact; and

means for switching said second power output contact into alternative electrical connection with said second and third power input contacts; and

wherein said power output contacts provide removable electrical connection between said modular battery pack and a radio module, and said power input connections provide removable electrical connection between said modular battery pack and a battery charger.

8. A rechargeable modular battery pack for providing power to a portable radio module comprising:

a rechargeable battery cell electrically connected through an isolation diode to first and second power input contacts to form a charging circuit for receiving power from mating contacts of an attachable battery charger;

a third power input contact for receiving power from another mating contact of said battery charger for powering said radio module independently of said battery cell; and

two power output contacts for supplying power to mating contacts of said radio module, the first such power output contact being electrically connected to said battery cell and said first power input contact, and said second power output contact being electrically connected to a switch for selectively placing said two power output contacts either in parallel electrical connection with said charging circuit, thereby powering said radio by means of said battery cell, or placing said two power output contacts in parallel electrical connection with said first and third power input contacts while isolating battery cell power from all power input and power output contacts.

9. A modular battery pack comprising:

a rechargeable battery cell electrically connected across a pair of power input contacts through an isolation diode, thereby preventing discharge of said battery cell through said pair of power input contacts;

a pair of power output contacts, a first of which is electrically connected to one of said pair of power input contacts; and

means for switching the second of said power output contacts between electrical connection with the other of said pair of power input contacts and a third power input contact which is electrically isolated from said battery cell; and

wherein said power output contacts provide removable electrical connection between said modular battery pack and a radio, and said power input connections provide removable electrical connection between said modular battery pack and a source of DC power.