Portable radio transceiver housing structurally supported by battery

• US 4,791,527 A
• Filed: 09/22/1987
• Issued: 12/13/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brown, Vernon L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thompson, G. P.
• Application Number:
  US07/099,631
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 307/150, 361/380, 361/386-389, 361/393, 361/394, 361/395, 361/399, 361/424, 429/96-98, 429/100, 455/346-349, 455/90, 455/128, 455/351
• US Class Current: 361/816
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/05 Insulated conductive substrates, e.g. insulated metal substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0305 Solder used for other purposes than connections between PCB or components, e.g. for filling vias or for programmable patterns
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/042 Stacked spaced PCBs; Planar parts of folded flexible circuits having mounted components in between or spaced from each other
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0999 Circuit printed on or in housing, e.g. housing as PCB; Circuit printed on the case of a component; PCB affixed to housing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10037 Printed or non-printed battery
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/302 Bending a rigid substrate; Breaking rigid substrates by bending
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/0058 Laminating printed circuit boards onto other substrates, e.g. metallic substrates H05K1/0281 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/4038 Through-connections; Vertical interconnect access [VIA] connections H05K3/403, H05K3/42 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/4084 by deforming at least one of the conductive layers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0086 portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus casings for switching devices H01H9/02

Abstract

A unique housing (104 and 600) of a portable radio transceiver (100) is described that takes advantage of the heat sinking, electrical shielding and structural characteristics of a battery. The unique electronic circuitry housing (104 and 600) includes a battery as a structural element thereof. In one illustrated housing (104), a stick battery (210) is attached to the side of a transmitter printed circuit panel (213). A logic printed circuit panel (212) and a receiver printed circuit panel (214) are positioned above and below the transmitter printed circuit panel (213), respectively, and are held together by interlocking side rails (206,207). In a second illustrated housing (600), a flat battery (602) is attached to the sides of a first U-shaped printed circuit panel (604). A second U-shaped printed circuit panel (606) is positioned between the battery and the first panel (604). Heat dissipated by the electrical components on the second panel (606) is conducted away by the flat battery (602). The electronic circuitry housing of the present invention may be advantageously utilized in a variety of applications where electronic circuitry is operated from a battery.

Claims

1. A housing for electronic circuitry, comprising:

a battery having first and second edges and first and second opposing flat rigid surfaces;

a U-shaped panel having first and second side portions and a center portion, the first and second side portions of said U-shaped panel attaching to the first and second edges of said battery, respectively, said center portion having inner and outer opposing surfaces, said U-shaped panel further including a dielectric and circuitry layer bonded to the inner surface of the center portion of said U-shaped panel;

electronic circuitry bonded to the circuitry layer on the inner surface of said U-shaped panel; and

end cap means coupled to said battery and said U-shaped panel, whereby said end cap means, said battery and said U-shaped panel substantially enclose the electronic circuitry.

2. The housing according to claim 1, wherein said electronic circuitry includes a plurality of surface-mount devices bonded to the circuitry layer.

3. A housing for electronic circuitry, comprising:

a battery having first and second edges and first and second opposing flat rigid metallized surfaces;

a U-shaped panel comprised of metal and having first and second side portions and a center portion, the first and second side portions of said U-shaped panel attaching to the first and second edges of said battery, respectively, said center portion having inner and outer opposing surfaces;

electronic circuitry disposed on the inner surface of said U-shaped panel; and

end cap means coupled to said battery and said U-shaped panel, whereby said end cap means, said battery and said U-shaped panel substantially enclose the electronic circuitry.

4. The housing according to claim 3, wherein said U-shaped panel includes a dielectric and circuitry layer bonded to the inner surface of the center portion of said U-shaped panel, said electronic circuitry being bonded to the circuitry layer.

5. The housing according to claim 4, wherein said electronic circuitry includes a plurality of surface-mount devices bonded to the circuitry layer.

6. A housing for electronic circuitry, comprising:

a battery having first and second edges and first and second opposing flat rigid surfaces;

a first U-shaped panel having first and second side portions and a center portion, the first and second side portions of said first U-shaped panel attaching to the first and second edges of said battery, respectively;

a second U-shaped panel disposed between the sides of said first U-shaped panel and having first and second side portions and a center portion, said center portion of said second U-shaped panel having inner and outer opposing surfaces;

means for thermally coupling the outer surface of said second U-shaped panel to one of the first and second surfaces of said battery;

electronic circuitry disposed on the inner surface of said second U-shaped panel; and

end cap means coupled to said battery and said first U-shaped panel, whereby said end cap means, said battery and said first U-shaped panel substantially enclose the electronic circuitry and said battery conducts away at least a portion of the heat dissipated by the electronic circuitry on said second U-shaped panel.

7. The housing according to claim 6, wherein said first and second U-shaped panels are comprised of metal, whereby said panels electrically shield the electronic circuitry.

8. The housing according to claim 6, wherein said second U-shaped panel includes a dielectric and circuitry layer bonded to the inner surface of the center portion thereof, said electronic circuitry being bonded to the circuitry layer.

9. The housing according to claim 8, wherein said electronic circuitry includes a plurality of surface-mount devices each bonded to the circuitry layer.