Power supply systems for portable electronic devices

• US 5,733,674 A
• Filed: 02/12/1997
• Issued: 03/31/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Green Power Enterprises Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Green Power Enterprises Ltd.
• Inventors: Law, Steven, Ng, Kam Tong
• Primary Examiner(s): Skapars, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US08/799,976
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 429/9, 429/7, 429/96-100, 429/123, 320/2, 320/15
• US Class Current: 429/9
• 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A power supply system that allows a user to standardize on one or two battery types and use these supported types to power electronic devices designed to use other, non-supported battery types. A battery sleeve is provided to convert the form factor of one battery to that of another battery. The system may also include a battery pack assembly that allows batteries of a supported type to be used to power electronic devices designed to use a conventional, proprietary battery pack design. Such battery pack assemblies allow dedicated, single use battery chargers sold with a given electronic device to be used to charge consumer capped batteries that may be used in other electronic devices. A universal charger/power supply unit may be provided that can used to charge a variety of rechargeable batteries and provide power to a variety of electronic devices.

Claims

1. A system for providing power to portable electronic devices, comprising:

a first portable electronic device designed to obtain power through device terminals from a battery pack containing batteries;

a second portable electronic device designed to obtain power from at least one discrete battery arranged in a battery compartment;

at least one non-rechargeable battery;

at least one rechargeable battery;

a battery pack assembly comprising

a housing portion defining a battery chamber and an access opening through which the battery chamber may be accessed;

a cover portion detachably attached to the housing portion, where the cover portion covers the access opening when attached to the housing portion,

a plurality of chamber terminals, where the housing portion is configured such that batteries placed within the battery chamber contact the chamber terminals,

a plurality of battery pack terminals,

means for conducting electricity from the chamber terminals to the battery pack terminals, and

attachment means formed on the housing portion for allowing the battery pack assembly to be detachably attached to the first portable electronic device, where the battery pack terminals come into contact with the device terminals when the battery assembly is attached to the first portable electronic device;

a charger device for charging rechargeable batteries, the charger device comprising

charger terminals across which an electrical potential is developed, and

means for mounting the battery pack assembly onto the charger device such that the charger terminals engage the battery pack terminals;

wherein

to charge the at least one rechargeable battery, the at least one rechargeable battery is placed into the battery chamber and the battery pack assembly is mounted onto the charger device such that current flows from the charger device to the at least one rechargeable battery through the charger, battery pack, and chamber terminals;

to provide power to the first portable electronic device, one of the at least one rechargeable battery and the at least one non-rechargeable battery is placed in the battery chamber, and the attachment means is employed to attach the battery pack assembly to the first portable electronic device such that current flows from the at least one rechargeable battery to the first portable electronic device through the battery pack and device terminals; and

to provide power to the second portable electronic device, one of the at least one rechargeable battery and the at least one non-rechargeable battery is placed in the battery compartment.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, in which the cover portion is configured to allow a user to determine whether rechargeable or non-rechargeable batteries are contained within the battery chamber.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, in which at least some of the cover portion is transparent to allow the user to see the batteries contained within the battery chamber.

4. A system as recited in claim 3, in which the cover portion is entirely transparent.

5. A system as recited in claim 1, in which the battery pack assembly further comprises switch means operable to prevent current from flowing from the charger device to the battery pack terminals when non-rechargeable batteries are placed in the battery chamber.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, in which the battery pack terminals that engage the device terminals when the battery pack assembly is attached to the first portable electronic device also engage the charger terminals when the battery pack assembly is mounted onto the charger device.

7. A system as recited in claim 6, further comprising a disconnect circuit selectively operable to allow current to flow from the battery pack terminals to the chamber terminals when rechargeable batteries are within the battery chamber and prevent current from flowing from the battery pack terminals to the chamber terminals when a non-rechargeable battery is within the battery chamber.

8. A system as recited in claim 1, in which the battery pack comprises first and second sets of battery pack terminals, where the first set of battery pack terminals are arranged to engage the device terminals when the battery pack assembly is attached to the first portable electronic device and the second set of battery pack terminals are arranged to engage the charger terminals when the battery pack assembly is mounted on the charger device.

9. A system as recited in claim 8, further comprising switch means operable to allow current to flow the second set of battery pack terminals to the chamber terminals when a rechargeable battery is contained within the battery chamber and prevent current from flowing from the second set of battery pack terminals to the chamber terminals when a non-rechargeable battery is contained within the battery chamber.

10. A system as recited in claim 1, in which the rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries are of a first battery type, the system further comprising a battery sleeve for receiving at least one of the rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries to form a battery assembly, where the physical dimensions of the battery assembly are approximately the same as the physical dimensions of a second battery type.