Charging apparatus with contact end sliding in accordance with weight of secondary battery

• US 5,831,414 A
• Filed: 06/27/1997
• Issued: 11/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Shinichi, Yokota, Hidetsugu
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US08/883,882
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/110, 320/111, 320/112, 320/113, 320/115, 320/101, 320/105, 320/114, D13/103, D13/107, 429/96, 429/100
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries

Abstract

In a charging apparatus, a constant current circuit has a plurality of output terminals for supplying charging current with a plurality of current values, respectively. A plurality of contact pads connected to the output terminals of the constant current circuit. A conductive elastic lead has one of ends which slides in response to installation of a secondary battery in the case to contact one of the plurality of contact pads. Thus, a portion of the conductive elastic lead is connected to the secondary battery to supply the charging current from the constant current circuit to the secondary battery via the contacting one of the plurality of contact pads.

Claims

1. A charging apparatus comprising:

a case;

a constant current circuit having a plurality of output terminals for supplying charging current with a plurality of different current values, respectively;

a plurality of contact pads respectively connected to said output terminals of said constant current circuit; and

a conductive elastic lead having one of ends which slides in response to installation of a secondary battery in said case to contact one of the plurality of contact pads, wherein a portion of said conductive elastic lead is connected to said secondary battery to supply the charging current from said constant current circuit to said secondary battery via the contacting one of the plurality of contact pads.

2. A charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conductive elastic lead is deformed in accordance with weight of said secondary battery such that said one end slides to said contacting one of the plurality of contact pads, when said secondary battery is installed in said case.

3. A charging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said conductive elastic lead has a structure in which said conductive elastic lead is bend at a middle portion to have a convex portion, and

wherein said secondary battery is weighted on said convex portion.

4. A charging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said secondary battery having an input terminal for the charging current at a lower surface, and

wherein said convex portion is connected to said input terminal of said secondary battery.

5. A charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of contact pads are provided on an upper surface of a concave section of said case, and wherein said conductive elastic lead is provided on the upper surface of the concave section of said case such that said one end slides to said contacting one of the plurality of contact pads.

6. A charging apparatus comprising:

a case;

constant current supplying means for supplying, via a plurality of contact pads, charging current with a plurality of different current values, respectively; and

a first conductive elastic lead having one of ends slided in accordance with weight of a secondary battery to contact one of the plurality of contact pads, when said secondary battery is installed in said case, wherein a portion of said first conductive elastic lead is connected to said secondary battery to supply the charging current from said constant current supplying means to said secondary battery.

7. A charging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first conductive elastic lead has a structure in which said first conductive elastic lead is bend at a middle portion to have a convex portion, and

wherein said secondary battery is weighted on said convex portion.

8. A charging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said secondary battery having an input terminal for the charging current at a lower surface, and

wherein said convex portion is connected to said input terminal of said secondary battery.

9. A charging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of contact pads are provided on an upper surface of a concave section of said case, and wherein said first conductive elastic lead is provided on the upper surface of the concave section of said case such that said one end slides to said one of the plurality of contact pads.

10. A charging apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a second conductive elastic lead connected to a ground input terminal of said secondary battery and said constant current supplying means.

11. A method for charging a secondary battery in a charging apparatus, comprising the steps of:

installing a first secondary battery having a first weight in a case;

sliding one of ends of a first conductive lead in response to the installation of the first secondary battery;

contact the sliding one end with one of a plurality of contact pads; and

supplying a charging current with a first predetermined current value to said first secondary battery via said one contact pad.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

removing said first secondary battery from said case; and

sliding back said one end to an original position in response to the removal of said first secondary battery.

13. A method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

installing a second secondary battery having a second weight in said case;

sliding the one end of said first conductive lead in response to the installation of the second secondary battery;

contact the sliding one end with another of the plurality of contact pads; and

supplying the charging current with a second predetermined current value to said second secondary battery via said other contact pad.