Quick release battery and clip for portable device and method of implementing same

• US 6,411,062 B1
• Filed: 09/21/1999
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Baranowski, Robert, Berg, Roger William
• Primary Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US09/400,284
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/112, 320/113, 320/114, 320/115, 307/66, 307/10.7, 361/814
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment

Abstract

A personal electronic device, such as a wireless phone or personal digital assistant is separable from its primary battery when it is to be used. A smaller secondary battery within the device provides power during individual uses of the device. The secondary battery is recharged by the primary battery when the device is reconnected to the primary battery. Consequently, the device is lighter and less bulky when in use due to the absence of the primary battery unit. A belt clip is disposed on the primary battery unit so as to retain the primary battery unit on the user'"'"'s belt or elsewhere when the device is separated.

The separable portion of the device is releasably latched to the primary battery unit so as to be secured in place when not in use.

Claims

1. A personal electronic device comprising:

a primary battery unit separable from said personal electronic device;

a secondary battery unit in said personal electronic device for powering said personal electronic device when said primary battery unit is separated therefrom;

a charger for charging said secondary battery unit with power from said primary battery unit;

a clip on said primary battery unit for securing in place said primary battery unit and said personal electronic device, when connected to said primary battery unit;

a recess in said personal electronic device for receiving said primary battery unit; and

contacts within said recess for electrically connecting said primary battery unit with said personal electronic device, including said secondary battery unit.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a releasable latch for physically latching said primary battery unit to said personal electronic device.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said latch is a quick-release latch that can be released with a one-stroke actuation of a release mechanism.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising an external charger for connection to said primary battery unit to recharge said primary battery unit.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a switch for selectively connecting to said primary and secondary battery units to provide power for said personal electronic device.

6. A personal electronic device comprising:

a device enclosure, said device enclosure having a recess;

a primary battery unit, said primary battery unit being structurally adapted for placement within said recess; and

a clip, said clip being attached to said primary battery unit.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising:

an external charger.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said external charger is capable of being a power source to said personal electronic device.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein said external charger is capable of recharging said primary battery unit.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein said primary battery unit is attached to said personal electronic device.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein said primary battery unit is releasably attached to said personal electronic device.

12. The device of claim 6, wherein said primary battery unit is located with said recess.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising:

a secondary battery unit, said secondary battery unit being situated between said device enclosure and said primary battery unit.

14. The device of claim 6, further comprising:

a secondary battery unit.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said secondary battery unit is recharged by said primary battery unit.

16. The device of claim 14, further comprising:

an upconverter/charger located within said device enclosure, said upconverter/charger recharging said secondary battery unit.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein said upconverter/charger uses said primary battery unit as a power source to recharge said secondary battery unit.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein said upconverter/charger uses an external charger as a power source to recharge said secondary battery unit.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein said secondary battery unit is located within said recess.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein said secondary battery unit is located within said device enclosure.

21. The device of claim 14, wherein said secondary battery unit draws power from said primary battery unit.

22. The device of claim 14, wherein said secondary battery unit is capable of providing power to said personal electronic device.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein said secondary battery unit provides power to said personal electronic device when said primary battery unit is separated from said personal electronic device.

24. The device of claim 22, further comprising:

device circuitry, said device circuitry being within said device enclosure; and

a switch, said switch connecting said secondary battery unit to said device circuitry when said primary battery unit is separated from said personal electronic device and connecting said primary battery unit to said device circuitry when said primary battery unit is attached to said personal electronic device.

25. The device of claim 6, further comprising:

a latch, said latch being structurally adapted to lock said primary battery unit to said personal electronic device.

26. The device of claim 6, further comprising:

at least one contact, said contact electrically connecting said primary battery unit to said personal electronic device and being located within said recess.

27. The device of claim 6, wherein said clip is structurally adapted to secure said primary battery unit to an object that is detached from said primary battery unit.

28. A personal electronic device comprising:

a device enclosure, said device enclosure having a recess;

device circuitry, said device circuitry being within said device enclosure;

a primary battery unit, said primary battery unit being structurally adapted for placement within said recess;

a clip, said clip being attached to said primary battery unit;

a secondary battery unit;

an upconverter/charger located within said device enclosure, said upconverter/charger recharging said secondary battery unit; and

a switch, said switch connecting said secondary battery unit to said device circuitry when said primary battery unit is separated from said personal electronic device and connecting said primary battery unit to said device circuitry when said primary battery unit is attached to said personal electronic device.

29. A method of using and powering a personal electronic device, said a personal electronic device including a device enclosure having a recess, device circuitry within said device enclosure;

a primary battery unit structurally adapted for placement within said recess, a clip attached to said primary battery unit, and a secondary battery unit, said method comprising;

separating said primary battery unit from said recess to remove said primary battery unit from said personal electronic device; and

connecting said secondary battery unit to said device circuitry when said primary battery unit is separated from said personal electronic device.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

connecting said primary battery unit to said device circuitry when said primary battery unit is attached to said personal electronic device.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

using an external charger as a power source to said personal electronic device.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

using an external charger to recharge said primary battery unit.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

situating said secondary battery unit between said device enclosure and said primary battery unit.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

using said primary battery unit to recharge said secondary battery unit.

35. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

using an upconverter/charger located within said device enclosure to recharge said secondary battery unit.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said upconverter/charger uses said primary battery unit as a power source to recharge said secondary battery unit.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein said upconverter/charger uses an external charger as a power source to recharge said secondary battery unit.

38. The method of claim 29, wherein said secondary battery unit is located within said recess.

39. The method of claim 29, wherein said secondary battery unit is located within said device enclosure.

40. The method of claim 29, wherein said secondary battery unit draws power from said primary battery unit.

41. The method of claim 29, wherein said secondary battery unit provides power to said personal electronic device.

42. The method of claim 29, wherein said clip secures said primary battery unit to an object that is detached from said primary battery unit.