Battery pack, battery charger and an electronic device using a battery pack

• US 6,485,861 B2
• Filed: 04/02/1999
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takeshita, Toshio, Aoki, Hisashi, Kubotera, Tomoyuki, Koyama, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaney, Carol
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOVE, TRACY MAE
• Application Number:
  US09/285,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20020012831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 429/97, 429/99, 429/100, 320/112, 320/113, 320/110
• US Class Current: 429/99
• 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: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery pack securing mechanism for securing battery packs of varaying numbers of battery cells, a battery charger capable of charging the battery packs or an electronic equipment capable of using the battery packs. In a battery pack having the optional number of cells built therein, this terminal is provided in the same position as a terminal position wherein only one cell is accommodated within the battery pack. A charger and an electronic equipment using a pack have a pack securing section capable of securing battery a pack having at least two cells accommodating therein in parallel, and includes an engaging member for engaging at least one cell pack with the battery pack securing section and a connecting member connected to the positive and negative electrode terminals of the one cell pack and disposed at such a position that charging or discharging can be performed. Accordingly battery, packs accommodating different number of cells and of various arrangements and configurations can be used.

Claims

1. A battery pack having at least two battery cells accommodated therein which is capable of being charged by a battery charger,

the battery pack comprising:

a bottom region including a first electrode terminal positioned near a side face of the battery pack and a second electrode terminal positioned away from the side face of the battery pack, said first and second electrode terminals are capable of electrically contacting the battery charger during charging;

a space between a center of the first electrode terminal and a center of the second electrode terminal is less than a width of one of the battery cells and wherein a communication terminal for detecting the residual charging amount of the battery pack is provided in said space;

a plurality of concave engaging portions capable of engaging the battery pack with the battery charger; and

wherein a channel is provided in the bottom region of the battery pack adjacent to the second electrode terminal for properly positioning the battery pack in the battery charger.

2. A battery charger for charging a battery pack comprising:

a battery pack securing section for securing a battery pack having at least two cells accommodated therein;

engaging means for engaging the battery pack having at least two cells accommodated therein with the battery pack securing section wherein said engaging means includes engaging members arranged in at least two parallel sets for engagement with the battery pack;

connecting means connected to a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal provided in a bottom region of the battery pack having at least two cell accommodated therein and being disposed at such a position that charging or discharging can be performed;

a space between a center of the positive electrode terminal and a center of the negative electrode terminal is less than a width of one of the battery cells, and

wherein said battery charger has a band-shaped projection which is capable of engaging a channel formed on the bottom region of the battery pack for properly positioning the battery pack in the battery charger.

3. An electronic device using a battery pack, comprising:

a battery pack securing section for securing a battery pack having at least two cells accommodated therein;

engaging means for engaging the battery pack having at least two cells accommodated therein with the battery pack securing section, wherein said engaging means includes engaging members arranged in at least two parallel sets for engagement with the battery pack;

connecting means connected to a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal provided in a bottom portion of the battery pack having the at least two cells accommodated therein and being disposed at such a position that charging or discharging can be performed;

a space between a center of the positive electrode terminal and a center of the negative electrode terminal is less than a width of one of the battery cells, and

wherein said battery charger has a band-shaped projection which is capable of engaging a channel formed on the bottom region of the electronic device for properly positioning the battery pack in the electronic device.